Chapter 4
++ Applejack ++
It's been a weird evening.
Understatement.
I'm still smarting from Jazz's making that snooty, jackass comment about me bein' some kind of pervert. The sting in my heart is far worse than the split lip. How could he say that? What has happened to my sweet little brother? Shouting at me that I would ruin his reputation at his fancy school, he'd stormed off in a huff, leaving all parties stunned. His reputation? I should have done worse than jump on him and clop his fool ears. And that hoof across my mouth was no playful hit either. It had meant to hurt.
The tears have dried but I'm still so hurt and angry that my belly is as sour as pig swill.
"Applejack? AJ?"
Part of me petulantly wants to ignore Twilight's calling and remain wallowing in my hurt. But that is beyond my capacity to be selfish and I know my brother's abominable behavior has to have hurt her, too. "Comin', Twi."
She looks startled as I clop down the steep ramp nearly hidden by the shadows of the barn, and immediately rushes over to wrap both forelegs around me and cling tight. Seems I was wrong and I do have a few more tears that leak out into her mane as I squeeze her back. I'm not the only one sniffling.
"Ah love you, Twilight," I murmur fiercely and squeeze until she squeaks. "Ah don't care what that jerk says."
"I love you, too, Applejack. Just give him some time." Sighing heavily, she leans away only far enough to look me in the eye. "The only good part of that incident is that it ensured no one else will do anything hurtful. My folks are still confused, but that's to be expected. Will you come and have some dinner?"
"Ah'm not feelin' so hungry right now."
"Me either, Love, but we have parents and mentors and maybe a new friend who need to see us."
Of course she's right and I nod slowly. "Lead the way, Sugar."
Neither of us cleans up the salty tracks of tears, the physical proof of the pain my insensitive brother has caused; though I do shake the hay out of my mane and tail. Twilight actually earns a watery smile when she nibbles away a few stubborn strays.
The subdued murmur of conversation ceases as we step in to the mudroom and my wry, vulnerable expression is echoed by my lover. We each quickly rinse off the clinging mud and take a deep breath, share a quick nuzzle and step into the house proper. Our elders make a fascinating collection of ponies, my country folks, Twi's city slicker parents, and the exotic princesses of the sun and moon.
"I am so very sorry to have inadvertently been party to hurting you," Princess Celestia says mournfully and I'm struck that she really does look like she feels awful. Sighing heavily, I give Twilight a gentle nudge to the table and we squeeze in amidst our parents.
"It ain't yer fault, Princess. That fancy school has been changin' mah little brother for years now. Ah don't hate him, ah'm just hurt that he'd say those awful things. Thank you for the apology, though. It's nice ta know that you don't feel that same way."
Twilight noses that spot at the curve of my jaw that will forever be hers alone and it relaxes me further.
"Of course not, Applejack," Celestia says almost vehemently. "Love is never to be criticized, no matter what form it may manifest."
Sounds like there's a story behind that and the loaded look the sisters share pretty well confirms my thought. Well, at least they have each other to confide in again.
After an uncomfortable silence, Star Sparkle clears her throat and deliberately turns her attention to me. It's disorienting how much her daughter looks like her, even as their color and stripes are so very different. "Is that one of the Elements of Harmony?"
Her question completely takes me by surprise. It's easy to forget about the necklace, I've grown so accustomed to it. Every eye drops below my chin, except for the glance I share with my lover. "It appeared at the Winter Wrap Up. None of us know why."
Twilight fires a questioning glance to Celestia, who shakes her head. "I'm afraid I don't understand either. We can only assume there must be a reason, but it has yet to manifest."
"Yeah, that's pretty much what we were figurin', too."
Again, we all trail into uncertain quiet. Truthfully, I’m intimidated by this, these powerful royals and Twi's parents. I’m gonna end up saying or doing something stupid.
"It's dark now," Twilight muses, her expression thoughtful for a moment before it brightens. Uh oh. "Since it could be inconvenient to travel in darkness, we should have a slumber party. I had a wonderful time last year when Applejack and Rarity got trapped by bad weather at the library. Even with the tree through the window."
I'm still embarrassed by that and I'm certain that my expression says that. Amusingly, Princess Celestia grins at me in quiet amusement and I smile back. She's far more approachable than I would have thought.
"A slumber party?" Princess Luna asks skeptically, the question echoed on Star Sparkle's face.
"Why certainly," Mama chimes in enthusiastically. "We have a large living room with a nice warm fire and plenty ta eat. Ah know travel can be difficult by night."
There's an odd look on Luna's face and I remember Nightmare Moon ranting about how ponies never appreciated her beautiful night. "Princess Luna?" My voice immediately gets her attention. "Would ya like some company raisin' the moon t'night?"
The expression on her dark face is priceless. "I... uh..." Honestly, you'd think a pony'd never been nice to her before. Then again... After a long, puzzled moment, her expression goes shy and pleased. "Yes, some company would be... nice. Thank you, Applejack."
"Lead the way."
Touching foreheads with my girl, I give her a grin and follow the Princess of the Moon outdoors. The rain has returned, an annoying drizzle that chills the fur and annoys the eyes. Except... I'm not getting wet. "Nice trick," I grin at my unexpected companion, who merely smiles but does not look away from the darkened sky. The loneliness of this unique individual is as inherent to her as the night tones of her coloring and the white crescent moon on her hip, forever trapped against its black, cloud-like background.
"Y'know, ya ain't ever really alone at night."
The awakening glow of the alicorn's horn falters a moment as Luna looks at me, once again taken aback.
"No, ah mean it. Yeah, sure, most of us are sleepin', but there's all sorts of critters and even ponies that rely on yer night. And none of us would survive without it. Ah'm sorry if our ancestors never told ya that."
If it's possible to look both grateful and faintly annoyed, then that's exactly how the younger princess feels. After long moments, she clears her throat and turns her nose towards the sky, her horn once again glowing. I don't take her silence as rejection, because, as the keeper of the night, it makes sense that she is quiet and introspective. Just like those that rely on her darkness. I'm a creature of the land, of the natural rhythms of days and seasons. I understand.
"Element of Honesty indeed."
The warmth in her voice makes me smile.