It had taken a fair few days for Rarity and Spike to come up with an excuse to leave Ponyville, unescorted. After putting their little heads together and carefully gauging the situation, the best idea they could come up with was:
“Book signing.”
Rarity’s mother looked up from her desk. “A book signing? Oh dear, it’s not those Shadow Spade books I asked you not to read, is it?”
“No, no,” Rarity corrected. “It’s the adventures of Daring Do.”
Her mothered seemed genuinely warmed. “Oh, that new series? I hear those are very good for kids.”
“Well the author… uh,” Rarity said, “…uhhh… Her. Yes. She’ll be in Manehatten making a special appearance for this weekend only. It’s the most important Daring Do event and I simply must be there. Because I love the books so much.”
Her mother smiled and was about to agree when—“Oh dear. But your dad and I can’t get away right now. There’s just too much to do, and what with the new baby… Oh, I’m so sorry Rarity but we can’t possibly go.”
“Oh,” Rarity said. She sighed. She moaned. “And I was really looking forward to this. And to think, the one book series I enjoy apart from Shadow Spade. I do hope I can carry on loving the series in spite of this set back.” Rarity collapsed against a bookshelf.
“Is it really that bad?” her mother started to ask.
Rarity sprang up again. “But wait! Mother, I have a plan. I could go with my friend Applejack and we could stay at her Aunt and Uncle’s house in Manehatten.”
“Applejack?” the mother repeated. “I’ve never heard you talk about a friend named Applejack.”
“Whaaaat?” Rarity said. “I’m sure I’ve mentioned her. We’re simply the best friends. Staying with her relatives will be no problem. And then I get to go to the book signing, and you and father can stay here and do… the things you need to do. Without me being a bother.”
“Rarity, you’re not a bother,” her mother said. “Although you do seem to be eating a lot more food lately.”
“Haha, yessss. Those growth spurts, you know.” Rarity looked left and right awkwardly. “Sooooo? Can I go to Manehatten?”
Spike paced the room as he waited.
Rarity came in and shut her bedroom door. “They bought it,” she whispered.
“They bought it?” Spike whispered back.
Rarity nodded. She squealed under her breath, “We’re going to Manehatten… I’m so excited, heehee.” She sprang straight for her suitcase. “Now what should I wear?”
“I know what I’ll be wearing,” Spike grinned, tapping his armband.
In the few days break Spike had been all over Ponyville collecting the images of various different foals. Just in case. He and Rarity had also tested the runtime of the armband and found that, given a sufficient magical charge, it would hold power for about three hours. Spike had acquired a watch with an alarm for the purpose of keeping track of this.
Meanwhile Rarity had made an effort to introduce Zecora to the rest of Ponyville. That went… not as well as Spike remembered. Possibly it was Rarity’s age, or maybe it was the post-Starburst climate that made ponies more mistrusting. Zecora was now technically welcome, but she confessed that there were times she still did not feel welcome. But Spike felt assured that things were on the right track. He and Rarity would work on it some more once they got back from Manehatten. That was all.
The Daring Do book signing was actually a real event. Rarity had gotten the idea from a poster at school. So when they arrived at the train station they found a few other fillies and colts also planning to travel to Manehatten with their parents.
“This is going to be difficult,” Rarity whispered from behind a stack of luggage. “Caramel’s quite well known at school. I feel that if you try to impersonate him around these other foals it could quickly draw suspicion.”
“Right,” Spike said, currently using said Caramel-disguise. “But who should I be then? Anypony I pick has at least some chance of being recognised. And what if I pick a pony who’s already on the train?”
“Gosh, now that would be awkward,” Rarity said. “One of you would have to go home and change.”
“Ha-ha,” Spike deadpanned.
The train gave a few toot-toots to signal it would be leaving soon.
“Ohh,” Rarity moaned. “We have to pick something. Don’t you know any foals not from school?”
“I’ve been stuck in Ponyville this whole time,” Spike said. “It’s not like I can just—”
There was a flash of green light.
Rarity put a hoof to her mouth. “Well, I certainly don’t know who that is. I’d say job well done, Spike.”
“What?” Spike looked down at himself and even spun a little circle. “Am I…?” He poked at his folded orange wings and flicked his purple tail. “Am I Scootaloo?”
“Who?” Rarity said.
The train signalled again.
“Nevermind.” She shoved Spike forward.
They dragged their suitcase through into a train car and took their seats just as the doors were closing. The train rolled to life and chuffed off down the tracks on its long journey to Manehatten.
Spike stood up on the seat and looked at his reflection in the window glass.
“I am,” Spike said, twitching his ears and ruffling his short purple mane. “I’m Scootaloo. How did I do that? The armband hasn’t met Scootaloo. It can’t have. She’s gotta be just a little baby right now. This is…” He sat down and looked at his orange pony foreleg. “This is something from my memory. The armband took the form of somepony I remember? Is it supposed to do that?”
He looked at Rarity. Rarity shrugged.
“We can ask Zecora when we get back,” Rarity said.
“And I’m a pegasus now,” Spike said, poking himself in the sides. “But I can’t seem to open my wings. I guess because they’re not really there.”
“Also, you um…” Rarity bit her lip. “You seem to be a filly. Are you going to be—?”
“Hi Rarity,” a couple of other foals interrupted.
“Hello,” Rarity said.
“Who’s your friend?” one of the foals asked. “I haven’t seen her at school.”
“Oh, uh… this is, Scootaauhhhumm—”
“Scootaloo,” Spike said and waved.
“Cool,” the other foals said and waved back.
“Oh. Yes. Scootaloo,” Rarity said. “Sorry, we can’t chat. We’re um… Caught in an intense game of eye-spy.”
Spike nodded seriously.
“Oh. Okay. See you at the book signing?” one foal said.
“Mm-hmm. We’ll see,” Rarity agreed.
The two foals from school went on their way down the train.
“See?” Spike said. “Not a problem.”
Rarity leaned in towards Spike. “Tell me about her.”
“Who? Scootaloo?”
“Yes. If we’re going to be stuck on this train for a few hours I want a story.”
“Okay,” Spike said. “But it involves your sister.”
Rarity’s eyes sparkled. “Tell meeee. Oh. Wait.” The snacks trolley was passing by so she exchanged a small gem for a large box of popcorn. Then she turned back to Spike. “Okay. Begin.”
Spike laughed and helped himself to popcorn. “Alright. It all began a little while after I moved to Ponyville. Applejack’s sister, Applebloom, was worried about how she hadn’t gotten her cutiemark yet. She thought she was the only pony at school without a cutiemark. Until…”
All through the journey Spike had recounted what stories he knew of the Cutiemark Crusaders and their adventures. Rarity had laughed frequently at their many mishaps and catastrophes, like how they had gotten lost in the Everfree or how they ate too much pie at a pie-eating contest. But she was also impressed with every lesson they learned and every pony they helped along the way.
The train pulled into Manehatten around lunch time the same day. Rarity had had to recharge Spike’s armband once already, behind the cover of the popcorn box. As they were collecting their suitcase to disembark, Spike was just finishing up the story of how the CMC had finally attained their cutiemarks.
Rarity sniffed and wiped away a tear. “My little sister. I’m so proud and I don’t even know her yet.” Rarity put a hoof to her chest. “Good gracious. I don’t even have my cutiemark yet.”
Spike nudged Rarity in the arm. “Cheer up. If there’s any lesson to be learned here it’s that you’ll get your cutiemark sooner or later, and when you do it’s gonna be just perfect.”
Rarity beamed. “Aw, thankyou Spike. And thankyou for being Scootaloo this whole time. It’s really helped me get immersed in the story, but…” She stifled a snicker. “I’m sorry, Spike. I just can’t look at you anymore without thinking about the time that Scootaloo got the team covered in tree sap and pine needles. Hmmhmm.”
Spike rolled his presently purple eyes. “Hardy-har. Fine. Who should I pick from Ponyville as my new disguise?”
“Well…” Rarity began.
But as they exited the train station Rarity was struck mute by the vision of the Manehatten city streets that stretched gloriously before them now. The yellow taxi carriages. The giant billboards. The tall shiny buildings that stretched up towards the clouds. Rarity could sense the magic of the city and the trendy ponies who lived there.
“Oh Manehatten!” Rarity exclaimed, dropping her suitcase. “What you do to me!”
Next thing Spike knew she was off down the street, singing and twirling around lampposts.
Spike chuckled at her behaviour. “Well,” he said, picking up her small suitcase. “At least I only have to carry once piece of luggage this time.”
“I can’t believe we’re actually here!” Rarity exclaimed, jumping on the bed.
“I can’t believe they let two foals rent a room,” Spike said, sitting on the second bed. “And pay with gemstones.”
They were alone in the room now so Spike let the Scootaloo image fall apart. He rubbed his arm around where the band of changeling hide was worn.
Rarity calmed down and stopped bouncing. “Feeling alright?”
“Mmm,” Spike nodded. “Just not really used to it yet. Feels weird.”
“You know what feels great?” Rarity said. Then she flopped over on her bed and rolled around. “Everything! Spike, do you realise we are actually staying in a Manehatten hotel? There are hotel beds. Hotel towels. Those fluffy white hotel bathrobes.” Rarity sprang into the bathroom and came back wearing one, just because she could, even though it was too large. “Hotel soaps and shampoo! I’m going to have a bath tonight and it’s going to be just divine. And nopony can tell me to get out of the tub! I’ll set my own bed time and everything!” She giggled openly. “Let’s order room service.”
“Okay, I know that sounds good,” Spike began. He paused and thought about it. “Okay, that sounds really good. But duty first.”
Rarity gave a gentle sigh. “I suppose you’re right. Let me get dressed and we’ll go and visit this Applejack.” Rarity took off the bathrobe and went to return it to its hook on the wall. “Spike. Forgive me if this is a silly question, buy have you tried sending her a letter?”
Spike nodded. “Yeah. I tried that, sorta. After I couldn’t reach, um, adult-Twilight, I tried sending a letter to the other Twilight.”
“And?”
“It didn’t work,” Spike said. “I realised I don’t know very much about who Twilight is right now. I mean, I technically knew her at this age, but I was only a baby myself. I don’t remember much. And a pony can change so much between being a foal and being a mare—it’s like they become a completely different pony. So sending a letter to Applejack… I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t work. I just don't know her.”
“Is that not what went wrong with Celestia then?” Rarity asked, opening her suitcase.
Spike shook his head and seemed to pale at the memory. “No. That was… something else. Something bad. And I’m pretty sure that letter was on-target when I sent it. Celestia’s at least a thousand years old. She’s not going to change drastically in just a dozen years or so.”
“Wow,” Rarity said. “I wonder what it’s like to live for so long.” Her eyes unfocused and she started to drift. “I wonder what it’s like to be a princess and live in Canterlot. Ooo, do you think she has her own fluffy bathrobe that she can wear whenever she wants?”
“Oh yeah,” Spike assured her. “She’s got several.”
“Incredible…” Rarity whispered, still staring off into her daydream.
Before they reached the children’s hospital Rarity had to recharge the armband once more because they had taken so many detours. They had gotten lunch, of course, but Rarity had insisted on choosing the perfect café. Then Rarity went and bought a new outfit. She had seen the adorable blue dress in a shop window and couldn’t bear to part with it.
“Besides,” she said, taking out a gemstone to pay. “I must have something from Manehatten to remember this trip.”
“I was kinda hoping we’d be getting an Applejack out of this trip,” Spike said.
Then while Rarity was putting on the dress Spike noticed a young colt out shopping with his parents. Spike’s eyes widened. It was almost too-perfect. Spike ducked into a change room himself and changed from his Caramel-disguise into the form copied from the new colt.
Purple mane with green eyes and coat. Spike grinned at himself in the mirror, so impressed he had managed to find a pony whose colouring resembled his own. Even if the mane and coat colouring were the wrong way around. It was so close it was scary. Spike grinned at himself.
“Spike?” Rarity called.
Spike stepped out of the change room and walked up to meet her. “Hello pretty filly,” he said, trying on a deeper voice. “I like your new dress.”
“Oh, why thankyou,” Rarity said.
“Could I take you for coffee later?” Spike went on.
“Uhh… How interesting,” Rarity deflected. “Actually I was looking for my friend, Spike. Have you seen him?”
“I don’t know,” Spike said. “What does he look like?”
Rarity opened her mouth to answer. Then she stumbled. “Ahh… I’m trying to remember. He’s so freeform with his appearance lately. Er. All perfectly normal, of course. He’s, uh, a pony, to be sure.”
Spike couldn’t help it. A cheeky snicker escaped him despite his efforts. “Rarity. It’s me. How do I look?” he whispered though the laughter.
“Oh you,” Rarity glared. “You little goblin. Don’t do that again.”
“What?” Spike said, following her out of the shop. “Rarity, wait up. I’m sorry. It was rude. I’m not like that.”
Rarity blushed. “It’s not about that, Spike.”
“Oh.” Spike looked away. “Then what?”
“Well how am I supposed to know it’s you?” Rarity said. “What if you make a habit of this? What if I think I’m talking to you but I’m actually talking to somepony else. I could get us into trouble. Correction—you could get us into trouble.”
“Sorry, Rarity. It was just a bit of fun.”
Rarity turned up her nose and kept walking.
“Alright,” Spike said. “Tell you what, I’ll just use this disguise. Nothing else, from now on. Okay?”
Rarity glanced back at him. “Well… I suppose if I get a new outfit, it’s only fair that you do as well. And you do look rather handsome.”
“Thanks,” Spike said. “I think…” He shook his head and absently itched at his armband. “Right. Now let’s get to the children’s hospital before—”
“Sorry. Visiting hours are over,” said the nurse at the front desk.
“What?” Spike said. “But we came all this way.”
“Well you’ll just have to come back tomorrow,” the nurse said.
Rarity cleared her throat.
“Are you still here?” he asked, peering over the desk.
Rarity put on her best cutie-pie face and asked again. “Are you sure we can’t have just a moment to visit our poor sick friend?”
The nurse glared at her. “Yes. Now scram.”
Rarity and Spike walked sadly out of the building and went to sit on the bench outside.
“How rude,” Rarity said, cradling her face between her front hooves. “You’d think ponies who work in children’s hospitals would be a little nicer.”
“That’s Manehatten for you,” Spike said with a shrug.
“Oh. I’m sorry I waisted so much time,” Rarity confessed. “Now we’ll have to come back tomorrow. And I shall feel glum about it all evening. What a mess.”
Spike straightened up and gave the hospital a firm stare. “No,” he said.
“No?” Rarity repeated.
Spike smirked. “If there’s one thing I learned from Twilight it’s how to be persistent. That and how to sneak into buildings you’re not supposed to.”
Rarity edged nervously away from him on the bench. “You had a weird upbringing, Spike…”
Spike got up and looked around the empty parking lot. “Rarity. I know I said I wouldn’t change my disguise again, but if you’ll let me, I think I have a plan…”
The nurse sipped coffee as his organised the files on his desk. He glanced up at the clock on the wall. This was one of those long days, but thankfully it would be over soon. He just had to get through this next half hour and he could—
Suddenly the front doors slide open again and an orange pegasus filly came bolting into the entrance way. “Hey, look at me! I’m Scootaloo!” the filly said. “Look at Scootaloo dance!”
“What’s wrong with you?” The nurse grumbled, getting up. “Where are your parents?”
“I’ve been wondering that myself,” Spike said. “Catch me if you can!”
And with that, Spike took off into the hospital at full four-legged speed.
“Hey!” The nurse called. He pressed a button for security and then took off to try and catch the crazy pegasus.
As soon as the coast was clear, Rarity came in through the open doors and climbed up onto the desk. “Let’s see. Applejack… Applejack… Ah! Applejack. Level 3.” Rarity climbed down and went straight for the elevator.
Moments after the doors closed the nurse came back, followed by a big buff security pony holding the Scootaloo-Spike up by his tail.
“And don’t come back,” the nurse growled as Spike was ejected through the front entrance.
The security pony stuck out her tongue afterwards. “Yuck. Feels funny. I don’t think that pony washes her tail very well.”
“I’m not giving you a cooties shot,” the nurse said, settling back down at his desk.
Outside, Spike picked himself up and dusted off. Then he ran around the side of the building where he had seen the large drainpipe. With his dragon claws he easily scurried up the pipe until he found a window he could open. (It also helped that Twilight had made him climb so many bookshelves in his life.)
Spike found himself on level 4. He changed back to his green-and-purple disguise, found a piece of paper and a crayon, and sent Rarity a letter for his location. A few minutes later she met up with him in the arts-and-crafts area.
“Nicely done,” Rarity remarked. “Hanging out with you is going to be like a Shadow Spade adventure all on its own.”
“Did you find out where Applejack is?” Spike asked.
“It’s a room on level three,” Rarity said. “This way.”
“Wait,” Spike said.
Rarity turned back to face him. “Wait? Dear, don’t you think we’ve waited enough?”
Spike sat down at the foal-height table with paper and crayons. “She’ll still be there. I just wanted to bring her something.”
Rarity looked at the craft supplies, especially the glitter, and went to join him at the table. “Yeah… I think she’d like that.”
Rarity was the one who eventually worked up the courage to knock on the door.
“Please come in,” said a strange voice. A filly, yes, but the accent was not as expected.
Rarity pushed open the door and she and Spike stood there grinning nervously.
The little orange filly who occupied the nearest bed was indeed Applejack. Her blonde mane was out around her shoulders and she was dressed in hospital pyjamas. There were no bandages, no bruises, no broken bones.
The room had no other patients, and was clean and comfortable, if a little gloomy. The curtain was drawn over the only window, casting everything in a warm yellow glow.
“And who might you be?” AJ asked in a sophisticated voice.
“You may not remember me from school,” Rarity began.
“Oh, Ah remember you,” AJ said, her accent slipping for an instant. She cleared her throat. “You must be that Rarity girl. You were always so popular, but I don’t ever remember you taking an interest in me before.”
“Ah-ha. Oh. No? Well… I came to visit you,” Rarity said, stepping into the room. “And I made you this.”
She pushed the little Get Well Soon card onto the bed and smiled. It had a picture of a green apple and was otherwise covered in purple glitter.
AJ glanced at the card without picking it up. Then she leaned forward to get a better look at her second guest—the green and purple colt. “And you are?”
Spike stepped up to the bedside. “I’m… Spike. You don’t know me yet.”
Spike put his card on the bed, too. It was a drawing of three red apples and the hat that he always remembered Applejack wearing. But she wasn’t wearing it now. Or maybe just wasn’t wearing it yet.
AJ stared at the second card and made a puzzled face. She seemed unable to look away from those three red apples, yet unable to comprehend their significance. Her mouth twitched and tears began to form in her eyes.
“Is everything alright, dear?” Rarity prompted.
AJ looked up again. Her gaze drifted past them to the open doorway and her pupils slowly contracted. She scrunched her face and looked away. “Kindly close the door please.”
“The door?” Rarity repeated.
“Jus’ close the door!” AJ snapped in her farm accent.
Rarity hurriedly went and shut the door. “There. Better?”
AJ breathed a heavy sigh of relief. “Yes. Thanks.”
“Applejack,” Spike said, leaning his head on the bed much like a pouty dog would. “We heard you were here and we had to come check on you. Are you alright? What happened?”
Applejack shrugged. “Does it matter?”
“Of course it matters,” Rarity said, approaching the bed once more. “I don’t think you appreciate the trouble we went through to get in here. The least you can do is let us know that you’re alright.”
“I’m alright,” AJ said. “Satisfied?”
“Applejack, why are you being difficult?” Rarity said.
“Why? Because I don’t really know you, Rar-it-ee.” AJ glared. “I didn’t even get a kind word from you after my parents—After what happened there. No. You just pitied me from a safe distance. You know Ah’ve half a mind to blame you for mah being in this here mess all in the first place.” AJ folded her forelegs in a grump.
“My fault?” Rarity said. “How is that fair?”
“Of course you wouldn’t know…” AJ sneered. “You were always the prettiest filly at school. You were always so sophisticated. Everypony wanted to get close to you. You were the life we never dreamed of. Something fancy and shiny, away from all that boring Ponyville humdrum.”
“Fancy and sophisticated? Do you think so?” Rarity said.
“Oh yeah,” AJ said. “Heck, Ah wanted to be just like you. But Ah don’t even think you noticed. No matter what Ah did with mah hair or mah clothes you always just labelled me a farm pony and left me well alone.”
Rarity put a hoof to her chest, taken quite aback. “Applejack. No. Did I really? I didn’t mean to. I… I’m sure I was just… distracted.”
“Uh-huh,” AJ said. “But none of that really matters now. Ah thought to myself—Hey. Ah’ll move to Manehatten with mah Aunt and Uncle Orange. They know how to live a sophisticated life.” She stopped to correct her accent again. “I didn’t want to live on a muddy old apple farm. I wanted to be like them.” AJ glared. “Like you.” She looked down at the bed sheets. “And now… Now I’m like this.”
Rarity was busy holding back some emotional outburst; Spike could tell. So he made the first move to ask.
“Applejack… what exactly happened to you? I mean… You look fine to me.”
AJ slumped back against her pillow. “I know. Bruises heal. But some things don’t.” AJ closed her eyes. “I was up in my room at the Orange house. I was feeling lonely and isolated. Homesick, now, I think it was. But I didn’t know that at the time. I was just stepping up to the window when the blast hit.” She opened her eyes. “The Event. The light was so bright and so big, it cut through the smog and took over the sky.”
AJ shivered and slouched down the bed a little further. “It scared me. I’m not ashamed to say it. I didn’t know what was happening. Normally I run to—Well, to Granny these days. But she wasn’t there. So I hid under the bed. And that’s when…” AJ sat up. “That’s when the shockwave hit. It wasn’t even strong enough to brake the window, but—Well I heard them say it was nextdoor’s water heater that caused everything. I guess it wasn’t exactly in the best condition, held together by magic and duct tape, and something must have gotten knocked loose in the blast.”
AJ was slipping back into her farm accent as she recalled the moment with eyes unfocused. “Something exploded on the other side of the wall, and bits of wall and ceiling just came crashing down on the bed. Ah was trapped under there for a couple hours before them rescue ponies could get me out. Ah know doctors tell me Ah shoulda got close-a-phobia, er somethin’, because that makes sense t’ them. But that don’ make no sense t’ me. Because the whole time Ah was stuck there Ah was thinking Ah was gonna die. An’ that was scary. But then Ah just closed mah eyes and imagined that the small dark space pressing in on me was just my parents, hugging me close between them, like they used to do when Ah would climb inta their bed in the mornings.”
AJ wrapped her forelegs around herself and closed her eyes. “And that feeling was the only thing that helped me keep it together. Ah don’t think Ah woulda made it otherwise. But now…” She opened her eyes again. “Every time Ah look at a window, or a door, or if Ah even see the sky, Ah jus—” She shook her head. “Ah just can’t do it. It just scares me so much, Ah… Ah need to stay here right now. Somewhere small and safe were Ah don’t gotta go outside.”
Rarity put a gentle hoof on the bed. “Applejack, dear… I can’t imagine.”
“No you can’t,” AJ said, swatting the hoof away. “So it’s best you stop tryin’a sympathise with mah situation and just get on outta here.”
“No way,” Spike assured her. “We’re here to help you realise your destiny. Applejack you don’t belong in Manehatten. You belong home, with your family.”
“Home?” AJ snapped. “You think Ah don’t know what Ah feel? But tell me how am Ah supposed to go home like this? Ah can’t even leave my hospital room!”
There was a lull.
“What if…” Spike began, “we put you in a box and took you home that way. Then you wouldn’t have to be outside.”
AJ narrowed her green eyes at him. “Ah don’t know if you’ve noticed by most of the apple farm is, gee, outside.”
“Wellllll you could stay inside,” Spike said. “Read a book or something.”
“Oo, yes,” Rarity said. “You could build a pillow fort. Then you’d be nice and cozy and safe at home.”
“And put the burden of my care onto Granny and Big Mac? No thankya,” AJ said, folding her forelegs again. “Better if Ah jus’ stay here and let my Aunt and Uncle Orange take care of me. ‘Sides, Ah—” Applejack cleared her throat and corrected her accent. “I’m a sophisticated pony now.”
Spike and Rarity exchanged glances.
“There must be something we can do to help,” Rarity said.
“I don’t think so,” AJ said with clipped words. “Now please go. It’s long past visiting hours and I don’t even know who you are.”
Spike nudged the crayon-covered cards closer. “We’ll come back and visit you again tomorrow.”
“Don’t bother,” AJ said.
“Applejack, you need your friends right now,” Spike said.
“Mah friends?”
Applejack reached down for something on the other side of her bed and brought up a cardboard box full of cards and letters and sweets and cupcakes and fluffy stuffed animals.
“Oh,” Rarity said, a little surprised.
“Did y’all think Ah was unloved er somethin’?” AJ accused. “Ah don’t need yer charity. Ah got my own friends and family to look out for me. Ah’ll have you know Ah am making great friends with some of the other filly and colts here and even the nurses. Ah don’t need some hoity-toity miss popular and her nosy no-business friend coming t’ mope around my room like vultures. Ah’m doing jus’ fine, thank ya very much. Y’all ain’t mah friends—how dare you! Now scram and don’t come back!”
Spike began to tremble.
“Come on,” Rarity whispered, nudging him away from the bed.
AJ turned away. “Remember to close the door.”
They certainly did.
Spike and Rarity looked like droopy flowers as they walked back to their hotel.
“I don’t think that went well at all,” Rarity said. “I suspect she rather resents us.”
“She’ll come around,” Spike said. “She’s got to. She already knows she wants to go home.”
“But darling, she’s too smart for her own good,” Rarity said. “If she were a silly little dragon like you then she wouldn’t give up, no matter what.” She sighed. “But instead she’s depressingly correct about everything. And we just made her feel terrible, when she must be trying so hard to stay positive. I think it would be better if we just left her alone.”
“Don’t say that.”
“No, I mean it,” Rarity said. “We just walked in there like we knew her and knew her situation, but really we don’t know anything. I never bothered to talk to her at school. And you said yourself that she’s a completely different pony than the Applejack she’ll grow up to be. We acted like we had all the answers—just move back home, it’s your destiny.” Rarity drooped a little lower. “But instead we rather insulted her. We pitied her. We showed her we can come all the way out to Manehatten to visit her, but she can’t even open the curtains and look outside.”
Spike’s pony ears fell flat. “C-come on, Rarity. There’s got to be something we can do.”
“If you say so.” Rarity continued walking, reaching the steps of the hotel.
Spike caught up with her as they entered the building. “Well maybe I can’t think of a way to help AJ, but I can certainly think of a way to cheer you up.”
“Oh?” Rarity said.
“Yes,” said Spike. He grabbed a menu off the front desk and grinned. “Let’s order room service.”
A few hours later Spike and Rarity were both dressed in over-sized fluffy hotel robes, lying stretched out on Spike’s bed which was covered with finished dishes, and watching a show about lawyers on the hotel TV.
“This has been a really great day, Spike. All things considered.”
“Well, you paid for it,” Spike said, now back in his dragon form.
“But you helped me find the gems.”
“Your destiny helped you find the gems. I just carried them home.”
“Well you gave me a reason to come to Manehatten in the first place,” she finished. “Accept it. You’re responsible.”
“Fine. I accept,” Spike agreed.
“Sweet Celestia, you roll over easy. Are you a dragon or are you a mouse?”
“I’m a dragon,” Spike said. “And this is my treasure hoard!” He waved his arms at the dirty plates and pizza boxes.
Rarity laughed until she accidentally dropped her pizza slice on her tummy. “Oh dear. Oh. Well, that settles it. I’m going for a bath. Let me know how the rest of the show turns out,” she said, getting up.
“Pssh.” Spike rolled his eyes. “The pony who looks guilty will actually be innocent, and the real guilty one will turn out to be the grieving best friend, or something.”
“Spike. Did you use your future knowledge on the TV?” Rarity scolded.
“Nope,” Spike said. “Sometimes these things are just predictable.”
While Rarity was lapsing into a new state of relaxation in the hotel bath, Spike went to the window and sat down with a hotel pen and notepad.
Applejack, he wrote. This is Spike from earlier today writing to apologise. We didn’t mean to imply that you were alone, and we certainly didn’t want to make you feel upset.
But we did.
And you were right to tell us off. You gave us the truth.
And so I’m going to tell you the truth now, Applejack. The truth is…
Spike hesitated, tapping his pen against the page.
The truth is I don’t know what to do. I was always able to go to others for advice and now suddenly I have to make decisions for myself. And that’s terrifying.
So if you think you know what’s best for you then I support your decision.
You’re stuck and you’re not where you’re supposed to be. Not where you want to be. But that doesn’t mean you still can’t be who you are. And who you are is the most stubborn, competitive and overly defensive pony I’ve ever met.
But you are also the most supportive, unshakable, and honest pony I’ve ever met. And if there’s anypony who can get through a situation like this it’s going to be you, Applejack.
But just like you blame Rarity for never noticing you, did you stop to think maybe you never noticed me? I’m not talking about at school, because I wasn’t there. I’m talking about this afternoon. Because I was there, but I felt like all you saw was Rarity. Maybe you blame Rarity for not being the pony you were hoping she would be for you. But that’s not fair.
It’s wrong to think you know who somepony is and then be upset when they turn out to be somepony else. Because all she’s done is be herself. It’s not her fault if you wanted her to be something she never even knew you wanted from her.
Spike sighed.
I know I learned that lesson today. That’s why I’m going to give you your space.
But I wanted you to know, AJ, that I understand.
I know what it feels like to be trapped somewhere, unable to go home, and missing your family. You might find this strange but I envy you. At least you can still talk to your family. At least you know that they’re doing alright. I—
Spike wiped at his face before continuing.
I’m still trying to put the pieces of my life back together, after the blast, and there are still many ponies who I don’t know where they are or if they’re doing alright. One pony in particular… who has been like a sister, a teacher, even something of a mother to me. But I can’t keep hoping she’s going to come back and save me. Because she’s gone. And now it’s just me.
Now you may not think much of Rarity but I can tell you that she has been there for me this whole time. She’s done everything to make me feel at home and she’s helping me to find those ponies I need to find. I’m sorry that Rarity didn’t notice you at school. And I’m sorry that you’re stuck in hospital now. But I’ve learned that you have to reach out in anyway you can and try everything in your power to put the world back together again, the way you need it to be.
And maybe some things are gone forever.
And that hurts more than you can stand.
But you make new friends and you keep on being yourself.
No matter what.
So take care of yourself, AJ. I couldn’t think of a better pony for the job.
Love, Spike.
He rolled up the paper, opened the window and with a puff of green flame he sent the letter spiralling up into the night sky.
“Goodnight, Applejack,” Spike said. “Stay strong.”