//------------------------------// // 3 - The Stranger // Story: Single Point of Failure // by TobiasDrake //------------------------------// Dear Princess Celestia, I was the youngest of two in my family. My big brother, Shining Armor, would always go out of his way to look out for me. He played with me, helped me learn where he could, and protected me when I needed help. I miss him dearly, but that’s not why I’m writing to you today. She’s already sent you a letter about this, but today, Apple Bloom infected herself with Cutie Pox in an attempt to earn her cutie mark, and in that instant, I felt closer to my brother than I ever have. I knew what he must have felt like all those years, looking out for me. It no longer mattered what I had to do to achieve it, I was going to save her from the affliction. It only took one look from Applejack to know she felt the same way. Apple Bloom is family, so we weren’t just going to do anything we could, we were going to fix it, end of story. But it’s very interesting that I would feel this way, because she isn’t my family. My family’s at home in Canterlot. I think the Apples have started to embrace me as one of their own and, just as strongly, I’m beginning to feel the same sense of belonging when I’m out at the farm as I did with my brother. In particular, Big Macintosh reminds me a lot of him, and although he can be hard to read, I feel like he watches over me all the same. I’ve offered to help Apple Bloom with her homework. She’s a very clever filly but her grades don’t seem to reflect that. I know she’s smart enough to excel in her classwork. I think she just needs a little push in the right direction and although I adore Applejack, she’s not going to be passing an algebra test any time soon. Besides, it gives me a way to fit in with these ponies who are not and yet, in a strange way, suddenly are my family. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle With a yawn and a stretch, Rarity rose. It was a quarter past too early and the sun hadn’t even risen yet, but she needed to get an early start on her final modifications. She had a delivery order due in Canterlot today and because of Applejack’s fiasco, she’d barely even come close to finishing last night. Stumbling out of her boudoir, Rarity stopped by the kitchen first to make herself a pot of tea. She still hadn’t quite managed to undo all the damage from the last time Sweetie Belle was over, but at least the stove was in working order. After putting the kettle on to boil, she headed into the workroom, but her eye was caught by a small, folded slip of paper lying in front of her door. Levitating it with her magic, she unfolded it to read. Rarity, Everything’s gone so wrong and I don’t know what to do. Could you come by today? I could really use a friend right now. Twilight She sat down and thought for a moment. These dresses really needed to be in Canterlot today, but she supposed the final modifications wouldn’t take too long. Certainly there would be time to stop by the library on her way to the train. “Come now,” the stranger said to Applejack. “Whatever it is, it can’t be so bad. Why don’t you show me a smile?” The stranger didn’t say much else to her after that, on account of the fact that she kicked him in the face. She didn’t remember much past that until she woke up in an unfamiliar bed, but in a familiar cottage. “You’re very lucky she only nicked you,” she heard Fluttershy say from downstairs. “Applejack is very strong and most of it is in her lower body. That could have been a lot worse. I’m terribly sorry, I don’t know what could have come over her. She’s usually...well, she’s not always very nice, but she doesn’t lash out like that. Often. Only sometimes.” “Why, it’s quite alright,” the stranger replied. “My fault, I’m sure. That cutie mark of hers marks her as a farm pony; I should have known better than to be standin’ behind her while she was in distress.” Sitting up in her friend’s bed, Applejack tried to remember what happened last night. There was the rain and the strange pony, and she was out there because… Then it all came back to her like a bucking leg to an apple tree. The fight. The stupid, stupid fight. Had she actually picked a fight with Twilight over not picking a fight with her? That was insane. “Twilight,” she spoke to the empty room. She remembered the feel of the unicorn sleeping up against her in Dodge Junction. That was just two nights ago. How had it all gone wrong so quickly? “Oh, you’re awake,” Fluttershy spoke from the door. “That’s wonderful news. I was very worried about you. What happened last night?” Applejack breathed out a heavy sigh. “I made an idiot of myself and said some dumb things to Twilight, that’s what. I need to speak to her!” Applejack tried to get out of bed, but the moment her front hoof touched the floor, it shot a jolt of pain through her entire leg. She tumbled face-first into the wooden floor and flopped off the bed. “OW! What in tarnation?” Applejack rolled over on her side. She tried to stand, but the pain hit her again the moment she put pressure on her front right hoof. Fluttershy raced over to her. “Stop that! It’s never going to heal if you keep agitating it!” Applejack couldn’t find it in herself to care what Fluttershy was on about. She had to get to Twilight. Forcing herself up on her other three legs, she started to hobble towards the door. “Applejack, please,” Flutershy pleaded, “You need to rest.” “I can rest when I’ve spoken to Twi,” Applejack answered. As she hobbled towards the door, the stranger came up to block her. “You need to listen to her, uh…Applejack, is it?” Applejack shot a violent glare into the Stranger’s face. “I already kicked you once; don’t think I won’t do it again. Ain’t nobody stoppin’ me from gettin’ to Twi.” “Perish the thought,” the stranger answered, backing down the stairs. “But you’re hardly in any condition to make the trip. Wouldn’t it be better for--” “You’re both out of your minds. It’s just a sprain. I’ve harvested in far worse condition than this!” But the stranger insisted, “At least let me help you walk. It’s the least I can do after that unpleasantness last night.” “Don’t need your help,” Applejack retorted as she limped down the stairs. “I got three good legs and I’d make this trip on two if I had to.” “Please, Applejack.” Fluttershy followed her down the stairs. “If you won’t take our help for yourself, then do it for me. You’re my friend. I can’t watch you do this to yourself.” “Then don’t! I appreciate what you’ve done for me, Fluttershy, but this is important, consarnit! This is about Twilight, and I…I….” As she tried to form the words, the memory struck her like a freight train. I Pinkie Promise that no matter what happens ‘tween you and me, I will never let our relationship come before the friendships we’ve built. Those were the words she’d spoken to Twilight the day she asked her out for the first time, and they stung hard right now. Applejack sat down hard right there in Fluttershy’s living room. “Twi….” she whispered again. Her heart was splitting in half and, worse, she had no way to deal with it. She choked back a tear, afraid she might start crying all over again if she let it happen. “Here,” Fluttershy slid under Applejack’s bum leg and helped lift her. She knew it couldn’t have been easy for the pegasus; muscle isn’t exactly light to lift. Still, Fluttershy gave every ounce of strength she had to help her hobble over to the couch. If her heart weren’t broken, she’d be grateful. “I’ll go speak with the Doctor and get him over to look at you,” Fluttershy offered, but Applejack raised a hoof in objection. “Don’t need a doctor,” Applejack’s voice had lost much of its energy. “I need two things right now. I gotta patch things up with Twilight, and I’m goin’ to need my brother to help get me home. I’d rather them in that order, if you could.” “Okay, I’ll try to find Twilight for you,” Fluttershy told her. “Cardinal, could you keep an eye on Applejack for me? I would appreciate it.” “Why, of course,” the stranger nodded. “It’s the least I can do.” “Thank you. I’ll be back in a bit.” As soon as Fluttershy had closed the door, the stranger spoke up. “Now I’m afraid we may have gotten off on the wrong hoof. The name’s Cardinal Peaches. I run a farm down in Mareietta.” “Good for you,” Applejack grunted, laying her head on her hooves. Her mind was racing to think of what she would say when Twilight got here. I was a great big jerk and I’m sorry and-- “Thank ya kindly. If I do say so, we make the best peaches this side of the Ghastly Gorge. Well, not this side, of course, but you take my meaning.” “Great.” I am sorry, ain’t I? I mean, I shouldn’t have gone off at her like that. She didn’t deserve that. She’s probably boilin’ with rage about it and I just sent Fluttershy right into that ‘cause I’m a great big-- “Yes, I do like to think we are. But we could be better. I heard there’s a wonderful apple farm out here in Ponyville, and I’d love to spend some time trading secrets and learning the tricks of their trade!” “That’s nice.” ‘Course, it bein’ Twi and all, might be that she just went inside, wrote a letter, and went to bed. ‘Dear Princess Celestia, today I learned that Applejack’s a huge jerk.’ …nah, that ain’t bein’ fair to her. It ain’t like the Princess don’t have us all writin’-- “So, I happened to notice your cutie mark. I take it you work on the apple farm? Do you think you could possibly put in a good word for me with the proprietor?” “Eeyup.” Everythin’s just gotten so complicated since Twi and I started seein’ each other. It weren’t supposed to be like this, it was supposed to be…well, I don’t know what it was supposed to be, but-wait, what’d I just agree to? “Thank you so much, that would be absolutely splendid!” Applejack came back to reality, turning a sharp glare towards Cardinal. “Look, I’m gonna be frank with you, I don’t really know what you’ve been yammerin’ on about for the last couple minutes, and I don’t rightly care none either. Apparently it’s slipped your notice, so let me spell this out for ya: I am havin’ a fight with my...” “Your Very Special Somepony?” Cardinal offered. Applejack hesitated, then answered dejectedly. “No. Just a dear friend who I love very much. And until I get that handled, you might as well be the mailpony for all I care.” But Cardinal’s cheerful smile just wouldn’t be fazed. “My apologies, then,” he told her. “I see I’m not doing much to endear myself. Tell me, then: while we are waiting for your friend to return with, uh…Twilight, you said earlier?” “Yep, that’s her.” “Right. While we wait for your friend to return with Twilight, is there anything I could do to help you? Bouquet of flowers from the market, perhaps? Box of chocolates from the bakery?” Applejack thought for a moment. “Y’know, there might be somethin’. Tell you what, why don’t you head on into town and find Carousel Boutique. You’re lookin’ for a unicorn named Rarity. Don’t mention my name, she ain’t happy with me right now, but if you could just ask her how Twi’s doing and if she’s mad about last night, then I’ll introduce ya to the farm.” “You’ve got yourself a deal,” Cardinal told her as he stood up to take his leave. “Whatever I can do to help, I’m always happy to oblige.” Applejack waited for him to leave, then slumped back down again. Pompous jerk. Least that got him out of my mane for a couple hours. Now I can get back to thinkin’ about important stuff. She sighed. Wonder if Twilight’s even noticed I’m gone. “Twilight? Come on, Twilight, it’s going to be noon in a couple hours.” Spike nudged Twilight’s back, but she just wasn’t moving. “You said you were going to help me reorganize the library when you got back.” Twilight remained still as a stone in the same place she’d been all night: curled up on top of her bed, wrapped around Applejack’s hat. Her eyes were red and bloodshot from crying all night and Spike wasn’t entirely sure whether she’d slept. “Would you at least eat something?” Spike asked. “She left me,” Twilight answered quietly. “Yeah, but you found her, didn’t you? You got that hat from somewhere.” “She’s gone.” “Then couldn’t you just go to where she is? After you help me reorganize the library, I mean.” There came a knock at the door, prompting Spike to start back downstairs. “Okay, I’m going to go see who that is. Then we’re going to have a serious discussion about you eating something.” He greeted the pony at the door, “I hope you can talk some sense into her because Twilight just isn’t listening to me.” “Oh, dear,” Rarity replied, stepping over the threshold. “Is something the matter?” “You tell me. Twilight’s upstairs in bed and she won’t move. She’s been clinging to Applejack’s hat and crying all night. You did manage to bring her home, didn’t you?” “That’s a rather sensitive subject,” Rarity grumbled, “but yes. Allow me to give it a try.” Rarity marched up the stairs and stopped a moment, taking in the sight before her. “Oh Twilight,” she sighed. “Look at you. Your mane is frizzled and your coat is positively sticky with tears. What could possibly be so bad?” Twilight gave a dry sob, then squeezed the hat in her front legs. “We broke up,” she whispered. “Well, that’s terrible news.” Rarity came around the bed to be closer to Twilight. “It’s always rough and I’m sure she didn’t make it easy on you, but you should know that I think you made the right choice.” Rarity rested a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder. “It was better in the long run that you finally put an end to this experiment of yours. I’m just so sorry for whatever she said last night that must have--” Rarity looked up at Twilight and was shocked at the glare she received from her. This kind of anger was a very rare and special thing to see. It took a lot for Twilight to start expressing her rage openly. “Applejack broke up with me last night.” She removed her hoof from Twilight’s shoulder, thinking. “But that can’t be right. She’s been head over hooves in love with you for moons now. Why would she do such a thing?” “I don’t know.” Twilight turned back to the hat, softly biting down on it. “Are you absolutely certain that’s what happened? Did she actually say the words, ‘Twilight Sparkle, ah reckon ta break up wit’ y’all’?” “Well…no….” Twilight thought about their argument. “She yelled at me a lot. And I might have snapped at her too.” Rarity breathed a sigh of relief. “Then the world isn’t ending yet, darling. You’ve simply experienced what we call a lovers’ tiff. Give her a day or two and she’ll be right back here, pleading on your front porch and crying, ‘Oh Twilight, kin ye ever forgive me fer mah wicked doin’s?’” Twilight rolled over to look at Rarity. “Your Applejack is terrible.” “Perhaps,” Rarity smiled, “but yours still loves you, I'm sure of it. Now, chin up! I have a delivery I must attend to, but you are coming with me and I am going to treat you to the absolute finest that Canterlot has to offer.” “No,” Twilight shook her head, biting down on Applejack’s hat again. “M’gonna stay here and see if she comes back.” “I’m afraid I must insist. Despair is one of the least attractive looks for a pony. Imagine she does show up and your mane is all a mess, your eyes red and crusted over. Why, whatever would she think of you?” “That I spent all night crying because I care about her.” “And wouldn’t you instead want her to see you in the finest dress Canterlot has to offer, with hair that will make her eyes fly out of her head and your horn sparkling like it’s never done before?” “No.” She bit down on the hat yet again. “M’gonna stay here and wait for her.” Rarity sighed. “Then you’ve forced me to use drastic measures, I’m afraid.” Rarity’s horn glowed with energy as she levitated the hat up and out of reach. “Hey!” Twilight shouted. “Give that back!” Twilight’s own horn began to glow, preparing the magic to pull it back. Rarity knew she wouldn’t win if it came to a struggle, but she had no intention of fighting about it. As soon as Twilight was on her hooves, Rarity plopped the hat right back down on her head. “There,” she said. “Now you can bring a little piece of Applejack with you. I assure you that if she shows up, she will undoubtedly leave a message with Spike, and upon your return, you can run as fast as your legs can carry you to the farm, where you will no doubt be greeted by a shining sun and the singing of birds as you leap into each other’s embrace. And you will look amazing doing it.” Rarity continued, “Or you can stay here and open the door smelling like wet hair and congealed desperation. If that’s really what you want, then I’m not going to fight you on this anymore. She’s your Very Special Somepony. Only you can decide how much that’s worth.” Twilight let out another sob, lowering her head as though she were trying to sink into the hat. Rarity softened up immediately. “Oh, dear, did I push too hard?” “A little,” Twilight rubbed her eye with the side of the hoof, but there was no tear to wipe away. Her eyes still burned with dryness. “But you might be right. I’ll go with you to Canterlot. I can’t make any promises and I’m not taking the hat off, but we said we weren’t going to put our relationship before our friendships and I have to keep up my end of that.” "That's the spirit," Rarity commended her. "It may not look like it right now, but I promise you the sun will come out tomorrow." ---------- “Good morning, Lyra!” Pinkie Pie greeted as she skipped out the door of Sugarcube Corner. “Good morning, Bon Bon! Happy anniversary to you both!” Lyra smiled. “Thank you, Pinkie. I’ll never understand how you do that.” “Oh, I’d never forget an important anniversary!” Pinkie trotted along. “Good morning, Cheerilee! I hope you have an excellent day at school!” “Thank you, Pinkie.” “Good morning, strange new pony!” “It’s Cardinal.” “Have a great--” Pinkie stopped suddenly and gasped. “Strange new pony?!” Cardinal lowered his front end in a bow. “Cardinal Peaches is the name. Strange New was my uncle, and boy howdy, did that stallion put us through some rigors. I’ll never understand how he got cinnamon to grow inside the peach.” That got a quick laugh out of Pinkie, but then she remembered the important step. “I should probably go get my Welcome Wagon. WAIT RIGHT HERE!!!” But before she could disappear, Cardinal flashed a smile. “Now, I don’t mean to be a bother. Your smile alone is welcome enough, Pinkie Pie. I have heard the legends of your hospitality told from miles around, but I must say they do not do you justice. Why, I’ve never seen a mare so easily brighten up a town.” Pinkie giggled. “I do my best to help all of my friends.” “And they are luckier for it. But on that note, if you could help me find the Carousel Boutique, I would tremendously appreciate it.” Pinkie perked up. “Oh, that’s my friend Rarity’s shop! It’s right this way!” “Thank ya, darlin’. I’d be lost without ya.” Pinkie cheerfully led the way towards the Boutique, but was startled by Cardinal shouting suddenly. “Fluttershy!” he shouted at the air. “Hey, down here!” Pinkie wasn’t quite sure how he spotted her way up there, but before long, Fluttershy was descending upon them. “What are you doing out here?” she asked Cardinal. “I thought you were keeping an eye on Applejack.” “What’s wrong with Applejack?” Pinkie asked, but she was ignored. “She asked me to go talk to Rarity. I don’t think she’s comfortable bein’ injured ‘round me. I’m guessin’ she’s hard as steel and doesn’t like to show vulnerability?” Pinkie and Fluttershy both nodded in agreement. “I tried to talk to Twilight,” the pegasus offered. “She wasn’t at the library, though. I spotted her and Rarity getting on the train to Canterlot. But she was wearing Applejack’s hat so I think that’s a good sign.” “Good sign about what?” Pinkie asked. “I mean, it sounds really cute and I’m going to make her show me as soon as she gets back but you guys are talking like they’re having a fight or something.” Cardinal and Fluttershy both gave Pinkie a glance, prompting her to gasp. “THEY’RE FIGHTING?! And no one told me?! This is unacceptable!” she declared. “Now Pinkie,” Cardinal reasoned. “Fluttershy and I are on this. Speaking of, you said Twilight’s going to Canterlot? Any idea when she’ll be back?” “No,” Fluttershy shook her head. “I was just about to leave a message at the library.” “Nah, don’t worry about that,” Cardinal told her. “I already took care of it. Spoke with the little dragon tending the place and told him to pass the message along. I’m sure this will all blow over before ya know it.” Fluttershy breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Cardinal. I should head down to the farm and find Big Macintosh. I hope you have a good day.” “And the same to you,” Cardinal gave Fluttershy a bow. “You’ve already proven yourself a better friend than anypony could ask for.” Turning behind him, he greeted, “Now Pinkie, do ya mind…Pinkie?” It was only then he realized he was alone. ---------- Applejack carefully lowered herself back onto the couch. She’d insisted she could handle herself on the sprain and she meant it. Getting some water was a simple matter of hobbling into the kitchen and hobbling back, being careful not to put too much pressure on it. As she lay back down, she wondered how long it would take Fluttershy to return and what that strange gasping sound was. “FLUTTERSHY DIDN’T SAY YOU WERE HURT!!!” Pinkie Pie screamed from the side of the couch, nearly knocking Applejack off of it in shock. “Oh my gosh! What happened?!” “It’s just a sprain, Pinkie.” Of all the things Applejack didn’t want to be dealing with right now, Pinkie…well, she wasn’t so bad. Long as it wasn’t that peach-stamped city-slicker trying to pass himself like he knew the first thing about working a real farm. “I tripped after the….” Applejack was reluctant to finish, but Pinkie did for her. “After the fight? I heard about you and Twilight. You’re going to make up, though, aren’t you?” Applejack nodded. “That’s the plan, anyway. Fluttershy went to get her for me. I need to tell her I’m sorry.” “Oh,” Pinkie deflated a little. “Twilight went to Canterlot with Rarity. Fluttershy says she was wearing your hat, though! So that’s a good sign! I mean…unless it was just hot out. Then she might have worn it to keep her head cool.” Pinkie sat down and started thinking. But Applejack perked up a little to hear about her hat. “So that’s where that got off to. Thanks for tellin’ me. It’s a load off my--” She was interrupted by a sudden gasp. “You don’t think Twilight and Rarity are going on a date, do you?!” “What? Nah, that’d be stupid,” Applejack answered without missing a beat. “Twilight wouldn’t up and replace me like that, especially not this quickly, and Rarity would never trod on my hooves like that.” “Oh, okay. Well, we left a message at the library so she should stop by the farm tonight.” Pinkie happily nodded to herself. “Best thing for you is to get lots and lots of rest! And I’ll be here to help!” “I appreciate it, Pinkie.” ---------- “There you go! You look simply ravishing,” Rarity stepped back to admire the luxurious dress she’d managed to talk Twilight into. “I mean, it’s far from perfect. It could use a few more sapphires to really bring out your eyes and, of course, there’s the matter of the…uh….” “I’m not taking off the hat,” Twilight growled. “That was a ground rule.” “I know, I know.” Rarity sighed. “Never mind, we shall have to work around it! Let me think, what goes with violet and brown….” Twilight tried to take a step, but the dress was tight in all the wrong places and restricted her movement. “Maybe I don’t need a dress,” she offered, but Rarity would have none of it. “Of course you need a dress! You can’t go looking like you just crawled out of bed when you make amends with Applejack!” Struggling to keep her chin up so the dress didn’t restrict her breathing, Twilight answered, “Applejack’s not fond of fancy things anyway. I really don’t think I need all this. And besides, if I did need a dress, I’d ask you for it. You know my measurements and my style better than these aristocrats ever will.” Rarity sighed. “Very well. Play to my ego. You know I can’t argue with that logic. Let’s get you out of that dress and see about finding someplace for dinner.” It took two clerks and Rarity to disassemble the ensemble that had been selected around Twilight, but once freed, she gulped in as much air as she could and promised never to take breathing for granted again. Before long, they were out the door and looking for a diner. It had been quite a long day. Rarity made time to stop for lunch after learning that Twilight hadn’t eaten since entering her despair coma, and then they had to make her delivery. Twilight mostly sat on her own for the next two hours, dealing with her unpleasant thoughts, before Rarity finished up. After that, it was one polite rejection of beautifying after another. The spa! The manedresser! The jeweler! Rarity had tried her best, but Twilight just wasn’t taking any of it. At this rate, she was bound to return home even more unkempt than when she left. But that was ultimately her choice. Rarity could only open doors for her; Twilight still had the right to choose which ones to walk through. “Oh, this place looks lovely!” Rarity announced. “La jument doree! How sophisticated! Come along, Twilight, we are absolutely eating here.” Twilight simply nodded and followed her inside, allowing the maitre’d to show them to their table. Sitting down with their menus, Rarity looked across the table. Twilight looked even more miserable than when they’d left Ponyville, and she hadn’t even realized that was possible. “Twilight,” she started, “would you like to talk about it?” Twilight fiddled with her menu. “I don’t know.” She looked into Rarity’s eyes as if searching for an answer there. “Will talking about it make me feel better? Or will it just make me feel worse? I’ve never felt a pain like this before. It’s like my heart is ripping in half. Deep inside me, I feel empty, like something really important is gone and I know that something is Applejack.” Twilight put her hoof over her heart, trying to understand. “I’ve been without Applejack before. I spent most of my life without her. Not being with her should be my default state. I don’t understand why I don’t just revert back to that state when she’s gone. Why can’t I just turn off these feelings and then turn them back on when I see her again?” “Because that’s not how love works, darling.” “Then it’s wrong!” Twilight insisted. “This was supposed to be a trial experiment. The point of a trial is to be able to shut it down if it doesn’t work out, but this data set is completely out of control. It’s invaded me and changed me on such a deep level that I don’t even know if I could stop it if I wanted to. I thought when we started that if it didn’t work out, we would just go back to being friends. That was the point. But now I can’t even fathom being friends with her! I don’t know how I ever was!” Twilight was starting to come unwound, to Rarity’s great alarm. She had seen her like this before and it wasn’t pretty. Twilight grumbled, “I can’t picture her smiling and not want to kiss her. I can’t look at those muscles and not want them wrapped around me. Can’t even hear the word ‘sugarcube’ without melting a little inside, and that’s going to make being friends with Pinkie incredibly awkward going forward. I messed up, Rarity. I set us on a collision course and now it’s too late to take it back. What do I do?” As the waiter approached, Rarity took a deep breath, trying to process everything Twilight had just unloaded on her. “Well, the first thing you do is hand me your menu because you are clearly in no condition to be ordering. I will get you something nice.” A sharply-dressed unicorn stopped at their table. “May I--” Rarity cut him off. “She would like carrotes roties avec pommes emaillees and I will take your salade hachee with my concombres on the side, thank you.” As she levitated their menus to the waiter, Rarity was surprised to hear a giggle from Twilight, followed by her whispering to herself, “She’s speakin’ fancy,” in an attempt at Applejack’s twang. She shot a curious look at the lovestruck unicorn, who cast her eyes down apologetically and said, “It’s something Applejack…you had to be there.” “I’m sure it was hilarious,” she replied. “…well, it wasn’t at the time, but it’s one of those cute things that sticks with you and--” Twilight stopped abruptly, then slowly put her face into her hooves. “I can’t even get her out of my head when we're fighting. What do I do?!” “Well, the next thing we need to ascertain is whether or not you even want to. If you’ll recall, I warned you that there could be dire consequences for this experiment of yours. You have forever altered the nature of your relationship with Applejack. The first question you need to answer is whether you approve of this change. I want you to look deep inside yourself and answer one simple question: if you could do this all over again, would you?” Twilight stared at the table searching for an answer. After a minute, she slowly nodded her head. “I’ve learned so much since I’ve started seeing Applejack. I liked what we became, and I liked the way I felt when she was around. I feel like she’s improved my life in ways that I didn’t even realize needed improving. The thought of having never experienced any of that…no. I’d rather lose her now than never have had her in the first place.” Twilight took a deep breath. “Wow. I might need to write a friendship report--” “Save it for when we’re done,” Rarity chided her. “So now that we have determined that you don’t even want to go back to the way things were, I hope that puts to bed your fears about not being able to. Let’s talk about where you go from here. I don’t have the best track record making assumptions about this and I’m rather tired of being a mule’s end, so why don’t you tell me what this fight was about?” Twilight shook her head. “I don’t even know. She just went off. She was furious. I think I must have hurt her terribly and I still have no idea how or why.” Rarity blinked a couple times in confusion. “Wait, she went off on you? What could she possibly have to be upset about? The level of patience you’ve already shown her is nothing short of legendary. If my Very Special Somepony had tried to pull a stunt like what she did, they’d be sleeping in the Everfree Forest for a week!” Rarity huffed. “Honestly, how you can be so forgiving of her is beyond me.” Twilight looked up. “I haven’t forgiven her.” “Excuse me?” Rarity asked. “You certainly don’t seem like you’re holding a grudge.” Twilight took off Applejack’s hat and squeezed it to her chest. “She lied to me. She lied to all of us, but it’s worse because she lied to me and...I don't even know how that's worse, but that feels worse. She lied and she tried to run away from me. I don’t understand how she could abandon me like that.” Tears began to form in Twilight’s eyes. “She really wasn’t coming back. I’ve tried to tell myself it would only be for a short while, I’ve tried saying she didn’t mean it, that she’d come back to her senses, but I don’t know and it hurts that she would even consider leaving me that way. It feels like there’s a deep gash in my heart that just won’t heal.” As Twilight sniffed in a vain attempt to push back the tears, Rarity was stunned. “I didn’t know,” she whispered. “None of us knew. Why didn’t you tell anyone you were hurting this badly?” “I did,” Twilight sobbed. “I wrote a letter and I told Princess Celestia all about this strange new hurt I was experiencing. But I didn’t want to make a big deal in front of everyone because all I wanted was to bring Applejack home. I got that. She came home. What was there to gain from fighting about it?” “Oh, Twilight.” Rarity stood up from her seat, walked around the table, and gave Twilight a hug. After a moment, Twilight returned it. She sniffed one more time as the tears subsided, and once they were gone, Rarity released her. As she stepped back, she noticed their food had come while they were distracted. “I’m sorry,” Twilight whispered. “Never apologize for needing to cry. Sometimes the only thing you can do is let it out, especially when you’re hurting. I’m not saying you should have started a fight with Applejack, but you should talk to her about your feelings. Let her know that she’d hurt you. Talk about what she did and why she did it, so you can understand where you sit with her.” Twilight hesitated but slowly nodded. “You’re right. I need to talk to her about it.” “And maybe also find out why, in Celestia’s name, she thinks she has any right to be angry with you.” Twilight nodded at that too, then stopped suddenly, staring at her plate. “…are those glazed apples?” Rarity smiled. “I thought you might appreciate a taste of home.” Using her magic to levitate one of the apples from her plate, Twilight took a bite and closed her eyes, visibly savoring the taste. She looked as though it was the sweetest thing she had ever tasted. “Thank you, Rarity. I’m really glad I agreed to come out here with you. You helped me figure out a lot tonight.” Rarity smiled warmly. “You’re absolutely welcome. Honestly, that fuss you threw this morning was a little overdramatic. After a letter like that, what was I going to do? Just ignore a--” Twilight perked up, confused. “What letter?” “The one you wrote this morning.” Twilight shook her head. “I didn’t write you a letter.” “Oh, posh. I have it right here.” Rarity levitated the letter out of her satchel and floated it to Twilight, who stared at it as though it were diseased. “Rarity, I didn’t write this. When would I have written you a letter? I was crying on my bed all night.” “But that doesn’t make any sense. Who else would have written this? Spike?” Twilight stared at her plate in thought. Then she took another piece of apple and closed her eyes, clearly savoring it. Rarity idly wondered if she’d be writing a letter on the effects of comfort food in short order. “It’s possible,” Twilight answered. “He might have been trying to get someone’s attention to help me, because I was ignoring him.” Something about that answer didn’t seem to sit right with her and she went quiet again. “Well, whoever wrote it, it seems to have worked out for the best. Now let’s finish up so we can catch the next train home.” ---------- “Are ya comin’ in?” Apple Bloom asked her sister. Despite her injury, Applejack had insisted on staying out and watching the road since Big Macintosh helped her limp home. There was something different about her that Apple Bloom couldn’t quite place. There was a sadness that seemed to emanate from her in waves. “Nah, you get to bed,” Applejack answered her, sparing a moment to glance down at her before resuming watching the road. “I’ll be right here if ya need me.” Apple Bloom started back towards the house, then stopped and looked back at her sister. She didn’t know what it was, but there was something about that forlorn look that broke her heart. Walking back over, she weaved under Applejack’s front leg and sat down in front of her. “Then I’m waitin’ too.” “Hey!” Applejack scolded. “Ya got school tomorrow. Ya need to get to bed. Twilight…” she choked a moment, then breathed. “Twilight worked real hard to help get your grades up. I won’t have ya throwin’ it away ‘cause you were worried about me.” Apple Bloom looked up at the pain visible on her sister’s face. “Where is Twilight? Why wasn’t she helpin’ us get you home?” “I don’t know,” Applejack admitted, staring at the road again. “Sometimes things have to change, Apple Bloom. We don’t want ‘em to. We fight hard as we can to keep ‘em from doin’ it. But sometimes we don’t get a choice.” The fear and uncertainty in Applejack’s voice resonated within Apple Bloom, and before she knew it, she was scared too. “You make it sound like Twilight’s not comin’ back.” “Truth is I don’t know,” Applejack answered. “I said some things I shouldn’t and she…well, I ain’t ever known how to read her. A closed book wrapped in a purple ribbon, she is. Fluttershy says there’s a message waitin’ for her, so I guess we’ll see what comes. But that ain’t for you to worry about. Go on and get to bed, ‘fore I holler at Big Macintosh to fetch ya.” Apple Bloom couldn’t resist anymore after hearing that. Twilight might not be coming back? That was the worst news she’d heard since…forever, maybe! As she started to go, she stopped suddenly and pressed her head into Applejack’s side. “Love you, big sister.” Applejack gave a brief glimpse of a smile, then rubbed the top of Apple Bloom’s head with her hoof. “I love you too, sugarcube. Now get.” ---------- The sun had already set when Twilight finally returned home to the library. The door was slightly ajar and it was dark inside. Did Spike go out? Why would he leave the door open? Stepping inside the library, Twilight used her magic to light the candle on the table and was assaulted by the condition of the library. The shelves were completely bare, with their contents thrown around the room. The library’s vast collection of books had been discarded on the floor and table, some with visible rips and tears from the force with which they were thrown. The flower vase by the window was smashed. The ladder lay knocked aside. Twilight raced up the stairs but her room was no different. Whatever hurricane had torn through the library had ripped her room to shreds as well. The drawer of her bedside dresser had been ripped open. Her mattress lay against the wall with her pillow torn open. But where was-- “Urgh….” Twilight heard from downstairs. She raced back down to see Spike crawling out from under the table. “What happened?” Spike squinted a few times as his eyes adjusted, and then they went as wide as pancakes. “The library! What happened?!” “That’s a good question,” Twilight answered, causing him to jump. He turned to look at her. “Twilight? You’re home?” But she ignored his inquiry. “Are you okay?" she asked him. "What happened here?” Her mind was already racing. Spike might be a little tyke, but he was still a dragon. Overpowering him would have been no easy feat. “I…I don’t know. There was a visitor. He was…I think he was asking about a book. Then everything went black.” Spike had seen a visitor? It had to be the person who’d attacked the library. “I need details. What did you see?” Spike sat down and rubbed his head. “He was big, I think. Something seemed off about him. Like, I thought he was an earth pony, but then he wasn’t. He might have been a unicorn? I don’t know, it’s like I have all these different memories of him competing over which one he actually was.” “And he was asking about a book? Did he say which book?” “I don’t know. He was stammering something. It was like he couldn’t focus. Then he turned on me and…” Spike stopped, eyes wide open, and trembled. “It’s okay, Spike. You don’t have to continue.” Twilight levitated the table and set it in front of the door. “That should hold it in case he tries to come back. Tomorrow, we’ll sort through the books and figure out what’s missing. If we know what he took, it might help us figure out what kind of creature we’re dealing with.” “Yeah.” Spike looked down, dejectedly. “Twilight, I’m--” “It’s not your fault,” she interrupted. “I’m just glad you’re safe.” She gave him a smile, but her mind and heart were competing to see which could race faster. Why now? Of all the times this could happen, couldn’t it just wait a couple days?! “Spike, I hate to ask you this while you’re still recovering but have you heard anything from Applejack? I thought she might stop by while I was out with Rarity.” Spike shook his head. “Nopony came by except…whatever that was.” “Oh.” Twilight swallowed hard, trying to push her heart down out of her throat. “I see. Thanks anyway.” Looking out at the night sky, she wondered where Applejack was now. She spent one last hope that she was thinking of her, then turned her attention back to the library. “I can’t do this tonight. I have to get some sleep. Do you mind if we start in the morning?” Spike nodded. “That sounds like a good idea. We can spend tomorrow solving this. Good night, Twilight.” ---------- With a long day behind her, Rarity finally approached the front door to the boutique. She was looking forward to getting some-- “Rarity? Is that you? I’ve been lookin’ all over for ya!” A blue stallion with a peach-shaped cutie mark emerged from the darkness of Ponyville at night. “Yes, can I help you?” she asked suspiciously. “Dagnabbit, Rarity, it’s me! Cardinal Peaches! We met at Fancy Pants’s soiree!” “Oh!” Rarity suddenly straightened up. “It’s a pleasure to see you again. What brings you to Ponyville?” “Keep a secret?” Cardinal asked. “I’m lookin’ to get in good with your local apple farm. My peaches are the best but they could be even moreso, and my workers could use all the trade secrets they can get.” Rarity nodded. “Well, that is quite a commitment to have come all this way by yourself.” “Yeah, well, my daddy always said your business is only as good as the work you put into it. No truer words have ever been spoken. But it ain’t lookin’ so hot. I don’t think that young missy down at the farm likes me too much.” Rarity grunted. “You’re referring to Applejack, I presume. Yes, her head seems to have become especially thick as of late.” Cardinal nodded. “So, to cut to the chase, I was wondering if you might have a spare room you’d be willin’ to rent out for a day or two? I’d be happy to help out around your shop.” Rarity nodded. “I do have a guest room. I usually reserve it for my sister, but what kind of pony would I be to turn an old acquaintance out into the cold? Come on inside. I’d be delighted to help.” ---------- Apple Bloom woke up to find the moon still shining from high in the sky. She was still tired, and it was well before time to get up, but thirst doesn’t care what time it is. Crawling out of bed, she opened the door and started towards the stairs. Then she stopped. She could hear a strange noise echoing from nearby. She stopped, listening very carefully, and crept slowly across the hall to Applejack’s door. Pressing her ear against it, she could almost make out…was that crying? Apple Bloom had almost never heard her sister cry. The sound was strange and foreign, and it terrified her. She rest a hoof on the door and considered knocking, but thought better of it. There was no telling how her sister might react if she knew she’d heard her. Walking away, she gave one last look back at the door, then went downstairs to get her water. When she returned, she climbed into bed and tried to get to sleep, but she just couldn’t get the sound of her sister crying out of her head. Instead, she stared up at the moon and wished for Twilight to come home.