The light from the spell slowly died, leaving the four ponies waiting in darkness. After what seemed like an eternity, Princess Celestia moved towards the small bundle of clothing. She quietly brushed the tattered remains of David’s clothing to the side, revealing a small tan colt with a brown mane. The colt remained fast asleep, undisturbed by the movements of the Princess.
Princess Celestia levitated the small colt a few yards away from the mess of bloodstained grass and tattered clothing, setting him gently on the ground. Princess Luna followed closely, looking with concern to her sister. Twilight sat still for a few moments more before getting to her feet. She levitated the remains of clothing into a small pile.
Princess Celestia cast a miniature light spell over the sleeping colt, giving more illumination to the darkened forest. Turning to Luna she asked,
“Do you have the memory spell ready?”
“We prepared the spell together sister. Thou mustn’t worry.”
Princess Celestia nodded and did her best to try and hide a sniffle. Princess Luna’s worry doubled.
“Sister, what is bothering thou? Is something wrong?”
Princess Celestia shook her head before turning around.
“No, I just need a minute to… think.”
Losing her composure, Princess Celestia galloped into the Everfree. Twilight was the first to try and run after her before Princess Luna called out to her.
“Twilight Sparkle! You cannot leave! I need your help with the spell.”
Twilight stopped and looked frantically between the trees that Princess Celestia had disappeared into and Princess Luna under the illumination of the light spell. Applejack ran past Twilight and jumped into the forest, shouting over her shoulder,
“Don’t you worry Twi! I’ll find her!”
Applejack sprinted hard to try and catch up with the Princess, but Celestia always stayed a few yards ahead. As the trees whizzed by, Applejack recognized where they were going, they were on the path to the Castle of the Pony Sisters. Applejack put on an extra burst of speed, trying desperately to catch up to Princess Celestia. As she almost got the Princess’s tail between her teeth, she was blinded by a bright light, followed by a loud POP.
Applejack shook her head, trying to get rid of the stars she was seeing. As she cleared her head, Applejack realized that Princess Celestia had teleported herself away, leaving Applejack with no clue to where she might be. Following her gut, Applejack continued down the path to the castle.
As she crossed the small rope bridge that spanned the gorge, Applejack stopped and listened hard, trying to pick out the slightest of sounds. The forest was silent, allowing Applejack to hear what she was listening for. Crying.
Applejack followed the sobs until she found Princess Celestia, sitting alone below a small statue of Princess Luna. Her crown was lying next to her, along with the golden shoes she normally wore. Tears were streaking down her normally calm face and her eyes were closed tight as she cried.
Applejack walked up slowly behind Princess Celestia and silently sat down beside her. Noticing the pony next her, Celestia tried to dry up her tears and wipe off her face.
“Sorry Applejack, I just…”
“Princess, if ya need to cry, then I’ll let ya cry on mah shoulder. That’s what friends are for.”
Princess Celestia’s mask broke completely and utterly at that moment, and she sobbed uncontrollably into Applejack’s shoulder, pulling the orange earth pony into a hug. Applejack hugged the Princess back and rubbed her back lightly, whispering,
“That’s it, Ya just gotta let it all out and when yer ready, ya can tell me whats buggin’ you. That sound good?”
Princess Celestia didn’t answer, and instead cried herself dry, hugging Applejack all the while. In that time nothing else mattered. Titles, power, money, all worth nothing. It was just a friend crying into the arms of another friend. They stayed that way for hours, the orange earth pony cradling the crying white alicorn. Eventually Princess Celestia pulled away from Applejack and wiped the tears away from her face.
“Thank you Applejack, I think I really needed that.”
“Are ya ready ta talk about it?”
Princess Celestia nodded and sighed before looking up at the statue before her.
“In the split second before the spell hit I saw something I haven’t seen in anypony, anything in a long time, not since I was forced to banish my sister. In the second before the spell hit I saw fear. In that creature’s eyes, in David’s eyes, I saw pure fear. He was afraid and it was all because of me. I took away his choice…”
Celestia’s sentence choked off. She turned to Applejack with tears once again rimming her red eyes.
“Does that make me a bad pony? Do I even deserve to be a princess anymore after taking that kind of choice away from someone?”
Her ears flopped back and she seemed to sag. Applejack put a hoof on Princess Celestia’s back.
“Princess, ya can’t think ya did somethin’ wrong. Ya heard ‘im before ya cast the spell. He said that he was kinda happy ‘bout it. Ya can’t blame yerself about it. Yer not a bad pony at all ya just got put in a tight spot.”
Princess Celestia sniffed again before leaning over and resting her head on Applejack’s shoulder. They stayed like that for a few minutes before Princess Celestia sighed and got to her feet, collecting her regalia in her golden magic.
“Thank you Applejack… for everything. I’m glad were friends, even if were not as close as some.”
Applejack stood and straightened her Stetson.
“No problem Princess. Ah’m glad I could help ya. Besides, how much closer can two friends get?”
Princess Celestia smiled and put on her regalia. She looked around the moonlit room, whispering to herself,
“Were going to need to get this place cleaned up soon.”
Applejack nervously shifted from foot to foot, waiting to bring up the big question.
“Uh Princess?”
The sound of Applejack snapped her out of her stupor and she shook her head before turning to the orange pony.
“I’m sorry; I guess we should be heading back. I was just thinking aloud.”
Applejack rubbed the back of her head sheepishly.
“Can ah ask a favor of ya Princess?”
“Anything Applejack. What is it you need?”
Applejack’s mouth opened, then closed, then opened again as she tried to figure out the best way to ask the question.
“You want to try to adopt the colt first, am I correct?”
Applejack bobbed her head.
“Yeah I do, but how did ya know?”
Princess Celestia smiled and began walking towards the exit of the castle, causing Applejack to trot to keep up.
“Actually Applejack,” Princess Celestia answered, “I was going to ask you first if you wanted another addition to the Apple family. In all of the centuries I’ve known your family, you have been some of the most understanding ponies I have ever met. I think the young colt will make a great addition to your family.”
“Thank ya kindly Princess.”
Princess Celestia walked with a bit more prance in her step as the pair left the castle.
“My sister and I will write the necessary papers for the young colt and you can sign everything legally within a few days. Now, with all of that being said, we have one thing left to decide.”
Applejack looked at Princess Celestia with inquisitiveness in her eyes.
“What else is there? Ya said that ya were goin’ ta take care of all of the papers an’ such, what’s left?”
Princess Celestia chuckled softly before answering Applejack.
“As part of the colt’s fresh start, we have decided to change his name. Or if you would prefer, we can keep his original name. I am leaving that up to you.”
Applejack stopped in the middle of the path and rubbed her face in thought. Princess Celestia waited while the orange pony thought, trying her best not to seem impatient.
After a few minutes of thinking, Applejack looked at Princess Celestia and asked,
“How does Davey Apple sound?”