Twilight walked through her hometown, her vision tinted purple due to the force field she was hiding behind. The rain whirled past her, though the cloud cover was erratic, making the sun visible through the grey storm clouds.
Conjuring a force field wasn’t a particularly difficult task to Twilight, though carrying it with her was proving to be taxing. Still, Twilight had decided not to teleport in favour of getting another look around what she remembered as a bustling little town. The once occupied buildings now stood aged and forgotten. The wind was causing roof shingles to fly off and window shutters to slam helplessly against their houses. She paused for a few moments to catch her breath, the wicker basket clutched between her teeth impeding her breathing a bit, and stared around Ponyville with frightened eyes.
Had her disappearance really caused all of this trauma? Certainly Ponyville took advantage of Rarity’s growing fame to get attention for their own businesses. Without her being there, it was certain many organizations using this tactic would have given up. Barring that possibility, most of the social activities relied on Pinkie’s party planning. Whether Pinkie was aware of it or not, she was the one who kept the strong sense of community running.
Nopony truly relied on the librarian. They’d done fine without her for years before she’d moved in. But still… if she’d caused Rarity and Pinkie Pie to leave…
Twilight pushed the thoughts out of her mind. She had no proof. Fluttershy had mentioned an economic downturn, after all... which was probably caused by the collapse of the biggest supplier in Ponyville: Sweet Apple Acres.
Twilight hung her head and continued walking until she reached the fields of dead apple trees. Their knarred branches moved stiffly in the wind, and just thirty feet ahead of her, one tree gave into the wind’s power with a loud crack and collapsed onto its side. Twilight moved cautiously, her breath coming in short pants from magical exertion.
She reached the farmhouse and ceased her force field in order to pound at the door. The rain attacked freely without her shield. Twilight floated the basket out of her mouth and knocked again. “Applejack? Applejack, are you there?” Twilight closed her eyes tightly as the chilly winds tore through her body. “Applejack!”
The door opened and Twilight rushed in without waiting for an invitation. Applejack stared at the newcomer in disbelief as Twilight groaned and resisted the urge to shake herself like a dog. “T-thanks… it’s pretty bad out there…”
“Wait a bit. It’ll be sunny, mark mah words,” Applejack said bitterly as she stared suspiciously at the floating basket. “What’s that? And what are you doin’ here, anyhow?”
Twilight cast a quick drying spell on herself, trotted into the kitchen, and levitated the basket onto the counter. “It’s from your brother. I just came to visit, and he said I should bring it to you.” The Apple Family kitchen’s stovetop and cabinets were outdated even by Twilight’s standards, which gave the room a homely feel. Movement caught Twilight’s eye, and she turned to see Winona curled up on a pillow in the corner. She didn’t move to jump on Twilight like she usually did, only watched. The only part of her in motion was her tail, which thumped slowly against the pillow.
Applejack scoffed and limped over to examine the basket. “Ah don’t want nothin’ from him. Lazy colt couldn’t even come himself. Ah haven’t seen him in months, y’know.” She peered into the basket, which caused her stomach to growl loudly, though she didn’t acknowledge it.
Twilight smiled. “I can make breakfast, if you want.”
Applejack frowned at her. “You mean to say you haven’t eaten? Ah know that ain’t true. Mac wouldn’t…” She cleared her throat. “Doesn’t matter. Ah don’t need to eat now.”
Twilight tried her best to keep smiling against Applejack’s bluntness. “Are you sure?”
“’Course Ah’m sure. Now…” Applejack gave Twilight a hard look. “Was there somethin’ ya needed?”
Twilight slowly shook her head. “I just… I just wanted to visit…”
Applejack was quiet for a few moments, then she sighed. “Ah’m sorry, Twilight. Ah know this must be hard for you, too…” She sat back on her haunches. “But… why did you come back?” She sounded genuinely confused, which made Twilight’s heart clench. Big Mac was right: she was accustomed to abandonment.
“I was worried about you.” Twilight looked into the basket she’d brought, and pulled out two eggs and an apple. “Everything’s so different… I need to help.”
Applejack didn’t say anything. She didn’t stop Twilight from turning on her stove. She didn’t try to argue that she didn’t need Twilight’s help. She just sat and watched as Twilight cooked an apple omelette. Winona’s nose was sniffing frantically, and finally she pulled herself onto all fours and moved slowly, unsteadily toward the scent. She whimpered before settling down halfway between her pillow and Twilight, and Applejack watched her with a frown.
“Applejack?” Twilight asked as she levitated a plate of food and a fork in her direction. “You were right: I’ve already eaten. It’ll be a waste if you don’t take it.”
Applejack didn’t look Twilight in the eyes, but still accepted the omelette. “Ah never took you as much of a cook, Twi…”
“I’m… I’m not, really…” Twilight watched as Applejack ate her first couple of bites rapidly, but her appetite dropped off before her breakfast was even a third gone. Twilight knew it wasn’t her pride holding her back any longer: it was her health.
Applejack watched her mostly-filled plate for a few moments, but seemed to decide she was finished. “Thanks, Twilight… you… you really are a good friend…”
Twilight forced a smile, though her throat burned with the desire to cry. “O-of course.”
“Hope you don’t mind if Ah give the rest to Winona… she needs it…” Applejack settled the plate in front of the old dog, who sniffed at it curiously.
“I understand.” Twilight’s voice was becoming quieter every time she spoke, her confidence in her ability to appear strong quickly diminishing.
“Twilight…” Applejack looked over with sad, defeated eyes. “Ah’m sorry Ah couldn’t hold things together for you…”
Twilight couldn’t take it anymore. Tears spilled down her face, and just like she had all those years ago, Applejack hobbled over and patted her back gently. “W-w-what do I-I do?” Twilight’s voice shook with her sadness, and she looked pleadingly at Applejack. “Please… just tell me a-and I’ll do it… I-I promise…”
“Sugarcube… Ah dunno what to tell ya…” Applejack’s voice was filled with warmth, but it did nothing to ease Twilight’s anxiety.
“Why don’t you and Fluttershy like each other?” Twilight blurted out. “You two are friends! You need each other!”
Applejack frowned. “We hurt each other…” Applejack looked away. Twilight couldn’t see her face. “She lied to me, and took Mac away, and Ah know she always tried to make up for it… but… Ah dunno what happened, Twi. Ah guess Ah gave up.”
“…What did you do to her?” Twilight felt daring asking it. She wasn’t expecting a response.
Applejack was quiet for several moments. “Can’t tell ya, Twilight. Ah barely even remember what happened… blind rage… you’d… you’d hate me, too…” She was still facing away from Twilight, but she sniffed audibly. “A week later… that was the last time Ah saw Pinkie.”
“Pinkie Pie?” The abrupt topic change had Twilight intrigued. From what Fluttershy had said, Pinkie only visited those that needed it, but Applejack seemed to need a friend more than anyone. “Why?”
Applejack was quiet for a few moments. “Sorry… shouldn’t have brought it up…”
“Applejack?”
Applejack wasn’t looking at Twilight. She was staring silently at the brown and white collie lying on the floor. Winona gave a soft whine. She hadn’t touched the plate in front of her. Applejack moved to floor level and softly stroked the dog’s greying fur. Winona’s tail thumped weakly in response to the attention. “Twilight?” Applejack’s voice was strained, her eyes still focused downward. “Can… can you do me a favour?”
“Anything,” Twilight reassured with a small smile.
“Can… can you…” She wrapped her forelegs around Winona’s body, and hugged her close. “Can you take Winona to Fluttershy?”
Twilight hesitated. Applejack buried her head into Winona’s coat. “I... Of course. Of course I will.”
Applejack nodded and squeezed Winona tighter. The old dog looked at Applejack, seeming confused by the increased pressure. She moved her head to be close to her master’s, and gave Applejack a comforting lick.
Applejack moved away, but smiled. Tears were streaming down her face. “Ah know you can’t hear anymore, girl, but Ah’ve already told ya all Ah’ve needed to. You deserve to go peacefully…” Applejack’s gaze lingered for a few moments before she tore herself away to look at Twilight. “Fluttershy won’t turn down an animal in need. Ah don’t think there’s much she can do ‘sides keep her comfortable, but she’s a vet and… and Ah just want Winona to die peacefully. Ah can’t let mah best friend suffer anymore.”
“I understand.” Twilight watched for a few moments as Applejack quietly said her goodbyes to the only friend she’d had for several years. It filled Twilight with fresh guilt. “I’ll take a walk, and then I’ll teleport Winona with me to Fluttershy’s cottage. Okay?” As Applejack had predicted, the rain had stopped, and the sun peaked through the erratic cloud cover, giving Twilight a good excuse to leave the pair to their last moments.
Applejack nodded without looking up. “Thank you, Twilight.”
…
Twilight appeared inside of Fluttershy’s cottage with a bright flash of purple, Winona clutched tightly within her forelegs. When Twilight had returned back to the farmhouse, Applejack wordlessly handed Winona off and disappeared into another room. Twilight hadn’t even gotten the chance to say goodbye. Now the collie whined, startled by the unfamiliar method of transportation and confused by the new surroundings. Fluttershy whirled around the corner, a foreleg shooting to her chest. “Oh, Twilight, you startled me...”
Twilight shook her head lightly to clear it; teleportation was exhausting magic. “I’m sorry, Fluttershy, I would have aimed to appear in front of your house, but…” She glanced down at Winona, who was panting heavily and staring around the room anxiously.
Fluttershy’s eyes widened. “Is that… is that Winona?” She quickly trotted over for a better look, and frowned. “Oh, you poor thing, how could Applejack let you get in such a state?” Anger, something that Twilight rarely saw in Fluttershy, flashed across her face. “I don’t understand her. I really… I just don’t.”
Twilight released Winona to Fluttershy, who stroked her softly as she looked her over. Big Mac, who seemed to have heard the commotion, appeared and stared in shock at the old dog. “Winona…” he muttered, quickly going next to Fluttershy to pet her. “Is she alright?”
Fluttershy shook her head. “She’s in a lot of pain. I don’t think there’s anything I can do… I’m sorry, Mac.”
Big Mac hung his head and nodded. He glanced at Twilight. “Can’t believe Applejack would give her up…”
“She said she didn’t want to see her best friend suffer,” Twilight explained.
Fluttershy stared at Winona with a hard resolve. “Too late for that…”
“Now, love…” Big Mac sounded a bit nervous. He gave a sideways glance at Twilight. “Y’have to understand mah sister’s predicament…”
Fluttershy sighed. “I… I know. I’m sorry.” Twilight couldn’t tell whether it was meant as a genuine apology, or just a means of quieting her husband while she had company. Either way, an outburst, even a quiet one, was rare for Fluttershy. Twilight’s desire to know what exactly had happened to cause Applejack and Fluttershy to dislike each other was piqued, but she knew better than to pursue her curiosity.
She had more a more urgent issue to figure out, anyways.
Twilight turned toward the door. “Thanks for your hospitality last night, but I need to leave.”
“Twilight? Where are you going?” Fluttershy asked.
Twilight hesitated and looked backward. Fluttershy and Big Mac were giving her concerned looks. “I’m going to Canterlot. I want to find Princess Celestia and see if there’s any way I can go back to my time.”
“I’m sorry, Twilight, but I don’t think that’s possible…”
Twilight paused and turned around. “Why not?”
“The trains from Ponyville stopped runnin’ years ago,” Big Mac explained. “No way t’get to Canterlot unless ya’ve got wings.”
Twilight took a few moments and thought back to what Princess Celestia had told her before she’d decided to go to the archives. “I can teleport there.” She was barely sure of her own words, for she’d never attempted such a feat before. Still, if that was the only way to get there, then she would have to give it all she had and hope for the best.
“All the way to Canterlot? Are you sure?” Fluttershy asked, surprised. Twilight’s friends knew very little about magic compared to Twilight’s own knowledge of the subject, but even earth ponies and pegasi knew how difficult long-distance teleportation could be.
Twilight nodded and closed her eyes. “I think so. I have to try. If I don’t see you soon, good luck with the foal, but I will see you again. I promise.” She focused energy into her horn, and grunted slightly at the effort. She concentrated as hard as she could on Canterlot – the better her focus, the better the result.
And then, with another flash of purple light, she was gone.