Trust
This chapter now has an audio reading by Skijarama
***
“Alright everypony, let’s go over the plan one more time.”
Applejack looked up from her saddlebags as Twilight spoke. The train car they were in was small and cramped with the five ponies huddled in it. Although every worker on the train to and from the Frozen North was part of the rebellion, normal civilians still were known to use it from time to time. Applejack, Twilight, and the three new rebels were all tucked in a small car at the front- out of sight of the other passengers and out of the way of the crew.
“Twilight, we went over it, like, a bazillion times before we left,” Rainbow Dash groaned, causing Applejack to shoot her a look. Thankfully, Rarity elbowed the Pegasus in the side and Twilight either didn’t notice or didn’t care as she jumped right into her lecture and paced in small circles.
“The most important thing Rainbow Dash and I discovered is that once the Elements are disconnected from their bearers, they can’t be moved more than fifty feet. Assuming Celestia being sent away disconnected them to her, they have to still be somewhere in the castle.”
“If they even exist,” Applejack grumbled under her breath.
Twilight seemed to hear, however, and shook her head. “No, we found enough books on them to confirm their existence. They’re definitely real, and I think I can make a spell to move them out of the forest. The problem is that we don’t know how to use them.” She stopped pacing and turned to fully address the other ponies. “That’s why we have to take this whole plan carefully.”
Applejack sat up straighter but noticed with annoyance that Rainbow rolled her eyes as Twilight once again repeated what had been confirmed last night. “The plan is that my brother, Big Mac, and Zecora will take a group of ponies, as well as some of our dragon allies, and launch an attack on Canterlot. A small one, mind you, because while Nightmare Moon resides in the Everfree, Canterlot is still where most legal action takes place, so if it’s attacked Nightmare Moon will have to go see to it personally.”
“And while she’s gone,” Rainbow piped up, “We swoop into her castle, take the Elements, and send her back to the moon!”
“No!” Twilight said, stomping a hoof on the floor, “No rash decisions, no improvisation. This is my operation and so we’re going to do it my way, understood?”
There were murmurs of agreement, with yet another exaggerated eye roll from Dash, and Twilight relaxed back into a steady pace. “Rainbow is right about one thing, however. This team is going to sneak into the castle and take the Elements of Harmony so we can study them and decide our next move. As I’ve said, I’ve figured out a spell that should let us move them for a bit, and with Rainbow and Pinka…” She coughed into her hoof then continued on. “Pinkie’s knowledge of the inner working of the castle, the Elements should be easy to find. Yes, we have all our bases covered. Everything will work out perfectly.” She spun abruptly on the spot and looked back at the other four with a large, shaky grin. “So, any questions?”
A pink hoof rose into the air.
“Yes?”
“How does dragon adoption work?” Pinkie Pie asked, blinking curiously up at Twilight.
Applejack raised a brow at that and Rainbow Dash smacked herself in the face. For her part, Twilight just looked at the Earth Pony with pursed lips before slowly replying. “I’m… not sure. Even with dragons helping us they’re still a private species and don’t tell ponies much about their society. I assume it would be roughly the same as it is here, though.”
Pinkie nodded, seemingly content with the answer and Twilight turned her attention back to the rest of the group. “Any other questions?”
The train stopped.
The train had been rumbling out of the Frozen North at such a steady pace that Applejack almost forgot they were moving. She was keenly made aware that they had been when the train jerked to a halt so suddenly it threw all the ponies off of their hooves.
“What the hay was that?” Applejack asked, rising back to a standing position. The question was directed at Twilight but the Unicorn didn’t seem to hear her as she rushed to the train window and peered out.
Twilight went pale and her eyes grew wide as she stared at something outside the car. “Oh no. Oh no oh no oh no. Not good not good.”
“Twilight, darling, what’s wrong?” Rarity asked, coming to stand beside Applejack, “Why did we stop?”
“Everypony get in the back. Go.” Twilight said, ignoring Rarity’s question and shoving the four ponies into the small, secluded area at the back of the car. It was barely more that two small walls closing off the back door, but the five ponies could squeeze behind them and be hidden from anyone in the train car.
“What’s the matter?” Rainbow echoed Rarity as she was shoved in the tight space, “Twilight, what in the hay is happening?”
Twilight poked her head around the corner before ducking back to face the others. “So… um… technically the rebellion owns this railway station, right? Most of the staff and the conductor are rebels, but we can’t have Nightmare Moon know that of course.” A smile stretched across her face and her eyes flicked back and forth nervously as the others silently gazed at her. “So occasionally Nightmare checks the trains, all the trains, for smuggled goods or, you know, fugitives.”
Slowly, the others donned looks of horror as the news set in.
“They’re searching the train for us?” Pinkie squeaked.
“And you didn’t think to have anywhere for us to hide?” Rarity hissed at Twilight.
Twilight glared back at her. “They only do these checks a few times a month and the last one was just a week ago!” She ground her teeth and looked away. “I should have accounted for them to pick it up with the stir you guys made but I didn’t, okay?”
“So we’re going to get stopped before we even get started just because you forgot to mention there were train checks?” Rainbow Dash squawked, her voice just barely a whisper.
Twilight turned to scowl at her. “Well, you’re in the Night Guard! Shouldn’t you of all ponies have known about this?”
“I was Nightmare’s personal bodyguard. I didn’t do train checks!”
“Would y'all shut up,” Applejack spat at the arguing ponies. They immediately went quiet and looked at Applejack guiltily. In the new silence, the unmistakeable sound of hoof steps and muttered voices could be heard at the other end of the car, past the closed door.
Suddenly there was the unmistakable sound of the far sliding door opening and the voices got much clearer. “Huh, doesn’t look like anyone’s in here. I was sure I heard something. Do a quick sweep, just in case, and if you find anypony suspicious report it to the commander immediately.”
“Yes sir,” Came the reply, only seconds before before the door closed and the other pony’s hoofsteps could be heard walking away.
Applejack’s heart clenched at the two words the stallion had given his officer. Applejack knew that voice. She knew that stallion. The fact that he was a soldier wasn’t too surprising, ponies did what they could to get by these days, but having him here was shocking enough to steal Applejack’s breath.
The clip-clop of the stallion’s hooves echoed in Applejack’s ears as he slowly swept the train car. The others were holding their breath in the desperate attempt to keep quiet, but Applejack knew it was hopeless. The stallion would only have to peek into their small hiding spot and then one cry would bring all the other soldiers down on them.
Applejack could knock him out before he shouted. One hit and he’d be down before he’d even seen her. Then they’d have to hide him, though… Hide him and hope no one would come to check on him, which was a foolish hope, the soldiers would just leave with one missing in action. Not to mention what they’d do with him once he woke up.
They were all dead.
Unless…
If you, perhaps, drop the walls you so carefully built and actually trust somepony, trust them almost completely, you’ll find that they are so much better than they first appear.
Applejack snorted under her breath. She hadn’t fully trusted a pony that wasn’t her siblings or her Granny in years. Trust wasn’t something to be given out freely now a nights.
No, they could knock him out and then run for it. They would probably get far enough before anyone noticed. They could do it.
Applejack stepped out from behind the small half wall that was hiding her and her friends. “Uh, hey there Braeburn.”
The yellow stallion stopped short, halfway through the train car and stared at her with wide eyes. “Cousin AJ?”
Applejack could practically feel Twilight’s panic but Braeburn’s steady gazed clued her that none of the other’s had emerged.
“Hey Cuz, how… how ya been?” AJ asked with what she hoped was a friendly smile.
Braeburn frowned back and took a hesitant step forward. “Ah’ve been… fine. What are you doin’ on this here train cousin? This is comin’ from the Frozen North. What in Equestria were ya doin’ there?”
This was it. She could get out of this now. She just had to lay a lie clever enough for Braeburn to believe and then he’d walk out of here like nothing was the matter. She could do it. She’d done it before.
“Ah’m comin’ back from the Rebellion headquarters.” That was definitely the sound of a jaw hitting the floor. “Ah’m on my way ta raid Nightmare Moon’s castle.” Applejack just didn’t know if it was Twilight’s, Rainbow’s, Braeburn, or even her own.
“Wha… what?” Braeburn stuttered, blinking at her like she was the sun coming back, “Applejack… are… are you sayin’ yer a… a traitor? Ya know… ya know I should turn you in for that.”
Applejack grimaced, a little twitch that she could have hidden but chose not to, and slowly approached her cousin. “I know, and I know it’s a stupid thing ta tell ya but it’s true. I’ve been fightin’ against her for the longest time. Just tryin’ ta make some ponies’ lives better. But now,” She had reached him now and was able to gently lay a hoof on Braeburn’s shoulder. The stallion didn’t move away. He just looked at her with confused, scared eyes. “Now I have a chance ta help everyone. Right behind me is some ponies who know how to defeat Nightmare Moon once and for all and save the world. But we need somethin’ for that ta happen.”
She smiled at him. A true, and trusting smile. It was held down by nervousness but that just made it all the more genuine. “I need ya ta back us up, Cuz. We can’t take every soldier swarmin’ this here train and it’s too far from anythin’ ta run. The only way we could go stop Nightmare Moon is if you bail us out.”
He frowned at her, eyes narrowing slightly and darting to the floor. “Ah don’t know Applejack. If they ever find out that ah lied to them… That I helped ya attack Nightmare Moon...”
“They won’t,” Applejack said immediately, “None of us will ever tell we were on this here train car. But yer still scared, ah know, Braeburn trust me ah know, but we could save everyone from bein’ scared if ya just do this one thing. Please.” She put her hoof under his chin and gently lifted until they were once again eye to eye. “Please Braeburn, I’m puttin’ all my faith in ya. I’m scared of what we’re doin’ too, but I need ta do this. You need ta do this. I know we don’t see each other much anymore but please don’t make me be wrong about ya.”
Braeburn stared into her eyes for a good few seconds as Applejack stood the four ponies in the back held their breath. Finally, Braeburn broke contact and walked back across the train car. “Ah trust ya Cuz. I’m goin’ ta make yer trust in me hold out so why don’t ya make mine? Go stop Nightmare Moon or Celestia help me I’ll bring it up at every family reunion.”
Applejack chuckled, a shaky thing, an honest thing, “Don’t you worry none then. That’s a fate worse than anythin’ Nightmare can dish out.” Braeburn simply nodded, a sliver of a smile flashing on his yellow muzzle, and turned to leave the car when Applejack stopped him. “Hey, Cuz? I...Th-thank you. Thank you.”
Braeburn smiled at her. “Thanks for bein’ honest with me Cuz.” Then he was gone.
We're on an adventure~
Thank you Shipmun for editing! And thank all of you for reading I hope you're enjoying it immensely.
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And thus the first element is shown. Nice take on it.
Rainbow Dash is wrong. What they need to do is not send Nightmare Moon back to the moon but rather free her and return her to the form of Princess Luna as well as bring back her sister, Celestia.
it was so worth that wait to read this chapter. good job man.
Have a pinkie pie:
7398631
I consider the idea that RD is just wearing a fancy costume to be "doing in the wizard" in a rather bizarre way in a fantasy setting. http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DoingInTheWizard
7541099 to be fair to Dashie, "Alicorn Twilight" didn't stick around long enough to actually explain HOW they defeated Nightmare Moon...
7541196 True.
And it seems to me that they're missing a pony from their group, if they want to get, and use the Elements to do... whatever... to defeat Nightmare Moon.
And that's Fluttershy.
7541196 I'm sure that they'll find out on their own.
Nice story so far, good work.
Another brilliant chapter!
Nice way to showcase the first element.
This is awesome. For a moment I thought it would be AJ's dad, but I think it works better as Braeburn.
7541099
If I recall correctly, they aren't aware NMM is Luna. I don't think it was ever mentioned, not even in the "current" Mare in the Moon story. However, I agree that they should save Celestia.
Risky move AppleJack. But as said:
7540979
7541320
The Honest element has been demonstrated. (Does Twilight's magical out burst counts as the first?)
I wonder which element is going to be next.
Nice update!
7541241 That's not a problem. They're headed for the Everfree Castle.. and Fluttershy is there in the dungeons. That's going to put them all together.
7540979
Better than the show did it, even. Not ragging on it in general, but Applejack's trial was kinda lame compared to the others'.
Nice A.J.!
Short but sweet, I love this storyyyy 
Very glad to see a new chapter! Things are picking up in the story and I eagerly await more.
Element of honesty, check.
Very nice. The closer they get to the elements, it seems, the more they demonstrate the qualities which make them the best choices. From a meta perspective, I'd even say the elements were actively prompting situations to test their intended bearers. That, and a certain tree must have been awfully confused by a certain table it never remembered building...
Now that's a gigantic amount of luck. Twi better have all the other bases covered, because they probably won't have this kind of luck again.
Unless dramatic convenience happens.
Anyway, another great chapter! And woohoo, character development!
And here we have honesty!
7542354 oh hey i never thought about what the tree thought about the map...
We need a chapter of this.
7541491 Oh, okay.
Sky and Winds, I can SUCH a ninny sometimes............. roundstable.com/forums/images/smilies/facehoof.png
Ah an excellent update and i see we are getting into the trials now, this one was definitely better then the show's as I still don't see how AJ's trial demonstrated honesty as it was more unfathomable trust on Twilights part rather then honesty from AJ that was displayed.
it's begun
I find myself disappointed that they are going to get their canon elements.
Interesting that AJ's honesty was revealed by her asking somebody to lie.
But besides that little nitpick, that was well done! I think it's better than the 'honesty' reveal in the show, to be... Honest. Ha, see what I did there?
7543425 Thinking their lives over... They were all born by the time of the messed-up race, and had lived lives identical to the Prime timeline up until that moment. I think it's fair to say that their basic natures were pretty well developed by that point, so it's not unreasonable to assume they'll be the same element bearers in this timeline. The real question is if Nightmare gets in on the act. She could probably manifest some small remote part of her power which can't do much without the rest of her, which would let her attempt to seduce/derail some of the potential bearers. Rarity, for instance, might be persuaded in this timeline to betray the others if Nightmare offered her the extremely tempting Nightmare Rarity opportunity. Immortality, immense power, and the ability to thumb her nose at the expectations of everyone else. All she has to do is accept Nightmare's offer, become supernaturally beautiful, and dominate her friends. And hey, maybe she plays both sides of the stile. I'm sure the Nightmare's fairly flexible when it suits her...
7543425 I see your point. Pinkie is getting her canon element, too...
vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/b/b2/Pinkie_Pie_ready_to_fire_her_party_cannon_S2E9.png/revision/latest?cb=20111211203555
7543540
....Actually wouldn't it be interesting if the Elements were not what we Think they are
I mean... the chapter is Titled Trust not Honesty
I mean maybe when we get to the elements they are what we know them to be
but this is a separate timeline
Maybe the elements are something new?
EH who knows
This story just got from my read later to Fav. Keep up the good job.
7544737
That theory would be more reasonable if the timeline split was before the creation of the elements, but at least five of the elements are known to at least Celestia at the time of the split.
I'm not sure what's up with the sixth element, since the Elements of Harmony book that Twilight reads in the pilot refers to it as a mystery, but there is no canon reason why it would be (special, yes. Mysterious, no). In any case, it is the only one that can plausibly be changed.
Well I think we all know what Braburn was thinking at the end.
Interesting that you went with the honesty route. Most dark/darkish fics would have her drift further from her element by lying anyway.
Mas capitulos, por favor!
I'm so hype I switched languages.
And thus honesty chose its bearer...
I imagine Twilight will be last (being the central element to ignite the spark), and actually wasn't AJ the first in the episode too? Perhaps it will be in the same order?
7551369 ...... Tangerine Blast, you sneaky, clever, son of a bitch!
7547721 Quick, give them this, they might need it.
christopherhealy.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/STC-Cover.jpg
7557069 What is that?
7589630 Third book in a series, first one is The hero's guide to saving your kingdom. It's by Adam Rex (he wrote The true meaning of Smeckday, aka Home, like the movie.
Basically it's an Action/comedy type thing here you have Snow White, Rapunzel, Cinderella, and sleeping beauty, and the princes that saved them (mainly the princes, but the princesses are ANYTHING but your typical useless damsel in distress, and play a huge role in the third book. Thing is, they're all called just "Prince Charming", which is none of their names, because who names their kid charming? It's got a 4.5/5 on goodreads, so go read it, it's funny and.....just go read it, unless it just ain't your cup of tea.
7589899 Thanks I'll give it a look
7551369 i don't know it could be argued that Fluttershy beat her to it by trying to understand and help Nightmare Moon, despite being held captive by her.
So it's begun. The Element of Honesty has finally been sparked by Rarity.
Next, the Element of Laughter is chosen, when they earn it by teaching Pinkie Pie to giggle at the ghostly.
i kinda expefcted it to be Braeburn, still nice^^
close call
Holy crap, that was tense.
Oh yeah we forgot about that they are looking for a Pinkie Pie Rainbow Dash and Rarity yikes
Smooth Twilight
Oh wow so now it's a test of the elements of harmony begin so Twilight and the others came up with a good plan and they were about to head for the train and once they got to the train they kind of forgot about if any of the Pony sees rainbow pinky or Rarity they will be reported for being trailer but then Applejack saw a familiar face and it turns out it was her cousin breaburn and decided to take a chance to trust her cousin that He won't tell anybody about what were they going to do and it turns out he trust her but everything and Applejack was so happy for that and I'm sure the others will prevail and not only that Applejack passed the test of trust and I wonder how the others will do