One Bolt, Spreading Harmony

by Boltsinger


Think Fast!

Applejack rose from her bed with a yawn bright and early. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes, looking out the window with a smile. “Ahhh… Another day of buckin’, haulin’, pressin’, and--"

“Applejack! I found another one for ya!” Apple Bloom called from beyond the door. “He’s gonna be over this afternoon! Yer gonna love ‘im, I promise!”

The farmer’s green eyes rolled at her sister’s statement. Well if I haven’t heard that a million times… “That’s… uh… great! Y’all head down to the kitchen ‘n I’ll get breakfast a-cookin’!” She pulled her hat into its usual place, sighing at the reflection looking back at her. Well, I guess I better get goin’... She put on a smile, trotting out of her room and into the house.


The next morning had come, and Applejack clamored into the castle foyer, panting like she had run for miles and leaving a trail of grape jelly in her wake. “Twilight! Twilight, I need ya! I need ya real bad!”

The Alicorn in question quickly emerged from the throne room, galloping up to her messy and disheveled friend. “Applejack? What’s wrong?”

Applejack forcefully placed her hooves on Twilight’s shoulders, bringing her face closer than was comfortable. “Boys, Twilight… Boys!”

Twilight cocked an eyebrow. “I’m not sure I follow.”

“It’s Apple Bloom! Every single day, she’s bringin’ some stallion over!” The Earth Pony elaborated. “Why, I’ve been on more ‘dates’ in the last two months than fresh apples on a perfect harvest! An’ I coulda swore that last one was gonna coat me in jelly!” She hung her head, her hat starting to fall off of it, but bouncing back with a glob of purple jam. “I’m plum tuckered, Twi… I just can’t take these crazy ‘dates’ any longer…”

Twilight looked her friend over. She hadn’t seen Applejack so tired since she had refused help during applebuck season so many years ago. “That does sound exhausting. Tell you what. Bolt and I are taking Nova to the Crystal Empire for a playdate with Flurry Heart. How about we get you cleaned up, and you can come with us?”

A weak smile made itself known in Applejack's face as she looked up with tired eyes. “Thank you kindly, Twilight… I could really use a break…”

“It’s no problem.” She replied, putting her wing around her and pulling her along.

After an hour of cleaning, a mildly refreshed Applejack emerged from the bathroom, flipping her mane and stepping confidently towards the foyer. “Now that really hit the spot!” She moved to a trot, enjoying the alone time as wing flaps began to grow louder above her. She smirked to herself, closing her eyes. “Howdy, Bolt!”

“Guess again!” A significantly younger tone teased.

Applejack opened her eyes, taking a look upwards. “Oh, Spike!” She scratched her mane as the dragon landed beside her. “Sorry ‘bout that. Still ain’t used to you havin’ wings.”

“It’s okay. Neither is the Crystal Empire!” He announced, putting his claws on his hips and flaring his wings. “That’s why they’re making an all-new statue of me to accentuate my new features!” He struck a dramatic pose, looking as if he were holding up a great treasure. It’s gonna replace the current one, and it’ll be even better, because I’m gonna actually model it this time!”

Applejack chuckled into her hoof. “So I take it you’re comin’ along, too?”

“Yup! Gotta give the Crystal Ponies a dose of their brave and glorious hero, after all!” He boasted, flapping his wings and starting ahead of her. “I’ll see you downstairs!”

A brisk trot later, Applejack was in the throne room, where Nova’s carriage was packed and ready. She took a look around the chamber, making a head count. Twilight, Spike, Boltsinger, and Nova were all grouping together by the crystal array and looking back at her. “So what happened to Scootaloo? Ain’t she comin’ along?”

“She’s with Rainbow today. Part standard training, part practice for the Sisterhooves Social.” Boltsinger explained.

“Ain’t that, like, three months from now?” The farm mare wondered, approaching the magical stones.

“And since when has that ever stopped Rainbow Dash?” The stallion deadpanned.

Applejack’s typical chuckle escaped her lips once more. “Yeah, you got a good point, there.” She turned to Twilight, stepping up and putting her hoof around her. “So, whatcha got planned fer us in the Empire?”

Twilight recoiled slightly, the thought of altering her plans not having occurred to her. “Well, I was planning on supervising the playdate. But it has been a really long time since we’ve done something together, just the two of us.”

Boltsinger looked at the mares with a confused tilt of his head, stepping between the mares and placing a wing on each of them. “Really? Care to give me a more exact time frame?”

Twilight breathed a sigh as she lit her horn, pulling the carriage to her husband and letting him clamp his teeth down on the handle. “Well, to put it into perspective, the last time Applejack and I did something between just us…” She reached for the main crystal in the array, which shone a brilliant white flash. In the next instant, the ponies stood in an identical crystal arrangement in the throne room of the Crystal Empire. “... was while the school was being built.”

Boltsinger’s jaw dropped as he flared his wings, twisting around to face them. “WHAT?!” He alternated his attention between Twilight and Applejack, growing more dumbfounded with each turn. “How have you not done anything together for that long?! Okay, that clinches it! You two are spending the day together, just you two. No choice. Gotta do it.”

“But what about Nova’s playdate?” Applejack inquired, pointing at the foal in the carriage. “Isn’t he gonna need Twilight there? I certainly don’t mind bein’ with the young’uns, either.”

“Oh, I can handle the playdate.” Boltsinger assured, putting his wings on his hips. “Besides, Cadence is gonna be there, too. It’s not like I'm soloing this!”

“What would you be soloing?” Another mare asked. The Pegasus turned back, seeing a tall Alicorn mare with a brilliant pink coat and pink eyes. Her long mane and tail were a trifecta of colors in yellow, pink, and purple with small swirls puffing out at the ends. Her wings, unlike any other Alicorn’s, had purple tips, and she wore golden shoes with a modest gold necklace to match, along with a small golden crown with a purple jewel at the top resting against her horn. The Cutie Mark that popped off of her flank showed a gorgeous crystal heart that featured golden decorations splayed out on either side. “Did something happen to change our plans?”

“Nothing, per say.” Twilight said, approaching the larger mare and pulling her in for a hug. “It’s good to see you, Cadence!”

Cadence wrapped her hoof around the lilac mare, tightening the embrace with a laugh. “You, too, Twilight.” She pulled away, stepping aside. “And I’m not the only one who’s happy to see you!”

“Uncle Bo-bo!!!” Came a younger-sounding cry. In that moment, Boltsinger was on the floor under a pink Alicorn filly with green eyes. She had a swirly bobbed violet mane and tail with a blue stripe running along the curl. Like her mother, her splayed wings made a shift in color, darkening as they made their way to the tips.

“GAAAAAH!” Boltsinger shouted, feigning a struggle and reaching for Twilight. “Twilight! Help! There’s a giant attacking me with hugs!”

The filly giggled, getting up to stand on the orange pony’s belly. “I’m not a giant! I’m Flurry Heart!”

Twilight smiled playfully, gingerly stepping forward and bringing her head close to the little pony. “Are you sure you’re Flurry Heart?” She examined her features closely as Spike produced a checklist. “Let’s see… Adorable mane…” She tousled Flurry’s mane.”... check! Adorable hooves…” She reached her wing forward, tickling the foal’s hooves and prompting her to rear up with a high-pitched giggle. “... check!” She looked the filly in the eye with mock sternness. “Let’s see… How would Flurry respond to… this!” She lunged forward, giving Flurry a series of rapid-fire kisses on the cheek.

Flurry Heart fell off of her uncle, laughing hysterically at the sensation, yet leaning into it all the same. “Aunty Twily, that tickles!”

Twilight stood up straight, smiling down at her niece. “Well, you’ve passed my test! You must be Flurry!”

Flurry bounced back up, putting her forehooves on Boltsinger’s belly and pressing down. “I told you! I told you! I am Flurry!” The Pegasus exhaled sharply, bringing his forelegs up around her with a playful yell.

“So what exactly would Boltsinger be soloing?” The elder Alicorn inquired, sitting next to her sister-in-law.

“Bolt seems ta think we gotta take the whole day to just do stuff together.”Applejack stated, joining the other mares. She turned to Cadence, tipping her hat. “Howdy, Princess. Long time no see!”

Cadence leaned towards the Earth Pony, holding her hoof towards her. “Well, if it really has been a long time, then I’m inclined to agree with him.” She pulled Nova’s carriage over; retrieving its occupant with a quick spell and nestling him in her foreleg. “I’m sure we can handle things here “

“But what would we even do?” Twilight queried, gesturing outward with her foreleg. “I haven’t made any plans for that! I’d need to at least come up with some kind of itinerary, or a schedule…” She produced the day’s schedule from the baby’s bags, going over it in detail. “I can work Applejack into what we already had planned, but…”

“Twilight, I’m going to suggest something that might confuse you.” Cadence started, magically pulling the schedule away. “Don’t worry about a schedule. Just spend time with your friend.”

Twilight recoiled, looking at her former foal-sitter like she belonged in the hospital’s mental ward. After a moment of silence, Applejack cleared her throat. “It’s called improvisin’ sugarcube.”

“I know what improvising is, Applejack.” The Princess of Friendship deadpanned. She put her hoof over her heart, striking a haughty pose. “I happen to be great at improvising!” A cool breeze blew through the room. Boltsinger and Flurry stopped playing, and all eyes in the room fell upon the purple pony Princess. “What?”

All the grown creatures in the room save for Twilight laughed hysterically, sending a sour look onto the younger Alicorn’s face. Flurry walked up to her mother, nudging her hoof. “Mommy, why is everypony laughing?”

Cadence wiped a tear from her eye, putting her hoof around her daughter. “Because, sweetheart, your Aunty Twily has never been prone to… thinking on her hooves.”

Twilight’s eyes grew dramatically wider as she let out an offended huff. “And what makes you think that?”

“Well, for one, ya have a checklist for what to write on yer next checklist.” Applejack noted.

“You have about thirty documented methods to sort the library…” Boltsinger added. “Last I checked, at least. I may have lost count, now that I think about it.”

“And you have books on how to have fun in that same library.” Cadence concluded. “You’re so organized and scheduled that I don’t think you’ve improvised anything since the day I met you!”

“What about that balloon I made when we ran from the Storm King?” The lilac Princess suggested. “That took some quick thinking!”

“Please, I saw you planning that in the cargo hold for three whole minutes!” Spike retorted, waving a dismissive claw.

“Admittedly, still impressive.” The stallion stated. “But still not quite thinking on your hooves.”

Twilight growled to herself, standing up and walking to the door. “I don’t have to follow a schedule, you know!” She spat, stomping her hoof. “And I don’t actually plan every little thing I do!”

Applejack sent a smug look over to the Crystal Princess and the blue-maned stallion, giving a wink as she looked back at the huffy Princess. “Oh yeah?”

Twilight spun around, sending a challenging glare back “Yeah!”

Applejack stood up, leaning towards her friend. “Prove it!”

“I will!” She lit her horn, wrapping the farmer in her magic and dragging her along with her as she stormed out of the room. “Come on!”

The door behind the mares slammed shut, leaving the remainder of the room’s occupants in a befuddled silence. After a few moments, Nova erupted into a fit of laughter.


Twilight trotted out into the Crystal Empire proper with Applejack in literal tow, stopping next to the Crystal Heart. She released her friend from her grip, looking around at the Crystal Ponies. “Okay… Time for some…” She swallowed a lump in her throat. “Unscheduled… fun!”

Applejack nudged the Princess on the side of her barrel, giving her a sly glance. “Gonna be great, huh?”

A wide and insincere grin made its way onto Twilight’s muzzle. “Yeah… Great!” She landed on a place where several ponies walked out with delicious-looking meals. “How about we get something to eat?”

“Heh, that’s an easy one!” Applejack dismissed, starting for the establishment. “But, sure. Let’s eat!” Twilight cheered internally, letting a satisfied smile take hold as she trotted after her.

After a sweet berry treat, the two set out from the bakery with Applejack giving Twilight another challenging look. “So… What’s next…” Pondered the Alicorn, looking around again. She stopped at her favorite building in the city besides the castle, pointing her hoof ecstatically. “Oh! How about the library?”

The challenging look turned into a deadpan. “Really, Twilight?”

Twilight laughed sheepishly, averting her eyes. “Okay, you’re right. Too predictable.” She briefly fluttered her wings, hovering forward a bit. “How about we take a look around? I’m sure I can think of something if we keep going!”

“Uh-huh. Whatever you say…” Applejack said, following along. “You sure ya don’t need time to think o’ sumthin’?”

“I’m certain! We can just as easily have fun…” She swallowed yet another throat lump. “... without a plan!” The Princess stressed, moving to a huffy trot. She stopped momentarily, something having caught her eye. “How about that?” With that, the trot turned into a canter, and the work horse gave a knowing grin.


The next several hours turned out quite differently than Applejack had expected. Twilight would suggest something that caught her fancy, and the two would approach. They started simple, opting to fly kites. Starlight did it all the time, so the two figured it would be easy. Twilight assembled the toys while Applejack secured the string, and just like that, the kites were in the air. And just as quickly, the kites hit the ground. They made several attempts to remedy the problem, but each time, they wound up with apple and star patterned messes on the ground. Sharing a brief laugh, they chose to move on.

Up next, they came upon a jousting match in progress. Twilight thought for a moment, then pushed her Earth Pony friend forward, signing her up and teleporting a suit of armor onto her. Applejack gave her a defiant glare, but the Princess would not be assuaged. The knight, Applejack took on all comers that day, and none stood in her wake. Twilight let out an excited giggle, wrapping her friend in her magic and flying off into another part of the city.

“Okay, this is getting fun!” The Princess admitted, taking a look at the city from a bird’s eye view. “I wonder what else we can do?” Her eyes skimmed the streets, coming to the northern exit and growing large. “Aha! I know!” She swooped down next to a store with a scarf sign next to it, letting her friend loose once more.

“What is it?” Applejack wondered, looking inside.

“You’ll see!” Twilight teased. She trotted into the store, coming out after a few minutes with a pair of shopping bags and floating one over to her orange-coated friend. “Here! Put these on!”

Applejack looked into the bag, finding a set of boots, a scarf, and a winter hat all in a bright shade of green with white fluff. “What do we need this for?” She looked over at the Alicorn, who now wore her own boots, scarf, and earmuffs in a bright yellow as she glanced back over her shoulder.

“Because you need to dress warm to go out in the snow!” She replied, fluffing her wings. “Come on! There’s only so much day left!”

The blonde mare smirked, tossing the contents of the bag in the air and jumping up to meet them. In one fluid motion, she slipped into the boots, wrapped the scarf around her neck, and replaced her hat with the warmer variety, gracefully landing before her friend and catching her stetson with her hoof. “Alright, then, let’s get goin’!” Twilight squeed, lighting her horn and transporting them to the outermost edge of the city, where she stepped through the barrier that kept the endless winter at bay with the farm mare in tow. The air was almost brutally cold, making Applejack glad that Twilight had prepared them, but the sight of the snowy hills was a refreshing one. They ventured further out into a valley, where Applejack looked at the cliffs above. “So, whatcha wantin’ ta do now that we’re--" A blast of cold mixed with solid impact nailed the farmer’s face, leaving a splotch of snow on her cheek. “-- here…” She turned back to see Twilight standing there with her horn alight, three snowballs hovering in a circle next to her. “Oh, y’all done it now!”

Twilight smiled back, tossing the snowballs at her opponent and lifting a mound of snow up in front of her like a wall. “Bring it on, Applejack!” She was met with a veritable torrent of snow falling down on her, covering her to the point where only her horn poked out. She dug herself out, sending a playful glare at her.

Applejack rolled on the snow, laughing at her own antics for a moment. Returning to the task at hoof, she piled as much snow as she could in front of her to imitate Twilight’s wall. From there, she began packing as many snowballs as her forelegs would allow. She rose up from her cover, once again pelted by a sphere of snow with a magical force behind it. She shook her head, raising an enormous snowball above her head. “No shields, now!” With that, she hurled the mass of ice crystals with all of her might.

Twilight stared in awe at that which was flying at her. She let out a shrill noise as she ducked behind her fortification, finding it crumble behind her under the weight of Applejack’s attack. Smiling, she crafted an immense number of snowballs with her magic, taking half of them and discreetly rolling them over to the opposing side of the game. “You look like you could use some ammunition!”

“Why, that’s mighty kind of ya!” The opposing pony replied. “But yer still gonna lose!”

A short burst of laughter escaped the Princess’ throat as another round of snowballs were packed together. “Says you!”

From there, it was a veritable snowball storm. Twilight had given up on using her magic to throw her ammo, instead opting to throw by hoof. She regretted her decision almost instantly, though, as the need to rise up gave Applejack a much easier target. They went back and forth for several minutes, forelegs growing sore and feeling the bite of the cold more than ever. Applejack was knelt behind her snow fort, breathing heavily as a chill wind coarsed its way down her back. “So… We callin’ it a draw?”

Twilight, likewise behind her fort and panting, raised a hoof. “Sounds good to me!” She admitted. “Besides, it’s getting really cold. Honestly, a little too cold, considering what time it is…”

Applejack chuckled, slowly beginning to raise her head. “You think so, too? Feels like I got a cold breath goin’ down… my…” She trailed off, widening her eyes at what she saw behind her friend. “Uh… Twilight…”

Twilight’s head rose from its slouch, looking back at her. “Yes, Applejaaa--... Oh my gosh!” She pointed her foreleg at her, her face contorting with fear.

Behind each of the mares, and with two more on the deeper side of the valley, sat large lupine creatures made entirely of blue ice. They had glowing yellow eyes, and breathed onto the backs of the ponies they hunched over. Twilight and Applejack each looked behind themselves, turning back to each other. They simultaneously jumped into the air, letting out an ear-piercing scream and running towards the valley’s entrance with the monsters close behind.

“What in Equestria are these things?!” Applejack inquired, galloping closer to her friend. “They remind me o’ Timberwolves, but… Ice!”

“I remember correctly…” Twilight started, dodging a lunge from the lead creature. “They’re called Tundrawolves! They’re--" Another dodge to the side as another wolf attacked. “-- related to Timberwolves, but they live so far north that only the Yaks and a few of the Crystal Ponies have ever seen them!”

Applejack leaped as high as she could to avoid another lunge, landing next to Twilight. “So, what’re we gonna do about ‘em?”

The Alicorn looked back at their pursuers, starting the gears in her head. “They’re so close to the Empire… They could--" She jumped to the side to dodge another bite. “They could--" Another lunge came, forcing her out of the way again. Twilight gritted her teeth, trying to find her thoughts once more. “They could--" Once again, a Tundrawolf dove forward, sending the Princess flapping into the air to just barely avoid the incoming bite. She let out a loud combination of a growl and a groan. “I can’t think!!!” She declared, descending to hover above Applejack. ”Every time I try to come up with something, these stupid wolves make me dodge out of it! I just can’t get a solution that fast! I’m no good at improvising!” She lowered her head, repeatedly banging on it with her hoof. “No good… No good… No good!”

“Calm down, Twilight!” The Earth Pony demanded, jumping up and bonking the Princess on the head. Twilight’s head wobbled a bit, prompting her to look down at her shakily smiling friend. “I get it, yer not great at doin’ things without a plan. But ya did great today! And I need ya to keep that up! All ya gotta do is just think o’ sumthin, and then do it!”

Twilight thought back on what all they had done that day. Yes, it had been unscheduled, but, aside from the pickle they found themselves in, they had a wonderful time. She closed her eyes and brought her hoof over her heart, taking a deep breath. On the exhale, she extended the same hoof outward, letting the panic blow away. “Thanks, Applejack, I needed that."

“No problem, Twi.” She affirmed, dodging yet another attack. “Now, you were sayin’ sumthin’ about how these Tundrawolves could do sumthin’ this close to the Crystal Empire…”

Twilight’s eyes flashed with a spark of magenta lightning as she performed a sharp inhale. “Right! I was saying that simply running isn’t going to work! We might get away, but with them lurking outside the Crystal Empire, things could snowball out of control!”

Applejack showed her own look of realization, looking back at the Tundrawolves. “Wait a minute…”

Twilight landed next to the orange mare, looking back, then over at her friend. “I get it…”

“SNOWBALL!” They exclaimed in unison.

“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Twilight queried.

Applejack slyly smiled at her lilac companion. “Eeyup!”

“Okay! Keep them occupied!” Twilight directed, flapping her wings once more. “I’ll be right back!” She flew ahead, lighting her horn to create a magical circular scoop in front of her that dug into the snow.

Applejack nodded, slapping her own flank and whistling back at the wolves. “Come on ‘n get me ya dang varmints!” She picked up her pace, swiftly dodging every lunge and swipe from the Tundrawolves with an audible “YEE-HAW!!!” as she went. After another minute of galloping, Applejack skidded to a stop, turning around to face the monsters. The beasts had likewise slowed down, hunching over and making a slow approach. Their icy breath seemed to freeze the stone beneath them as they took another step forward. “Y’all might not wanna do that…” The pony pointed out, sending them a vicious smirk. The wolves stopped, tilting their heads. Applejack pointed a hoof behind her, where a snowball twenty times her size was held in place by a magenta magical field. The wolves made a motion to look as if they were laughing, opting to continue their approach. “Okay, then. Yer loss!” Applejack raised a hoof, turning upwards. “Let ‘er rip, Twilight!”

“You got it!” Twilight answered, redirecting her magic to lift her wingless friend up above the mass of snow. She turned away from the ball as the farmer landed next to her, and the two mares gave the snowball a hard simultaneous buck. The snowball slowly began to roll, eliciting a yelp from the lead wolf. It scrambled on the hard ground, turning around as best its frictionless body could, but soon found itself swallowed up the the tightly-packed engorgement of snow. The other wolves cried out in kind, running away as fast as possible, but the snowball had begun to pick up speed. In seconds, the remaining three wolves were poking humiliatingly out of the rolling snowball like their leader before them. Twilight and Applejack turned to face their handiwork, putting on satisfied grins and bumping hooves.


“Hoo-wee!” Applejack cheered, swinging her foreleg in front of her as she and Twilight re-entered the throne room. “Now that was a good time if ever I knew one!”

“I take it your unplanned outing went well?” Cadence wondered, rising from her throne and approaching the two of them. Her mane was in a state of disrepair, but a smile was ever-present on her muzzle as Boltsinger and the foals galloped past the door behind them with the stallion making a noise like a wolf.

“It was an… interesting day… to say the least.” Twilight admitted. She looked fondly at the friend she had spent so much of the day’s time with. “But I learned that I shouldn’t be so quick to deny my faults when they’re laid bare. My stubbornness led to some unnecessary stress, and a lot of danger…”

Applejack slapped the back of the Princess of Friendship with her hoof, sending her reeling forward slightly from the impact. “Don’t fret s’ much about that! My stubborn pride’s gotten in my way so many times, I think it might just be the only lesson I ever learned!”

Twilight beamed back at the farm mare, pulling her in for a hug. “Thanks, Applejack. I’ll make sure to keep that in mind!”

As the embrace broke, a winded stallion plodded into the room, slumping onto the floor and weakly raising his hoof while a pair of tiny Alicorns trotted in after him. “Tag out! Tag out! I can’t keep up anymore!”

Flurry Heart giggled, trotting with her cousin over to Twilight. “Aunty Twily! Will you play with us next?”

Twilight hunched over in front of the foals, putting on a wide smile. “Sure! What are we playing?”

Flurry happily fluffed her wings, adorably smiling back. “Wolves!” Twilight recoiled, looking back at Applejack. The two shared a laugh as Twilight shrugged her shoulders. She sat down on the floor, tilted her head back, and let out her best impression of a howling wolf.