Apple Bloom woke up. She felt well-rested despite not having slept much. She rubbed her forehead feeling the horn protruding from her head. This was reality.
Apple Bloom got dressed and went outside. She saw that Applejack and Big Mac were already working on the farm. Boy, would they be surprised by her development.
“Hey guys”, shouted Apple Bloom, “guess what’s different about me!”
Applejack and Big Mac paused from their work to look at Apple Bloom.
“Jeez”, said Applejack, “is that what ah think it is?”
“Eeyup”, said Big Mac with a nod.
“Ah am becoming an alicorn!”
“But wait”, said Applejack, “alicorns have wings. You just have the horn.”
“Long story and you probably won’t believe me until you see Princess Luna – or as she now wants me to call her, Luna.”
“Ah did notice you were out of your bed for some time”, said Big Mac, “where did you go?”
“Luna brought me to Canterlot Castle. She was telling me about Twilight Sparkle and her struggles with the job. She said that she needed a pony to raise a moon and well..Luna decided that pony was me.”
Applejack and Big Mac were both speechless. This was surprising.
“You’ll see Luna tonight and maybe ah can help Granny get better with my new powers.”
“So what’s happening exactly”, asked Applejack.
“Luna is going to train me to become an alicorn during the nighttime. She’s gonna teach me all her special tricks and – poof – ah become the next Goddess of the Moon!”
“Ah think that’s real swell, sugarcube. Just don’t get your hopes up about Granny. Otherwise, couldn’t one of those princesses do something now to save her?”
“That’s a good point, but ah got my potions from Zecora. That and the alicorn magic could do wonders! Ah’m hopeful!”
“Well, ah would be thrilled if Granny is all better too! But no matter what, so proud of you – sugarcube. You know how big of a deal this is, don’t you?”
“No clue, sis. Ah’m gonna show off my skills. Even though ah have no idea how to use this thing. Oh, maybe Sweetie Belle can help me! Ah can impress Luna tonight!”
Apple Bloom decided to stroll around Ponyville showing off her horn to those who might care. The only dumb one was Snails who asked if it was a zit.
She then met up with Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and… Button Mash. Why did Button Mash have to go everywhere that Sweetie Belle went?
“Look what ah have on my head!”
“Woah”, said Scootaloo, “that’s so awesome. So you’re a unicorn now?”
“Well”, said Apple Bloom, “unicorn/earth pony. Ah still have my earth pony powers!”
“Did you just wake up with it or is there a reason”, asked Sweetie Belle.
“This is the part which is really going to knock all of you out. Ah had a visit from Princess Luna last night. She said that she is ready to relinquish her position fully and she was looking for a good replacement. And that replacement happens to be me, ah guess.”
“Damn girl”, said Scootaloo, “so does that mean you’re going to become a princess?”
“That’s the plan. Ah have to do some training to Luna. She said she’ll give my wings soon too.”
“Shit”, mumbled Button Mash, “that’s crazy.”
“Ah’m glad you can appreciate it, ‘Mashie’.”
Apple Bloom could see a quick scowl of jealousy from Sweetie Belle which went away in seconds. What? This drama shit again.
“That’s really impressive”, said Button Mash, “I don’t think an earth pony has ever transformed into an alicorn princess.”
“Of course”, said Sweetie Belle, “because Apple Bloom is perfect at everything she does!”
“That’s not true. Ah don’t even know how to use this horn.”
“But you’re getting special training from Luna. Soon you’ll be the greatest magical pony in the whole wide world. Even better than Twilight Sparkle, I bet!”
Apple Bloom could easily tell from Sweetie Belle’s tone that she was angry.
“Ah don’t think so. What do ah know about magic? Ah’m just a simple farm pony.”
“Oh, please”, scoffed Sweetie Belle, “you and your family are basically the backbone of Ponyville’s economy. Don’t give me that crap about simplicity!”
“Umm Sweetie”, said Button Mash, “I don’t think you’re being fair to Apple Bloom.”
“And what are you doing taking Apple Bloom’s side? What? Do you now want to be her coltfriend since she’s going to become some almighty alicorn?”
Apple Bloom felt awkward and just wanted to go home.
“Sweetie Belle, what’s gotten into you”, asked Scootaloo, “we are Cutie Mark Crusaders and we should always support one another.”
“Once Apple Bloom becomes a full-fledged alicorn, do you think she is going to still be a Cutie Mark Crusader?”
Apple Bloom was getting miffed.
“Without a doubt, Sweetie Belle”, responded Apple Bloom, “ah’m amazed that you would ever question my loyalty. Just because ah am doing what Princess Luna wants doesn’t mean ah won’t ever give up on the CMC!”
“I hope so”, said Sweetie Belle, “I’m sorry for my outburst..I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
“If you’ll allow me to still be your friend – ah will always be here. Like how Twilight Sparkle is there for her friends.”
“We barely see Twilight anymore though.”
“That’ll change once ah go to help Twilight with the moon. Ah would never abandon my friends and family!”
“Ok, I want to believe you. But taking Luna’s position isn’t easy – it will be hard work, not effortless perfection.”
“Ah agree with you, sugarcube. But ah will never give up on my friends. You should know that from last year.”
“Yeah, you lost. I know that’s a near impossibility for you.”
Apple Bloom didn’t exactly “lose”. She actually told Button Mash that Sweetie Belle was the better match for him and, honestly, it probably was true. Last year caused a huge riff between Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. It was the most messed up love triangle in the history of high school. Apple Bloom started off selfish and saw Button Mash as somepony needed to be won. But after she saw how it was destroying her friendship with Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom made the conscious decision to give up her pursuit. Especially when the pursuit was actually working, Sweetie Belle and Button Mash were a sorta-item for years but Apple Bloom had to interject herself into that when she decided that she wanted him. It was a mistake that she wasn’t sure that Sweetie Belle ever truly forgave.
“Ah make mistakes all the time and ah accept that. We all do. It’s life.”
“Well”, said Scootaloo, “I just think this is so damn exciting. A Cutie Mark Crusader becoming an alicorn! Can’t wait to hear about how the training goes.”
“Me too”, said Apple Bloom, “should be interesting. Luna said that she never trained a pony before.”
“So does that also mean you’re going to be able to go into other ponies’ dreams and stuff like that?”
“Yeah, Luna specifically said that would be part of my training.”
“I think it’s a great calling. I remember when Princess Luna helped me get over some of my fears back on that camping trip years ago. You’ll make a great alicorn.”
“Ah’ll see what happens. Honestly, don’t know the first thing about it.”
“Yeah you’ll have to tell us how magic works in an earth pony”, said Sweetie Belle.
“I suppose the same way that Princess Twilight Sparkle could fly when she became an alicorn or how Princess Cadence could do magic”, said Button Mash, “when you become an alicorn – you essentially take on all three of the pony races. So, I think we know the answer to that question already.”
“Only problem is, ah don’t know how to use this horn at all. Been thinking about it all day. How does the magic work? Doesn’t feel as natural as ah am sure it does for a real unicorn like Sweetie Belle.”
“I wouldn’t worry about it. I’m sure Princess Cadence went through the same thing.”
“Ah appreciate the encouragement, Button Mash.”
Nighttime was approaching. Apple Bloom was back at Sweet Apple Acres.
Despite it being a summer night, it was chillier than usual. The weather reports didn’t indicate this would happen. Apple Bloom wondered if the colder weather was by another design. She had no clue what to expect. Sweetie Belle didn’t seem to be in the mood to help and Apple Bloom didn’t have time to ask other unicorns in Ponyville. Apple Bloom still found it odd. Out of all ponies, Luna picked her. Was she deserving of this position and would she let Luna down? This must have been how Twilight felt with Princess Celestia every day of her life.
She knew her training was beginning – as she heard a booming voice from the sky, “Ms. Apple Bloom, tonight shall be the first of your lessons to become the next Goddess of the Moon! Are you ready?”