Applejack Through the Ages

by Paradise Oasis


You're among friends, Darling!

You're among friends, Darling!

"Oh dear, I'm so sorry, darling!" Rainbow Dash said apologetically, taking a step back from the surprised earth mare. "But I think you must have mistaken us from somebody else!"

"Yeah, I think Rainbow's right." Pinkie Pie agreed, speaking in a voice that was far too nasally to be something that AJ would associate with Pinkie. "I know most of our extra-super-special friends in Ponyville. And I really don't recognize the extra-super-special pony that is you!"

A horrified Applejack suddenly realized that these two ponies, whom she had simply rushed up and hugged out of the blue, were not the mares she had known so long ago. She should have recognized the fact that the pony she had thought was her old tomboy friend had no wings, and Pinkie Pie actually stayed in one place for more than five minutes. Her face turned an embarrassed red, as she realized just how forward she had been with two total strangers.

"Oh no, I'm so sorry...." The red mare lowered her head, and began to apologize profusely. "I-I didn't mean to embarrass the two of you like that!"

"Oh, it's all right, really!" The mare called Pinkie Pie replied with a giggle. "We always like making new friends!"

"Indeed we do, darling." Rainbow Dash agreed, shaking the new pony's hoof. "And since you seem to know our names somehow, may we have to courtesy of yours?"

"Applejack..." The red pony replied, looking up and offering the other two ponies a half-hearted smile. "My name is Applejack."

For being total strangers, these two ponies were the nicest mares I had ever had the pleasure of meeting. They took me back to their town, and started introducing me to all of their friends... all without even asking how I knew their names. But I was to discover just how different these girls were from my old and dear friends, as well as how different the place they called home, was different from the Ponyville I'd once known...

"Oh, and over here's the Windmill Library, darling! Storybelle runs the place." Rainbow Dash told her with a smile. "Be sure to stop by there, if you ever need a book!"

As the two ponies showed the surprised mare around Ponyville, Applejack couldn't help but be amazed at how different Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash were from her old and dearest friends. Dashie was much more like Rarity than than her tomboyish Pegasus ancestor, a fancy and frilly fashionesta the fru-fru dressmaker would've been proud of. And Pinkie Pie... well, this Pinkie Pie was actually SANE! No random phrases, no silly nonsense that didn't make any sense...the more serious, take-charge mare before her resembled her ancestor in name only.

As to the other mares in Ponyville, Applejack realized there were many differences between this and previous generations of Ponyvillians. The old red mare noticed that there were small heart shapes in the eyes of each pony present, an odd physical trait that the Ponyvillians must have developed in the years since she left, AJ reasoned. As the two mares led her into a small restaurant, the Cotton Candy Cafe, the two ponies began to introduce her to all of their friends there.

"And this, dear Applejack, is Razaroo!" Pinkie Pie told her, pointing a hoof at a purple mare with a white mane and cutie mark. "She's the holiday gift pony that keeps track of all the special days here in Ponyville!"

"That's me, Razaroo, yes yes yes!" The pony with the gift box cutie mark exclaimed, a wide grin on her face. "I remember birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays without fail!"

"So nice to meet you." Applejack replied, still dumbfounded by everything she had seen and heard. It truly amazed her how much Ponyville had changed in the past three hundred years; pink and pastels colors everywhere, girly ribbons and pretty lacy trims on every building and surface. Oddly constructed houses, like a giant teapot and a large treasure chest, dotted the landscape. And the only building AJ recognized was Twilight Sparkle's old castle... and even that had been lowered to ground level, and painted pink!

Wow, the stallions must die of embarrassment from living here! Applejack thought with a silent chuckle. It was then that the red earth pony spotted an eerily familiar yellow mare, with a purple and red mane. Trotting over towards the strangely similar pony with an apple cutie mark, Applejack decided to introduce herself to the newcomer.

"Excuse me, but I couldn't help but notice your Apple cutie mark, and I was wondering..." The ancient pony asked the other mare nervously. "...but, would you happen to be a member of the Apple family?"

"Eyup! Oh, and I notice you are, too!" The yellow mare replied, noticing AJ's cutie mark. "My name's Apple Spice, and wow, we must totally be, like, cousins or something!"

The other mare hugged the newcomer she had just met tightly, and AJ suddenly saw Big Macintosh in her mind's eye. Somehow, she knew that this disturbingly familiar pony came from her big brother. Apple Spice must've felt it, too, as she started to talk to AJ like she was an old an dear friend.

"Ohhh, this is so amazing! Meeting a new family member I never even knew!" Apple Spice giggled in an exceptionally girly manner. "I know! We need to have a tea party to celebrate!"

"Yeah, a Tea Party!" Pinkie Pie giggled, smiling happily. "We can hold it at the castle, and I'll bring the tea and cookies!"

"What a fabulous idea, darling!" Rainbow Dash agreed, smiling and prancing about. "I'll bring my makeup set and some of my dresses, and we can give each other makeovers and play dress-up!"

At first, Applejack was taken aback by how silly and immature this fully grown mares were acting, but then her head suddenly started to hurt. Closing her eyes with a groan, a struggle began to take place in her mind. Slowly, what was left of a tomboyish and rugged cowpony was annihilated from existence, letting out a silent scream as she was engulfed in frilly girlishness. Finally, Applejack opened her eyes once more, the same small heart-shaped marks the other mares had, glowing inside her eyes as well.

"Yaaaay, a tea party!" AJ giggled, hopping up and down with the other girly girls. "And lets bring our dollies! I just love dollies!"