I don't know if I can hold back anymore. I gotta get the truth out somehow. But I just can't tell nopony yet. They'd think I was crazy. I expect my folks are already starting to think I got a screw loose. But I'd best start from the beginning in case I ever decide to let anyone read this here journal. Wouldn't want them to get confused.
So, to anyone reading this, I want you to remember one thing before you get any further: It was all Apple Bloom's idea. Oh, AB's just a foal at the time I'm writing this. I mean little bitty, with chubby cheeks and button eyes and all. But see, I'm from an alternate future where Apple Bloom is a sixteen year-old potion prodigy.
Hard to believe? I didn't believe Apple Bloom either when she told me that she and Zecora invented a time traveling potion. Well, it wasn't so much an invention as an upgrade of Zecora's “alicorn juice.” Why a zebra made a potion that only worked on alicorns, I'll never know. Seems a mite impractical, is all. And I just now realized that nopony reading this journal is gonna know about the alicorn potion anyway. But that's how she explained it to me.
See, this new potion sends your mind, your consciousness, back in time. And get this – you stay in the past instead of getting yoinked back to the present after a few minutes. Or, not to put too fine a point on it, you have to pass through time like normal until you catch up to where – or when – you were when you drank the potion. What's more, if you're going back to a time when you existed, your consciousness will go into your past body so you can actually change the past. AB and Zecora had already tested the potion on themselves and even they couldn't tell me what became of the past consciousnesses...Is that a proper word? Anyhow, AB spun off on this tangent about time travel creating alternate universes that are just a touch different, and I would've thought it was a bunch of hooey if I hadn't already seen portals to other universes.
Well, the only way to really tell if the potion works is to drink it yourself. I say this because Zecora drank one drop in front of me. All I could tell is that it made her eyes glow like hearths on a winter night. A couple seconds later, her eyes turned back to their normal blue.
“How was it?” I asked her.
“I went back a few minutes in the past, and caught up to the present, at last.”
I'll say this for Zecora, there's something to speaking in rhyme, as silly as it seems. It sure makes it easier to remember her exact quotes. Plus, everything she says is real thoughtful and deliberate. Measured, you might say. Mind you, I ain't about to start rhyming all the time myself. Wouldn't want anybody to think I was making fun of her or nothing.
“Beg pardon, Zecora, but that ain't exactly the most impressive display of magic I've seen,” I told her.
Zecora shrugged. “To see the potion work, I think, the only way is for you to drink.”
“She's right,” said Apple Bloom, putting her foreleg around her. “You can trust Zecora.
AB knows me well. She knew I trusted Zecora more than her, and for good reason.
“Well now, if Zecora says it's safe, I reckon it wouldn't hurt to try?” I was still a bit uncertain, but AB got all excited and spun around like she was a tiny filly.
“Thanks sis!” she said, as if I was doing her a favor, which made me even more suspicious.
Zecora passed me an eyedropper with a bit of murky blue liquid in the tip. I sat down on my haunches so I could hold it in both hooves. The potion had a strange flavor that I can't rightly compare to anything, but I can tell you that it was mildly sweet. As soon as I swallowed, a light flashed so bright it blinded me for a second – it must've made my eyes glow like Zecora's. Next thing I knew, I was walking up to AB and Zecora's potion shop. It felt a touch like being teleported, only more disorienting on account of my body was in a different position. I glanced all round the street. From where I stood, I could just barely read the clock on the tower. It was seven in the evening, just the same time I'd arrived at the shop. I knocked on the door where the “closed” sign hung.
Apple Bloom opened the door, and before she could say anything, I told her, “The potion worked.”
She raised her eyebrows. “How'd you know about that?”
“You just gave me some. Or, you will.” I rubbed my chin. “I won't have to take it again so I'll end up back here, will I?”
“Oh! Naw.” She shook her head. “It don't work like unicorn time travel. We just created an alternate timeline that's a tad different from the one you knew.” Then her pupils shrank as she looked up and down the street. “Wait a minute, we shouldn't talk about this out here! Come in, come in!” She ushered me inside, and I tipped my hat to Zecora.
“Hello again, Zecora.”
She winked. “Welcome back, Applejack.”
“So!” said AB as soon as she closed the door. “I guess y'all figured out that our creation is too powerful for mortals to know about. Not to mention certain immortals. I mean, we can actually create alternate universes! We have power over life and death!”
She reared up on her hind legs and spread her front legs wide, and she looked more imposing than you might suspect. That's because she inherited our dad's height and stood as tall as Princess Cadence, but her body and face were more round, as Apples tend to be. When we found out she was taller than me, she tried to call me Appletini, but I nipped that in the bud right quick.
I stared up at her. “And yet you made it and used it anyway.”
“Well, yeah!” AB dropped back on all fours with a whump. “'Cause I know Zecora and I will use it for the right reasons and we'd never abuse it.”
Dear sweet Celestia and Luna, have I raised the next evil tyrant to try to take over Equestria?
I shot Zecora a look. “And you're okay with this?”
Zecora closed her eyes and lowered her head. “Like Apple Bloom, there is much I have lost. I would recover it at any cost.”
“Oh.” I put my hoof on her wither to comfort her. “I sure understand what it's like to lose something important, but I don't think it's worth risking the potion falling into the wrong hooves. Or claws,” I added, thinking of Discord. Even reformed, he can still be careless sometimes. “And even if you're the only ones who travel back in time, you might accidentally make things worse, and you'd have no idea what you need to do to fix it.”
Apple Bloom looked up at the ceiling. “So, like regular life, then.”
“Well, yeah,” I admitted. “But still, why bother to meddle with the past when everything worked out basically okay? Every bad guy that tried to take over Equestria was defeated or reformed, you and Zecora have your shop, and...” I bit my lip. “I hope we gave you a good childhood.”
“You did!” AB wrapped her forelegs around me. “Y'all were great, and I was happy. It's just that sometimes I wished I could've gotten to know our parents. And they didn't deserve to go out the way they did.”
That was an understatement if I ever heard one. Okay, I reckon I ought to stop beating around the bush. See, in the original timeline – or the original one as far as I know – my parents left on a routine trip to sell food at the Bayou Festival in Hayseed Swamp. And they never came back. They didn't just “go out,” they were mauled and eaten by a chimera. The ponies that found their remains only recognized them by Dad's wooden work collar and the apple-painted wagon nearby. They told me they saw paw prints and cloven hoof tracks on the ground.
My parents had a closed casket visitation a few days afterwards.
Maybe Apple Bloom had a point.
“Nopony deserves that. But if you were to go back to that time, you'd be a foal in diapers.”
AB just stared at me with shiny, pleading eyes, trying to look cute like she did when she was a nine year-old filly.
“Wait a second. You want me to go back, don't you?”
“Please? You're one of the only ponies I can trust, and you have a good motivation!”
“What about Big Mac? You know he wouldn't tell nobody.”
“You're more overprotective. I figure you could use that to your advantage.”
I frowned. “Give me a day to think it over.”
AB nodded. “Sure. Take all the time you need. After all, we got all the time in the world.”
Truth is, I didn't much need to think it over. I was pretty sure I'd already made my decision. I just had to say goodbye to certain folks I wouldn't see in a long while. I raced with Rainbow Dash. I baked cookies with Pinkie Pie. Then I brought some of the cookies to Fluttershy's cottage for afternoon tea. I invited Twilight and Spike over for dinner, much to Apple Bloom's dismay. Twilight seemed to suspect we were up to something, but I don't think there was any way she could've guessed that I was about to travel to the past. But I didn't spend time with Rarity on account of I would see her in the past as soon as I went back.
After dinner, Apple Bloom and I walked Twilight and Spike home, and then we headed over to the potion shop.
“You're ready to go back and save Mom and Dad, right?” AB looked hopefully at me.
“Ready as I'll ever be.”
She hugged me – squeezed the wind out of me, actually. “You're the best big sister ever! And that includes Princess Celestia!”
“Aw, come on now,” I wheezed. Just because I never banished nopony for a thousand years don't make me a better sister than Princess Celestia.
AB released me from her death grip. “I already got the right dosage made up and everything.” She trotted over to a cabinet and unlocked it. “Zecora double checked my calculations. This should take you back to the day before they would've left.” She pulled a large flask out of the cabinet.
“A day should give me enough time.” I took the flask from her, and my heart felt like a jackhammer in my chest. “So, will you remember the timeline that I changed? Or will you remember the original timeline?”
“Oh, I don't know. I ain't worried about that anyway. See, I'm gonna drink the potion myself, but I'm drinking just enough to go back ten years.” She took another flask out of the cabinet and raised it as if she was making a toast. “Then I'll be six years old and have a normal childhood!”
My eyebrow cranked up as high as it would go. “I wouldn't exactly count on having a normal childhood either way. 'Sides, how do you know you won't just go back earlier in the original timeline?”
“I don't. But I'll never know unless I try.”
“The Crusader motto, huh?”
“Eyup! Good luck sis.” AB slowly brought her flask to her muzzle. “See you in the past.”
I nodded. “See you, sugar cube.”
I took a deep breath and guzzled down the potion. The blinding light flashed again.
And quick as a wink, I was in the tiny old one-room schoolhouse. I was sitting at my old desk between Mac and Rarity, and behind little Cheerilee. My muzzle was all filled up with the scent of pencil shavings and old books. I tried my best to keep a poker face and glanced at the little ponies all round the room. Everypony looked cute as a button, even Mac. It's a bit hard for me to think of him as my older brother anymore.
The teacher, Ms. Play Write, noticed my attention wandering. “Applejack, perhaps you could tell us the answer.”
I stared at her like a frog caught in a flashlight. “Uh, beg pardon, but could you – sakes, is that my voice?” It sounded a lot higher-pitched than I remembered.
Rarity and Mac stared at me in confusion.
Ms. Write raised her eyebrows. “Applejack, I know summer vacation is only a week away, but please try to pay attention. I asked how water gets in the clouds.”
“Why, that's easy! The pegasi make a twister that sucks the water outta the lake and up to the weather factory in Cloudsdale.”
“That's correct. Now, can you tell me how many wing power are needed to lift the water?”
I drew a blank. To be honest, my eyes always glaze over whenever Dash and Twilight talk about wingpower and that measuring doohickey – what is it called? A nemometer?
“Uh, two hundred?” I guessed.
“That is not even close. McIntosh, do you know the answer?”
“Eyup,” he answered in a voice that was deep for his age, but still higher-pitched than I was used to.
After an awkward pause, Ms. Write asked, “Can you tell us the answer?”
A filly snorted behind us. I reckon she knew what Mac would say next.
“Eyup.”
A couple of foals laughed. Ms. Write narrowed her eyes at Mac. I suppose she thought he was being either stubborn or cheeky.
“You gotta ask him an open-ended question,” I told her. Then I raised my hoof as an afterthought. “Uh, ma'am.”
The teacher cleared her throat. “All right then, how many wingpower are required?”
“Eight hundred.” Mac always was good with numbers. Me, ain't even sure if I wrote down the right number just now. He could've actually said nine hundred and you'd never know unless you asked him. Unless you happen to be Twilight. Or Dash. Or possibly Fluttershy.
Anyhow, I kinda let my mind wander again as I thought about the task ahead. All I wanted to do was go home and see my parents. It was hard to sit still at a desk for so long. But when class was finally dismissed and the fillies and colts galloped outside, I just felt more nervous than ever. Why, I was gonna see my parents, alive, for the first time in about fifteen years. What if I couldn't keep my composure? Should I care about that? What if I couldn't even keep them from being eaten?
“Darling,” said Rarity in her cute little filly voice, “I couldn't help noticing that you seem distracted today. Is everything all right?”
“Oh, sure, everything's just dandy. Thanks for asking though.”
“Are you sure?” she looked carefully at me.
I bit my lip. “Well, since you asked, I reckon I'm a tad concerned about my parents going to Hayseed Swamp this weekend.” I looked at Mac, and his brow was furrowed. He really didn't understand what was bothering me either. And why should he? Mom and Dad had gone on trips by themselves before and nothing bad happened.
“Hayseed Swamp? Why are they going there?” She frowned. “I don't actually know where Hayseed Swamp is. I barely passed geography.” Her ears flicked back.
I knew the way by heart. “You know where the castle ruins are?”
“I think so, yes.”
“If you go past there, you cross a river, and then you keep going till you come to the princess-forsaken Fire Swamp, and if you somehow find your way outta there, congratulations, you're in Hayseed Swamp. And the only way out is to go through all that a second time.”
Rarity brought her hoof to her mouth. “Oh dear, the Fire Swamp sounds dangerous. No wonder you're so worried. Have you talked to them about it?”
“Not yet. I'm fixing to have a word with them as soon as I get home.”
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
I thought for a moment. “You know, I think I got this, but if anything comes up, I'll let you know.”
Mac and I left the schoolyard and headed straight up the hill toward our farm. Mac kept looking at me all curious-like.
“I can guess what you're thinking,” I told him, “and don't you fret. I'll just have a chat with Mom and Dad and everything will be peachy keen.” I knew the chances were slim that it would be that easy, but hey, you gotta think positive, hear?
I remembered that my parents were in the barn, loading the wagon for their trip the next morning. I slowed my pace as I went up to the door, taking the time to steel myself. Then I took a deep breath and peeked inside the door. Sure enough, my parents were there in the flesh, just like I remembered them. Dad had his wooden work collar like usual, and his long reddish-brown tail brushed the ground. And Mom, she had a scarf tied around her head to keep her sandy blond mane out of her face, and she turned to look at me with those deep orange eyes that Apple Bloom inherited.
“Hey there sugar cube.”
All hope of keeping a cool head went flying out the window. I ran to her and threw my forelegs around her neck like she was a life preserver and I was being dragged out by a riptide.
“AJ? Are you ok?”
I didn't trust myself to answer her on account of I was sure I'd be too choked up.
Mom glanced up at Mac, who was lurking in the doorway. “Oh, howdy Mac. What's bothering Applejack?”
Mom was one of the few ponies who figured out how to ask Mac direct, open-ended questions.
“She's worried about your trip,” he answered.
“Really?” asked Dad. “Is that all?”
I always thought my dad would've made a great announcer. He has this soothing, authoritative voice, with just a touch of a Manehattan accent. If you've been wondering why I call my parents “Mom” and “Dad” instead of something more countrified, well, you can thank my dad - or blame him, however you wanna look at it.
I pulled away from Mom and put my hooves on Dad's foreleg, staring up into them green eyes. “Of course it is. There's a whole mess of predators in the Everfree Forest, not to mention lands prone to rock slides. And that's before you even get to the Fire Swamp! What if y'all forgot your fireproof boots, or your lion tamer's chair? It ain't worth risking your hides just to sell a few pies and fritters.”
My parents stared slack-jawed at me, as if I'd said that apples are just an ok fruit.
Then Dad said, “Has your grandmother been telling you scary stories again?” He glanced at Mom. “We should have a talk with her, Spice.”
“Never mind that! It's true, ain't it?”
Mom rested her hoof on my back. “Hon, your daddy and I don't want you to fret about us. Sure, there's some risk, I won't lie to you. But we've gone on this trip since before you were born. We made it to Hayseed Swamp and back before, and you can bet your boots we'll do it again.”
You can be sure I was crying on the inside when she said that. One of the tears may have spilled over to the outside, too.
“Y'all said you won't lie to me. You can't promise you'll make it back.”
Mom and Dad shared a look.
“What if...” Mom began, rubbing her chin. “What if you and your brother helped us pack? We could show y'all how prepared and careful we are, and y'all could learn how to pack for day trips on your own someday.”
Mom didn't know it, but she'd given me an idea. If I couldn't convince them not to go, maybe I could convince my parents to take me along with them to keep them safe. I had gone on that trip several times on my lonesome and came out no worse for wear. Sure, I was a littler pony than I used to be, but I had years of experience traversing the wildest parts of Equestria. 'Sides, there was safety in numbers, right?
“That's a fine idea, Mom,” I told her. “I'll make sure y'all have everything you need!”
Dad ruffled my mane. “Of course, you're the expert Jackie,” he said playfully.
“Come on in here Mac.” Mom waved him all the way into the barn. “I wanna show you the map of our route.” She unfolded a map of the eastern half of Equestria. “Now, we're here. Hayseed Swamp is all the way over yonder.” She pointed with her hoof, which I can tell you is a mite hard to do with close-up details, but she managed.
I looked to the west of her hoof and noticed a disclaimer under the legend: “Distance Not to Scale.” I suppose it was too much to ask for an honest map that showed how far away things actually are.
Mac frowned.
“What are you thinking, honey?” Mom asked him.
“Why is it called the 'Fire Swamp'? Is it really on fire, or is it just hot all the time?”
Dad spoke up. “Actually, the land is volcanically active. There's a large magma chamber below the swamp that sends up hot gas and flames through vents scattered throughout the swamp. It's really a fascinating region.” I ain't sure if “volcanically” is a real word, but darned if he didn't make it sound convincing. He also beamed disconcertingly like Pinkie Pie describing a new flavor of cake.
Mac's frown deepened. “How are y'all getting a wooden wagon through that?” He pointed at the wagon.
“Very carefully,” said Dad. “And the bottom is metal plated, so that helps.” He reached down and banged on the bottom to show him.”
“And another thing that helps is our fireproof boots.” Mom glanced around the cluttered barn. “Which are somewhere round here, I expect.”
“You said you found them.” Dad looked at her sharply.
“I did.” Mom rubbed her crest. “And then I set them down someplace, and darned if I can't remember where.”
I felt a stab of fear. “We gotta find them right now!”
“Eyup,” agreed Mac.
“Come on Mac, help me look!”
We dug through the miscellaneous junk, tools, and family heirlooms, and I set aside some things that would come in useful, such as a length of rope and an extra map. After I'd assembled a small pile, Mac pulled a shiny black boot out from under a blanket and tossed it into the wagon.
Dad fished it out with his tail and held it toward Mac, shaking his head. “McIntosh, you don't just randomly throw things in the wagon. You have to make sure the weight is distributed evenly, otherwise it's likely to tip over, or worse.”
Mac let out a really equine sigh. I could just tell he was thinking, 'Not this again.'
“Listen to your father, Mac.” Mom lifted up the blanket and started piling the boots next to the wagon. “It ain't easy hauling an overloaded, wobbly wagon cross the country.” She glanced my way. “That's a pretty little pile you got there, sugar cube. I doubt we'll need the other map - I don't expect we'll even need the one. But you can hang onto it while we're gone.”
My ears flicked. “Well now, I was actually hoping I could go with y'all.”
Mom froze, holding a boot in her hoof. “What – tomorrow?”
I nodded.
“Land sakes child! You ain't big enough to into the Everfree, much less the Fire Swamp!” She sat back on her haunches and looked up at the ceiling. “I mean, your brother might be old enough to ride along in the wagon, but you ain't even got your mark yet!”
I glanced back at my flank, which was in fact blank (didn't even mean to sound like Zecora there). It's a bit odd, now that I think about it. I already knew what my special talent was, so shouldn't it have appeared as soon as I went back in time? Not that I really minded either way. This might sound crazy, but if you only knew what I've been through, you'd understand why it was kinda nice to have a vacation from my mark. There's all sorts of fancy spells that can change your cutie mark, which can also alter your behavior, memories, or personality. And then there came this magical artificial intelligence that turned my mark into a call button every time it wanted me to rush cross the country to help some filly with her lemonade stand. I tell you what, in times like that, I envy donkeys.
...Where was I? Oh, yeah.
“I can come?” Mac spoke up, with a hopeful expression.
“I...” Mom held her boot to her chest. “What do you think, Arbor?”
“I think they could both come along if they stay in the wagon.” Dad rubbed his chin. “We'll just have to bring plenty of extra water.”
Mom frowned. “You don't think two little ponies would be chimera bait?” she asked bluntly.
Mac's eyes widened.
“No more than two bigger ponies,” Dad said smoothly. “Besides, it'll give us a chance to test out our new chimera repellent!” He held up a canister. “It'll be educational for everypony!”
I'm pretty sure he was joking.
Mom's eyebrows tabled. “You do realize that's just run-of-the-mill pepper spray.”
Dad shrugged. “If it doesn't work, there's always our tried-and-true lion tamer's chair and ricotta cheese. Besides, Mosley and I used to do dangerous things all the time when we were growing up. We didn't always live in high society, you know. One time, when we were younger than Applejack...” He paused and lowered his voice in a confidential tone. “We rode the subway. Unsupervised.”
Mom had started rubbing the bridge of her nose. She looked up at him. “The underground train? Is that dangerous?”
“Oh, you have no idea. You never know who or what you'll meet on the subway. Muggers, con artists, rats the size of your head, even the odd diamond dog. Mosley and I faced all that, and we came out all right.”
“Even supposing you're right, there ain't enough room in the wagon for both Mac and AJ and all of our products.”
“You could pull them in the small wagon, and I could pull the big one with the food.” Dad pointed to each wagon.
“Please, Mom?” I put my hoof up on her shoulder. “I'll stay outta trouble, and I could be a big help to y'all. You might've forgotten your boots if it wasn't for me and Mac.”
Mom pursed her lips. “Well...If you come with us, y'all have to promise to stay in the wagon.”
I nodded. “Pi – I mean, I promise.” I just barely caught myself saying “Pinkie Promise.” Mom didn't know about that, of course.
She stood and loomed over me. “And you have to promise not to find any loopholes to get outta your promise.”
My jaw dropped. “I would never!”
“Come on now, Applejack. I know you better than you know yourself. Can you look me in the eye and tell me you never got out of a promise on a technicality?”
I hesitated as I thought back. There was the Running of the Leaves, when I'd flown on Pinkie's balloon after I'd told Rainbow she couldn't use her wings. But that was a rule, not a promise...Although, that didn't make it any better.
Then of course there was the time I Pinkie Promised my best friends that at breakfast I would tell them why I took a job at the cherry farm instead of going home to Ponyville...And then I decided to skip breakfast (it's a long story, I'll have to write it down some other time, I'm going off on a rabbit trail as it is).
Point is, neither of those things happened yet, and they probably never will, now.
But then earlier memories came seeping to the surface. Memories of annoying my brother just to get a reaction out of him. Does this bug you? I'm not touching you!
Mom was waiting for my answer.
I ducked my head. “Maybe you got a point. I promise I ain't gonna find no loopholes.”
“I hope you mean you're not going to find any loopholes.” Dad held up his foreleg. “I know how you like your double negatives, but you shouldn't use this as an excuse to suddenly decide that it means you are going to find loopholes.”
I snorted. “Fine.” Then I cleared my throat and imitated Aunt and Uncle Orange. “I shan't find any loopholes.”
My folks stared in shock before they burst out laughing.
Mom actually clutched her sides. “You are a hoot!”
“When did you learn to talk like that?” asked Dad.
“Oh, you know. I pick things up.” It was sorta true. But only sorta.
We finished loading the wagons in lighter spirits. I put in a good first aid kit with burn cream. I was gonna keep my family safe, or die trying. And since I'm writing this a few weeks after the fact, I expect that you know I didn't die. But I didn't know that at the time. I was ready to die trying, is what I'm saying. I just hoped Apple Bloom could forgive me if I did.
When we went outside round the back of the farmhouse, I saw Granny Smith grilling veggie kabobs.
“Howdy y'all! I figured it's close enough to summer for a cookout,” she said with a cheerful wave.
Apple Bloom was sound asleep nearby in the shade of a braeburn apple tree. She looked so sweet and vulnerable that I could hardly stand it.
“Why is she so cute?” I whispered.
Dad ruffled my forelock. “Why is any little pony so cute?”
Mom nuzzled Granny's cheek. “Thank you kindly for offering to help with the foals tommorrow, Ma. Looks like we'll only need you to foalsit Apple Bloom, though.”
“Why? Where are the other younguns going?”
“They're coming with us to the Bayou Festival.”
Granny's eyes widened. “At their age?”
“If you think it's a bad idea...” began Mom.
“Aw naw, I think it's a great idea, Spice! I'm just surprised y'all are letting them tag along.”
“Oh. I forgot who I was talking to,” Mom said wryly.
“Why, I was McIntosh's age when I started running round the Everfree Forest and facing down timberwolves.”
Mom stuck the tip of her hoof under her scarf to scratch her head. “I thought you were a mite older when that happened. 'Sides, the family was starving, so it wasn't like y'all had a choice.”
“Maybe not, but I survived, and so will Mac and Applejack. Us Apples are tough nuts to crack, if'n you'll pardon my mixed metaphor.” She took the kabobs off the charcoal grill and set them on a platter.
The kabobs were delicious, but my stomach was all twisted like a tumbleweed, so it was all I could do to force down a few pieces of mushroom and sweet potato.
It was harder still to fall asleep that night. I kept thinking about keeping my folks above ground, if you catch my drift. I was gonna have to keep a sharp eye out and rely on every trick I'd picked up over the years. And it was gonna be more difficult to do that if I didn't get enough sleep. But the harder I tried to get to dreamland, the further away I was. Around 1:00 am, I pulled back the window curtain and gazed up at the full moon. It was mighty strange seeing the “Mare in the Moon” again. Will she escape and be reformed the same way this time? I still don't know.
I must've fallen asleep eventually, 'cause I woke up all discombobulated. You know the feeling when you stay at a hotel and wake up and forget where you are for a few seconds? Well, I felt like that, only instead of forgetting where I was, I forgot when I was. And also I forgot my legs weren't as long as they oughtta be. That was gonna get frustrating real quick. But there's nothing for it but to wait it out and grow all over again. Us earth ponies can work wonders helping plants and even crystals grow fast, but can't do nothing to help ourselves grow. Perhaps that's for the best, though. I once witnessed a certain child grow bigger than my barn in a couple days, and well, the less said about that, the better.
Anyhow, after a quick trip to the bathroom, I ran out to the barn, quick as a lizard with its tail on fire. Maybe it was a touch Twilight-ish of me, but I just couldn't be satisfied till I made absolutely sure we had everything we might need to survive a chimera attack.
Dad found me cataloging the big wagon's contents, a look of concern creasing his pale orange face. “Is everything all right, Jackie?”
“So far so good,” I said, lifting up a canteen to feel how full it was.
“No, I mean with you. You barely ate anything last night, and just now you galloped through the kitchen without even looking at the pancakes your grandmother made. And you're always hungry. So,” he said, walking up and putting his giant hoof on my shoulder, “tell me what's wrong.”
I drew on all the knowledge I'd gained over the years, seeking an answer that would satisfy him enough not to press any further. Oddly enough, the wisdom of Pinkie Pie sprang to my mind – and it was something she'd said that wasn't even particularly helpful at the time.
“I'm a tad nervous, but I'm gonna use that nervous energy for something positive!” I stared at his mouth, not quite able to meet his eyes, and forced a grin.
He seemed fooled by my brave face. “That's the spirit!” He rubbed my back. “Now, come inside and eat breakfast and then we'll finish up out here.” Without waiting for a reply, he scooped me up and set me on top of his strong back, giving me a ride back to the house.