//------------------------------// // Dreams and Things // Story: Apples in the Moonlight: Crackshipping Applejack and Luna // by bahatumay //------------------------------// Celestia's heart skipped a beat as Luna walked in, nearly an hour after her guards had returned without her. Luna's head was bowed, and she walked slowly, but Celestia was just relieved to see her sister again. “Oh, Luna; there's-” “Leave me be,” Luna murmured, not even slowing her pace as she crossed the hall towards her chambers. Celestia licked her lips, a nervous habit she thought she had left behind centuries ago. “Luna, are you all right?” she asked. Luna spun around. “We do not wish to speak of it!” she roared, loud enough to rattle some of the candlesticks out of their brass holders along the walls. Celestia opened her mouth, but then closed it. Even from this far away, she could just make out the telltale signs of tears on Luna's cheek, and redness in her eyes. Luna turned and with a haughty 'hmph', strode purposefully out. Celestia closed her eyes and bit her lower lip. She doubted she’d be doing much sleeping tonight. “Please, sister,” she pleaded in a whisper. “Stay strong.” * * * Luna lay despondently on her back, wings and legs spread in a position most unbecoming of a princess. The empty tubs of ice cream littering her bedroom were also unbecoming of a princess, but she had heard that this 'bingeing' was how mares these days handled stress, and she had said she would make every effort to be like the mares of these days. Also this creamed ice was much creamier than she remembered it being and found it quite suitable to her taste, even if they did call it ice cream now (which made no grammatical sense at all). Not to mention all the lovely new flavors that had appeared over the years. No longer was it mere fruit and honey; now little edible treats were mixed right in. She had downed her fourth carton of cookie dough ice cream and reached for her third of cookies and cream when she paused. She was a princess of Equestria. She didn't need to sit here and wallow in self pity. She paused, reconsidered her actions and reflected on her personal life… and then she tore the lid off and dug out a heaping spoonful of ice cream. Yes, she did. She most certainly did. When that carton was empty, she exhaled and tossed it away before letting her magical spoon construct vanish as she flopped onto her back. Why? Why had her beloved earth pony rejected her? What had she done wrong? She rolled over and sobbed silently, hitting a hoof against her pillow. She always messed things up, didn't she? No wonder her sister was always the revered one. She would have known what to do. More questions flooded her mind. What was Applejack doing now? Did she find something better? Somepony better? Who could be better than she, a princess? She sat up and scowled, brushing a hoof roughly against her eyes. Now she was curious. Now she had to know why. Was it a bad idea? Yes, probably; but then again, Luna wasn't exactly known for making good decisions. She sat back and settled into her pillows; then she sat up, irritably pulled a crushed carton from underneath her and tossed it aimlessly at the wall, then lay back down. She closed her eyes, and entered the Dreamscape, prepared to do a little dream manipulating. * * * Applejack trotted slowly through the forest, looking around. A cool wind blew through the orchard. The leaves had fallen; the tree branches were bare, their long empty branches reaching out like claws. She slowed to a stop. There, through the trees, stood Luna, facing away from her. Her head was bowed, and her eyes were closed. She blinked. “Your highness?” Luna did not respond. A chilling breeze blew through the orchard once more, making Applejack shiver. What was going on? A bat pony stepped from the shadows. “Applejack,” he murmured. Applejack jumped. “What?” “It is probably for the best that you do not disturb her for now,” he said quietly, taking a step back and wordlessly inviting her to do the same. “What happened to her?” Applejack asked. “She looks as though she ain't seen a sunny day in a month.” “It seems she went to go see somepony she really cared about this evening, but she did not return her affection.” Applejack nodded slowly… and then her eyes widened. “Wait. Me?” The bat pony nodded. Applejack laughed nervously. “You- you can't be serious? She's a princess! I'm… not! I'm just an earth pony farmer! There's no way me and her could-!” Luna sat up with a start, unceremoniously yanking herself out of the Dreamscape. Applejack felt unworthy? Undeserving of a princess's love? That was why she had rebuffed her advances? Luna clenched her teeth angrily. This would not stand. She would not let this mare, this most wondrous of earth ponies, feel this way. She stood up, determinedly kicking aside the empty cartons and striding purposefully out the door. She would step up her efforts. She would research how love was done these days, and she would personally show Applejack that she was somepony to be loved.