//------------------------------// // Good-Bye To Fanon In Ponyville short Group Story // Story: Pinkie Pie's Fourth-Wall Breaking Variety Show // by Alex Warlorn //------------------------------// There was a party going on in Pinkie Pie's old variety show 4th wall breaking studio, except none of the mane six were present, and in fact, had explicitly been unable to attend, this wasn't their moment. It was a question if they were all even from the same worldline. None of them either noticed or cared. 'I See Fire' from The Hobbit, looped endlessly from the speakers, matching the mood. In less than twenty four hours, the back ground ponies' episode would air, sending Heart World ripples across the world lines with more force than Those Who Create likely knew (or cared), as millions of tiny world lines would shatter from the shock waves. And all worldlines that would come into being afterwards would never be the same. Ponyville's less legendary, but no less loved ponies were gathered. Pinkie Pie had left a note saying they were free to use it, saying it was like 'Batmare Bold And the Brave's wrap party, whatever that meant. "I actually liked being a crazy time traveler," Time Turner said as ate some apples, NOT touching the peers, though he imagined his dislike of them would vanish soon enough. "Oh well." "It was great being your traveling companion!" "Thank you Derpy." "I LOVED you being my mommy!" Dinky hugged her tightly. "Me too dear, me too." "It was . . . it was great mom, I . . . sorry for not showing it more." Sparkler said nuzzling her mother as well. Lyra put a assuring hoof on Bon Bon's shoulder. "Don't worry, remember that video of us as humans? We'll still be together." Bon Bon silently hugged her. "Are you happy you won't have me as a mom anymore?" Berry Punch asked. "NO! You're a great mommy! No matter what anypony says!" Ruby Pinch hugged her mom, who was staying away from the punch bowl (six months sober and proud of it). "Thank kid." She sighed. "It was great being Cheerilee's sister too . . . I . . . I was happy having a sister like her." Scootaloo drinking soda said. "If my parents show up, I hope an ACTUAL REASON in universe is given why I haven't seen them in five years." And there were many more ponies where these came from having similar goodbyes. - Dr. Whooves looked at a paper Pinkie had left. "Okay, everypony, it appears there's another thing we need to think about." Everypony turned their attention to the Doctor. "Apparently, the Shadows will be confirming a lot of what makes us us. So how about we have a spot of fun?" the alien pony asked. "Let's make a betting pool as to who will get their existence confirmed, and should any of us turn out less fortunate for the change, they shall get the money, sound good?" - Aloe and Lotus entered the room. "I hope we get to remain sisters," Aloe nuzzled Lotus as she added in her -- Stalliongrad? -- accent, "I would not mind having spent my entire life in Ponyville." "If we get to keep ze accent," Lotus added, returning the nuzzle and smiling at her co-workers Vera and Bulk. "I thought I was a security guard at da looney bin -- I mean mental hospital." Bulk grinned nervously at Diamond Tiara as she glared at him. "'Stead o' bein' a mass-use for dragons?" - Lyra said, "I'm going to miss being a fan of humans...I had so many funny bits, even a song." Bon-Bon replied, "Don't worry Lyra you still got me...even if we'll be "just friends." Bulk Biceps meanwhile nuzzled Featherweight. "Even if we ain't family you still rock little man!" Featherweight . . . SPOKE. "...y-yes . . . d-da...ad." - Coalgate said, "I wonder what I'll be after the episode...I hope it will still be something involving minty flavoring." - "Hehe." "What's so funny, Coalgate?" asked Lyra. "Oh I am just imagining what voices they are going to give us." "I hope mine has a British accent." said Time Turner/Doctor Whooves. "Didn't they already give you an non-British voice in season 1?" "Well yes but that hasn't stop Bon-Bon." Blushes, "You got a point there." - "So i heard the shadow gave you that last name of yours?" Berry said remembering pinkie mentioning something like that. "I guess." Lyra said with a shrug. "Though i think it was suppose to be my name but they decided to keep my name and use it as my lastname. not that i'm complaining. i like my last name." "Good for you" Berry said as she notice a bowl being filled with money for the 'betting pool.' "So did you left any bits in there." "Perhaps." Lyra said "Can't be too careful after-all." "Right." meanwhile the classical musician ponies began to play. On the roof of the television studio, Princess Thalia stood watch, wings spread wide. "Ooh, here comes one now... Hmm... Mmm-hmm?" She giggled, putting a hoof to her mouth. "I get it... Bon Bon and Sweetie Drops." She frowned, ever so gently. "But this isn't like riding around on a unicycle with a big fake mustache. That little throwaway gag might really hurt somepony's feelings, so it's a good thing we're not connected to the Heart World anymore, and I can just say *no thanks*." She took a deep breath, and her horn glowed like a beacon. A rosy pink bubble of pure joy formed, slowly expanding to cover the entire studio. "You'll be safe here, my little ponies." She giggled. "It still feels funny, saying that." Applejack suddenly found herself standing in the middle of the Verity Show. "What just happened?" "Simple, young Applejack." Applejack turned to find Rota Fortuna standing next to her. "Ah! Ah thought we were done with all that crazy wolf stuff!" "You are, but this is important." "...Okay...What is it?" the farmer asked, carefully. "This room is about to undergo a great shift...similar to what happened when the heart world diverged due to your differences," Fate explained. "Many ponies here are about to receive new fates...some of which they will reject very strongly. As one who has experience, care to assist those who need to incorporate new aspects into themselves...or need help rejecting a fate that would change them too greatly?" --- "Alright, time to begin the reveal of the changes," Dr. Hooves explained. "First off, I'm officially canon!...Well, as close as possible without getting a lawsuit! And I have a british accent! Yes!" Derpy looked at him with pleading eyes. "And we know one another Derpy!" "Yay!" the Derpy mail mare replied, hug tackling the doctor. "No confirmation one way or another about your daughters, so nothing saying they're not," the Doctor explained, inciting a family hug. "Alright, and good news, confirmation of at least one good changeling! Changelings are not a pure evil race!" Moth and Junebug hoof bumped. Bon Bon hugged her sister. "Oh...Um...Bon Bon." Bon Bon blinked. "Yes?" "Well, you and Lyra are still incredibly close." The two instantly hugged, Tootsie joining in. "However...your real name is Sweetie Drops, Bon Bon is an assumed name." Bon Bon blinked in confusion. "Weird, but okay." "And you're also a secret agent for an underground group dedicated to protecting Equestria from dangerous creatures that was disbanded by Celestia after a monster escaped Tartarus you'd imprisoned there, now hiding under a secret identity for your own safety." "...Are you serious?" "Yes, I'm afraid. It was a bee bear hybrid monster oddly enough. Bug Bear if you will." "...Do I have the option of opting out?" Dr. Hooves rubbed his head. "Well...Theoretically, but someone else would need to have captured the Bug Bear. " Bon Bon smiled to her family. "...Then let someone who WANTS it have it. I'm happy being a candy maker." Rota looked to Applejack. "I think that's your cue, dear." - Applejack chuckled, shaking her head. "And after ya just got done taking the Opaque Wolf away from me, too..." Rota Fortuna leaned close, offering a rare smile. "I believe you have misunderstood me, Applejack. The power that you require for this task is that which you possess already." Applejack blinked. "Ya mean... Ah shouldn't. Ah'll mess it all up..." "Do not fear," said the Alicorn of Fate. Using her magic, she threw open the doors to the studio, letting some of Thalia's joy spread into the room. "We are here to guide you." Applejack nodded once, then closed her eyes, taking deep breaths. When she opened them, her irises glowed brilliant, shining orange. The magic of Truth stirred around the farm pony, blowing her mane and tail in an invisible breeze. "There are many worlds, and many Truths." She grinned. "And even lots of different kinds of Truth, every one of 'em true. Most of the time, what's true is true, and that's that, but every so often, there's times like these when worlds bump together, and new Truth can be made." The magical currents sweeping around her grew stronger, outlining a phantom horn and wings. "Lyra? Bon Bon? Who are ya?" Bon Bon took a deep breath. She'd been skeptical about Applejack and her rumored "Truth vision" in the past, but she wasn't afraid, not now. "I... I'm Bon Bon," she declared firmly. "Sweetie Drops is my pre-cutie mark name." She hesitated, then continued to speak, steadily gaining confidence. "I make candy. I'm not any kind of secret agent, and I never have been. I *love* Lyra." Lyra pressed close to Bon Bon, putting a hoof after her. "And I love Bon Bon, and Tootsie and Moth. We're a family." "This is True," pronounced Applejack. The world seemed to shift, settling and aligning... one thing fixed, but still many more to decide, one way or the other. - Applejack turned to Cranky Doodle and Matilda. "Ah assume y'all are happy with the wedding ya had already, and don't want to do it all over again?" "Well, it might be romantic..." mused Matilda. "Oh, heck no!" shouted Cranky... but he couldn't stay grumpy for long with Matilda beside him. "Once was good for a lifetime," he said, nuzzling warmly with his wife. Bon-Bon raised a hoof. "So... who does take care of the bugbear?" Applejack grinned. "The Everfree Rangers can take care of that. That's *their* job." At a lodge deep in the Everfree, Smoke Ring, Winghoof, and Stone Wall suddenly had an intelligence brief on a dangerous wild animal wandering too close to Ponyville. "How about you, Doc?" asked Applejack. The Doctor pondered, rubbing his chin with a hoof. "Nothing changed, really... And I did like that workshop." "Eeyup. Derpy?" Derpy hmmmmed crossly. "That episode thing didn't show me with my little muffins.. but it didn't say I didn't have them!" Applejack smiled. "Relax. Nopony's gonna take 'em away from ya, and Ah'll buck any Shadow that tries." -later- "Ah guess that about wraps that up," mused Applejack later, when the studio was finally emptying. "Not quite," said Rota Fortuna. "What is it that *you* want, Applejack? You have been tempted to abandon your mortal life for the power of the Wolf, and betray it for the lure of nightmares. Think on all that you have done this day. Might you be ready to fulfill your mortal life instead?" Applejack bit her lip. "Ah'll be honest with ya... Ah just don't know when Ah'll be ready to be the Honest Truth. It'd be a mighty big step." She glanced around, then started towards the door. "'Scuse me. Ah've got some apples to buck." - "So, Vinyl," Octavia said with a sly grin. "How would you like to be closer to your heart world self? I mean, I hear silence is golden." "No way, Tavi!" Vinyl waved her forelegs around frantically. "I am NOT giving up speaking!" "Too bad." Octavia chuckled to herself. - "I mean don't get me wrong, I see her as a great role model if that is the case, and arguably a strong case what with 'human world me' was also quite possibly mute but not me." "Alright." "But I'm VERY much am impress at what she was able to do and it's quite obvious she did quite well as she was able to snag a classy mare like yourself." "Yeah.... wait what?" "Well it's obvious they have a thing, have you seen how they reacted when they really got into there duo performances," Vinyl said. "Really? cause it seem more like a best friend thing." Octavia said. "And seriously Vinyl, you're a good friend and I'm stuck with you, but I don't swing that way. My family is rock solid on that." "I'm just joking 'Tavi!" " . . . have I ever introduced you to my big sister? I'm sure she'd LOVE to hear all your latest music." Octavia suppressed a grin. - "I'm kind of depressed, though," Lily said. "I know," Rose said. "They finally had a chance to show us as something other than panic-stricken mares, and..." "They show us freaking out over a wedding, and then a flower!" Daisy sniffed. "It's so sterotyped! Just because we're not facing monsters every day like the Mane Six, they think we faint at the drop of a bridle!" "Oh, that reminds me," Octavia said as she trotted up to them. "I was told on the way over by Fluttershy that she spotted some aphids on your flowers and -- ladies? Ladies!" She looked away from the unconscious mares. "Can somepony get a bucket of water, please?" On top of the studio, Princess Thalia startled, "I think we had some unauthorized infection from the heart world here." - "Excuse me, Sir." The Doctor blinked, looking down to see Diamond Tiara. "Yes, young Diamond Tiara?" "Where there any changes about my family?" The Doctor looked at his notes. "No, it appears not. You didn't even appear." "...Thank you..." The little filly trotted away. "Well that's out of the way." 'Yes, but on the bright side you kept your mother,' replied a voice in her head. 'I know...after letting you out to get mom back, I didn't want to lose her again due to some writing fumble or something...' was her reply. 'Hey! I'll have you know I'm reformed.' 'So you told me.' 'Hey, trust me, if I wasn't it'd be raining chocolate milk right now!' was the voice's reply. 'Whatever...I just wish they'd taken this chance to show me doing something besides being a bully,' the filly said, looking down. 'Hey, I thought we were over this when I showed you that world were you weren't a bully and lived happily, meaning you can be here, my niece.' 'I know, I just wish I had something to work with! At least you have a canon redemption!' '...Which I threw away because I actually regenerated a conscience and couldn't bring myself to throw away somepony I actually felt something for over my games...again...or the guy who bought mine on Ebray decided to return it...' On the studio roof, Thalia giggled. She looked to the spirit of a purple earth pony smiling beside her, then to the ghost of white pegasus with a yellow mane on the other. It'd taken a lot of effort, but she had succeeded in awakening enough of Discord's heart that the Discord Diamond released was a repentant soul. And also involved calling in several voices from the afterlife, multiple deities including Venus, a couple Elders, and ninety nine party ninjas. No one said that reforming the Lord of Chaos was easy, especially when Fluttershy was unavailable. 'Now I'm going to have to find out some way to actually introduce myself back into things without getting shot by rainbows...or solar flares...or solar flares THEN rainbows...' the voice in Diamond's head replied. 'Well sorry I inconvenienced you.' '...You know, my niece, my reformation in the Heart World, and here DOES bring up one point: if the Crown Prince of Chaos can bounce back, then why shouldn't a little child with her life ahead of her be able to?' '...Thanks...why are you being nice to me anyway? I don't remember that being part of the deal.' 'Well my ex and her entire family despises me, my mortal family has been dead for eons, my divine family hates me for the number of divine taboos I've broken, Ponythulhu is on his second honeymoon, Nythy is upset with me for turning good, Rota still has my Fate Net account blocked, and now I don't even have my games left. I needed a new hobby, so 'being guardian angel for my niece' sounded like a good one.' '...Thanks...uncle...' 'You're welcome...now can you please grab me some of those chips and dip them peanut butter ice cream?' 'Eew! Gross!' 'Don't knock 'em till ya try 'em.' --- 'Applejack?' Applejack jumped, looking around. "Pinkie Pie?" 'Can you talk to Lilly and her friends? I think they need you!' - Moon Dancer gasped. "I feel, SOMETHING . . . something . . . please, let me stay as me." - Applejack had been back at Sweet Apple Acres, just winding up to buck the first apple tree, when the voice spoke in her head. "Pinkie? Ah mean, Princess Thalia? Hang on a sec, Ah'm... ahhh!!" She grimaced and put a hoof to her aching head. "They made another episode? For pity's sake, Ah just got done cleanin' up after the last one!" She turned left and right, torn between rushing to Lily and dashing off to help Moon Dancer. "Ah can't keep up with this. Nopony could..." She froze. "No mortal pony could. But..." "Sis?" AJ looked up and saw, wonder of wonders, her family gathered, right here out in the field. Big Mac stepped closer, solid and reassuring as ever. "Sis, Ah just want you to know... If this is about what Ah think it is, we're here for ya." "Always were, always will be," said Granny Smith, putting a hoof over her heart. Applebloom bounced in place. "One hundred percent!" "You made a fine wolf," growled Snow Bound, suddenly present and lounging off to one side. "Power has not changed who you are." "Everybody..." breathed Applejack, having to brush a tear from her eye. "All right, then... Ah'll stop foolin' mahself, and admit Ah'm as ready as Ah'm a-gonna be." Everything seemed to sharpen around the farmpony, colors growing brighter and more distinct, more real. She floated right off the ground, curling into a ball... shining white light enveloped her, concentrated, then burst, leaving the air full of slowing falling sparks. Within the light, a new being spread wings covered in mirror-like feathers, then reared up, a long horn flashing. The old Stetson remained untouched, sitting atop golden locks of hair that drifted in the breeze of her magic. "Everything's crystal clear now," she spoke. "Ah don't use Truth ta hurt ponies. Ah don't force Truth on anyone... Ah say what the Truth is in this world. Ah *am* the Honest Truth." Her hooves came back down to earth, and she was surprised and a little embarrassed to find that she was taller than Big Mac now. "Oh ho, pretty fancy!" said Granny Smith, stamping her old hooves in approval. "So what should we call ya now, princess?" The Alicorn grinned. "Applejack, of course. Okay, technically I'm Veritas and the Page of Swords and a lot more things, but AJ is just fine with me." She blinked. "'Scuse me a sec..." Her horn flashed, and she teleported clear across town to the train station, where Minuette and Lemon Hearts were trying to comfort their weeping, shuddering friend. AJ offered a hoof to help Moon Dancer up. "That was a nice story and all, but that Moon Dancer in the Heart World *ain't* the Moon Dancer we know." Moon Dancer took it, then gasped and patted herself down, finding that she was entirely herself once again. "Wow... Thank you, thank you thank you!" - Twilight heard a knock on her door and blinked, coming over. "Pink-Princess Thalia?!" The Alicorn of Joy smiled. "Hi! Twilight!" "Hi...uh...with the party I kind of thought-" Twilight found herself in a bear hug so tight for some reason it caused her to sound like a squeeky toy. "I'm sorry, just...the party was for everypony BUT us. Applejack was invited because we needed her help..." "So...you still have time for me?" "Of course! I'm actually learning how to make Avatars specifically for that!" called Thalia. "That way that nasty scene that's supposed to happen next season can't happen at all!" Twilight blinked. "Okay...Pinkie, can you please let me go..." the mare admitted, looking a little blue. Thalia let her go, causing the unicorn take a gigantic breath. "Thank *coughs* you..." "Sorry! I'm not used to having Alicorn strength!" "It's okay..." "Cool...by the way, I need you at the party!" "Wait what-" The two suddenly disappeared in a tornado of confetti and reappeared next to the Gifted Unicorns. Twilight blinked. "Moon Dancer? Girls?...Applejack?!" Applejack blushed. "Howdy..." "...Why is everypony turning into Alicorns?!" Thalia incinerated a script behind her back with her new Alicorn magic. "Well in mah case, it makes what Ah got what ah need tah do here easier," she explained, spreading her wings and showing two wings, one in each wing. Unlike Nightmare Mirror's, they were both more organic in appearance, as if they were a part of her. Both were presently closed, feathers placed so telling they were there when closed was difficult at best. "And no, Ah ain't a Nightmare pretendin' tah be one, mah Nightmare can't close the eyes." "We can catch up on that later!" Thalia exclaimed. "You need to be here since the new canon involves you!" the Princess called. "Okay..." - Twilight frowned thoughtfully, still a little skeptical. "Forgive me for saying this, but... two plus two equals five!" Applejack smiled warmly. "Not true. But Ah don't think Celestia's prize pupil needed a farmpony ta tell her that." Twilight returned the smile, sheepishly. "So you really aren't Nightmare Mirror? You're... what, the personification of honesty?" "A little more than that, Twi," AJ corrected her. "Veritas, the Honest Truth. Call me Applejack." She held out a hoof, which Twilight politely shook, though she seemed a little confused. "It's been so long, it's like Ah'm meetin' everypony again for the first time." Thalia giggled. "I know, right?!" "Wait, wait wait, hold on..." Twilight had that "there's knowledge to be had!" grin. "If Applejack is literally the Truth now, does that mean she knows *everything*? Everything that's true?" Applejack had a good, honest, friendly laugh. "Yes, but that don't mean Ah'm your oracle or your personal library." Moondancer chuckled. "That *would* be a little too good to be true, wouldn't it?" The Alicorn nodded. "Some truths are better forgotten, and some ain't mine to tell. Life is about learning, and Ah can't take that away from ponies. Now, Twilight, Ah need ya to think back to just after the whole Nightmare Moon business. When's the next time ya went back to Canterlot after that?" Twilight blinked. "Why? Don't you already know? Is this some kind of test?" "Let's just say, the Heart World has other ideas about what's real and not, and who did what when, and one of my jobs is mediating between that world and ours. Always was, turns out. Long story." Twilight took a deep breath. "Okay... Celestia had most of my things packed and sent to Ponyville on the train for me. I went back about a week later to say goodbye to mom and dad and..." She trailed off. "And..." Applejack cleared her throat. "Yer brother. You wished you could have seen Shining too, but he'd gone off on a mission. He came and said goodbye to ya before that." "He.. he did, didn't he? Heh, I guess I was so absorbed in my studies then, I didn't realize what a big deal that was." AJ nodded firmly. "What about the place where ya lived in Canterlot? Is that still yours?" Twilight tilted her head. "Why would it be? It's a valuable private library. I returned the key, and Princess Celestia probably gave it to another special student or scholar." "And yer friends in Canterlot?" Twilight's ears drooped. "I... didn't really have friends in Canterlot. Just fellow students." Moondancer shrugged, and Lemon Hearts and Twinkle Shine glanced at each other a bit awkwardly. Twilight brightened up again. "I took them out for donuts, though. I'm really glad that we got to catch up again later and become true friends." "This is True," said Applejack. "Glad we have that settled." - "Hey Bon Bon! Guess what?!" "What?" "I'm a Gifted Unicorn!" "No you're not." "I am now!" - "You can't just suddenly BE one...can you?" Bon Bon asked. Veritas teleported next to them. "Does she WANT to be?" "...Yeah...I really do." "So yah want tah have done the studyin' and all that?" Veritas opened her wings, the eyes opening. One looked very similar to those on Mirror's wings...but the other looked kind, comforting. Compassionate. "...Yeah, if that's part of the deal, then I'll take it," Lyra said with a smile. "Then that's truth," Veritas replied, she said, smiling as her eye wings closed and she folded them. Tootsie promptly hug tackled Lyra. "Cool! You're a gifted unicorn now!" Moth chuckled. "...Congrats, Lyra." Bon Bon sighed, then just hugged her. "I'll accept it too..." - "So, I know it's a party, and we have a lot of snacks already," Thalia was saying, "but I just had to bake you an extra special Thank You cake!" Veritas braced herself, but Thalia held out a regular-sized cake in a regular-sized cake box, not a cake the size of a house or a fifteen-layer cake ready to topple over. Without even opening the box, she knew that the cake inside was incredibly scrumptious, decorated with two cartoon Alicorns hugging and frosted with crystalized joy. "Why, thank ya, Pinkie Pie. What's the occasion?" Thalia beamed. "Oh, you know, that thing you did that one time. Well, actually it was a whole lot of things that you did a whole lot of times, but if I baked a cake for every one of them, I would have needed a whole wheelbarrow full of cake, and you can just ask Princess Celestia what happens when Alicorns go eating wheelbarrows full of cake." Several years ago... Pinkie Pie paced frantically back and forth, then stopped to gnaw on her hooves. "Why did the Heart World have to go changing everything again?" She flipped through a pile of scripts, then flung them everywhere in an utter panic. "If I don't keep everything on track, we'll lose the connection! And then the Shadows Who Watch won't watch, and the Shadows Who Read will get bored and quit reading..." The pink pony talked faster, her voice getting more and more shrill. "And then the world will go away and I won't let that happen again!" She froze, twitching. "I won't... won't... won't!" "Pinkie Pie," called a voice with a country drawl. "Huh?" Pinkie looked left and right and turned her head completely around with no apparently harm done. "Pinkie Pie!" shouted the voice. She blink-blinked, then beamed happily. "Hi, mysterious voice that sounds just like AJ! You're... not one of the usual voices in my head." She gasped. "You must be new!" "Pinkie Pie, ya don't need to keep worrying yer head off. Keep doing what ya can, and Ah'll fix up the rest." Pinkie raised a hoof. "You promise?" She still couldn't see the owner of the voice, but she *felt* a warm smile that ticked and made her hair frizz. "Cross mah heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in mah eye." Pinkie blinked some more, then flashed a squeaky grin. "Okie doki loki!" The voice cleared its throat. "By the way, you have a secret party planning headquarters underneath Sugarcube Corner. That's where you are now. Ah jus' found out, and Ah didn't see no harm in it, so there ya go." Pinkie gasped, looking all around. "Coool!" In the present, Veritas chuckled. "Oh, that. Just doing mah job, an' all." - Now was just the question of how to wrap this up properly. - Gradually, the party wound down. Applejack politely declined to give Vinyl Scratch a synthesizer that could rocket down the street like one of Flim and Flam's machines. Filthy Rich thanked her profusely for Golden Tiara's sudden recovery, but Applejack claimed that it wasn't her doing, and promised that he'd know the whole story "real soon." Twilight Sparkle lingered until the end, hoping to have a chance to speak with Applejack alone, and she found the newest Alicorn on the roof, wings fluttering and mane flowing in the breeze, peering at the horizon. Was she watching Sweet Apple Acres, thinking about what her ascension would mean for her family? Or was she looking further, to the Everfree Forest in the distance? "Veritas... er... Applejack? I'm not disturbing you, am I?" Applejack glanced over her shoulder, smiling down at her. "Naw. I'm just a mite frustrated, is all." That gave Twilight pause. "Frustrated? You?" "Eeeyup. So much has changed... and still *some* ponies just had to go adventuring, and they're the only ones to do it, and Ah have ta keep mah nose out of it." "If there's anything I can do..." "Don't you worry none. We know, and those that can are doing everything they can. Promises have been made." "So you're not going to tell me what's going on?" fumed Twilight. "Doesn't it bother you, keeping all these secrets when you're Truth incarnate? Doesn't that make you *want* to share what you know?" Applejack gazed off into the distance again. "Ah must have gone back and forth with Mama Fauna Luster about that for, oh, a few thousand years at least." Twilight gaped. "You're joking. Wait, *can* you joke?" "Ah can count how many years it was, if ya really want to know. When Fauna Luster says 'Take all the time you need...' Heh. She doesn't send any of her foals out into the world half-baked, if she can help it. Now, what's eatin' ya, Twi?" "You know?" Twilight paused, then face-hoofed. "I've got to stop being surprised about things like this. Of course, you'd know." "Ah know because Ah'm your friend, Twi. You came up here making that face, and you already said how happy you were that Ah'm an Alicorn and all downstairs. Go on, tell me what's on your mind." Twilight took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. "It's about the Heart World. I tried not to read too much into all those glimpses we saw, but I couldn't help but notice that the other Twilight Sparkle is an Alicorn. I'm not, obviously. Should... I be?" Applejack mulled that over. "You should ask yourself... do ya really want to be an Alicorn? And if so, what for?" She paused, looking Twilight right in the eyes. "Cause all your friends are doing it? Is it *power* that yer after? Maybe it's the whole Princess thing... frou frou outfits, gold and jewels, cheering crowds, ponies bowing and saying Yer Highness..." Twilight giggled. "I'm not Rarity. And I'm surprised that no one's tried to haul you and Pinkie Pie off to Canterlot for a coronation yet." Applejack shrugged. The soft orange glow of her magic lifted a message scroll, then unrolled it and passed it to Twilight. "To the Princess of Honesty," Twilight read. "You are cordially invited to Canterlot Castle to discuss... at your earliest convenience..." Twilight blinked. "She signed it with a happy smiley sun face." Applejack grinned. "Is that bad?" "Better start picking out your crown, Princess." Twilight grew more serious. "Maybe it is 'cause all my friends are doing it.' You and Pinkie Pie have gone through this amazing transformation that I don't really understand at all. I wouldn't even know how to begin to do something like that myself. Well, besides the whole 'become a Nightmare and get cured...'" "No," said Applejack suddenly, with a frighteningly stern look. "Don't even joke about that." Twilight shrank back from her. "I..." She'd meant to say "I wasn't," but the words stuck in her throat. "I won't. I promise, I won't become a Nightmare! It's just... What if I was supposed to become an Alicorn, and I failed?" The unicorn shivered. "What if Princess Celestia expected me to become a princess, and I *let her down?* What if..." Applejack hugged her. It was like getting a hug from Princess Celestia. It was like being a little foal again, and knowing she could sleep safe and sound, because mom and dad had said there were NO monsters under the bed, because her parents would NEVER lie or trick her... Applejack stepped back. "Better?" Twilight blinked. "Actually..." She smiled, still a little dazed. "Yeah." "The reason you're not an Alicorn," said Applejack, "is because you haven't been tested enough. And that's partly because of Pinkie Pie and me... but don't you worry, Twi. You'll get yer chance to shine." She glanced towards Sweet Apple Acres again. "Say, how would you like to meet a pony from the Age of Wonders?" Yet again, Twilight Sparkle was left with her mouth hanging open. "You're just trying to distract me so I don't brood about not being an Alicorn." Applejack conjured a stalk of wheat with her magic and chewed on it idly. "True." "What were you planning on doing? Sending me through time again?" "Eeenope. He's right over there at Sweet Apple Acres, waking up and askin' Granny what's for lunch." Twilight's mane got slightly frazzled. "You... you wouldn't lie about that." She grinned maniacally. "You *can't* lie about that." "Also true. Oh, and he's a scientist! What are the odds..." "Can I meet him? Please, please pleeeease!?" "It's alright with me, Twi. Just go easy on..." They vanished from the roof in a purple flash of teleportation before Applejack could say another word. Ardashir (optional canon) Diamond Tiara froze as new knowledge swept over her. "My mom isn't -- who I thought she was? She's some petty, tyrannical, bullying mare who treated me like horseapples?" She began to weep. "NO! It's not fair! Some Shadow gave me a GREAT Mom, and now... now... I h-have to lose her?" Silently and invisibly, Thalia and Veritas looked on. They turned to each other, nodded, and let their magic flow. ### As Apple Bloom was knocking the inconsistencies and cruelties out of Equestrian history, she felt a twinge. "What th' hay?" She blinked and saw Filthy Rich, a younger and pudgier stallion, with two different mares. One looked cold-hearted, obsessed with status, eventually driving her daughter into becoming a cold and lonely mare. The other was happy about life, even when sickness caught up with her. She eventually overcame it and returned to her husband and daughter, and all three became not just stronger but better ponies for it. "Well, thet ain't no choice at 'tall ta make!" Apple Bloom guided Filthy away from that one expensive store he'd meant to visit and to a skating rink, where he met a mare who would become the mother of their filly. "Ah shore hope that does help Diamond." ### And in another realm entirely "... Thank you, Apple Bloom."