//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: The Farmer and the Magician // by RoyalBardofCanterlot //------------------------------// It was a beautiful day in Ponyville. The sun was at its noontime peak, brightening the little town. The sky was a bright blue, with only a few puffy, white clouds. A warm wind blew through the trees, gently swaying them to and fro. It was a perfect day for a picnic in fact and that’s just where Twilight was heading towards. Her saddlebags were filled with wrapped up cucumber sandwiches. Spike had helped prepare them, but she had made many of them herself. She was trying to learn how to cook. Her skills had improved a lot since the time she was a filly and her mother had tried to teach her. That time, she had ran crying from the kitchen in the mistaken belief that she had burned the water. Shining was still ribbing her about that. There was a vast meadow outside Ponyville and that had become the Bearer’s customary picnic spot. Rarity was already seated on the checker-pattered blanket. Fluttershy was there as well, sitting beside Pinkie Pie. All three were staring up at something. Twilight looked up. Rainbow Dash was soaring through the sky, doing loop-de-loop patterns. Pinkie cheered as she did a barrel roll and descended to earth. The other four clapped and Dash took a bow. “Hello, Darling.” Rarity greeted as Twilight joined them on the blanket. “How have you been?” Oh, I’ve been good.” Twilight said, stretching out on the blanket. “How are you girls?” “I am all partied out!” Pinkie complained, laying back and snagging a sandwich. “You get partied out?” Dash asked. “Hey, I’m allowed to be tired.” “We all get tired sometimes, Dash.” Fluttershy said. “Angel has been very demanding lately and it’s tiring me out.” “Give him a smack.” Dash grumbled. “Oh, no! I couldn’t.” “He needs it. Don’t let that fluffball push you around.” “W-well, maybe I could start giving him time-outs.” “I’m tired too. I’ve been trying to study.” Twilight said. “But I keep getting distracted by the latest Daring Do book. I stayed up late last night reading it. Daring found her long lost-” “Eep! No spoilers!” Dash said, covering her ears with torn up grass. “Is there any romance in those books?” Rarity asked. “No, afraid not.” “I’ve been looking for a new romance novel.” Fluttershy whispered something in her ear. Both mares blushed. “Wings of Lust, you say? Who’s the author?” “Shutterfly.” Fluttershy said. Twilight looked around as she munched on a cucumber. She soon realized somepony was missing. “Hey, where’s Applejack?” An uncomfortable silence descended. Dash muttered something that sounded violent. “She’s having a difficult time right now.” Rarity said. “I spoke to her earlier. It’d be best to leave her be for now.” “I wanted to plan a cheer-up party for her, but she said no.” Pinkie said. “What’s going on?” They shared looks with each other. Finally Rarity spoke. “Surely you’ve noticed that Applejack’s parents aren’t around?” “I assumed she was an orphan.” “You’re half-right, my dear. Applejack’s mother passed away some time ago. Her father is still alive, but left the family. I’m sure you understand how important family is to the Apples. I remember when it happened. We were both fillies then. Applejack was beyond devastated. Back then-and now to my great shame-I was a school bully. One day Applejack came to school and I began my normal routine of teasing her. She struck me and then unleashed a steady stream of verbal abuse that left me a sobbing wreck. I didn’t go back to school for days I was so upset.” “But what’s that have to do with Applejack not being here?” “Her father has decided to come back to town and attempt to patch things up.” Rarity said. “Applejack has taken it poorly. And when she gets upset she can say hurtful things she doesn’t mean to friends that are trying to help her and I’m certain she’ll apologize about later when she sees how foolish she’s being.” “She needs to have her head banged into a tree a couple hundred times to see if she’ll get any sense in it.” Dash said. “Dash, you’re certainly being violent today. Is something wrong?” Fluttershy asked, placing a hoof on Dash’s shoulder. “I wanted to go racing with her and she called me a stupid featherbrain that needed to mind her own damned business when I asked her why she cancelled.” “That doesn’t sound like Applejack.” Twilight commented. “She gets aggressive when she’s upset.” Rarity explained. “Kind of like an injured animal.” Fluttershy said. “They don’t want anyone to see they’re hurting so they’ll bite and scratch at you.” “Exactly. Applejack prides herself on strength. She’ll tolerate weakness in others, but she refuses to accept any weakness in herself.” Rarity said. “If she accepted help, it would mean she was weak. That’s how she sees it anyway.” “I see.” Twilight said. “I know what you’re thinking, Darling. You want to try to help her, right?” Twilight nodded. “I do too. But maybe you can help her best by leaving her alone for now.” … Twilight couldn’t stop thinking about Applejack as she made her way back towards town from the picnic. Every lesson in friendship she’d learned told her she needed to help her friend. But according to the girls, Applejack didn’t want to be helped. She found herself walking towards Sweet Apple Acres. Just as she approached the fence of the apple orchard she heard something rather unusual for the normally serene farm. Upraised voices and shouting. Twilight trotted closer. Granny Smith was shouting at an orange-coated, red-maned stallion with a boot cutie mark. “How dare you! How dare you come back after all these years and upset the poor young’un!” “I just wanted to make up-” “We were fine! I don’t care what you wanted to do! Get out of here and don’t you dare show your face in town again!” “Miss Smith-” “Ge before I send for the constable!” The stallion sighed and began to trot away. Twilight walked up. Granny tried to smile at her, but the smile seemed flat and lifeless. “Hello. Are you lookin’ for Applejack?” “Yes.” “I don’t know where she is. I would suspect she’s at the cairns. When she’s upset that’s where she normally goes.” The cairns were Earth Pony burial mounds. “Thank you.” “Twilight?” “Yes?” “My grand-daughter’s not in a good place right now. I don’t know what you can do to get her out of it, but it’d be nice if you could try.” “Understood, Ma’am.” Twilight said. She began her trek out of town, far beyond the orchards to where vast mounds rose up from the earth. Someone might think they were hills, if it weren’t for the ring of stones that separated them from the rest of town and the openings that led into them. With some trepidation of treading on holy ground Twilight entered the burial place. There were a few other ponies walking around. None paid her any attention as she walked through. She heard sniffling and just-barely held in sobs which wasn’t unusual for a cemetery. Coming from one of the cairns was muffled words, almost a chant or prayer in Applejack's voice. Twilight entered. The cairn was dark, only narrow shafts of sunlight illuminating the walls. The walls themselves were painted with ancient symbols, spirals, the cutie marks and images of long-passed ancestors. A large number of cutie marks in the passage were apples or other fruits like oranges and pears. In the far back of the chamber an orange cowpony was shuddering with sobs. A half-empty whiskey bottle was laying at her side. “Oh, Mama, Mama, what am I supposed to do?” Twilight stopped. Applejack’s ears perked up and she turned. Then she stood, swaying on her hooves. Her eyes were bloodshot. “What the hell are you doin’ here?” She asked. Twilight stepped back. “Applejack, I was worried about you.” “You don’t need to be worried about me. I’m fine!” “No, you’re not.” “Yes I am! What the hell is wrong with you girls?” She slurred. “Don’t ya know when’ta leave somepony alone?” Her thick accent, exaggerated by alcohol, was nearly indecipherable. “Granny Smith asked me to help you.” Applejack lifted a hoof. “You tell mah busybody of a grandmother to mind her own damned business. Leave me alone!” Twilight sat down. “Alright. I’ll leave you alone. But I’ll stay right here just in case you need me.” “Don’t test me, Twi. I’ll buck you into next week I swear to Epona.” “I believe you.” “Then leave!” She turned and bucked. Her hooves struck nothing but air. Twilight teleported and appeared in front of her. Applejack gaped. “Combat Magic, two years, Graduated head of my class.” “You learned to fight from a class? RD’s right you are an egghead.” She threw a half-hearted right hook that Twilight swatted away. “Why won’t you just leave me alone?” Applejack asked. She threw several more punches, all of which were similarly deflected. “Because I want to be here for you.” “I don’t want your help.” “No, but you need it.” Twilight said. She trotted to the front of the corridor and sat. “If you need to talk, I’ll be right here, okay?” Applejack sighed. “Fine. Fine, Sugarcube. Do whatever you want.” She moved to the end of the chamber and began to recite what was either a chant or a prayer. It was in ancient Equish, a haunting and sad melody that lifted up from Applejack’s voice. The farmer lifted her head and the rhythm rose and fell, filling the small chamber. Twilight listened in silent awe. The melody tapered off and finally stilled. “What was that song?” Twilight asked. “A prayer. A very old prayer probably as old as my tribe. Just a prayer, that’s all. Have I ever told you about my mama?” “No, you never have.” Twilight said. “My mama was the most beautiful mare in the whole wide world. Red mane, gorgeous yeller coat. Kindest mare in the world too. When I was a young’un I thought she was as old as the world. She was kind. So kind. Forgiving. When I was sad, upset, throwin’ a tantrum, whatever, she’d take me in her hooves and hold me. Sing to me.” Applejack swallowed a lump in her throat. Twilight moved closer and tentatively placed a hoof on Applejack’s shoulder. Applejack didn’t move away. “I wish my mama was here to hold me.” Twilight nearly said, “I’m here” before she realized how patronizing it sounded. Applejack leaned into her. “When Mama got pregnant with Applebloom I was so happy. I was goin’ ta be a big sister. So, so happy. Somethin’ went wrong. My mama…she didn’t make it. I hated Applebloom when she was born. Couldn’t even look at her.” Twilight waited for her to continue. “My daddy left after Applebloom was born. Dirty, rotten coward. I needed him. I needed him and he wasn’t there. Coward, stupid, yeller-bellied coward. I turned into a terrible, terrible filly. I said terrible, hurtful things.” “Rarity told me-” “Whatever she told you, she was bein’ too nice about it. Well, one night Applebloom was cryin’ up a storm. Granny couldn’t calm her, Big Mac couldn’t calm her. I thought, well I’ll give it a try. Granny put her in my hooves and I held her close, sang her the lullaby Mama sang to me. She calmed right down. Don’t know why. To this day I can calm her down just by singing to her. Right then, right there I promised I’d start bein’ a better pony. That I’d be the mother she’d never have. I’ve tried to keep that promise. I don’t know if I have. Do you think I’m a good pony, Twi?” “Yes.” Applejack nestled closer to her side. “I know I ain’t bein’ fair to nopony. I know everypony just wants to help. I just…I…I don’t know what to do. Seein’ Daddy again. It just made me so confused. I don’t know what to feel. What to think.” “That’s alright.” Twilight assured her. “Could you hold me, Sugarcube?” Twilight wrapped her hooves around Applejack. Applejack buried her muzzle into her fur and began to cry. Twilight stroked her mane while she wept. Eventually Applejack’s cries died off. Twilight still held her close. Applejack held her back and they stayed that way for a while. “Twilight?” “Hm?” “You’re a good friend.” “You are too.” “I’m sorry I tried to kick ya. I have a feelin’ I’m gonna be sayin’ that a lot today.” She reluctantly left the warm confines of Twilight’s embrace and both mares stood. “Feeling better?” Twilight asked her. “I do actually. But I do need to talk to the Ancestors in private. Just for a bit.” “Alright, I understand.” They shared one last hug before Twilight left. … Applejack woke up surrounded by stone and the stern visage of long-passed relatives. She wasn’t sure when she’d fallen asleep, but she didn’t feel drunk anymore. A whiskey bottle was beside her and there was a snoring violet unicorn at the very opening of the chamber, far out of hearing range. 'Of course. Respectin’ my privacy, but too much of a busybody to leave altogether. Dang it I should be mad, but you’re a good friend Sugarcube.' The fading sunlight told her that it was late in the evening. She picked up the bottle, poured out the last drops as an offering and then nudged Twilight awake. They walked away from the consecrated land. “I’m sorry. I know I should have left, but I was still worried about you.” “That’s alright, Twi. Any good friend would have been. I need to visit some of our friends.” “I’ll see you around. And if you need me-” “Don’t worry. I really am better now.” Twilight nodded, though Applejack could see she still had some doubts. The first pony Applejack went to see was Rarity. She was sitting at the counter looking bored. Upon hearing the door open she bounced up. “Welcome to Carousel Boutique-oh, hello Darling. How are you feeling?” “Better than I was.” “I’m glad to hear it.” She said, smiling. “I have a feeling I might have said a few things I didn’t mean. I don’t remember what with bein’ too drunk to stand and all, but I should still apologize.” Rarity dismissively waved a hoof. “I understand. You were under a lot of stress. Besides, we all know you’ve forgiven me more times than I deserve.” “So, are we good?” “Of course.” Rarity said, giving her a gentle nuzzle. Applejack nuzzled back. After sharing some tea with her Applejack went in search of Rainbow Dash. She found her lounging on a low flying cloud. “Hey, RD! I wanna talk to ya.” Dash rolled over. “Oh, now you wanna talk. I see how it is, AJ! I’m not your personal doll! You can’t just put me on a shelf and ignore me!” “Oh, c’mon don’t be like that. I want to apologize.” Dash flew down and landed in front of the apple farmer. “Fine. Talk.” “First off, I was drinking since noon. I don’t rightly know how I’m even standin’ up right now. I have no idea what I might have said.” “You cancelled our race and then you called me a stupid featherhead.” “Aw, RD, you know I didn’t mean it.” She pouted. “It still hurt. You know, you’re one of my best friends. You’re one of the few that can actually keep up with me. I know we have this little rivalry, but I thought you respected me.” “I do respect you. I just got angry so I lashed out. I didn’t mean it. I just hope you can forgive me.” Applejack nervously scuffed a hoof on the ground. “Please, RD.” She felt tears come to her eyes. “Oh, c’mon don’t cry about it.” Dash said, throwing her hooves around her neck. Applejack hugged her back. “Does this mean you’ll forgive me?” “On one condition.” “Name it.” “Can we have a race? I haven’t raced with you in forever and I’ve really missed it.” “Right now?” “Yes, right now!” Applejack chuckled. “Sure.” Dash separated from her. “I’ll race you to that tree!” She took off. Applejack chuckled again and took off after her. Tomorrow, she’d have to talk to her father. There was no avoiding it. She couldn’t let that remain unresolved. But for now, she’d race with her friend and try to forget her troubles.