Twilight and Spike headed down the familiar path to Sweet Apple Acres. They passed rows and rows of apple trees, and the familiar scent of fresh cider entered their noses. Twilight stopped.
“Cider?” she said. “But it’s nowhere near cider season!”
“Who cares? It smells delicious!” said Spike.
They continued walking along the dusty road, and began to climb the hill that overlooked the farm. As they crested the hill, Twilight and Spike’s jaws dropped. They stood agape, staring at what used to be Sweet Apple Acres.
A massive factory had been built in the center of the orchards. The large, grey, boxy building towered over the surrounding area and dominated the horizon. Several large chimneys belched out clouds of black smoke, which loomed over the trees like a massive thunderstorm. A small house was squeezed up next to the factory, tinted grey by the soot from the smokestacks. Over the gate hung a bright neon sign. Twilight and Spike approached the gate, and upon reading the sign they gasped simultaneously.
“Flim...Flam...Farms?!” stammered Twilight.
She and Spike walked through the gate, and followed the paved pathway towards the factory. On closer inspection, the facility seemed a bit less imposing. Apple shapes were pressed into the grey brick sides, and the doors had the silhouettes of two ponies engraved in the glass, one of whom had a mustache.
A small sob made Twilight and Spike turn to the right. Sitting on the front steps of the small house was Big Macintosh, crying. They ran over to the large red stallion. His mane was flecked with soot, and instead of his yoke he wore a black bow tie.
“Big Mac!” exclaimed Twilight. “What’s wrong?! Where’s the farm?!”
Macintosh sniffled, and stopped crying. He looked up at Twilight in her Sally Scoop disguise. He tried to speak, but only began crying again.
“It’s okay Mac,” came a small voice from inside the house, “It’s fer the best.”
Applebloom trotted out of the open door, and put her hoof on her brother’s shoulder. Her red bow had been replaced with a jet black variant, and her eyes were heavy with sadness. She looked up at Twilight and Spike.
“Ah heard ya askin’ about the farm.” said Applebloom. “Y’all are new in town, arnt’cha?”
“Not exactly, we’ve been here before. Last time I visited there was a farm here...”
Big Mac stopped crying again, and turned to Twilight.
“We lost the farm almost a year ago.” he said. “Flim and Flam showed up at the beginnin’ of cider season with their fancy machine, and tried to bargain with us. We refused, and they started sellin’ their own cider. They ran us out of business, and we had to sell them the farm just to keep the house. They built this here factory, and gave me a job so we could stay here.”
Big Mac’s lip quivered, and he took a deep breath before continuing.
“After we lost the farm, Granny was never the same. Of course, she’d always been somewhat sad after Applejack left. But losing her family’s land put her over the edge. She stopped helpin’ out around the house, and eventually got real sick. We didn’t have enough money to get a proper doctor and...and...an”
Big Mac began to cry again. Applebloom sat next to him.
“She passed away ‘bout ah week ago.” said Applebloom, listlessly. “Today was her funeral, so ah didn’t go tah school an Big Mac had the day off.”
Tears welled up in Twilight’s eyes as Applebloom finished the story. She fought the urge to cry.
“Where’s Applejack?” asked Twilight. “Big Mac said she left...”
“I’m here.” said a voice from inside the house.
Applejack walked out onto the porch with her family. Her mane and tail were styled into curls, and her hat was nowhere to be seen, along with her cutie mark. She wore a small, black rose in her mane. Her voice was devoid of its usual twang.
Twilight used her horn to toss the necklace into the dust. The Apples gasped as she changed forms, and she shot up the stairs to give Applejack a hug. Applebloom stared shockingly at Twilight, but said nothing.
“What happened to you?!” said Twilight
“I’d like to ask you the same question.” responded Applejack.
“Well...this is going to sound crazy.” said Twilight. “But I’m from a different universe. A different timeline, actually, where none of this ever happens. You are one of my best friends. I’ve come to this universe because Discord changed the past, and I need your help to fix it.”
Applejack stared at Twilight with a look of disbelief.
“That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard.” she said. “You expect me to believe that? How do I know you’re not some mental defective who escaped from the loony bin?”
“Because,” replied Twilight. “You know it’s true. Whatever you’ve been doing with your life, you know is not right. Also, how else would I have this picture?”
She levitated the photograph of herself and her friends in front of Applejack. Slowly, the disbelief turned to acceptance.
“You’re right. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but you’re right.” replied Applejack.
“Now, Big Mac said you had left. Where did you go?” asked Twilight.
“I went to Manehattan.” she replied. “I left home back when I was a filly to go live in the big city. My Aunt and Uncle Orange raised me, and I’ve been living with them my whole life. I came back to Ponyville after getting a letter from Macintosh saying that Granny Smith had passed on.”
“Well,” said Twilight, “If we’re going to fix this then you’ll have to stay here in Ponyville a bit longer. Will you help me, friend?”
Applejack smiled, and the fourth star appeared on Twilight’s flank.
“Now, I already showed you the photo. Do you recognise anypony in it?”
Applebloom couldn’t restrain herself anymore.
“MISS SPARKLE!” she blurted, “HOW DID YOU KNOW ABOUT MY SISTER?!”
“Miss...Sparkle?” asked Twilight, turning to the excited filly.
“Yeah! You’re my teacher!” exclaimed Applebloom. “At least, ah think you are...you did say y’all are from another universe though...”
“T...T...TEACHER!?” yelled Twilight. “I’M A TEACHER?!”
Spike, who had been busy explaining the plan to Applejack, turned back to Twilight.
“Well,” he said “I guess it’s a good thing we stopped for apples!”
Spike laughed, and was suddenly enveloped in a purple aura. Twilight’s horn glowed as she dropped the dragon on her back.
“We need to get to the schoolhouse, NOW!” she exclaimed.
“Why?!” laughed Spike, “Do you have papers to grade!?”
Twilight shot him a dirty look as she set off towards town. Spike was nearly in tears from laughter.
“Better hurry!” he said, chuckling, “We wouldn’t want to be tardy!”