New Perspectives

by Alerhys

Part Two

Applejack’s plan was simple and straightforward, the way she preferred it: accompany Fluttershy back to her cottage; stay and lend a helping hoof, possibly spending the night, until Zecora’s remedy took effect; get back to the farm and start catching up on her work; and put the whole incident behind her, letting it take its place alongside the other peculiar happenings that were a fact of life in Ponyville.

The plan started off well enough, with Fluttershy and Zecora chatting about mutual interests pertaining to the Everfree while Applejack walked along with them and ignored any curious looks that came their way. Once back at Fluttershy’s home and having taken their leave of Zecora, Fluttershy began checking on the animals under her care, and Applejack was able to busy herself feeding chickens, cleaning out animal bedding, and weeding in Fluttershy’s garden (though by unspoken agreement neither pony approached the hole where the stump had been, the block and tackle still sitting over it).

Things didn’t go entirely smoothly. Every once in a while Fluttershy’s expression would betray a hint of frustration; occasionally Applejack’s wings would start to open and she would grimace and fold them back to her sides. Still, the two ponies were getting by well enough until evening approached and Fluttershy began preparing treatments for her animal patients.

“Applejack? I don’t want to be any trouble but I need that box on the top shelf. Do you think you could get if for me?”

Applejack looked at the high shelf where the box sat. “Don’t ya have... Shoot, course ya don’t have a step stool. Well, Ah reckon Ah could give ya a boost up.”

“Well, I though maybe you could, um, just...”

Applejack frowned. “I got no idea how ta fly, least of all indoors.”

“Oh, but it’s really easy, you just...” Fluttershy trailed off, flinching from Applejack’s disapproval. “Never mind, then,” she said, her voice growing more determined. “I can get it myself,” she added, turning toward the shelf and crouching into a jumping position.

“Now hold on, sugar...” Applejack was interrupted by Fluttershy’s leaping up and stretching her forehooves toward the box, snatching it from the shelf and landing back on her hind legs, stumbling briefly before catching herself and putting the box on the floor. “See? I told you I could get it,” she said brightly.

“Yeah. Good jump,” Applejack mumbled.

As they finished up Fluttershy’s tasks for the day, Applejack’s mood slowly recovered, the two friends preparing and eating dinner together and making small talk until it was time to go to sleep. Fluttershy offered her bed, but Applejack refused, insisting on taking the couch.

***

She was floating, like a cloud. Bright blue sky surrounded her. It was at once alien and perfectly natural, terrifying and yet strangely comfortable. She tried to understand what was happening...

...and Applejack woke up and fell three feet onto Fluttershy’s couch with a crash.

Rustling came from upstairs. “Is everything all right down there?”

“Uh, Yeah, Ah just rolled over in mah sleep. ‘Fraid I disturbed a few critters, but nothin’ serious.”

Fluttershy came halfway down the stairs, peering at Applejack in the dim light. “You’re sure?”

“Ah’m sure. Ah’ll try and be more careful.”

“You’re sure you don’t want to take the bed? Or I don’t mind sharing it.”

“Nah, I told ya, Ah’m fine. Go on back to sleep.”

Applejack watched Fluttershy head back up the stairs. She sighed, looking at her back. “Too much to hope that fallin’ like that meant the potion was finally kickin’ in,” she muttered to herself. As if acknowledging the attention, her wings tried to spread. Forcing them against her sides once more, she took the blanket Fluttershy had given her and rolled up in it snugly. “Last thing I need is ta start flyin’ in my sleep again.” Sleep came fitfully, but at least it came without further dreams of floating.

Morning came with no change in the two ponies’ condition. Fluttershy awoke first, coming down to find Applejack cocooned in her blanket on the couch. She tried to creep past her friend, but as she headed for the kitchen Angel Bunny thwarted her good intentions by appearing in the doorway with a pot and spoon, which he proceeded to bang together.

“Angel, no!”

“Waah!” *THUD*

“Applejack, I’m so sorry! Are you all right?”

Applejack looked up blearily from where she had landed on the floor and began to struggle out of the blanket. “Ah think so. Didn’t mean ta keep ya from startin’ yer day.”

“I was going to let you sleep, but someone...” and here Fluttershy glared at Angel, who was unimpressed. “...had other ideas.” She walked over and finished pulling the blanket off Applejack, shaking her head as she looked the disheveled orange pony over. “Why don’t we go upstairs and freshen up before breakfast?”

Under other circumstances Applejack might have objected, but she was still too groggy from her restless night and sudden awakening to put up a fight as Fluttershy nudged her up the stairs and into the bathroom, pouring water into the washbasin so that Applejack could splash her face. As she did so, Fluttershy got out some mane and tail brushes and set them out for Applejack to use, then took out another instrument that Applejack didn’t recognize.

“What’s that?”

“It’s a preening comb. Not to be rude or anything but your feathers are a mess.”

“Aw Fluttershy, you don’t need ta...”

“Yes I do. It’s just like your mane and tail, you’ll be much more comfortable when you’re properly groomed, and maybe your wings won’t twitch so much.” She took the comb in one wrist and pressed her other hoof against Applejack’s back, smiling in satisfaction as the pressure caused her wings to pop open, and set to work.

Applejack finished washing her face and looked at Fluttershy as she smoothed feathers into place. “Ah’ve gotten dressed up with ya before, so how come Ah never saw one of those till now?”

“Um, pegasi normally preen themselves by mouth, it’s easier that way. I didn’t know about preening combs myself until the spa used one on me. I bought a set mostly to work on birds.” She finished her efforts and admired the results. “There, doesn’t that feel better?”

Applejack stretched and folded her wings. “Ah gotta admit, it does. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” Fluttershy put the comb down and looked Applejack in the eyes. “Rainbow Dash was wrong.”

“Excuse me? Wrong about what? Ah don’t understand.”

“She was mean to you, and you don’t deserve it.”

“Ah know, but that’s Dash for ya. She’ll get over it. If that dang potion would get its job done, anyways.”

“I’m just... worried about you. You didn’t sleep well, and you’re all tense. If it’s because of what Dash said, you shouldn’t believe it.”

Applejack managed a grin. “Ya oughta know me better than that. I don’t take anything Dash says seriously nohow.”

“Good. Let’s get our manes brushed and fix breakfast.”

***

Twilight Sparkle trotted toward Fluttershy’s cottage, saddlebags loaded with reference materials and items useful in magical analysis. She’d meant to get an early start, but in typical fashion she had stayed up late with her reading and Spike had seen no reason to wake her up, so it was late morning before she’d left the library. As she grew near she heard voices coming from behind the house, so she went around to the back, where she found Applejack (with wings) and Fluttershy (without) discussing carrot cultivation. “Hi, girls!” she called out, getting greetings in response.

“Well, girls, I see there’s no obvious change. How do you feel?”

“About the same.” “Me too.”

Twilight nodded. “I realize it hasn’t been a full day, but I’m thinking that what happened to you two wasn’t because of the Everfree’s flora per se. Huh, if I shortened that I’d almost sound like Zecora. Anyway, not to doubt her expertise, but I’d like to run some tests on where that tree stump you pulled up was.”

Fluttershy and Applejack looked at each other. “If you think you need to,” said Fluttershy, and Applejack added “You’ll excuse us if we keep our distance. Ah don’t think you’d cotton to losin’ yer horn.”

“That’s fine. I take it that’s the crater over there?” Seeing the other two nod in agreement, Twilight walked over to the crater and levitated a metal plate and a book from her saddlebag. She concentrated, and magic washed from her horn over the crater, block and tackle and was absorbed into the plate. She set the plate down and began consulting her book, casting spells over the plate, pausing between each one to take notes, and casting another. Applejack and Fluttershy didn’t understand what was going on, but neither of them wanted to distract Twilight with questions until she finished.

Finally, Twilight put the book back into her saddlebag and looked over to the pair. “You can pack up your cart and take it home, Applejack. There’s not enough potency left here to affect a fly, let alone a pony. Fortunately the spells and plate I prepared were designed for just this sort of situation.”

“So, did it tell ya anything about what happened to us?”

“To an extent. There was definitely magic, but it’s not any type that is easily recognized. Now that I’ve utilized the residue collection plate, I can have Spike send it to the Princess. The School for Gifted Unicorns will certainly be able to learn more, with all their facilities.”

Applejack sighed. “So it’s gonna be more waitin’, then?”

Twilight nodded. “I’m sorry, Applejack. There is one more test I’d like to do at the library, but it isn’t anything that’s going to fix the problem.”

“Do you have time to stay for lunch?” put in Fluttershy.

“Lunch? It is around that time, isn’t it? I’d be happy to stay for lunch.”

Applejack kept her voice and expression neutral. “Ah guess Ah’ll pack up the cart while you’re fixin, if ya don’t mind, Fluttershy.”

“Not at all. Do come in as soon as you’re done, though.”

Fluttershy and Twilight went into the cottage as Applejack set to packing away the block and tackle. She had just finished loading up the cart when Rainbow Dash landed nearby.

“I see you returned to the crime scene.”

Applejack just hung her head. “Ahm not gonna argue with ya, Dash. I’m powerful sorry about what happened to Fluttershy and if Ah had any notion what to do about it these wings would be back on her so fast even you would be impressed.”

Dash blinked and paused. It wasn’t the type of response she’d been ready for, and she was unsure what to say next. Not knowing what else to do, she took off again, over the clouds.

Applejack watched Rainbow Dash vanish into the sky. “Ya just can’t understand, Rainbow. An’ now I guess there’s not gonna be any gettin’ around it.” She went to rejoin her other friends in the cottage.

“Ah, there you are,” was Twilight’s greeting. “I was just explaining to Fluttershy that I’d like to test you both back at the library to see if the accident produced a complete phenotype exchange.”

“In plain talk, Twi?”

“My theory is that this is not simply a case of Fluttershy’s wings being transferred. I think that what has happened is that you have each become the other’s type of pony.”

“Oh. I think so too,” Fluttershy said.

“Shoot, we coulda told ya that,” Applejack added.

“I see. I’d still appreciate being able to do the tests, if you don’t mind.”

“Will it take long?”

“Not at all. Ten or fifteen minutes apiece should do it.”

“After we’ve had lunch and cleaned up, then.”

“Certainly. That looks delicious, Fluttershy.”

***

Applejack trudged up the road toward Sweet Apple Acres. The cart harness hadn’t been made with a pegasus in mind, and the adjustments she’d made, while functional, chafed. Turning into the gate, she pulled the cart up to the barn and opened the door.