//------------------------------// // Canterlot at Night // Story: Apples in the Moonlight: Crackshipping Applejack and Luna // by bahatumay //------------------------------// Applejack yawned and stretched, feeling surprisingly refreshed. She pulled one foreleg across and stretched. It almost felt like she had slept for a full day. Her contented smile faded when her eyes opened and she realized that she didn't recognize the bed she lay on. Her fear only subsided incrementally when she realized that the bed was much larger and softer than any she'd ever seen before, and thus it was unlikely that she had been foalnapped for ransom or anything like that (not like that would happen; but sometimes Pinkie had some interesting ideas). The strange bed was in a room much larger than any she'd seen, with fine masonry and vaulted ceilings. Even through sleepy eyes, she could see that the room was huge. In fact, if she didn't know any better, she'd say she was in- “Good evening, Applejack.” Applejack sat up straight. “Princess Luna?” she stammered. “Indeed,” Luna said, a smile crossing her face. Applejack grabbed at the covers. “Wh- what am I doing here?” “You are here to see the castle at night,” Luna said. “I what?” Applejack nearly shrieked. The first inklings that this course of action had been unwise began trickling through Luna's mind. “You are here to see the castle, at night, with me,” she repeated slowly. “Did I sleep all day?” Applejack demanded, hopping out of the bed. She instinctively reached for her hat, but her hoof hit air, and as she glanced around it was nowhere to be seen. She scowled. She didn't like being without her hat. Luna wilted slightly. They were more than inklings, now. “Yes?” she said meekly. “I… I can't do that!” Applejack protested, beginning to pace frantically. “We were gonna do the whole south field today! Yesterday! Today! I- augh!” Luna grasped at straws. “But the harvest party…” “There's more to apple farming than just harvesting! Harvest is over doesn't mean work is over! There's still so much to do, and I can't just prance off and leave everypony else my share of the work…” “You said any time,” Luna protested softly, but she could tell this was a losing battle. This was not how she'd pictured this happening at all. “That's just an expression!” Applejack nearly howled. “It means I'd really like to; not foalnap me and take me tonigh- uh, tomorrow night! Augh!” Applejack placed her head in her hooves. Time was hard. Luna's face fell. “I just wanted to spend more time with you,” she said meekly. Applejack exhaled slowly, mentally reviewing her plans. She could fix this. Somehow. “We- I am sorry,” Luna continued. Applejack frowned and sat up. Sure, she'd lost a lot of time; but Luna just looked so sad. No, that's not right. She looked… disappointed in herself. That was it. Disappointment. She had been trying desperately to fit in, to return to normalcy after a thousand years of isolation, to be a friend; and she had messed up. Again. She probably felt awful, like she'd burned a bridge she hadn't meant to burn. Luna didn't need to be scolded; she needed a friend who would be understanding. Luna continued speaking, not meeting Applejack's eyes. “I can call for my chariot, and you can be returned to your home before the second watch.” Applejack knew she should have just left and tried to pick up any slack back at the orchards; but she couldn't just leave Luna like this. She sidled up closer and poked her with a hoof. “Hey, it's fine, sugarcube,” she said comfortingly, the term of endearment slipping out unintentionally. “You didn't mean no harm by it. And hey, as long as I'm here, maybe we could look at those flowers?” The bright smile that crossed Luna's face let Applejack know she had made the right choice. “The flowers do not bloom for another few hours; but there are other things I could show you?” she offered hopefully. Applejack smiled. “Sounds great.” * * * Applejack walked with Luna down the halls. The soft glow of starlight seemed to accent different things than the sunlight did. Either that, or they were walking down completely different halls, with star motifs and lunar cycles gleaming instead of sunrises and sunbeams. Both were entirely possible; her internal compass didn't seem to work as well at night and all she could tell was that she was probably going east. Her ears flicked; the uncomfortable lightness of her head without her hat bothered her. Luna walked out onto a balcony and smiled. She gestured proudly. “This is one of the projects I have been working on.” Applejack's eyes widened. It was a pegasus mare flying through a cloud obstacle course, and even though she was an earth pony, Applejack could tell that the difficulty was intense. The pegasus was wearing a uniform that looked much like a Wonderbolts uniform, but with a dark purple base and more shadowy color scheme. When she saw Luna, she abruptly left her course, flew near, and bowed deeply before straightening up proudly. She seemed determined to not make eye contact with Applejack for some reason. “Behold, my Shadowbolts!” Luna paused, then coughed. “Shadowbolt,” she corrected herself. “I have but one currently; but I imagine the ranks will swell by and by.” Applejack squinted. It was dark, but even so, that coat and mane looked awfully familiar… “Lightning Dust?” The mare flinched ever so slightly. Luna turned, mildly surprised. “Yes, that is her name. You know her?” she asked. Applejack nodded. “Yeah, I know her.” Lightning adjusted a forehoof slightly, though she tried valiantly to hide it. “She's one of the greatest flyers I've seen, and she's always striving for perfection. She'll make a good Shadowbolt.” Lightning Dust froze. Though her expression was masked by the goggles she wore, her head did cock slightly, as if in confusion. Luna smiled. “I knew I had chosen wisely,” she said. “We will leave her to her training; there is still much for you to see.” Applejack followed Luna back down the hall, but she paused and looked back over her shoulder as she did. Lightning Dust was still staring at her. It was mildly discomforting. Shaking that off, Applejack quickly trotted up and caught up to Luna. * * * After passing yet another bat pony guard, Applejack's curiosity got the better of her. “Luna?” “Yes?” “Did you… create the bat ponies?” Luna chuckled. “No. Creating new living beings is not within my realm.” Applejack's first instinctual interpretation was incorrect; her eyes flicked briefly to Luna's hindquarters. She closed her eyes quickly, hoping Luna hadn't noticed. But notice she had. Luna chuckled a bit harder. “Oh, no; that's not what I meant. Those organs work, I can assure you of that,” she said with a smile. Applejack blushed hotly and reached for her hat to cover her face, but once again her hoof hit nothing but air. Ponyfeathers. Oblivious to her embarrassment, Luna continued. “Creating a new tribe is simply not feasible. The noctrali have been a part of Equestrian history since the dawn of time.” Applejack frowned. “Wait. If you're part earth pony, part unicorn, and part pegasus, are you part bat- uh, noctrali, too?” Luna shook her head regretfully. “Unfortunately, no. They remained quite literally underground during our ascension and only reemerged later, many years after our reign had begun. I do not blame them for hiding for so long; they are a remnant of a somewhat darker time of Equestria's past, and their history has been… bloody at best.” Applejack couldn't help but have her eyes be drawn to the next bat pony's fangs. She may have sped up her walk just the tiniest bit. Luna continued, “I would not have minded, though. I would have loved to have inherited their ability to shadow travel.” “Shadow travel?” Applejack wondered. A devious smile spread across Luna's face, and she slowed to a stop. “Perhaps a demonstration is in order.” She stomped once. “Guard! Attend me.” A bat pony appeared and bowed low. Luna recognized him. “Ah, young Orry,” she said by way of introduction. “One of my newest recruits. Show fair Applejack your abilities,” she said. The guard's eyes widened, but then he frowned, confused. “Shadow traveling,” Luna clarified flatly, “not your ability to make your armpit sound like flatus.” The guard brightened and saluted. He winked at Applejack, then turned and sprinted towards the dark wall. Before Applejack could even raise a hoof to warn him of the stupidity of that course of action, he had vanished. Applejack's jaw dropped. “Where did…?” There was a tap on her shoulder. She turned to see Orry, standing behind her and grinning widely, even if he was breathing a bit harder than before. Bowing once more to Luna, he turned and melted into the shadows again. “It makes it quite convenient to travel by chariot,” Luna remarked nonchalantly. “I… I bet,” Applejack stammered. Luna smiled again. “Come. It is almost time for the moon flower to bloom.” * * * Applejack and Luna lay down in the cool grass to watch. The moon flower was still a closed bud, but Luna still watched excitedly. Applejack wasn't sure how to feel about this. Part of her itched to do something, as she wasn't very good at laying still. But part of her was curious and intrigued by this new plant, and so she managed to suppress her wiggles. Luna suddenly gasped. “Here it is,” she whispered. Applejack's eyes widened as the petals suddenly split apart and the flower unfolded before her very eyes. It was beautiful, a milky white bulb that looked like it was speckled with stars. “Try them straight from the vine,” Luna offered. She picked up and held out a vine with her magic, and Applejack leaned forward and took a bite. If she'd thought the flower in the bubble had been good, this was exquisite. She chewed slowly and swallowed. “This might be worth staying up for,” Applejack breathed. Luna released the vine. “It was not the case before,” she murmured. “Ponies could not justify getting up early the next morning to avoid the 'waste' of their precious sunlight.” “Hey now,” Applejack said, surprised at the rancor in Luna's voice. Luna exhaled. “I mean no offense,” she said quietly. “It is… difficult for me, still.” She lapsed into a contemplative silence. Applejack felt the need to defend herself. “You know, not all earth ponies hate the night.” “I know you do not hate it; but you do not appreciate it,” Luna sulked. “We do sometimes,” Applejack said. “I mean, I really like your stars, and…” Luna chuckled lightly. “You know nothing of my stars.” Applejack looked over at Luna, slightly offended. “Don't I?” she challenged. Luna stood up and shook herself off. She turned herself and crouched, then made a motion with her head, as if in invitation. It almost looked like she wanted Applejack to… “Get on,” Luna said, with a half-hidden smile. Applejack had a hard time processing this. “B- b- but you're a princess,” she said dumbly. You don't just mount royalty! Luna sighed and rolled her eyes. “Then as thy princess I order thee to get on,” she said impatiently. Not wanting to risk angering Luna further, Applejack swallowed, and then climbed on, making sure to give Luna's wings free range. Luna's coat was thick, plush, and soft; but the muscles underneath felt almost rock solid, and held firm even through the little adjusting movements she made. Applejack wasn't sure how she felt about this, but she wrapped her forelegs around Luna's neck anyway. When Luna was sure Applejack was secure, she took off, and Applejack reached back to grab onto her hat before remembering that she hadn't had it all night. Luna flew higher and higher, taking Applejack above the clouds and further and further away from civilization. She flew for at least twenty minutes, flying high and far. The cool night air rushing past made Applejack shiver, and she wrapped herself a bit more tightly to Luna. She couldn't see, but she could have sworn that Luna had cracked a smile when she did. When they'd left the lights of the city far behind and Applejack could barely see the ground, Luna lit her horn, and a familiar tingling sensation ran across her hooves. “Cloudwalking spell?” Applejack guessed. Luna nodded. “I invented it for times like this.” She tossed her horn again, and a large, fluffy cloud formed around her hooves. Applejack jumped off, and bounced slightly on the thick cloud. “Lay on your back,” Luna ordered. Applejack blinked, but slowly obeyed. She lay down, curled slightly, and rolled over. Her eyes widened and her jaw dropped open. Countless stars filled her view. She thought she had seen stars before, but never like this, had never seen so many. Away from the lights of the earth, far out from even the low lights of the farmhouse and the guiding lanterns on the borders of the farm flickering in the darkness, designs and patterns hidden in the sky suddenly became clear. All she could do was stare. A small smile spread across Luna's face. “Ponies slept through this?” Applejack breathed. “They're sleeping now,” Luna observed regretfully. Applejack winced. Luna, on the other hoof, seemed… comforted. Finally, she'd had an audience. Finally, an earth pony had seen.