The final bell rang and all the students ran to the schoolyard to meet with their parents. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo spotted Applejack from afar and rushed towards the farm filly’s bigger sister. She wasn’t alone as Big Macintosh towered next to her, a single grain of wheat sitting between his front teeth.
“Howdy y’all,” Applejack greeted. “How was school?”
“It was interestin’,” answered Apple Bloom, giving hugs to her siblings.
“Interestin’ huh? Well I got an interestin’ proposition myself for the three o’ y’all. Big Mac and I’re goin’ into town to pick up some extra barrels for the annual First Week of School celebration. Granny Smith is takin’ her afternoon nap, so how’d y’all like to come and give us a hoof pullin’ them barrels over to the farm? I do pay handsomely ya know.” She winked at the last comment.
“Sure, we can do it!” cried Apple Bloom.
“You can count me in,” added Sweetie Belle.
They both looked at Scootaloo. “You guys go ahead. I kinda already have plans.”
“Really? What plans?” asked Sweetie.
“Oh you know, just your normal run-of-the-mill plans. Nothing special.”
“Well, you’ll surely be missed sugar cube.” The farm pony turned to her two assistants. “Well now, we better get a move on. We gotta be home by seven ‘fore Rarity shows up to pick up Sweetie Belle.”
The four ponies started towards Ponyville waving to Scootaloo as she walked the opposite way. They marched out of the schoolyard and into the narrow dirt path that led into town. They were nearing the hill on which the old tree sat when Sweetie Belle suddenly remembered the cocoon she promised to show her friends before class.
“Hey Applejack. When we get to the top of this hill, is it okay if I show Apple Bloom something hanging on the old tree? I promise it’ll only take a minute.”
“Sure thing Sweetie Belle. I don’t see how a lil’ detour could hurt.”
As soon as they arrived at the top of the hill, Sweetie led Apple Bloom to the tree. She pointed to the end of the old branch where the leafy cocoon swung gently in the wind. The farm filly gasped with wonder.
“Mah, I’ve never seen anythin’ like it. It looks so much like a leaf.”
“I know, isn’t it the coolest?”
The two older ponies arrived at the scene and allowed their excited sister to present them the discovery.
“Well I’ll be,” said Applejack. “That’s one mighty fine cocoon there. She’s gonna be one beautiful butterfly someday. Ain’t that right Big Mac?”
“Eeyup,” he replied.
“Wow, I’m so glad you guys love it just as much as I do,” said Sweetie. She turned her head towards Ponyville. “Not like my sister.”
“Well, we pony folk who live off the land find joy in nature. In fact, a cocoon like this here beauty always reminds me of how mysterious and wonderful life really is. Puts an extra kick in my step.”
The four walkers continued their journey to Ponyville down the hill and into the crowded streets. They made their way through the bustle to a hardware store where two wagons stacked with about twenty barrels each waited for them outside. Big Mac paid the associate at the door and the two shook hooves. The two older ponies each pulled a wagon while the two fillies followed closely behind, making sure the hatches didn’t burst open and release a sea of wooden barrels to swamp over them.
“I sure hope these heavy duty barrels were a good investment,” said Applejack, struggling to pull the large wagon over the cobblestone street. Strands of sweat stricken mane stuck to her forehead as more sweat ran down her back. “They’re almost as heavy as our normal barrels filled with apples.”
“Eeyup,” said Big Mac, a single drop of sweat trickling down his muzzle.
“How’re them hatches holdin’ up girls?”
“Jus’ fine,” called out Apple Bloom. She looked down at the wheels of the monstrous wagon her sister pulled and watched them spike up whenever they hit a bumpy stone. She turned to her friend. “Gosh, they sure are workin’ their tail off, right Sweetie Belle?”
The unicorn paid no attention to her. Her eyes were lost in the everyday activities of the residents of Ponyville. One mare bought two cases of strawberries and was carrying them to her small cart. A couple smelled a bouquet of roses, the single mare owning the booth watching them longingly. A family of four sat down at a round table, resting from the beating sun underneath the large woven parasol. The two children, both colts, licked around their ice cream cones trying to keep any of the melting goodness from spilling onto the street. The father and mother enjoyed a glass of cool iced tea, a lemon wedge sitting on the edge of their wet glasses. The father wiped his glass over his warm forehead, relishing the tingly coolness and the joyful chuckle it elicited from his wife.
“Sweetie!”
Before she could react, the unicorn bumped her face into the wagon and fell to the ground. Apple Bloom tried hard to suppress a giggle while helping her distracted friend to her hooves. “Sorry Sweetie. I tried to warn you, but you seemed really distracted.”
Sweetie got to her hooves, shook her head and smiled. “It’s okay, I shoulda paid more attention.”
“Everything okay back there?” asked Applejack.
The two fillies made their way to the front to show themselves to Applejack and Big Macintosh. The two hard working ponies rested on a couple of large boulders on the side of the road. The two wagons sat on the ground.
“You didn’t get hurt when you ran into the wagon, didja Sweetie?”
Sweetie silenced a giggle from Apple Bloom with a playful glare. “No, I’m just fine.”
“Well that’s good. I was afraid you’da hurt yourself. What happened anyway? Didja catch a handsome young colt back there or somethin’?”
“No, I just…” She ducked her head and sighed. “I guess I just wasn’t paying attention.”
“Does it have anything to do with what the doctor told us today, Sweetie?” asked Apple Bloom.
Applejack cocked her head “Doctor? Whaddya mean?”
“Well Miss Cheerilee was sick today so the doctor took her place. He said she was gonna be in bed for week.”
“So he’s gonna teach y’all all week or somethin’?” She looked at her brother who shrugged. “So what was it like havin’ a doctor for a teacher?”
“He taught us about the five rules for optimal living,” began Sweetie. “‘I feel fine’ is the worst evidence to include in a diagnosis, be active, ask many questions and find good answers, not everything is what it seems, and never stop searching for truth.”
“Go on.”
“I just kinda looked around town and saw everypony busy doing everyday things, like they don’t realize what they’re a part of. They should be looking for something, but they aren’t.”
“Lookin’ for what, sugar cube?”
“Life.”
“Life?” The farm pony looked at her brother again. Same reaction.
“Sweetie Belle,” asked Apple Bloom. “What do you mean ‘bout all this life stuff?”
“Applejack,” she said ignoring her friend’s concern. “Do you…know how life started?”
“Whaddya mean, Sweetie Belle?”
“How did everything happen? How did Equestria start?”
“Well now, I think you’re wonderin’ ‘bout the history of our dear country. Well, it all started back when the Pegasi and Earth ponies and Unicorns were separate nations and…”
“No, I know all about that. I mean.” She scooped up a small hoofful of dirt and poured it back on the ground. “How did the whole world start?”
“Oh, now I see what you’re gettin’ at.” She thought for a few moments of an answer to give the surprisingly deep question. “I really don’t know, Sweetie Belle. Mah guess is that the princesses had somethin’ to do with it. Maybe they created everything at the beginning of time an’, well, I don’t know.”
“You mean you never got taught about how everything was made in school?” asked Apple Bloom.
“Not in elementary school. Ain’t that right Big Mac?”
“Eeyup.”
“Well that doesn’t seem right,” said a determined Sweetie Belle. “What’s a filly to do when no one has the right answer about how everything got started? Someone must know, and I’m going to find out who.”
“But how?” asked Apple Bloom.
“Rule number three: Ask lots of questions and find good answers.”
“I reckon y’all can start over there.” Applejack pointed about a quarter mile south to the Ponyville library. “I’m sure Twilight could give you a good answer, what with all them books she reads.”
“Good idea! Let’s go Apple Bloom.”
“Y’all sure it’s okay, Applejack?”
Her sister waved them off. “Yeah, we got time. Besides, we can use all the time to rest our achin’ backs. Ain’t that right Big Mac? Big Mac?”
He was sound asleep, curled up in a gigantic red ball snoring like an Ursa Minor. The ponies laughed and off the two fillies ran towards the magical unicorn’s abode in search for an answer.
“Wow, that’s a pretty big question,” was Twilight’s response.
Sweetie Belle shifted uneasily. “Do you think it’s bad that we asked such a big question?”
The librarian giggled. “Of course not! In fact, it makes me very happy to see two fillies so curious about the origins of the universe. More children should be like you!”
The fillies couldn’t help but beam at Twilight’s comment of praise. The magical unicorn led them inside the library to the bookshelves. They towered over the two fillies making them feel tiny.
“Spike!” Twilight called out.
The speedy assistant skidded to a halt and raised an arm up to his forehead. “You called?”
“Please make our two guests a nutritious snack. Apples and peanut butter should do the trick.”
“With pleasure.” Spike dashed into the kitchen, a cascade of pots and pans toppling the eager helper.
“Now then, where did I put that book?”
“What book?” asked Apple Bloom.
The librarian ignored the question, scanning the titles at eye level and mumbling to herself.
“Here ya go!” exclaimed Spike. He placed a large platter of apple slices and slabs of peanut butter on a small table. He also put a pitcher of milk next to the snack entrée. “You know, just in case the peanut butter gets stuck to the roof of your mouth. Happens to me all the time. Then I can’t breathe fire for hours.”
The girls giggled until they heard a shriek of delight from Twilight. “I found it!”
The unicorn dropped a massive book the size of a cinder block onto the table. The impact tossed the platter and the pitcher into the air, both landing on her number one assistant’s head. Globs of peanut butter caked his eyelids shut and milk dripped all over his scales. He was blind and wet.
“Oops, sorry Spike.” Twilight giggled.
“That’s alright, I’ll just get another platter going. Can you point me to the direction of the kitchen, Twilight?”
“To your left.”
The baby dragon stumbled his way into the kitchen knocking over a vase, then the table on which the vase sat. After a good laugh, the ponies peered into the book which Twilight opened to a predetermined page. The text was tiny, microscopic, like ants crawling across a yellow picnic blanket. The librarian blew on the page creating a cloud of dust that tickled the noses of her two guests making them sneeze.
“Ah, here we are. The Origins of the Universe.” She pointed to the top of the page and drew her guests to it. “Take a look. You can find lots of different theories in this section. It’s all about how the universe came into existence.”
The two fillies read at the first paragraph:
“Currently, the prevailing cosmological theory indicates that the entire universe existed as an infinitely dense singularity which expanded in an explosive manner. This theory, popularized by the name ‘Magical Boom’, though collectively regarded as sufficient, has yet to accomplish the task of explaining the origin of the initial dense singularity.”
They did not continue reading.
“Mah brain hurts,” said Apple Bloom.
“What does this mean, Twilight?” asked Sweetie Belle.
“Well,” she began. “It means that modern science believes that billions of years ago the entire universe existed in one magic ball. It was the densest object that ever existed. Then, it exploded and all the debris spread out and created the universe we know today. Of course, it took time for things to get to how they are now, but that was the starting point for life as we know it.”
The fillies looked confused.
“So life started because of an explosion? Where did this happen?”
“In space.”
“Space?” asked Apple Bloom.
“But where did that ball come from? How did it get into space? And how was space made?”
Twilight sighed. “That’s the only thing modern science has yet to discover. Nopony knows where that ball came from. If you keep reading, you’ll find all sorts of theories on the origins of the magic ball, like this.” She flipped the pages and stopped at a section entitled “Origin of the Magic Ball: Theories”. “According to the Dispensational Theory, each atom of the magic ball existed in an infinite span of time frames, thus rendering the discovery of its origin entirely pointless.”
“And that means?” pressed Apple Bloom.
“Basically, the ball is infinite so it had no beginning or end.”
“But how is that possible?” asked Sweetie Belle.
“No one really knows, girls.” She walked to the window and peered out to the mountains. “I always wondered how everything got started, but anytime I read about a new theory it just confuses me. I’ve always believed in the wonders of science, but somehow I feel like they’re missing something.”
“Like what?” asked Apple Bloom.
“A creator.”
“You think the ball was made by somepony?” asked Sweetie. “But who?”
“I don’t know.”
“The Princesses?”
“Maybe. Or maybe it was their parents, or their grandparents.” She turned around and smiled at her two guests. “But in the end, what matters is that the world works on a consistent system and everything has a purpose. Whether we discover our origins in our lifetime or not, we can be sure the world will take care of itself just like it takes care of you and me.”
“Howdy, Twi.”
The three ponies were surprised by Applejack’s sudden entrance.
“Sorry ‘bout bargin’ in like that, but the door was open and I decided to let myself in.”
Twilight grinned. “No worries, I just wasn’t expecting it. I really need to remember to shut that door.”
Applejack chuckled. “Anyways, I came to take the girls home. Rarity’s gonna be pickin’ up Sweetie from my place pretty soon so we better get a move on.”
The fillies voiced their displeasure from having to leave the wonderful discussion, but obeyed and followed Applejack out the door. Before closing the door, Twilight called out, “Thanks for stopping by girls! Hope you find the answers to your questions!”
“Good answers I hope,” murmured Sweetie Belle.
“Thank you so much for watching Sweetie Belle, Applejack,” said Rarity. “I hope she wasn’t too much trouble.”
The farm pony locked the hatch of the empty wagon and smiled. “Nah, not at all! In fact, she was a great help today.”
“Good! Well, see you later then!”
The apple family waved the two unicorns goodbye as they walked off the property and onto the winding dirt path that led back to Ponyville. It was late in the evening, eight thirty to be exact, making Rarity an hour and a half late to pick up her sister. It didn’t appear to bother her, for she had an exceptionally good day for her business.
“So, how was school, dear sister?”
“Fine,” Sweetie mumbled.
“Sorry dear, you’ll have to speak louder.”
“I said it was fine.”
Rarity sighed. “Sweetie Belle, honestly, you need to learn how to speak up. How can you expect anyone to understand you if they can’t hear you? Don’t be scared to raise your volume a little.”
“I said I was fine!” she said, harshly. “And I wasn’t any trouble with Applejack either.”
“Okay, okay.” Rarity rolled her eyes. “You don’t have to get mad at me.”
“I’m not mad,” she grumbled.
The sisters spent the next five minutes in silence, looking in opposite directions. When they walked into the town, Rarity spoke. “So do you want to hear about my day?”
Sweetie shrugged.
“Well, when I got back home to review the orders I realized I had accidentally added pinstripe buttons to the dresses. The client wanted them all pure black and I hadn’t caught my mistake! But before I could do anything about it, who should show up but the client himself! Oh, I thought I was done for. What could I say? Well, to my pleasant surprise, he loved the pin stripe buttons and doubled the order right then and there! Since I still have more pinstripe buttons left over I don’t have to do much work for double the pay! Isn’t that wonderful, Sweetie Belle?”
No answer.
“Sweetie Belle?”
She was gone.
“Sweetie Belle, where are you?”
She looked all around and finally spotted her kneeling in a patch of grass. She marched over to her and swiped up her hoof.
“Hey, what’re you doing?” Sweetie protested.
“What is the matter with you, Sweetie? You think you can just run off at this time of night without telling me? You weren’t paying any attention to me were you?”
“I was just looking at something here, Rarity. It wasn’t like I was running away from your stupid story.”
“That is enough! You are not leaving my side until we get home even if I have to hold your hoof for the rest of the way.”
Sweetie swung her hoof back from her sister’s grip. “I can walk myself, thank you.”
Rarity let out a frustrated grunt and followed her little sister back home.