Rainbow Dash lives an exciting life and is swiftly becoming the most daring, awesome pegasus in all of Equestria. She would gladly give it all up, though, just to confess her love to Applejack.
"My beloved Princess..." Shindig strolled across the room, pacing past Apple Jewell. "You are one of a kind, a diamond in the rough of this world, born to protect it."
"But... but when was I born?" Apple Jewell twirled about, her gaze following the alicorn's. "Ain't it strange that I dun even know that? Not even the year or month?"
"Your life as you know it begins tomorrow, at your Coronation."
"But Momma, please..." Apple Jewell grimaced, trotting closer to her. "I'm askin' y'all to see it from my perspective! Whenever I think hard about the past... like really hard, all I get is a blank! Now I want to bring glory to this here world just as much as you want me to, but how can I be expected to do that when I dun have much of a foundation to stand on?"
"Don't be ridiculous, my child." Shindig chuckled airily, turning to smile at her. "You're more than capable of being that which is required of the Cider Princess."
"Why? Just because you've given me yer blessin'?" Apple Jewell gulped. "Momma, what if ya can't protect me forever? What if Philanthropy dun accept me?"
"It won't ever come to that..."
"What if... what if nopony believes in me like you and my brothers do?" Apple Jewell's muzzle quivered. "I... I know that yer my family, but... but..."
"But what, darling?" Shindig turned towards her. "What is it?"
The Cider Princess hesitated.
"You can tell me, dear. Do not be afraid."
The mare shuddered, careful not to upset her ornate mane as the trembles increased through her frame. "Well... it's just that... I-I don't rightly feel like we're family." She immediately winced. "And I-I know that that's a terrible thang to say! But... but all that I ever do is sit and look pretty and make you and Felix and Frederick fuss over me. I feel like... like I should be the one doin' thangs... that there's much more in store for me."
"Well of course, dearie, tomorrow—"
"And I dun just mean the Coronation! I mean... I mean..." Apple Jewell hugged herself through her robe, sighing. "I mean in the very fabric of who and what I am. I... I dun feel right." She bit her lip, gazing the Queen's way. "...do you even know where I came from?"
"Just why would I ever wonder over such a thing?"
Apple Jewell's eyes narrowed. "Do you know what ever happened to Papa?"
Shindig opened her mouth, but froze in place. She blinked steadily ahead of herself.
"Do... I even have a Papa?" Apple Jewell asked. "Is he the same stallion who you had Felix and Frederick with?"
Shindig's breaths shook with heartfelt palpitations. She stumbled back, her expression paling ashe held a hoof over her chest.
Apple Jewell looked worried. "Momma?"
Shindig briefly stumbled. She had to reach a hoof out and steady herself against the vanity. Apple Jewell rushed over, but the Queen made her stop in place with a quiet whisper.
Apple Jewell gazed at her nervously.
At last, Shindig took a deep breath and composed herself. She gazed lovingly at Apple Jewell, her expression turning back to a gentle smile. "We will... discuss this futher after the Coronation."
"But Momma—"
"We will be in a better place to reason things over," the Queen said. "Both of us."
Apple Jewell eventually bowed her head. "Yes, Momma."
Shindig trotted over, caressed Apple Jewell's chin, and kissed her forehead. "I love you, my little Cider Princess, no matter what."
The mare sniffled, smiling sweetly as she closed her eyes. "I love you too, Momma."
"Sleep well. Be well." Shindig backtrotted out of the room. "You are my pride and joy."
Apple Jewell waved back.
At last, Shindig exited into the hallway, closing the door behind her. As soon as she did so, the alicorn nearly collapsed. She slumped against a wall, heaving and whimpering quietly. She held a hoof over her eyes, fighting the tears back. Then, after much anguish and strain, she gazed ahead into dimly-lit space.
"Philanthropy..."
She gnashed her teeth.
"When... when did you leave me?"
She leaned back, wobbled, and finally stood up straight.
"Why did you leave me?"
The mare turned and gave the door to the bedroom a forlorn look.
"Our daughter... she is our daughter... isn't she?"
The silence was deafening. Shindig found herself encumbered with shivers. Nevertheless, she trotted forward, occasionally pausing to rub her head with sullen sighs.
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Ohhhhhh, AJ herself is really starting to come through, and question things! That's our girl!
As for you, you crack-brained nutcase, the clear answer to this:
is a hard, stone-cold, unequivocal.........
NO!!!
Although...after what's been said between these two in this chapter, I'm beginning to wonder if what another member mentioned in another chapter about Flim and Flam being behind all this isn't the truth of things.
I'll just be real glad when Rainbow (and Company!) shows up and brings their fake l'il fantasy world crashing down around their collective ears!
Okay. What the heck is going on? I'm beginning to think Shindig doesn't know what her sons have planned.
5819438 You know, I'm honestly, really beginning to think the same thing.
Because between what the twins said to Stu in the dungeons earlier, and now this, I really, really am beginning to truly wonder.
Man, will I ever be glad when we finally get to The Great Confrontation, as I've come to call it, so we can get down to the nitty-gritty, and see Dash hand (hoof, excuse me) those two charlatans the beat-down that they both so richly deserve!
Okay, on the otjher hoof, I can see them wanting to take care of their mother, as any good sons (or children, period) should, but they're going way to far with what they're doing to do it!
IMHO.
5819443 5819438 Well, it's a dreamscape, where everything you ever want comes true. What if Shingdig went in with her plan and along the way, just after AJ became functional, she forgot that it's all a dream? Because things were going the way she wanted.
Or.... if we want to become very very creepy... What if it's Philiantrophy? After Shingdig communed with him enough, he started to take control, in order to come back.
Huh, sounds like Shindig is as caught up in the illusion as much as everyone else. Is... is that sympathy I feel?
...nah, she's still a psycho that needs to be un-alived right this instant. Just straight-up murderized, like bam, for reals dead.
5819482 Hmmmm, good points, all of that.
I guess we'll just have to wait and see, huh?
5819485 ... aye, in about a month at this rate Oh well, it shall be interesting to see
5819498
Optimist.
5819483
Now, I wouldn't go that far!
Especially if she's now as much a victim of Flim and Flam's machinations as Applejack and everyone else in this is!
5819498 Well, I certainly hope that it won't take that long to find out (our luck, though, it will.).
And I just have a feeling that it might not be that long, but that's just me.
And indeed, it will.
5819509 Ok, so maybe a bit of an optimist
You're making me start to feel bad for the alleged "badguy" again, nope to that, don't trust anything.
Well. That was unexpected. I'm not entirely sure what to think now. Do I consider her:
- an evil scumbag?
- A delusional prat?
-A rather nice lady with an unfortunate psychological condition?
-A victim?
-
Alemur?Okay, so it looks like Flim and Flam might very well be the bad guys here, not Shindig, though she's still an accomplice.
Seems to me like the real villains are Flim and Flam. Huh... I wonder if it has to be ONE of them. Perhaps it's neither and there's a big ol' plot twist coming.
It's just as I suspected. Shindig's just as much an unwitting participant as Applejack. It's all one big long con on the part of Flim and Flam. Now, their intentions still seem to be good (providing a place where their mother can be happy), but it's still pretty awful.
5820195 yeah you definitely called it. Also, damn this is a long arc!
Hmm.
Hmmm... questions within questions. So only Flim and Flam have a 100% grasp of what's going on?
Oh.
Remember what they said a few chapters back? When they were talking to Stu?
So, what if they threw their mother in here first? As a way to try and alleviate her suffering over Philanthropy? What if this whole thing is solely their scheme now?
Oh Snap! So Shindig is a dreamscape as well. Seems Flim and Flam are... no. Wait... IT'S ALL SILVER SHILL! He is behind everything! He knocked out Flim and Flam after they found that chalice and then sent them and their mother into Cider Space! Then he lied to cover his @$$! I figured it all out...
Huh. I guess that "Flim and Flam are the real masterminds" theory was right all along.
Damnit! Why can't you just let me hate characters?
6398582 oh oh oh...this comment is only 1 week ahead of me. Yessss.
ahem, speaking from my current perspective... it looks like the 4 heir apparents aren't the only ones who were dragged into this world against their wills.
6442403 i have suspected this for a while now
Shindig seems like less of a willing party to this plot than she looked at first.