//------------------------------// // 124. Fireside Chat // Story: Azure Edge // by Leaf Blade //------------------------------// Rarity and Applejack’s trek back to their hotel room was a long and silent one. There was a lot to process about the evening’s events, and neither one seemed keen to speak, even though they both knew a conversation was inevitable. As the two got comfortable in their rather posh hotel room, Rarity lying on the bed and looking up at the ceiling while Applejack sitting on a comfortable-looking reclining chair in front of the fireplace, one of those magic fireplaces that didn’t have an actual flame per se, but still gave the room a very cozy atmosphere and really tied it together. “Rarity?” Applejack’s soft voice felt like a sledgehammer shattering the fragile glass of the silent atmosphere, and yet Rarity wasn’t exactly surprised that it was her who spoke first; Applejack could be quite stubborn, but Rarity could give her a run for her money. “Applejack?” Rarity replied listlessly, not even bothering to sit up. “We gotta talk, don’t we?” Applejack said, and Rarity heard Applejack cracking her knuckles. “About tonight? ‘bout that manticore, and—and what this means for goin’ forward?” “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean,” Rarity said coldly. “C’mon, Rarity,” Applejack hissed. “Cut the crap and just tell me where yer head’s at.” Rarity sat up immediately with a mind to admonish Applejack for her rudeness, but the severity of Applejack’s expression made her think twice. “I apologize,” Rarity said humbly; she realized she had no excuse to be rude either. “Yeah,” Applejack mumbled, “me too.” “Anyway,” Rarity groaned, cradling her head in her hands, feeling that her damn brain was ready to tear itself apart at any moment. She took a deep breath and reclaimed a modicum of composure. “I can’t pretend I didn’t see what I saw today. And I can’t act like it’s unrelated to everything going on with Twilight, but—” Rarity paused and bit her lip. “You still don’t wanna believe it?” Applejack asked, and while hearing those words stung Rarity’s pride, she couldn’t deny them, and she simply nodded. “Yeah, I’m kinda in the same boat.” “R-really?” Rarity asked, ears perking up; she felt so stupid over all this, like the truth was staring her directly in the face but she was too weak to see it, but hearing Applejack—a pony Rarity so admired for her strength and confidence—admit to struggling with it too, that gave her some hope. “Yeah,” Applejack sighed and laid her elbows on the arm of the chair, intertwining her fingers and placing her muzzle atop them. “It’s hard, ain’t it? To just accept with open arms the idea that you’ve been fed a lie yer whole life.” “It’s a bitter pill to swallow, as they say,” Rarity mused. “Right,” Applejack nodded. “But it ain’t gonna get any easier to deny what’s right in front of us.” “True, but—” Rarity bit her lip and dug her nails into her legs. “I still—I still want a touch more evidence before I can really make a judgment call. Is that horrible?” “No, that seems fair to me,” Applejack shrugged. “Two things linin’ up could be a coincidence, but three things is definitely a pattern.” “Right,” Rarity said cautiously; while Applejack’s support did make her feel somewhat better, she still felt a rancid feeling in her gut, like she was watching herself make a horrible mistake but couldn’t bring herself to stop. “What about you, Applejack? What are you thinking?” “I’m thinkn’ exactly what I said,” Applejack chuckled. “We’ve been fed a big ol’ lie our whole lives, and while acceptin’ that ain’t easy, I’m mighty sick of havin’ the wool pulled over my eyes.” “Is it that easy for you?” Rarity said, her tone a mixture of awe and disgust. “Is it so simple to believe that the Queen—that Celestia would—” “I dunno nothin’ ‘bout Celestia, hon,” Applejack shook her head, “whether she’s bein’ tricked like the rest of us, or if she’s the one doin’ the trickin’. All I know is what’s right in front of me and what my gut says, and my gut says that Twilight’s been nothin’ but a friend to all of us since we met her. And I don’t think I could live with myself if I turned my back on her now.” “I wish I had that confidence,” Rarity chuckled but there was no humor in it. “Ain’t confidence,” Applejack shrugged, “it’s faith. I believe in Twilight, and I’m willing to bet on that belief. That’s all.” “I wish I had your faith then,” Rarity said, falling onto her back on the bed. “I just can’t bring myself to make a decision unless I’m absolutely sure, and I need to confirm the truth with my own eyes.” “That’s okay, Rares,” Applejack said, Rarity looking over to see a bright smile on Applejack’s face. “If there’s one thing I am confident about, it’s that you’ll do the right thing.” “I hope you’re right.”