//------------------------------//
// The Answer 
// Story: Robot Pony 
// by Dreadnought 
//------------------------------//

"Twilight?" called Applejack.  

Nothing.

"Twilight, Ah'm here with your weekly delivery of apples!"

Still nothing.  The castle was eerily deserted.

Applejack dropped a sack of apples off in the kitchen.  "Where could she be?  It's not like her to leave the castle unattended," she wondered.  

Applejack wandered the hallways looking for her friend.  Finally, she came to the library, which really she should have checked first, for hunched over a table was Twilight.  Her head lay on a stack of books, drool coming from the corner of her mouth and saturating the parchment on which she had been working.  With every snore her wings twitched a little, and occasionally her horn would momentarily bear a faint glow.  

Applejack couldn't help but smile.  It was so cute.  The scene reminded her of times when Apple Bloom would fall asleep while planning crusades for her cutie mark.  

Turning towards the door, she stopped.  She knew Twilight would be upset that her drool was ruining her hard work.  Applejack walked over and gathered up the parchment, glancing down at the work.  "Huh," she muttered to herself.  Well, best to help a friend out.  Applejack borrowed a quill and scribbled the answer.  

Suddenly her vision was filled with a bright orange light and she felt herself torn apart....





Applejack stood on a cloud, staring up at a starry sky.  It was like something from a long forgotten dream.

In the distance a shape approached.  Its blurry form slowly cleared to reveal Princess Celestia.  

Applejack bowed, "Princess."

"There's no need for that," chuckled Celestia.

Applejack stood upright.  "What's going on?" she asked, rubbing her head.

"You're one of the few ponies to come here.  It's a very special place."

"Where are we?"

"It's the magical plane.  It's where Twilight came before she ascended."

"But why am Ah here?"

Princess Celestia paused.  "I'm not sure.  What were you doing before you teleported?"

"Well, Ah was in the library, and there was this scroll Twilight was workin' on.  Ah knew the answer so I wrote it down."

"Awe, I see.  That was a special project I had given Twilight.  Ponies since the beginning of time have been looking for the answer."

"Really?"

"Yes.  And by finding the answer, you have done discovered something that not even the great Starswirl The Bearded could find.  For this, you will be rewarded."

Applejack shifted uneasily.  "Does that mean what Ah think it means."

Celestia nodded.  "Yes, you will be returned to Ponyville, but not as the earth pony you once were.  You've ascended to become an alicorn - Equestria's newest princess."

Shaking her head, she said, "Ah don't believe it."

"You've come such a long way Applejack.  Your destiny awaits.  But, before you transform, tell me: What is the answer?"

"The answer?"

"The answer to the greatest question of them all."

"Uh - well...."

"There's no need to be humble, Applejack.  You can tell me."

"Well, okay then."

Princess Celestia leaned forward in anticipation.

"Forty-two."

Celestia blinked.  "Come again?"

"Forty-two."


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