//------------------------------// // Rarity and Applejack // Story: Day and Night Regained Again // by Pandorarama //------------------------------// A bad habit Twilight never grew out of was pacing. As a filly, she would lose hours in her thoughts, wearing a trail into the hallway of their home, muttering to herself over and over about what she could have done better, what she couldn't do next time. This wasn’t like that. This was worse. The book she found had her filled with pure cold terror. Everyone knew the story of Nightmare Moon, the unfeeling monster that had warped the beloved Princess Luna, had pulled her into the darkness she had stood against for all creatures. Many wondered, had the same darkness warped their beloved queen? She shook off the thoughts, glancing up at Spike where he lay sleeping in the massive bed, blankets tucked tight around him. He had started yawning a few hours ago, and she had herded him off to bed, promising only to be up just a little longer… But she couldn't stop thinking. And the stars will aid in her escape… She couldn't be planning the Summer Sun Celebration now; she had to be researching! She had to go through every book she could find to track down a way to stop the evil alicorn. But… Twilight had seen the plans Queen Solaria had made in case of invasions or the return of enemies that the sisters had banished. She had known her teacher to be even worse than her in staying up late and planning, going days without sleep. Did her teacher not trust her? Or was there more going on at play? Was there a more elaborate plan relying on the celebration's success? …All this thinking was giving her a headache.  The purple unicorn took a deep breath, trotting up the stairs to ease beside the snoozing dragon, pulling the blanket over herself with a sigh. She would think it over more in the morning. One thing she found odd about Spike was that he liked to bake. Not that it was odd in a bad way! It was just that she knew that he had lost out on a lot of typical dragon experiences when Solaria had found his egg in her teacher's treasure room. She felt guilty, although it was something her therapist had told her was out of her control. You were fifteen when you were given the egg Twilight. Even though you did act older than your age, you were still a child. You didn’t know better. The adults should have. Twilight could admit she had never really had much of a childhood. After Celestia’s fall, the discovery and her hatching of the egg, she was forced to grow up far too quickly. It was like a switch had flipped, and she was outpacing her peers and taking on more and more studies and tasks that she could barely keep up with. Some days, she wished she had a chance to have been a filly, but she couldn't bring herself to dwell on it too much. Even with all her trials, she was genuinely happy. She had a fantastic teacher, close friends and a wonderful son. She wouldn't trade it for anything. And as long as you are happy and healthy, that's what matters, Twilight. Twilight blinked blearily at the tower of pancakes that tilted before her, looking around them to look at the happy dragon. “... I don't think that's enough pancakes Spike.” “Twi!” Hw whined, pouting. “I'm teasing Spike.” She laughed, pulling him close with her tail. He cuddled up as she unevenly split the stack, sprinkling crushed gems over his own as they both dug in. With her lifestyle, Twilight could pack away more food than most ponies expected, and as a growing dragon Spike almost came close enough to match her. He would eventually, but for now, she won. Of course, it was still dark when they left, early enough in the ‘day’ that only the shop owners were starting to get ready to open. The streets were empty as she trotted down them, heading towards an open field that overlooked the rest of Equestria, one that reviewers had written about in multiple tourism pamphlets. A temporary stadium had been built just for the raising of the sun, the area carefully constructed with grown trees. That spoke of powerful magic. And glancing around the outdoor setup, Twilight couldn’t help but feel impressed. It was lavish but not overdone like some of the parties she had attended in Canterlot. Still fit for a Queen. Bows and ribbons adorned the pillars, fabrics that glowed in the moonlight and would glimmer once the sun rose. Streamers connected the trees with delicate fabric flowers mixing with actual ones, the roots weaving into a strong stage. This was the Summer Sun Celebration, a thousand years since the banishment of Princess Luna. Princess Luna… Nightmare Moon… Twilight could barely remember what it was like, when day and night were cycled; she knew that Starlight and Sunburst had younger siblings that had no idea what that was like, born after the fall of Celestia. Not to mention the little ones she had seen running around the town, who would fall into the same category. She missed being able to wake up to the sun pouring through her windows, not having to close all the window shutters tight to get a decent night's rest, stumbling in the dark for a week. Spike snoozed on her back, curled up close to the heating sigil tattooed on her back. It only warmed when the baby dragon was close to it, a way to keep him necessary as Equestria was not near as hot as the Dragon Lands.  Winter nights were brutal for him, and she always made sure to bundle him up nice and warm. However, the summer heat was lovely, so it wasn’t too bad for him. “Oh, hello darlings!” She jerked at the voice, watching as a unicorn finished tying some ribbons. An earth pony stood just a few feet behind her, watching the two of them. She glanced at the dragon on her back, and Twilight turned herself slightly to hide him.  Unfortunately, the jostling woke him, and he stretched out along her back, spreading his wings and poking his head around. He squeaked and jerked his head back, and the unicorn waved, the earth pony arching a brow in evident amusement. “Hello there. My name is Lady Twilight Sparkle, envoy of Queen Solaria.” The pair exchanged glances before they leaned into a bow, speaking in unison. “Welcome, Lady Twilight Sparkle.” “Thank you.” She bowed in response before glancing at the bannisters and the decorated balcony. “Everything looks gorgeous; I can’t wait to see it all in the sunlight.” “Ah, I’m sure it's not as extravagant as what you’re used to in Canterlot.” The unicorn spoke first, keeping her head high and proud as though she was waiting for mind games. While Twilight could respect being prepared, she had no patience for it. “That’s what makes it so gorgeous. Everything there is overdone to the point it's almost tasteless. You’ve exchanged quantity for quality, using spun dawn and moon shimmer to work day and night and several hypoallergenic flowers to keep everyone from sneezing. The pillows are of high quality and placed expertly for the younger ponies to rest on. It's perfect..” The unicorn's grey muzzle had turned red, blushing as she glanced down shyly at the ground. The earth pony let out a laugh, loud and strong, as she approached. “See, I told you Rarity, everything is great. You had nothing to worry about.” The earth pony grinned, nudging the still blushing Rarity. “Names Applejack, Lady Twilight Sparkle.” “Please, just Twilight. We all know the title is going to get old, fast. It’s a pleasure to meet the both of you, Applejack, Rarity.” The unicorn cleared her throat before shaking off her blush. “Yes, the pleasure is all ours, Twilight. I, I must thank you for your compliments.” She felt Spike shift to peek out again and, while cautious, let him peek and let the two ponies look at him. “This is Spike. He’s my son.” She could see the gears stop in their minds for a second before starting up again. She appreciated the way they took it in stride, both bowing their heads to the dragon. “It’s nice to meet you Spike.” They spoke again in tandem, and she felt him perk up. “H-hello, Rarity, Applejack.” Twilight could hear the start of a squeal that both ponies managed to choke down. Applejack leaned close to Rarity and whispered something Twilight couldn’t catch, and the unicorn nodded, heading back towards the stage with some of the fabrics. Twilight watched her walk away, feeling as though she had seen her somewhere before but turned back as the bigger mare cleared her throat. There was an odd look on her face, but a false smile covered it. Twilight felt her ears prick back slightly. “You must run the apple farm?”  “Only the best far this side of Equestria. I have to head back and grab some more supplies; I’ll take you there so you can look over the food preparations. I have to admit everyone’s been abuzz about your arrival.” Brushing off her hesitation, she followed Applejack along a well-worn path, feeling magic crackle in her horn gently and silently. If she needed to defend herself, she would. “I know it's both good and bad. I won't try to pretend otherwise.” But it seemed talking was her best defence. “Yeah, some of the older family have never really adapted to Queen Solaria, my grandmother included.” The road turned to an apple orchard. “I figured. The same queen for thousands of years, and suddenly she’s been banished a few days after a new alicorn ascends? Some of our own elders still struggle, and they were there when she attacked.” That had Applejack stumbling slightly before she leaned in a little bit. “Applejack!” An earth pony ran from the barn, nearly as tall as Twilight, and it startled her. She was a younger pony and did not yet quite have the build of the larger earth mare. She came to a sliding halt as she noticed the unicorn. “Whossat?” “This is Twilight Sparkle Apple Bloom, she’s come all the way from Canterlot, so I expect you to mind your manners. Don’t be overkill now, but don’t be rude; treat her like you do everyone else in Ponyville, you hear?” Her tone was firm but not cold, similar to how her brother would talk to her. “Course I’ll be on my best behaviour; I ain’t a foal, you know.” She then cleared her throat and turned towards the purple mare. “Tis a pleasure to meet ya, miss Twilight. Mah name’s Apple Bloom. I’m Applejack's little sister.” “Hello Applebloom; it's a pleasure to meet you. This is Spike, my son.” Green eyes peek out from where he hid in her mane. “H-hello.” Applebloom didn’t miss a beat. “Hiya Spike, a pleasure to meet ya as well!” She looked back up at her sister. “Want me to give the fam a little warnin?” “Tell them to be nice and not overdo it, Spikes a little shy. We’ll show ‘em some honest apple family hospitality.” With a nod, she took off towards the farm, the pair she left behind making their way towards the farm. “We’re a bit loud, but we all mean well. You meet the whole family, but Applebloom, Big Mac and Granny Smith are mine. You got any siblings?” “An older brother, Shining Armour, he’s a teacher back home; he has taught any guard worth their salt. I don’t get to see him often, and my parents travel for work more now that we’re grown.” “Must be a bit lonely.”  “Not really. If anything good came of the whole Daybreaker, it's that Canterlot is more united as a whole. Some nobles still try to cling to the division but more and more of ignoring it and being friends with whoever. Nothing brings a community together like trauma, Y’know?” It seemed she did, as Applejack hummed in agreement as they passed under the worn arch well that proudly stated Apple Family Farm “If ah may ask, what happened?” Twilight stopped in her tracks, taking a deep breath and pointed at her eye. “She killed several ponies in her rampage and nearly killed my best friend. I have so much unresolved trauma because she used to teach us silly little spells in the Canterlot garden. The next thing we know, we were attending the coronation ceremony of my friend's older sister, and then the day and night were weeks each, and I had to attend more funerals than I care to think of, and for a solid two days my parents didn’t know if I was dead or alive.” Taking a deep breath, she continued. “I know Daybreaker did not make it out of Canterlot. However, it does not invalidate the suffering she caused us. Do you know that scars are now considered a fashion trend in Canterlot? You’d be hard-pressed to find any pony over 20 without several.” The taller mare let her head dip, ears pricked back. “Sorry, that was a bit rude. I know she meant a lot to the outer cities and towns.” “No, no, it's fair. It’s better to know this stuff now than misstep later.” She felt Spike press closer to her back, hiding in her mane. “True. Anything I shouldn’t say at the farm.” “Just don’t talk poorly of Celestia. I’ll keep granny in line with her comments, but the rest of the family is fairly easygoin.” The sunflowers were softly glowing as it was still early morning, but they lit up the way well enough.  She had never been up close to the large flowers, never getting the chance while living in Canterlot, but she was in awe. The apple trees were enormous, nearly twice the size of Applejack, and the Sunflowers towered over them. “You ain’t seen a Sunflower before?” “Not ones these big. But we have some Moonlamps that almost get this big in the party district.” An arched brow. “The party district?” “Yep, one week on, one week off. Just far enough not to be a noise-“ Something hit her in the face. It was mushy and tasted delicious. It fell off her face, and she looked down, seeing a smushed pie, and looked up to faces with varying degrees of horror. “Oh, Celestia, I am so sorry, miss.” An accent she placed to be from Manehatten stuttered out, and she could see a younger pony’s hoofed finished it what she assumed to be a throw. Applebloom looked as though she had dodged out the way, and her expression was struck in terror. Some fillings dripped from her horn to land on the ground with a plop. “Oh Lordy Twilight, I am so sorry, I can’t even begin to apologize-“ “No, no, it's okay. If I missed dodging a pie thrown at me, I deserved it. My brother will laugh at me for ages once he hears this. But ah-,” she squinted her eye to avoid it dripping into it. “Could I have a napkin?” A pale golden-coloured stallion stepped forward quickly with a towel in hand, and she wiped off her face, handing it back as he reached out a hoof again. “I would like to try a piece of it normally, though, as it was delicious.” She gave a closed-eye smile that she had been told on more than one occasion was great for getting ponies to relax, and she felt the tense atmosphere ease up. “I am so sorry Miss Twilight,” The pie thrower approached with Applebloom in tow, both looking shamefully at the ground. “It’s alright; it was an accident.” “That bein said, the two of you should know better than to start throwing food around, especially when they’ve worked so hard to get everything ready for the summer sun celebration.” They both looked abashed, and voice soft, Twilight spoke up. “May I ask your name?” “Course ma'am, my names Babs Seed, all the way from Manehatten.” “Oh, you Sugar Sap’s cousin! She always talks about you in our study groups, but I never got a chance to ask what you look like.” Her eyes sparkled, and she perked up, stepping closer. “She talks about me?”  “All the time. She says you got a talent for styling hair, says she can’t do it justice.” Those seemed to be the right words as she giggled softly to herself, and the whole relaxed, several of the adults coming a bit closer- And then stopped, all eyes locked onto the tiny dragon perched on her back. “This is Spike y’all. He’s around the same age as our younguns, so treat him nice ya hear?” It was clear who was in charge of the Apple Family, as they were all quick to adjust their expressions. Spike carefully lowered himself to the floor, twisting his claws together. “H-hello” A Squeal. “Oh, sugar bits, he is just so cute!” “Whoa, look at the wings!” “He’s so cool!” They didn’t rush him, and he preened at the attention, occasionally glancing back at her as she tried a few of the desserts the family had prepared. Throughout it all, she was aware of the green matriarch watching them. She couldn’t please everyone, and so long as Applejack was fine with her, she was okay with that. “Pinkie Pie mentioned meeting you at the library at noon; we’re almost past 11. I’ll take the supplies to Rarity and drop you off on the way.”Nodding, Twilight kneeled to let the dragon crawl onto her back. A larger red earth pony placed two newly filled buckets on the earth mare's back, Applejack not flinching under the weight. She turned back towards her family, eyeing the rambunctious youngsters. “Alrighty, everyone, I’ll meet ya’ll at the celebration tonight, be on time, ya hear?” “Eeyup,” and the family returned to their preparations like a well-oiled machine. “C’mon, Twi; I’ll take you to Pinkie’s first.” It was two of Twilight's steps to each of Applejack’s, although the unicorn brushed off her offer to slow down. It seemed whatever had ticked off the earth pony before had passed, and she would leave it be.