Different Worlds, Different Rules
The final bell rang, sending a horde of teenagers eager to greet the weekend surging out of Canterlot High. But not all of them raced out. One dragged her feet until she stood before the plinth in front of the school, which still lacked a statue after the recent Friendship Games. The girl stared into the marble and wondered if the faint reflection looked a little more equine than usual. Then she sighed as her thoughts took a different direction.
A hand on her shoulder made her jump and spin to face whoever interrupted her.
"Whoa!" Sunset Shimmer flinched back, hands up. "You okay, AJ?"
Applejack blinked and relaxed. "Sorry 'bout that; just clearin' mah head. I'm alright, Sunset." She looked away. "More or less."
"Yeah, sure you are." Sunset frowned, her hands on her hips. "I've kept enough problems to myself that I can tell when someone else is doing it." Her expression softened. "Anything I can help with?"
Applejack shook her head. "Naw, I just get a little blue when Mother's Day comes around."
"Really? Why's that?"
Applejack tilted her head, her mouth falling open. "Uh, in case ya hadn't heard, Sunset, mah parents are dead."
"I actually did know." Sunset looked away, a hand on her forearm. "I have a database on all of the... well, the exploitable aspects of the student body. I wanted to get rid of it, but Pinkie insisted I keep it. Said it'd be 'a big help,' whatever she meant by that." After a moment, she focused back on Applejack. "Still, why is that a problem?"
"Do I gotta spell it out for ya?" Applejack huffed.
"Well, if you feel sad, why don't you visit them?"
"I do. Me, Mac, Bloom, and Granny all go to th' cemetery every year on their weddin' anniversary."
Sunset frowned and tilted her head. "Well, that's nice, but I meant visiting them, not their grave."
Applejack gaped at the other girl for a moment, fists tightening. "Sunset, I dunno how death works over in Ponyland, but in these parts, it's a one-way trip. I ain't seein' mah Ma an' Pa until I kick the bucket m'self." She sniffed and turned away. She could already feel her anger gutter. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go cry into mah pillow for a spell." She stomped off.
"Wait!" Sunset's voice cried behind her.
Applejack spun back. "What?" She hated the quaver in her voice, but she couldn't shut it out. "Wanna call me ugly while yer at it?"
"No! I swear, I never meant to hurt you. I really didn't realize that this world—" Sunset gasped and beamed. "I've got it! Are you free this weekend?"
Applejack glared at her. "I think we established I ain't got much planned fer Mother's Day."
"Great!" Sunset gasped. "I mean not great given the circumstances, but it works, because I can definitely make this up to you."
"Whaddaya mean?"
Sunset shook her head. "I want to keep it a surprise. Don't want to get your hopes up if Twilight says it won't work. Princess Twilight, not human Twilight. I'll text you. Bye!"
Applejack blinked as Sunset waved and ran off. "That girl is spendin' way too much time around Pinkie Pie."
Applejack's phone twanged out a banjo note as she was getting ready for bed that evening. She checked the text.
Sunset Shimmer 5s ago
She said yes!
Applejack rolled her eyes and swiped up a call with Sunset, saying "Yes to what?" the moment the other girl picked up.
"Well..." Sunset hemmed and hawed for a moment before she said, "I don't think you'd believe me if I told you."
"Sunset, yer a magic unicorn from another world and kickin' yer keister gave me magic floatin' horse powers. I'm ready to believe just about anything."
"Look, just go to the school early one morning this weekend and you'll see for yourself. I just booked you a trip to Equestria."
Applejack blinked. "You did what?"
"Consider it an apology for earlier."
"You don't need to do anythin' like that."
"But I want to." That had a bit of steel behind it, enough to make it clear Sunset wasn't budging.
Applejack considered it for a bit. "Well, we are doin' somethin' for Granny Smith come Sunday, but I got tomorrow free. It won't take too long, will it?"
"You should be home by dinnertime," said Sunset.
"How early I gotta be there, exactly?"
"Around eight."
Applejack smirked. "Pfft. You call that early?"
The drive to Canterlot High was quiet for a time, as was to be expected when the only company was Big Macintosh. After several minutes, he asked, "So, why're you doin' this again?"
Applejack shook her head. "I truly do not know."
Another block rolled by before Mac said, "Yer sayin' all we know is that yer friend wants ya to go to Magic Horse Land because she said somethin' stupid."
Applejack sighed. "Eeyup."
Mac didn't say anything more until they pulled up to the school. "I know you don't need me to tell ya this, AJ, but yer friends are weird."
"Yer right, Mac. I don't need you to tell me that. Thanks fer the ride." Applejack eased out of the cab and slammed the passenger door behind her. She walked up to the Wondercolt statue, stuck a hand through to test the portal, and walked in before she could think better of it.
The transition between worlds was... Well, the only word Applejack could think of was "dizzying." She figured she'd need to read more science fiction before she could describe the experience better.
Crystalline walls filled her vision. Applejack couldn't help but imagine Rarity's reaction until a shout of "Welcome to Equestria, Applejack!" got her attention.
Applejack looked around for the source of the voice and spotted Twilight Sparkle. Twilight had shown her pictures of this place, including ones of Twilight and even Applejack's own pony self, but it was one thing to joke about how cutesy everything looked and another to see a winged unicorn in the flesh. There was a feeling about Twilight, some tingle not unlike how Applejack felt with her ears up, but so much stronger. There was a power in the person she'd always thought off as a sort of awkward exchange student, a power Applejack barely understood.
The source of that power frowned at her. "Uh, Applejack? You okay?"
Applejack shook her head and rubbed her temples. Or tried to. "Ow!"
"Uh, yeah, careful with those hooves."
"Heh. Kinda the problem. Ain't used to bein' a pony." Clocking herself actually helped. Twilight's sheer presence wasn't as noticeable now that Applejack wasn't totally caught up in it.
"Understandable. We have a little time for you to acclimate yourself." Twilight moved towards the door.
Applejack tried to follow, but just scrunched up her body, having forgotten to move what were now her front legs. "Uh, hold on." A few false starts later, she had collapsed in a tangle of her own limbs. "Consarn it, how do ya manage all these legs?"
Everything went purple and tingly as something picked her back up. Twilight smiled, her horn aglow. "I could ask you a similar question. I found it works best if you don't think about it too much. Your body 'knows' how to move, for lack of a better term."
A few faltering steps later, Applejack found the right rhythm. They made their way through the castle until Applejack stiffened and came to a halt, her eyes wide with realization. "Twilight?"
Twilight looked back. "Something wrong?"
"Where're mah clothes?"
“You still have your hat.”
Applejack glanced up at the brim. “That I do. Where’d the rest go?”
Twilight beamed. “That’s actually a very interesting question." She cleared her throat. "However, you’re probably not interested in the theoretical details. Suffice to say, they’re in the same place my clothes go when I’m not in your world.”
“And where’s that?”
“As of now, I have no idea." Applejack scowled, and Twilight hastened to add, "Don't worry! Equestria's a clothing-optional society, and it's not like anypony can see anything you don't want them to."
Applejack quirked an eyebrow at that, then tried to shrug. It ended up more like a push-up. "Well, when in Roan."
"Besides, we've got a long gallop ahead of us," Twilight said as they continued on their way. "Anything you'd wear would be sweaty and nasty by the time we get there."
“And where're we headed, exactly?”
Twilight looked back at Applejack. "Didn't Sunset tell you?"
Applejack shook her head. "Said she wanted it to be a surprise."
"Hmm." After a moment, Twilight said, "Well, given the circumstances, I can understand that. There are a lot of differences between our worlds, and some of them can be downright overwhelming."
"If they're overwhelmin', shouldn't I know ahead of time? Prepare mahself?"
"Given what Sunset told me, I think it might be best for you to see for yourself. If I told you ahead of time, you might get the wrong idea."
Applejack frowned. "Twi, I'm prob'ly gettin' all kinds of wrong ideas the longer you let me think of 'em."
"Just trust me," Twilight said with a reassuring smile. "I promise, you're going to enjoy this."
"If this ends with me havin' t' fight some monster when I ain't even got thumbs, I ain't gonna be happy."
"And I won't blame you if that happens, unlikely as it is." Now in what looked to be an entry hall, Twilight floated some saddlebags off of a wooden coatrack and onto Applejack. "Now, your local analogue packed you a lunch, compliments of Sweet Apple Acres." The princess wrinkled her brow. "And for some reason, she said to tell you 'Sorry.'"
Applejack gave her a lopsided smirk. "Not exactly fillin' me with confidence here, Twi."
"Don't worry, it'll be fun. I promise."
Once they were out of the castle, Twilight led Applejack around the town rather than through it. "I don't think either of us wants to explain how you both are and aren't Applejack a few dozen times."
Applejack nodded. "'Preciate it. That'd get real old, real fast."
"To say nothing of confusing. I don't think I'd be able to tell the two of you apart if you stood next to one another."
Pinkie Pie bounced by. "Hi, Twilight! Hi, human Applejack!"
"Uh..." Applejack watched her pass, jaw hanging open.
Twilight giggled. "Pinkie being Pinkie appears to be a universal constant."
"Alrighty, then."
They stopped before a wide plain, tall grass waving in the breeze. "Think you've got walking figured out?" said Twilight.
Applejack nodded. "Like you said, th' pony knows how. I just gotta let 'er."
"Then follow me." Twilight galloped off, and Applejack hurried to follow her.
Applejack let her body go on autopilot, sat back, and enjoyed the scenery, wide grasslands and rolling hills passing by. She nearly stumbled when saw clouds drifting in different directions, which Twilight said were being pushed. Aside from the occasional question, neither said anything along the way.
After what must have been hours, Twilight slowed to a trot, at which point Applejack shot past, tried to stop, and fell on her face.
"Uh, we're here," Twilight said as she picked up Applejack with her magic.
Applejack chuckled. "I figured." She looked around. The black hill that had loomed on the horizon for some time jutted out to her left, looking jagged, glassy, and sinister. To her right, something glinted with gold in the morning sunshine. "Uh, where's here?"
"The Plain of Hades," Twilight said casually. "The obsidian extrusion is the gate to Tartarus, but we're not going there." She brought a hoof to her chin. "Given how Cerberus is supposed to keep creatures from leaving a subdimension, I'm actually not sure how he'd react to you."
Applejack stared at Twilight as the pieces fell into place. "We're actually going to Elysium."
Twilight nodded. "Yes."
"We're actually going to Elysium."
Twilight gave a slower nod, one eyebrow raised. "That's what I said."
"Anyone here can just walk to Elysium."
"Well, Ponyville's quite close to it. It's a much longer trip for most of Equestria. Ponies have proposed building a railroad here, but the princesses feel it shouldn't be too easy to make the trek."
"No, wouldn't want that," Applejack muttered, her gaze distant.
"Still, there can be a big rush on weekends. That's why I wanted to get here early. Come on!" Twilight resumed galloping. After a moment, Applejack shook her head and followed.
Once she was close enough, the first thing Applejack noticed was the gated fence, which was indeed crafted from mother-of-pearl, with golden accents. It somehow both stretched on for infinity and was wholly visible at the same time. Applejack decided she had enough on her plate without trying to figure that one out. Within the circular enclosure, all she could make out was an indistinct, pastel blur.
Standing before those gates were two full-sized horses, though the shallow muzzles and bright eyes made their intelligence clear even if Applejack disregarded the wings and horns. They were identical, with lilac eyes and coats that had to be called dark grey, because nothing could be as black as their manes and tails, inky voids that shifted to lily white along the edges.
A velvet rope divided the twins, leading to a simple wooden sign a few yards before them, just a board nailed to a post with its message scratched into the wood:
<= Living | Dead =>
Applejack leaned close to Twilight and said, "Who're the twins?"
"Princess Temperance."
Applejack looked back and forth between them. "Which one?"
"Both are," said Twilight.
"Say again?"
"Temperance is the Princess of Endings. It's her duty to usher departed souls to their final destination. As such, she's omnipresent." Twilight shrugged her wings. "She just doesn't make a big deal out of it most of the time."
Applejack chewed this over for a moment before deciding it was way out of her wheelhouse. "Alrighty then. No line at least." There wasn't on the "Living" side, anyway. The "Dead" side had a line, though of what, Applejack couldn't say. Her eyes couldn't focus properly on anything beyond the impression of a heat haze, and she didn't particularly want to know anyway.
As she walked up to the winged unicorns, Applejack turned to Twilight. "So, uh, do I bow?"
Twilight shook her head. "Temperance doesn't hold any real political power unless you believe some ridiculous rumors. Besides, she's a close friend." She smirked. "With my life the way it's been, a brush with death just means it's Tuesday."
"Generally, yes." Temperance gave a small smile as they approached her. She had a gentle voice, a hint of amusement coloring every word. "It's good to see you again, Twilight. And you for the first time, Applejack. I hope you're enjoying our dimension."
"Uh, yeah. Thank you, ma'am. Yer Highness." Applejack managed to doff her hat on the third try. "Hope I'm not intrudin'."
The smile grew a bit. "Not at all. And 'Temperance' is fine, or 'ma'am' if you must be formal."
"I suppose you already know why we're here," said Twilight.
Temperance nodded and tilted her head to her right. Applejack turned her head and saw a similar, rather less uncanny-looking fence she hadn't noticed before, smaller, also circular, and attached to the main one. The only word for the structure was "corral." "Go on to the guest area. They'll be waiting for you."
Applejack swallowed. "Th-thank you, ma'am." She walked towards and through the open gate on stiff legs, stomach clenching with anxiety. Only when she saw two figures before her did she loosen up, galloping towards them.
They had halos. They were somewhat see-through. They were, not to put too fine a point on it, horses. But there was no mistaking Jonathan Jonagold and Valencia Orange. Her father's gentle strength and her mother's confident grace transcended species.
Jonathan smiled, a head taller than Applejack with the colors of her little sister, somehow wearing the ghost of a hat. "Well, ain't this nice?" he said. "Only saw that face a few months ago, when Apple Bloom got her cutie mark. Yer both turnin' out pretty as yer mama."
"They could be, yes," Valencia tossed her pale gold mane, a playful smirk on her saffron muzzle, her voice still bearing the high-class Manehattan accent she'd never been able to shake. "At least, given a proper spa treatment or three. I am glad you've kept in touch with that Rarity filly. You two always have been good for each other."
Applejack swallowed and gave a stiff nod. "Yes, ma'am. We've had our rough patches, but she's a true friend."
"True enough t' help ya save th' whole dang world a few times!" Jonathan gave her a slap on the side. It felt like a brief, gentle breeze.
"We are so very proud of you, dear. I really can't say it enough."
Applejack bit her lip and fought back a sniffle.
"I always knew you'd do great things." Jonathan grinned. "Ya sure always ate like a hero. Still swipin' half the fritters at reunions?"
Applejack felt her cheeks warm. "I wasn't even two years old."
The grin widened. "That ain't a no."
"I don't suppose any stallions have caught your eye?" Valencia smiled. "Or vice versa?"
Applejack fought back a shudder and tried to forget the mental images this conjured. "Not that I've noticed, no."
"Well, when they do," said Jonathan, a dark look on his muzzle, "make sure Granny puts th' fear o' Celestia into 'em."
Valencia winked. "Not too much, though."
"R-right."
Jonathan went from scowling fury to pleasant warmth in a blink, just like Applejack remembered. "I'm sure you ain't here fer filly talk. What brought ya by?"
"Well, I, uh..." Applejack bit her lip. "Truth be told, it was a friend's idea. I'm glad I did it, but—"
"No buts about it. We're glad ya did it too." Jonathn gave her another affectionate, barely felt smack. "I'm sure yer awful busy these days. I know how it is."
Applejack tilted her head. "Ya do?"
"Sure! Bein' a hero's in yer blood. I ever tell you about the time I fought that low-down snake Dio Brandywine?"
"Can't say I recall it."
Valencia rolled her eyes, though she still smiled. "You'll want to sit down for this one, Jacqueline. It's as long as it is bizarre."
Applejack wasn't sure how long she sat there. Time seemed to stand still as her father's ghost—more or less—wove an incredible tale of adventure, courage, and an awful lot of flexing. She listened, sure, but she also just basked in the presence of those she'd dearly missed.
As Jonathan brought his tale to a close, Applejack stood and stretched. "It's been real nice, y'all, but I gotta get back soon." She grabbed both parents in a gentle hug, careful not to let her legs go through them. "I love you both, an' I miss you somethin' awful."
"Thank you for coming, dear," said Valencia. "I'm sure your own Jonathan and Valencia feel the same."
"An' before ya go back wherever ya came from, be sure t' tell yerself t' come by more often." Jonathan chuckled. "Ain't like it's gonna kill 'er."
Applejack's jaw dropped as she pulled out of the hug. "Y-ya knew?"
"Sure I did. Can't get two words into that story without AJ complainin' how she's heard it a thousand times before."
"You too, Ma?"
Valencia just smiled. "A mother always knows these things, dear. And our current state provides a... unique perspective. It is wonderful to know that you are a young lady who I can take pride in no matter what your shape."
Applejack looked from one to the other and back again. "How come ya didn't say anything until now?"
"Ya may not be our Applejack, strictly speakin', but yer an Applejack, one who needed t' see us." Jonathan gave a warm, loving smile so familiar it brought tears to Applejack's eyes.
Valencia nodded. "Princess Temperance knows what she's doing. If she let you visit, then you have every right to be here."
Applejack sniffed. "Thank you. Thank you both."
"Any time, dear."
After one last group embrace, the three separated, the living and the dead going to their own sides of the gates. As she left the guest corral, Applejack passed other reunions she hadn't noticed, the faces and words still obscured. Finally, she returned to the two Temperances.
A third had joined them in the meantime, one who looked up from her conversation with Twilight and smiled. "I take it you're through?"
Applejack wiped her eyes with a fetlock and nodded. "Thank you, ma'am. And you, Twilight."
Temperance dipped her head. "I'm just doing my duty."
"And it was Sunset's idea," added Twilight.
"I'll be sure t' thank 'er when I get back. But before I do, there's one thing I gotta know: Where will the other me be when we get back?"
May was a busy time for Sweet Apple Acres, though that didn't exactly distinguish it from much of the rest of the calendar. Still, there was maintenance to perform, deals to make, crops to tend, and as was the case for much of the year, some apple trees to buck.
Applejack was pulling a cartload of her freshly bucked pride and joy towards the cellar when she heard hooves approach. She looked, saw herself, and smiled. "Well, ain't that stranger than peaches on an apple tree? Howdy, Applejack!"
The other her gave a terse nod. "Howdy."
The local Applejack offered a sympathetic smile. "Hope Ma 'n Pa didn't give ya too hard a time. You know how they can be."
"No," said the visitor, eyes narrowed. "I don't."
Applejack blinked. "How's that?"
"If we was back home, you'd be spittin' teeth right now."
"Hey!" Applejack scowled. "I don't know how they do things in yer world, but we don't take kindly to that kinda talk around here!"
The other Applejack matched her expression, moving so she could be muzzle to muzzle with herself. "An' I don't take kindly to folks who don't know how good they got it! You know how long I've wanted to tell Ma 'n Pa how much I missed 'em? What I'd've given given to hear their voices, see their faces one last time?"
"But... why didn't ya?"
"'Cause I can't! Ya can't visit Elysium like yer goin' to Whinnyland back home. I know they're waitin' for me, but they don't wanna see me anytime soon, 'cause that'll mean I won't be comin' back! But you got the nerve to take that kinda thing fer granted. To be embarrassed by 'em."
Applejack tilted her head. "But that's just the way things are."
"Well, they ain't that way everywhere. Be grateful for what you got, 'cause I know I ain't the only Applejack out there who ain't got it." With that, the visitor turned and stomped away, leaving the local deep in thought, gazing at nothing.
She recovered after a few short moments and shouted "I will!"
The other Applejack looked back, nodded, and said, "That's all I ask." She tipped her hat and turned back towards the sunset, moseying back to Twilight's castle. "See you again sometime, cousin."
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Noice.
Also, nice fic. It's got a warm healing vibe to it made alive by the touch of surrealness surrounding it. It's also got AJ's trait of honesty running through the plot - funny how AJ-centric fics tend to have that vein in terms of how they feel - quality banter, and a twist that's just twisty enough to be fresh while keeping that vibe. All around perfect for the season.
I did watch Masterchef just half an hour ago, so it sounds weirdly like a food review, but yes, I liked the fic.
Is this a magic censor, or proper tail management? In my world, it's all pretty much done with the tail.
Hadn't considered that AJ's mom was an orange, but it fits. Thanks for the beautiful story. I especially loved the reveal that the appleparents love all Applejacks equally.
Glad that this story's idea didn't offend Princess Temperance, and that an entirely nonexistent and completely unrelated cabal of royal assassins allowed this idea to survive and bear fruit.
That was everything I wanted. :D
Bittersweet, but I can see that Death in Equestria isn't as sorrowful as our little Earth. When death isn't as a great a mystery I can see why religion wouldn't be as big.
You get a thumb's up for this line alone.
Moving
7197671 Most likely the tail, unless you're reading a fanfic that does some dark far-too-serious things with the concept that reality is warping to obey the laws of children's shows.
At first, I didn't find anything odd about the name Jonathan Jonagold. Then you mentioned Dio Brandywine.
No apologies needed.
Plus, this means that Applejack's son is going to be Joseph Jonagold. He gon' rock that scarf.
Well, Applejack is the only one who can actually lecture Applejack and have it stick. Thanks for the story and the reminder of that salient fact.
7197671 7198399
Actually, I do use a species-wide, strategically applied illusion I call the groinal veil. No attempts at dark deconstruction intended.
7197787
Honestly, with all the ideas waiting for me to realize them, I could use a visit or two from the Assassinorum.
And I've always thought Applejack's mother was an Orange. Why else would she want to seek the glamour of Manehattan but to recapture some vestige of Valencia by trying to become her?
7197890
Sorry I couldn't fit in any ponies punching their analogues. Applejack refused to fight herself while she was working. Still, thanks for the inspiration.
7198163
The whole premise of Equestria Girls is wonderfully absurd when you stop and think about it. Of course, the same could be said of any magical girl series.
7198691
I treasure any series that lets me explore the character interaction between multiple instances of a single person. It's always an interesting avenue to explore.
7198433 derpicdn.net/img/2014/1/23/532392/full.png It was me, Dio!
Nice. <3
Is Applejack gonna bring the rest of her family to visit sometime? I'm sure everyone else would also love to visit applejack' parents. Granny Smith most of all, since one of applejack' parents is her foal.
A great mix of comedy, feels, and worldbuilding. Good to know that your take on Equestria's afterlife, while heavily inspired by Greek myth, isn't nearly as tragic as Theros'.
i'm getting a feeling so complicated
I feel as though Applejack would be very confused as to why the one of the ghosts of her father was telling her to have Granny Smith put the fear of her principal into potential boyfriends.
As I think about this it started to make more sense and I'm not sure how to feel about that.
You know, I usually like what you write, regardless of what it is, and Applejack is one of my favorite ponies... But, while the story started strong and was good for most of it, the scene at the end where the two of them meet and human AJ calls out pony AJ felt unnecessarily tacked on and more than a little preachy.
7199625
Possibly. Twilight will need to do further research to determine how many humans Equestria can safely accommodate without undue temporaspacial strain. And whether the portal's physical age distortion will reduce human Granny Smith to dust the moment she goes through the portal.
7200716
) Temperance got white-black, of course, so when Athreos was printed, I was rather pleased with myself.
Fun fact: When making the planetary dynasts, I used enemy color pairs for attitude and color scheme. (Cadence got blue-red, something that the comics seem to corroborate. Prepare the shipping algorithms!
7201258
Applejack's mind was too busy trying to process her parents asking her if she'd taken a romantic interest in a horse to notice that.
7203135
That bit stemmed from a facet of Applejack's character that's very interesting in multiples. She has a deep conviction that her way of doing things is the best way, if not the only way. So, when there's two of her and one of them thinks that the other could be doing it better than the first ever believed possible, yet consciously chooses not to... well, sparks will fly. Still, I can definitely see how that could feel preachy. (Honestly, I'm just glad that the alicorn OC wasn't the sticking point.)
I want comment on "death" in Equestria, or princess Temperance, or feels... but ...
lh3.googleusercontent.com/-c-XvLFaIJXI/VU-g3YNd1II/AAAAAAACpZQ/3ALlCUrqUko/w500-h800/927.png
7203567
You're talking to someone who writes alicorn OCs himself and even has a headcanon to justify them NOT being overpowered. That's never going to be a sticking point with me.
It's just that the 'you don't have a right to feel a certain way' moral has always been one that never sits well with me. It comes across as 'you should never want anything more in your life than what you have, because then you're a selfish, greedy, ungrateful bastard who deserves absolutely nothing in life'. I really doubt that's what you or anyone else you uses it means, but that's what it always felt like it was saying to me.
Pretty great, actually. Literally the only thing that frustrated me was the "ah" which is the dumbest thing this fandom ever came up with honestly. Unless said Applejack is like super wasted. Nobody talks like that. It makes my Dixie soul cringe.
I quite liked the jojo reference, considering I just cracked the first book of the english version today for the first time.
Also, were I to find myself in this situation, I'm pretty sure I'd kinda shut down from the philosophical ramifications of not only a confirmed afterlife, but an easily-accessed one.
So, AJ's "real" name is Jacqueline. Love it. And everything else, too. But that before everything else.
7203759
Isn't it more like "You aren't thinking of the other Applejacks?" I think EQG!Applejack understands EQ!Applejack's emotions of nonchalance, she just doesn't like it, because it shows that EQ!Applejack isn't thinking of the other Applejacks out there. Or something.
... Can I get an(other) example of the 'you don't have a right to feel a certain way' moral so I know what you're talking about?
7203567
Aren't the Planetary Dynasts colored in 4 colors each? ... What colors are each of the Dynasts missing?
***
So, EQG!Applejack doesn't know about Equestria's governmental structure?
7206163
Well, Pinkie Pie is Pinkamena.
7206363
Before FoME mentioned the enemy-Color thing here, I think all we knew was that each Dynast was primarily one Color but incorporated the other four at their creation: Cadence is primarily Red, and Temperance is primarily Black (those being the colors of emotion and endings, respectively), but (in the Elementals cosmology) Pinkie technically created the first of both with all five colors.
7204990
My apologies. I specifically tried to keep them out of this story, but some slipped in from snippets I'd written before making that decision. They should all be taken care of by the time you read this.
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Hmm. She may. Actually, that would make for a very interesting conversation, Sunset trying to explain Equestrian governance to her friends. And possibly the principals.
Also, see below:
7210628
Bingo. Cadence can be thought of as "Red (and also some blue,)" Temperance as "Black (and also some white,)" and so forth. In Temperance's case, she's like Erebos or her grandmother, a kind soul who satisfies her ambitions by helping others.
I really need to do something with Divergence, Princess of Journeys...
Not "Generally, Saturday"?
Wait... We've got EQG!Rainbow confronted by EQ!Rainbow, the reverse for Applejacks...
Can we get something for each of the Mane6? And Spike? ... What are the other princesses doing in EQG-verse?
Repost: "What does EQ!Cadenza look like through the portal?"
7297041
Well, at the very least, we have the Twilights meeting and the Pinkies sharing a lollipop. I suppose that leaves the Fluttershies to fascinate one another and the Rarities to admire one another's couture. (Or make catty remarks about it. One of the two.) The Spikes... I'm not sure how well they'd get along. For a long time, one was operating on a very different mental level than the other, and even now, I'm not sure how well they'd be able to relate to one another.
As for the other planetary dynasts, I honestly haven't given that much thought, though it's a very interesting question. That being said, I'd expect human Cadence to come out of the portal as a pegasus. I doubt she's ever warmed a witch's heart. Certainly hasn't managed it with Cinch.
YOU THOUGHT THAT THIS HAD NO REFERENCES, BUT IT WAS ME! DIO!
Was this ENTIRE THING a set-up for JoJo? Be honest.
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No, just a happy accident when I realized what I could do with the name "Jonathan Jonagold." If it were a setup, I would've ended the story there.
I make no definitive statements about either Applejack's potential to harness the Ripple, use a Stand, or pose dramatically.
7212559
Having gone through all your Elementals of Harmony Stories, we've seen Temperance, Cadance, Vigilance, and Prudence, so we know what they do, but what does Divergence do?
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Divergence has the title of "Head Ambassador," an hindquarter-covering honorific made because, like many previous Princesses of Journeys, she wanders the world for wandering's sake. She actually is a great diplomat, spreading goodwill towards Equestria wherever she goes, but she rarely stays in one place for more than a week. She loves meeting new people, especially children; her life actually resembles Trixie's on a frequent basis. (Well, canon Trixie, not EoH Trixie.) Her cutie mark is a black line that appears to vanish into the horizon, resembling a road or river carved from obsidian.
I really do need to write a story about her at some point.
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Hmm... On personality-colors... Cadence is blue-red, Temperance is White-Black, Vigilance has got to be Red-White (Fighter and Order), Divergence is Blue-Green (Flow and Nature, so Exploration or something? And the Flow is not staying in one place), and Prudence is Green-Black?
Who's the oldest? Divergence I guess? 'Cause she doesn't seem like she'd want to abdicate until she's explored everywhere or something? Vigilance is XXXI, but she seems to have a sisterly relationship with the contemporary Temperance... Prudence is likely second youngest and Cadence is XL so she's likely the youngest...
On planets, I guess Divergence is Mercury, Cadence is Venus, Vigilance is Mars, Temperance is Saturn, Prudence is Jupiter.
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Actually, Prudence is green-blue, carefully cultivating information to promote healthy, robust societal development. Divergence is black-green, the tireless wanderer whose greatest aspiration is to see the world for herself.
I'm undecided on relative ages. (If I had decided, I don't remember now.) That said, you nailed the planets.
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Well, as this currently seems to be the 5 Sisters discussion area... As Elementals of Harmony doesn't have a group page...
What powers do the Marks of the 5, give? Cadence is Love Spells (Unicorn Aspect), obviously... Powered by Love (Earth Aspect), as seen in My Little Praetor... How does her Love Cutie Mark affect her Pegasus Aspect?
I guess asking for the other 4 would be spoilers?
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Huh. Honestly, I'd never thought of the "Powered by Love" thing as specifically earth pony magic.
In any case, the planetary alicorns' abilities are better classified as alicorn magic through and through. This is on par with mass dreams, calling down plasma from the sun, and (apparently) activating suspicious zebra potions. It looks like incredible unicorn magic, sure, but it's more accurately described as a blend of the tribes' magics that's greater than the sum of its parts and usually uses the horn as the output device.
As for what their marks provide... incredible talents and nearly irresistible urges to put them to use. There's a reason the Divergences behave like salmon, returning home only to breed and die. There's a reason the current Vigilance willingly banished herself to geostationary orbit so she could watch all of Equestria's borders at once. There's a reason Cadences keep marrying mortal ponies even after dozens of generations of heartbreak. The planetary alicorns perform vital planar balancing just by existing. Keeping a universe stable means that they generally aren't.
It's very Triptych Continuum: A price to pay for every gift. And much like Jason Ogg, the price paid for the planetary princesses' talents is the need to use them.
The JoJoke alone is worthy of an instant favorite.
Feels were had.
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While it doesn't apply to this headcanon, the fact that there isn't an obvious way for a pegasus to use that mark may have been a factor in her Ascension (as canon has her born to that tribe).
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I mean, yes, unascended Cadence couldn't fire literal love magic at couples, but I imagine that even if she'd never met Prismia, she'd still make a fantastic matchmaker, marriage counselor, or similar official in matters of the heart.
Or, as Cozy Glow demonstrated, there's always ritual magic... and now I've gone and terrified myself.
I just came from Derpibooru when I asked FoME where he made a JoJoke in FimFiction. By God, I am surprised as you are.
Something tells me Pinkie made her keep it over birthdays or something.
But in a good way Big Mac.
That and some might get creeped out about it.
Uh huh... 😒
Sometimes I forget that's applejack's real name.
https://m.I'm still curious as how Sunset knew this place. 🤔
This story sure was great and ngl I kinda felt the same ad applejack in regards to missing family but instead it's my grandparents from my dads side of my family who both have sadly passed away in the last 2 years who I both miss dearly.