Her mind laid in disarray as she couldn’t even put a simple complete thought together. The world around her felt absent, only with a feeling of warm creeping over for comfort. As it slowly crept up her face, she twitched trying removing the heat from it. The motion hurt, her stiff mussels rang out in pain as a groan. Soon new sounds entered, the sounds of clicking and clonking. When she heard something rustling about her, she opened her eyes to the room.
The site of a white ceiling and pale walls came into view as the thought of where am I? entered her thoughts. As she tried to move, her body felt extremely stiff as she slowly sat up. With the rest of the plain slightly unfurnished room could be seen, a white mare waring a strange white hat with a red cross on it entered her view. The mare stared back with a bit of surprise. She looked away taking in the room a bit more, wincing at the light flooding in from the window. “Oh, if the sun is bothering you, I could close the blinds?” The mares' voice was comforting.
Wait, the sun? What is a sun? A word she didn’t know caused her to fell a bit uncomfortable. With her mind skipping, she barely noticed that the mare was waiting for an answer. “Um, yes, that would be nice.” Was all she could muster out, as her throat was dry.
She sat there trying to figure out what is going on and where she was. As she tried to focus, the only thought that came to mind was that black pony. “Miss, are you alright? If you still feel ill, I could go fetch the doctor?” She turned to the mare in a bit of surprise.
“No...I'm fine, just stiff. I can’t remember why I'm here or where this is?” Thinking her question might have been weird but the mare just smiled.
“Well miss... “She paused for a sec looking at a small clip board.
“Silver, silver bane.” She interjected.
“Well Miss Bane, I'm Red Heart. I’m the head nurse here at the Pure Strings hospital in Ponyville. A local mare by the name of Applejack brought you in four days ago. You had a terrible fever. You've been out the whole time you were here.” She paused to let the words sink in, as she continued to look at the gray pegasus.
She’s' been out for four days! She thought as of what could of happened slipped to lunar. She didn't know where Ponyville where lunar was. “Um miss Red Heart, I was...traveling wath a small filly before my memory goes blank. Do you happen to know where she might be?” She hoped that the nurse would know. The mare tilted her head at the question, coming back with a smile.
“Is she a blue unicorn filly?” All she could do was nod. “Yes I do know then. She’s' been visiting you every day with Miss Applejack. Checking if you’re up yet and I do believe only miss Applejack came along the other day.”
Her body relaxed as she thought, lunar was okay for now. “Thank you... um I could use a glass of water if that would be alright?”
The mare simply smiled saying, “Yes, I’ll be right back with it.” She turns back to the door, as Silver watch her exit the room.
She was now alone with her thoughts, she slowly exited the bed with a small cringe of pain. Her joints gave a sick popping sound as her mussels contracted from the lack of motion. She slowly limped toward the window the nurse covered with its blinds. She proceeded to open the blinds, trying to get a better understanding of where she was. What she saw froze her dead as all rational thought left her.
A large tree was able to be seen in the distance with buildings surrounding it. She saw filly’s running around playing near a fountain that flowed nearby. She could see food stands and vendors selling fruit while seeing one chatting with a yellow mare. Barely a cloud in the sky as Silver saw a ball light was shining up higher than the clouds. It was a beautiful day with every one was happy. In her mind was, Where the world am I? as the sound of a opening door snap her mental trance.
She turned back, seeing the nurse was back with an orange mare. “Well shoot, she’s' up an about. That’s' ah good sign” She heard the orange mare say as Red heart rushed forward dropping the cup of water she was holding.
“You shouldn't be moving around, your body must still be recovering and…” She could see that the mare was worried.
“I'm fine, just needed to move. Just a little motion and I'll be right as rain.” She said trying to reassure the nurse but all it did was cause her to sigh.
Nurse Red Heart motioned to the orange mare that stood behind, “This is miss Applejack, remember she’s' the one that brought you in...”
“And the one taking care of lunar as well” Silver finished for her.
The Applejack just smiled and said, “Yep, she’s' been ah mighty fine guest. ah just came by to see if ya was awake You must be quite worried about her, She’s' back at the farm, if you feel up to seeing her.” Did she say a farm? At those words, she felt a wave relief wash over her. She knew that they always needed direct permission from the local overseer for any arm forces to enter any farm, which took at least a week for such permission to gain; even on the king’s direct order. A sense of hope sparked in her mind.
Silver turned to the distraught looking nurse, “I do thank you miss Heart but I need to see lunar right now.” Read heart could tell by the look Silver gave was that of determination. It took few minutes before Red Heart let out a sigh of defeat.
“Well the fact you seem to be feeling better, I'll see about getting you discharged but I warn you. Don't do anything to physically labor intensive. I don't want to see you back here because you pushed your self.” She finished be for turning to exit the room, leaving her and Applejack.
A minute later after the nurse had left, she turns toward Applejack as she cleared her throat, “Um...I know this may sound weird but...where exactly is ponyville located? You see I've never been to this town before or any of the surrounding area before.” She thought if she could get to one bordering country's with lunar, they could seek refuge in the neighboring lands. She just hoping that Ponyville was close to one of them boarders.
Applejack just cocked her head and said, “Well ah say, practically thought everypony had heard of Ponyville. It’s just a small town, just downstream from the capital, C.” Canterlot.... that word caught her off guard.
“Are you okay? You look mighty pale.” She saw the mare worried, raising her hoof to Silver's shoulder. That simple word had just slammed her mind into stand by.
“I just found out that I'm just a long way from home is all.” Was all she could manage as response. The Applejack looked into her eyes', pulling her into a compassionate hug.
The hug caught her by surprise but she didn't resist with her eyes' closing. The embrace help her calm down the anxiety that was building. The Applejack pulled away asking, “You feel better?”
Silver stared at her, “Strangely yes...thank you, I needed that.” She just smiled, as next words just made her smile back.
“That’s' great. My gram said that ah hug can cure anypony's worried heart. Also you can just call me Applejack, most of my friends do.”
Her mind was still trying to make sense of what happen but that hug help her focus her thoughts. She made a mental note of all she knew; One: Her and lunar are no longer near the shalin capital or even in that world any more. Two: She didn’t know where that idiot is. Three: She has no idea on what to do, that the fact she was now broke. She instinctively moaned at the last one. “Is something wrong?” She noticed Applejack asking.
She looked at her saying, “I don't know how I'm going to pay for the medical bill. I don't have anything to pay with.” Applejack just chuckled. She stared back at her in confusion as she said, “Ya don't need worry about that. Ah have ah deal with the hospital. So you’re on my tab.” Her words only confused her more.
“A tab? I don't think hospitals or most places for that matter run tabs.” She stated as her disbelief showed in her words.
All Applejack did was smile saying, “Well when you donate the food for their patients, they let ya have ah few free visits.” She finished saying as the nurse came standing in the door way.
“Well, your all checked out but I'm asking you to take it easy for the next few days. You’re still recovering, all right?” She looked to Silver as she gave her a nod, turning back to Applejack. The farmer seemed so relax and quite friendly but lunar comes first in her mind.
“Um Applejack, if you don't mind if you could show me ware lunar is?” She asked hoping to be able to meet her soon.
“Well sure but first let’s get you out ta here and maybe something to eat. Ah bet ya hadn't eaten any thing goo in days.” She stated as she began to leave the room looking over her shoulder nodding for to come along. She just nows realized the light feeling in her stomach, she quickly fallowed.
As they left the room and made their way out of the hospital, they chatted about what lunar had been up to. Silver was surprise that the filly did while she slept in the hospital. Applejack's little sister and her friends, forced her to come with them to their school today. Since she apparently told them that her Teacher home schooled her and they went on about how that’s not school or something. She knew lunar had never been to, what ever a public school was. Her thoughts on how she was handling it, gave her a sense of peace. She was just as lost as Silver was, At least peaceful here.
Applejack proceeded to show her around town on the way to the farm, saying that it would be a while before the kids got out of school. Silver agreed, simple for the fact she felt the growth of curiosity inside her. This town was just brimming with life and things going on, it simply just fascinate her how everyone was happy and the light that shinned down. “You just seem so surprise about all this. Isn't like this where you’re from?”
She turned to face Applejack saying, “Well no...It’s much gloomier and not many ponies go outside an less they need to. It tends to get really cold.” She told her, Applejack noticing the sad tone and her frown. The next few minutes through town was full of questions, with Applejack tried to find out more about her past. She didn't out right refuse, she just played along leaving out a few things. “It’s a small town far to the north, a small place where it snows year round. Most ponies never go outside due to the cold weather and frequent snow storms.” She said as they approached one of the vendors which had a big red stallion standing behind it. She notice many different type of products as the fruit seem weird to her.
The stallion seemed friendly as a small smile cracked his lips as he turned to the two mares. “Heya Big Mac, how’s the day been going?” Applejack waved to the stallion, she guest that she friend of his.
“It’s been going good. Seems that she’s up an about now.” He said as the straw in his mouth twitched. All she could think at the moment was, how did he know me? As the thought slightly frighten her, making her take a step back.
Applejack notice her movement and went to say, “It’s alright, he's my brother, Big Macintosh. He was there that night when we saved you.”
The puzzled thought rose in her mind, “Saved me?” She muttered out loud as she looked down to think.
Mac quickly caught on, “The night you ran from the Everfree forest with those three timberwolfs chasing ya.” She had no idea what a 'timberwolf' was.
She shook her head saying, “I'm sorry but I don't know or remember what you’re talking about.” As she saw the two exchange a glance. Big mac gave a light chuckled at the words.
“That’s alright since your safe and all. How about a apple for the road.” He said, handing her a large red apple with his hoof. She reached out taking the apple. She was astonished by how large and red it looked. It didn't look like any apple she had before in Shalin. The green houses in Shalin were smaller and green, with theirs taste a bit sour and dry. She drew it up for a bite, as her mouth chomped down. Its taste surprised her even more as her eyes widened as she chewed with its sweet tasting juice dancing around in her mouth. She found it delicious as she quickly finished it core and all.
“Why you must really love apples or you were just that hungry.” Applejack commented, which caused her to blush a bit.
As they left the stand, heading to what Applejack said was the farm; they came upon a small path that led to a split. She saw a sign post pointing in two different directions, one pointed right to the ever free forest. The other was to a place called Sweet Apple Acres farm on the left. She notices Applejack heading to the farm, just to remembering that she said lunar was back at the farm...and it just click, “Wait, you own the farm?” She couldn't hold back the surprise in her voice.
Applejack just let out a light laugh saying, “Yeah, been in the Apple family for generations. Been her since the founding of ponyville. The it self is spread out all across Equestria, all working on their own farms.” She heard her finish with high praise for her family. Silver was a bit stun by that fact.
The dukes of the Shalin courts owned any all the farm-able land within their own territory. Even if the farmer lived there had been working on it generations, they still don’t own the farm. They can’t’ own it because the high demand of food needed thought the kingdom. The more she learns from this mare and her would, the more she realizes how completely different it is. That thought alone pulled at her for she didn’t even get to say good bye to him.
XxX
Applejack glanced over to silver again noticing her frowning in deep thought. She wandered why she was, for a odd reason it concerned her. From what she heard from the mare, she’s' was a far away from home, she apparently knows who Lunar’s teacher is. Thinking she might be able to help Twilight with figuring out that blasted book, “Well just up there is the farm.” Silver looked up to see the wide open apple orchard and the barn next to it. She also notices a small patch of some kind of plants as they made their way up to the house. As they made their way up to the house, a old sounding voice rang up from what seemed to be a porch.
“Come and get me, ye varmits! This old Smith is ah ready!” The sight of a old light lime green pony jump out holding a ladle with a drainer on her head greeted them. She was waving the ladle back and forth; Silver couldn't hold back her burst laughter at the site.
“Gran, would you stop that. Them timber wolfs are gone.” Applejack said racing over to Granny Smith, feeling a bit embarrassed by her actions. She showed her inside, looking over her shoulder she could see silver laughing. She felt silly for her grans' actions but then was confronted with a thought, just wondering why she did she feel embarrassed? She never felt embarrassed before so why now? Shaking her head at the thought. She turned back to Silver, “Ya that’s' Granny Smith for ya, always barrels of energy.” She finished with a chuckle.
She could see Silver lifting her head smiling, “I can see, so she your grandmother then?”
All she could was slip a grin saying, “Yep, she gets ah bit silly sometimes but means well.”
“I can tell, she kind of reminds me of a somepony.” Silver absently commented as she past through the door way
“She does? Do you mind if ah ask who?” She ask walking through the doorway after her. She noticed that Silver stopped dead soon as the question left her mouth. The dead stop surprised her, Applejack seemed to hit a sore memory, “It’s alright if you don't wana talk about it.” She saw Silver turn her head and the next few words made her heart sunk.
“It’s all right, but I... don't want to talk about him.” She responded as they entered the living room.
As they entered a notable grunt and voice greeted them. “Darn book...oh hi Applejack, um who do you have with you?” she turned her head to see twilight still fiddling away with that book still. She took so many notes in hope of understanding it that the floor was littered with slips of paper. She gave a light sigh saying, “Twi, if your going to take notes pleas just take the blasted thing with ya. Ah can’t even see my floor any more. Why not take a break for some lunch?”
She gave a sigh saying, “Alright, I haven’t eaten breakfast yet. um...is something wrong miss?” She turns her head to Silver noticing was staring at her, with a look of shock.
Wings!? How can she have wings and a horn? It’s impossible for any pony to be born like that. The only word she could muster was, “How can you have both?” Seeing the purple pony give a frustrated sigh.
“Yes.. I have a horn and wings. I'm princess Twilight and yes I'm a Alicorn...” She stated with a hint of anger that Silver didn't notice. Her thoughts were on the word Alicorn...wait did she say princess? “Hey” and a quick jab to her side snapped her back to reality, seeing a slightly anger Alicorn Staring at her.
“Um sorry but what’s an Alicorn?” She noticed that the Alicorn stumbled back in shock at her words, as did Applejack.
“Wait what?! You don't even know what a Alicorn is? Do you know that the rulers of Equestria are Alicorns as well? It’s not possible to not know that” She stated in shock, and began to mumble to herself. She just sat there confused as Applejack tried get her attention, failing in holding in her amusement.
“Twilight she’s' not from around hear, she didn't even know Ponyville existed till today.” Twilight's statement caught up in Silver's mind.
“Wait your a princess? Not to sound rude or anything but aren't they supposed to live in a castle or something?” She stated.
Twilight stopped mumbling soon as she heard what she said, “Well my reasons for that are simple, I don't want to leave my friends. I'm still a bit surprise that you don't know what a Alicorn is.” She notices a black hard spine book on the floor in front of Twilight. She was once again surprise for she recognized the book that laid there.
“That book was with lunar right?”
Twilight wasn't expecting the question said, “Well, yes, we tried reading it but we've been having no luck.” She was curies at the no luck part, forgetting the emptiness of her stomach.
“What do you mean can’t figure it out? Usually that moron plainly right things out.” She questioned.
“Well we broke the spell hiding the words but couldn't decipher out what they mean.” Intrigued by what she just heard, she made her way to book lying on the open floor. Applejack and Twilight both watched her with interest, hoping she could shed some light on what was written in the book. The words that Silver said perked their interest greatly.
“That stupid genius. There’s no way lunar could read this.”