//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: Applejack's Homemade Pie // by Charliebbarkin //------------------------------// It was late in the evening and Twilight was sulking in her upstairs room in library. “Give me another one of those vials, Spike!” Twilight cried out. “Don’t you think you’ve had enough? Zecora said you should only take one of these every four hours, and you’ve already two in the last half hour!” Spike replied. Twilight frowned at Spike and used her magic to pull a vial of potion from Spike’s hand. The liquid was a thick, and bright pink. Twilight popped the cork off, and swallowed the contents in one swift shot. Twilight closed her eyes for a moment and reopened them. The room was starting to spin more than before and her vision became blurry. Twilight tossed herself face down onto her bed and covered the back of her head with her pillow as she started crying. Spike had never seen Twilight so upset. He walked to the side of the bed and tried to console her. “Twilight, everything's going to be okay.” “No it’s not, Spike! I’m a murderer...a murderer! Don’t you understand?” Twilight continued to sob with her head hidden under a pillow. “No you’re not. Well, not really. You didn’t know what was going to happen, it’s not your fault.” Spike tried to console Twilight, but she wasn’t having any of it. “Take a letter, Spike.” Twilight said. Her speech was beginning to become slurred from Zecora’s antidepressant potion. Spike grabbed a quill and scroll and waited to take a message. “Dear Princess Celestia, I’ve done something terrible! I’ve killed a helpless colt before it even had a chance to experience life!” Twilight began sobbing uncontrollably, and Spike waited patiently for Twilight to continue. “As you know, Pinkie Pie was pregnant. But when she found out it was a colt, she demanded that I terminate it with my magic! I refused, but the next day she tricked me into performing a spell!” Twilight began sobbing again. Spike was beginning to become impatient. Twilight started dictating again. “How could someone who I thought was my friend do this to me? Why does everyone in Ponyville hate colts so much? I’ve wondered why Ponyville has so few stallions, but I can’t believe this is the reason. The ponies here are crazy! Please, let me go home to Canterlot. I don’t want to stay in Ponyville anymore. I just want to go home and get out of this nightmare! You’re faithful student, Twilight Sparkle.” Twilight was slurring her speech badly, but Spike was able to decipher her words and write down what she meant. With the letter signed, Spike sent the letter. In an unusual move, Twilight levitated Spike onto her bed with her. Twilight tried to hug Spike, but it didn’t feel quite right. Her hooves and body were numb to the touch, and the warmth that she could normally feel just wasn’t there. She began to calm down, thinking that Spike was right. She really did have too many of Zecora’s potions. The two continued to wait, and it was far beyond the normal response time Celestia. Perhaps the princess herself was having trouble finding a response to Twilight’s little problem. Finally, Spike burped up a scroll which smacked right into Twilight’s face. She tried using her hooves to unseal and unravel the note but she was having trouble. Without any feeling in her hooves, she couldn’t quite do it. “Why don’t you let me take care of that…” Spike said as he grabbed the scroll out of Twilight’s hooves. Twilight continued trying her motions trying to unseal the scroll for a few seconds, even though it was no longer in her hooves. Spiked coughed to clear his throat as he started to read the letter. “My dearest student. I am so sorry to hear of your troubles in Ponyville. You’re right that your friend Pinkie Pie should not have tricked you in the way that she did, but it is in the past now. She is the element of harmony, and for the safety and security of Equestria, you must remain close friends with her. As my student, I need you to learn how to let it go. Just let it go. I could sing a whole song about that. Regardless, I need you to stay in Ponyville to progress in your studies. Your next assignment is to learn more about Ponyville’s culture. Not all places are like Canterlot, Twilight. You need to gain more exposure to other cultures before returning to Canterlot. I’m so proud of you, Twilight.” Twilight blinked slowly, one eyelid right after the other as she processed the letter. She was saddened and surprised that Celestia wouldn’t let her return to her home city. “Spike…” Twilight said after giving a hiccup. “Will you sleep with me tonight?” Twilight took her hoof and grabbed spike, rapidly pulling him towards her. “Aaah!” Spike cried out at the unexpected motion. Spike’s back was pinned towards Twilight’s chest as one of her forehooves wrapped around Spike’s belly tightly. “But Twilight, it’s not even night time yet!” Spike complained as he struggled against Twilight’s iron grip. After struggling for a moment, Spike spoke again. “Twilight?” Spike tried to turn his head around to see what was going on, but his question was answered when he heard Twilight snoring. Spike figured she must’ve passed out due to Zecora’s potions. Spike continued his struggle against the unconscious pony’s grip for hours as he watched the sun set through the window. Eventually he tired himself out and went to sleep tired, hungry, thirsty, and needing to relieve himself. Hours later, the morning sun casted it’s light onto Twilight’s eyelids. She kept them closed but was slowly starting to stir. Her legs felt wet and cold, something wasn’t right. She opened her eyes and noticed Spike was sleeping next to her. She didn’t remember falling asleep the night before, which was very unusual. Twilight moved her head downwards and she gave a quick sniff of the sheets. “Agh!” cried Twilight, as she impulsively released Spike from her grasp. Spike began waking up right as he was falling off the bed into a cold puddle. “Agh!” cried Spike as he hit the puddle on the floor. “Spike! Gross! We’ve talked about this!” Twilight said as she was shaking the cold urine from her fur. “But...but it wasn’t me! I mean...it wasn’t my fault! You wouldn’t let me…” Twilight interrupted spike. “Ooooh no. I’m getting you a crate until you get this under control, just like we discussed. I’m sure Fluttershy has a spare one we can use.” “But that’s so humiliating!” Spike protested. “It’s alright, Spike. You are a baby dragon afterall. I’m sure after crate training, you’ll be fine. Now, why don’t you be a good little assistant and clean up this mess. I’ll make some breakfast for us.” Spike sighed. “Fine…” Spike said as he started gathering up the soiled bedding. After a short breakfast, Twilight left the library to go to Fluttershy’s house while Spike stayed behind to do the laundry. On her way to Fluttershy's house, Twilight started to undergo her assignment from Celestia. She needed to learn more about the differences between Canterlot and Ponyville culture. She paid particularly close attention to the few stallions she saw as she crossed through the town. Twilight noticed the Quills and Sofa shop. Twilight wondered how anypony could have ‘talent’ limited to just two basic things. That would never happen to a stallion in Canterlot. And why was he always running out of Quills? He literally only sold one model of sofa, and one type of Quill. Why wasn’t he able to do the most basic inventory management ever? Twilight started to wonder if there was something physically wrong with his brain. As she continued to walk through town, her attention shifted towards Snips and Snails. The two colts were easily the least intelligent children in the school. She watched as they started to play a game. “Okay, Snips. Three, two, one...hide and seek!” The two ponies ran in opposite directions. Snips hid behind the town well, and Snails hid behind a bush. Twilight watched patiently as they played their game, but nothing happened. “Oh no…” Twilight thought. “Are they seriously playing a game of hide and seek where they’re both hiding, and no one is seeking?” Twilight wondered. She decided it would be best to move on. She was almost to the road that would take her by Fluttershy’s cottage. She walked in front of Big Mac’s apple stand. “Oh, hello Big Mac. How are you today?” She asked while smiling. Big Mac smiled back. “Yuuuup!” He replied. The two ponies stood for more than a moment, smiling at each other, until the moment became awkward. “Is that all you have to say?” Twilight asked. She started studying his face, which towered over her. Twilight noticed something strange. There appeared to be some sort of faded line on his forehead, right below his hairline. She never noticed this feature before since it was so subtle, but it looked like a scar. “Hey Big Mac, I hope you don’t mind me asking, but is that a scar line on your forehead? What happened?” Big Mac looked away from Twilight and towards the ground. His smile now turned to a frown, he said, “Yup” in a deep, saddened voice. Big Mac's answer reminded her of Bulk Biceps, who only seemed to be able to say "YEAAAAH!" She could tell there was definitely something wrong with the stallions and colts in Ponyville, but she couldn't quite put her hoof on what the problem was. Twilight realized she shouldn’t press the issue any further. “I’m sorry, I have to be going now.” Twilight said as she went on her way and started walking on the dirt road to Fluttershy’s house. On her walk over she saw a pink dot in the distance. Twilight squinted her eyes and saw the dot bouncing up and down slowly. It was getting closer. “Oh no…” She said to herself. Pinkie Pie was bouncing happily on the road towards Twilight. Not wanting to start the conversation, Twilight stood still and waited for Pinkie to bounce to her. “Oh! Hi Twilight! Thanks again for helping me out yesterday. Here, this is for you!” Pinkie reached into a basket she was wearing on her head, and pulled out a pink envelope. Pinkie pushed the envelope into Twilight’s face, who eventually accepted it with her teeth. The two ponies stood, staring at each other for a short time. Pinkie Pie was smiling, waiting for Twilight to open her letter. Twilight was frowning, motionless, with a letter stuffed into her mouth. After a few seconds, Pinkie spoke. “What’s wrong? Aren’t you going to read it?” Twilight removed the letter from her mouth. “Pinkie, I’m still very upset at you, okay?” Pinkie’s smile faded. “Why?” she asked. “You know very well why! You…” Twilight’s speech stumbled as she started to choke up a little. “You tricked me into killing your baby! How could you do that to me!? How could you do that to your baby!” Twilight shouted. Pinkie still didn’t understand what the problem was. “Huh? What do you mean? It was just a colt. I’m the one who should be mad at you for not helping me earlier when I asked. But I’m not mad at you anymore, it’s not good to hold a grudge.” Pinkie smiled. “I can’t believe you, Pinkie! You tricked me into taking a life, and you act like it’s no big deal!” Twilight exclaimed. “It was going to be a colt, not a filly, silly!” Twilight never liked it when Pinkie called her silly. Suddenly, Twilight remembered Celestia’s assignment. The words in Celestia’s voice sounded off in Twilight’s head. “Not all places are like Canterlot, Twilight. You need to gain more exposure to other cultures before returning to Canterlot.” Twilight gave a long sigh. “All right, Pinkie. I forgive you. But don’t ever trick me like that again, okay? Lying is the fastest way to lose a friend forever, remember?” “Hey, that’s my phrase!” Pinkie laughed. “Well aren’t you going to open your letter? Twilight smiled for the first time since the conversation started, and opened her letter. As she tore open the envelope, glitter and confetti exploded out of it. Twilight read the note. “You are invited to Applejack’s baby shower at noon tomorrow, at Sweet Apple Acres!” Twilight asked, “Wait, is Applejack really pregnant?” Pinkie giggled. “She sure is! Well, I’ll see you tomorrow, Twi. I’ve gotta deliver the rest of these letters!” And with that said, pinkie bounced away towards the town. In short order Twilight arrived at Fluttershy’s cottage and knocked on the door. The door opened soon after. “Oh, Twilight! What an unexpected surprise! Would you like to come in?” Twilight came in and sat on the couch as Fluttershy poured a cup of tea. “Fluttershy, I was wondering, could I maybe borrow a crate so I can crate train Spike? He’s having problems with bladder control lately.” Fluttershy thought for a moment. “Gosh, Twilight. I don’t think a dragon’s ever been crate trained before. It might not be such a good idea to do that to Spike.” Twilight wasn’t interested in arguing, and was really just interested in borrowing a crate. “Oh, did I say Spike? Nononono, I meant, um, my new pet dog, Spank.” “Oh, he sounds adorable! How big is Spank?” Fluttershy replied. “About the same size as Spike.” “I see…” Fluttershy walked around her living room. “I think this one might be good. It’ll be just big enough for Spank to fit inside and turn around, but nothing else. Do you need anything else?” Fluttershy asked. “No thanks, this is great! Thanks so much, Fluttershy. I’ll return it as soon as Spike, I mean Spank, is trained. I promise!” Twilight said. Fluttershy smiled. “No problem, I love helping my friends! Say, did you heard the news about Applejack?” “I heard! I can’t believe she’s going to have a foal of her own!” Twilight said. “I just hope it’s a little filly…” Fluttershy’s expression turned to a concerned look. Twilight frowned. “Why is everypony in this town like that?!?” “What do you mean?” Fluttershy asked. “Why does everypony in Ponyville hate colts so much?!?” Twilight was starting to get mad. “I don’t hate colts. It’s just that raising one in Ponyville can be such a burden, especially after their first birthday. This isn’t Canterlot, you know.” “Ugh” Twilight sighed, frustrated at never being given a direct answer. “Sorry I asked…” “Is it something I said? You’re not mad at me, righ? Please don’t be mad at me!” Fluttershy begged. “I’m not mad at you.” Twilight paused. “So, are you going to Applejack’s party tomorrow?” Fluttershy nodded. “Great, I’ll see you there. Thanks again for letting me borrow your crate! Bye Fluttershy!” Twilight said as she exited the cottage with a crate in tow, levitated by magic.