//------------------------------// // In The Orchard // Story: Apples in the Moonlight: Crackshipping Applejack and Luna // by bahatumay //------------------------------// Applejack irritably kicked at the tree. Not that it was the tree's fault she was working at midnight, but still. It made her feel a little bit better. And maybe a little bit guilty at the same time. “Sorry about that, Fern,” she apologized to the tree. “Don't get me wrong, I love my friends; but sometimes I don't think they get it. Farm chores don't just go away, no matter how great the trip to Canterlot is, or how awesome the show was.” She accented this last word with a powerful buck, sending a shower of apples raining down into waiting buckets. “If'n I don't do it during the day, I gotta do it at night, 'else nopony in Ponyville gets their apples.” She sighed and tried (and failed) to suppress a yawn. She smacked her lips. “Don't mind me. Just feeling a bit unappreciated, that's all. Kindof like Luna, I suppose.” She cracked a smile. “Maybe I'll become Nightmare Apple.” She dropped her voice lower and crouched down. “This harvest will last… forever!” An owl flew away into the night at her shout. Applejack laughed to herself and then sighed. “Oh, I'm tired,” she mumbled as she returned to her chores. She had only filled one more round of baskets when she paused, ears flicking, sensing something wasn't right. Her intuition was correct, and she jumped as she heard a sudden thump behind her, like a pony landing out of the sky. Applejack spun around and to her surprise, she saw Princess Luna standing there, looking at her through narrowed eyes. She blinked. This was unexpected. “Howdy, princess-” But that's as far as she got. Applejack found herself slammed into the nearest tree, with Luna's hoof pressed firmly against her neck. Applejack struggled for air, desperately scrabbling at the hoof holding her prisoner and weakly kicking at Luna. This, too, was unexpected. Luna was larger than the average pony, true; but still her hold was impossibly strong, and struggle as she might, she could not free herself. Luna's eyes met Applejack's, studying them intently, and she soon rendered her verdict. “You are not possessed of the nightmare,” she said, withdrawing her hoof and letting Applejack slide to the ground. Applejack rubbed her throat, panting for air. “No, I'm not,” she said hoarsely. “Why would you think that?” “Why would you suggest that you could be?” Luna retorted. Applejack's ears dropped. “I was… just joking?” she said sheepishly. “You should not even joke of such things,” Luna said evenly. Applejack slowly pushed herself to her hooves. “How did you even hear what I said?” she asked. “I was… informed,” Luna said simply, gesturing behind herself with a small head motion. Applejack tilted her head to see past her and squinted. She couldn't see- Her jaw dropped. There in the shadows of the trees stood a bat pony stallion, much like the ones that had pulled Luna's chariot last Nightmare Night, except this time his armor was light and camouflaged with shadowy splotches. Had she not been shown where to look, she would never have seen him. His fur and mane were a dark steel blue, making him blend in seamlessly with the shadows in the moonlight. Even his dark golden eyes looked fitting, like they were a natural part of the night. He met her eyes and smiled, revealing sharp fangs that glinted in the moonlight. It suddenly dawned on her (pardon the expression) that it hadn't been an owl that had flown away earlier. Applejack looked back at Luna. “How long has he been there?” she asked, jerking her head towards the bat pony. She frowned and squinted as she looked back and realized that he had vanished. “All night, every night.” “Do you have them following the rest of us?” Applejack asked incredulously. “I do,” Luna said, a hint of ice entering her voice. “Forgive me if I feel the necessity of watching over and protecting the ones who rescued me.” “What do we need protecting from?” Applejack had to ask. Luna met Applejack's eyes. “Do not ask a question you do not want the answer to,” she said softly but firmly. Applejack shut her mouth. “I suppose I should congratulate you,” Luna said conversationally, beginning to pace. “You're only the second to discover my watch.” “Who was the first?” Applejack had to ask. “Twilight?” “No, she is as yet unaware. The first to discover them was Pinkie Pie,” Luna said, as if still puzzled by this fact. “She threw a little party for Steel Wing, complete with chocolate cupcakes with dark chocolate frosting and bat-shaped sprinkles in honor of his service.” She paused, and then leaned in as if to share a secret. “I do not understand that mare,” she confessed with a slight frown. “That's ok. Not many do,” Applejack said with a wry smile. Her expression flattened. “Sorry to drag you out here; I didn't mean nothing by it. Just a bit frustrated that I'm still out here, that's all. The night's not for working.” Luna's eyes met Applejack's once more. “And what is the night for, Applejack?” she asked quietly. Applejack flinched. Luna's voice had been calm, but she had sounded pretty offended, and Applejack got the distinct impression that answering 'sleeping' wouldn't help any, even if it were true. “Well, you know… there's Nightmare Night for one… and, you know, other night time things,” she said lamely. Luna was not letting her off the hook that easily. “Such as?” she asked. A little bead of sweat trickled down Applejack's brow. She didn’t want to offend Luna; but it might have been too late for that. “Well, you know… like the post harvest party we're throwing next week. It's here this year and everything. Starts at sundown and doesn't stop until the cider is gone.” Luna's expression didn't change. “You can come if you'd like?” Applejack tried. Luna blinked flatly a few times. “I appreciate the invitation. We shall see,” she finally said. “Good evening, Applejack.” And with that, she turned to leave. Applejack wiped her brow with relief as Luna faded away into the darkness.