Twilight's Garden
By Wanderer D
Chapter 4: Xokoyotl: The Time When Fruits Bloom
She could feel him approaching. His steps were slow, soft and ponderous, but they echoed in her conscience as loud as drums. She knew she could ignore them and get a little more rest, but Kuautemiktlan would knock on her door until she opened it.
Twilight woke up.The earth below seemed even darker than before, spongy and crumbly; alive in a way, almost brimming with potential... a quality which a feeling on the back of her mind told her was shared by the rest of the island. The smell of the compost was either gone or she had grown used to it in her sleep. She shook her coat a little, letting the last few pieces of dirt attached to it fall down.
Her hooves felt a lot better too. She used her magic to remove the bandages and had to smile at how effective Fluttershy's ministrations were. At least somepony here was learning something.
Too bad it wasn't Twilight herself.
Twilight took a deep breath, feeling unusually invigorated that morning. Kuautemiktlan would be there in a minute, most likely with additional news of how Applejack was doing something supremely interesting while she was stuck here getting dirty.
At least… at least her island seemed to be turning alright. She was by no means an expert, but her studies had pointed towards earth having the properties it had right now being ideal for planting all sorts of things. If the plants felt as welcome in her island as the deep earth made her feel, they would grow happy and strong.
The knock on the door came as expected and soon she was opening the door for Kuautemiktlan, who blinked at her in something resembling surprise. "You look well rested, Yolilistli," he said, nodding in greeting.
"I am," Twilight replied, stretching a little and sounding a little surprised despite herself. She had basically slumped down into the dirt, why was she so well rested? "What's the plan for today?"
Kuautemiktlan cleared his throat. "Today we shall plant the seeds that will grow in this island and turn it lush with life." He stepped away from the door and Twilight could see a huge cart filled to the brim with sacks upon sacks of seeds.
Twilight's horn itched and she wasn't sure if it was because she wanted to blast the thing or just use magic to spread them around. Probably the former, if she was honest with herself. Although either option would end in the spread of the seeds anyway. "Let me guess, I can't use my magic for this."
"The Yolilistli learns fa—" Kuautemiktlan stopped himself when he saw her look. "That is correct, yes." He coughed.
Twilight sighed. "Listen, Quack-mic-lan…"
"Kuautemiktlan."
"Yes. Anyway, I don't know how Earth Ponies spread the seeds. If I were to use my magic, I'd just levitate them and spread them all over the island. Am I supposed to just pick them up with my hoof and throw them over?"
"Some ponies drag a cart behind them that disperses the seeds," Kuautemiktlan said with a nod, "But because you must learn the ways of the Yolilistlitlatlakoli, you shall use your hoof, imbue them with the Yolilistlitlatlakoli's power, then spread them."
Twilight stared long and hard at Kuautemiktlan before she spoke slowly, "You want me," she reiterated touching her chest with her hoof. "To pick a bunch of seeds from the sacks, imbue them with Earth Pony Magic, spread them around and repeat that… for the whole island?"
Kuautemiktlan smiled.
The blast of magical energy blew up the island, expanding out as it obliterated everything; pony, earth, water, plant life and giant statues alike. The islanders stared in panic for the briefest of seconds before they were snuffed out like ash in the wind. The light, blinding and strong continued expanding for a round mile from its epicenter before a brighter flash suddenly sucked it back to the lone alicorn that had caused it. Twilight's Nightmare Form emerged from the flames laughing manically as the world shuddered in terror…
"...Yolilistli?" Kuautemiktlan called out, for—if the tone of his voice was any indication—at least the fourth time.
Twilight blinked, then very carefully forced herself to stop smiling. "I'm sorry, Quack-mic-lan, I think I need a drink."
"But, Yolilistli, it's seven in the morning."
"Trust me, Quack. I need a drink."
"If Yolilistli takes a drink now, she won't be able to finish the job tonight," Kuahutemiktlan insisted.
Twilight sighed. "Let me guess: It involves dipping my hoof into the sack of seeds, pulling out a bunch, and scattering them."
Kuatemiktlan nodded. "In part, but you must also infuse them with your desire for them to grow…"
Twilight blinked in surprise at the sudden interest in actual teaching from the shaman, nodding and concentrating.
"... yes, well done… just like the Yolilistlitlatlakoli would want you to perform."
Twilight cursed.
o.0.o
The bar/disco was surprisingly not empty when she walked in, even though it wasn't supposed to open for another two hours.
Twilight gave the two mares inside a surprised, half-raised left eyebrow.
"Oh, hello Twilight!" Rarity said, smiling pleasantly at her. "Please join us. Would you like a coffee?"
"Scotch," Twilight said to the bartender. "And if it's anything less than thirty years old I will detonate all the other bottles you have back there…" she glanced at the table. "Except for the Southern Comfort since my friend here seems to need it."
While the bartender scrambled to get to the select stock, Twilight flopped down on a table, where the other two mares simply stared at her.
"That bad, huh?" Applejack asked.
"These ponies…" Twilight trailed off, gritting her teeth. "Do you want to know what Quack-mic-lan had me do today?"
"Kuautemiktlan," Applejack and Rarity corrected her.
"Whatever. He made me plant seeds on a whole island!" Twilight muttered. "We went at it for seven hours! And all the time he was telling me how much you would want me to learn to plant!"
"Whoa, Nelly!" Applejack reared back. "Ah'm sorry they told you that, sugarcube, but trust me when Ah say I'd rather be doing your job than mine!"
"So... " Rarity ventured, a little hesitant to even ask. "Did you finish doing that?"
Twilight snorted, looking over her shoulder at the bar. "I'm waiting!" she hollered, earning a disapproving glance from Rarity, but at that stage, propriety had gone out the window. If she was to be treated like she was raised in a farm, she'd act the part. "To answer your question, yes, I did. I put all the carts in the center of the island, jumped on top of the carts, poured all the earth pony magic I could force into them, then made the whole thing explode after Quack-mic-lan—"
"Kuautemiktlan."
"...he called out the Yolilistlitlatlakoli's wisdom for the one-thousanth, eight-hundreth and twenty-sixth time." Twilight smirked a little darkly. "The whole island was covered in seeds and parts of cart."
"Ah hear you, sugarcube," Applejack nodded raising her glass and taking a deep drink. "No matter how much Ah keep tellin' them this is just a big misunderstandin', they won't listen!" She slammed down the glass of Southern Comfort she had been nursing.
Without looking, Twilight levitated the bottle of Southern Comfort as well as the one the relieved bar-tender had just fished out of somewhere.
"Now dears," Rarity spoke up slowly, watching Twilight pour some Southern Comfort for Applejack. "I understand this is taxing on both of you, but it is certainly teaching y—Twilight Sparkle! Put that down THIS INSTANT!"
Twilight ignored Rarity and finished taking a big chug of Scotch directly from the bottle. Behind her, forgotten and ignored, the bartender's eyes rolled to the back of her head and she collapsed behind the bar, unconscious.
"I bet mine was worse than yours," Twilight growled, looking straight at Applejack, who took a deep breath, leaning back and tilting her hat.
"Them's fightin' words, Twilight."
"Bring it on."
"Meet all of the shamans in the island and remember all their names." Applejack took a shot, raising an eyebrow at Twilight.
"Putting me to work without even explaining what I was supposed to do." Chug.
"Askin' me t'talk to their ancestors as if Ah knew how!" Shot.
"You have to crush all the rocks, Twilight! Make sure the earth is as soft as a sponge!" She mimicked Kuahtemiktlan's voice. Chug.
"Tellin' me to explain' Earth Elemental Magic to a bunch of shamans!" Shot.
"Ignorance disguised by mysticism!" Chug.
"Walls, and walls and walls of ponies doing the exact same thing for centuries!" Shot.
"Bury trash all over the island, Yolilistli," Twilight sang. Chug. "Now!" She waved her hooves in front of her, eyes wide. "Make it disappear overnight!" Chug.
"Find th' Celestia-damned exit of the labyrinth under th'island!" Applejack groaned in return. "It's a bunch of tunnels!" Shot. "And there ain't no lights!" Shot.
"Now, now, girls... we need an emergency visit to the SPA, you can't possibly continue like this," Rarity spoke up with an air of finality.
Twilight took another swig, pausing a moment to admire the almost empty bottle. "You know… that does sound nice."
Applejack nodded, hiccuping and downing another shot of Southern Comfort. "Ah usually would say nah, sugarcube, but Ah think I could do with some pamperin'. Mah brain feels like it's gonna 'xplode!"
"As you ladies must know, there's no time like the present an—"
"Wait!" Twilight said, taking another chug. "Wait. Wait." She leaned in and gave Rarity an intense, slightly glassy look. "What did—what did you just say?"
"That we need to go to the SPA, darling, this whole thing is cle—"
"No, nonono." Twilight took another drink, making Rarity's eye start twitching. "I mean… meant, what youze said after."
Rarity frowned. "Twilight, I don't think you're in any condition to discuss anything."
Twilight threw the—now empty—bottle across the bar. "Ah'm nut drunk, alrighty? I'm barely teepsy."
Applejack gave Twilight an incredulous look, throwing her own empty bottle to the floor blinking and blinking before talking slightly to the left of Twilight. "Sugar, you're so drunk y'all multiplied yerself. Ah didn't even know princesses could do that."
Twilight levitated another pair of bottles from the bar, not really caring what they were and passed one to Applejack.
Rarity attempted in vain to stop Twilight from drinking from the bottle again, before groaning and levitating a bottle of Gin over when Applejack had started to drink from the bottle as well.
"So, that thing… you said."
Rarity didn't answer, taking a long, long drink from her bottle before slamming it down on the table. "The SPA!"
"No! The other thing!"
"Ah think Ah know what…" Applejack swayed and burped, blinking a bit in confusion. "Ah know… the thing you said. I think I know what it is!"
"See?" Twilight drawled. "She knows! And she's a-a farmer! What happened to your educat—"
Rarity interrupted her by levitating the bottle of whatever it was that Twilight had brought up to their table to the Alicorn's mouth. "Shut up and drink."
She took a swig of her bottle of gin and glared at the other two. "This isn't going to end well."
o.0.o
The voyage had taken Chokilitsatsi's people months to complete. Their unicorn and earth pony shamans invoked spirits and water to guide them, and the pegasi that had joined them pushed the air into the sails carrying them all away from the frozen lands.
The signs were good—omens and divinations had pointed towards this direction and the wind had been favorable for most of the trip. They had been forewarned of storms by their winged kin, and the unicorns understood the flow of the water better than none.
And yet… there was nothing.
The currents spoke of land here. The spirits had whispered of bounty beyond imagination. The wind had promised the smell of fruits and vegetables… and yet… there was nothing. Nothing but the tip of an underwater volcano, smoking periodically.
A hundred boats, wide and brimming with ponies of all ages stood, staring at the empty space in the water. The exact spot, promised to them by all they believed in, and yet there was none.
Despair started to creep in.
They had left families, a war-torn land of frozen creatures, true, but despite the horrors a known factor where they could still feed themselves past the few remains of their rations. They knew, even if they turned back, they wouldn't make it.
The Great Shaman, Chokilitsatsi sank to his knees, resting his front hooves on the deck with a sense of defeat.
"Why?!" he cried to the skies. "Why have you forsaken us, oh spirits!"
It was then, as if in answer to his cries, the air above them seemed to split. A large sphere with unknown symbols and powerful energies that sent the shamans and all unicorns to the floor in abject awe, grew in place, making the wind shift and crack and the water churn.
Out of nowhere a huge mass of land slammed into the water and through the volcano's top. The waves lapped at the the barriers that had brought the land down as a fantastical being… an impossible being—a pony with wings and a horn flew down, laughing maniacally, while another pony of the earthen variety and wearing some sort of strange hat rode on her back swirling a lasso—circled from above before landing in the middle of the land.
They couldn't make out what the undoubtedly divine creatures were saying, but Chokilitsatsi's people quickly moored on the edges of the island and stepped into it, marveling at the soft feel of the earth.
Earth ponies wept when they touched it. So full of the promise of life and food… it was overwhelming.
They cautiously approached the pair of laughing celestial mares.
"T-that'll show them!" Twilight cheered, laughing as she sank to the earth, back to back with Applejack, who let out a woot of appreciation.
"Ah hear ya, sugarcube! Ah can't wait to see the looks on their faces when the new island is gone!"
"Can, can you believe it? I can… I can just see Quack-mic-lan's face, y'know, when he—when he comes to wake me up and there's nothing!"
Twilight's stomach growled. "Ah'm hungry."
Applejack gave her a look. "Welp." She paused to burp. "All them shamans taught you how to grow things, right?" She waved her hoof. "Make it grow."
Twilight rolled her eyes and stumbled to her hooves, swaying and glaring at the earth. Then she reared back on her hind legs and slammed her hooves down, shouting, "GROW!"
She felt the rush of energy leave her body and permeate the island, and before the amazed eyes of all the ponies that had gathered there to see this pair of celestial—if obviously intoxicated—beings plants sprouted at an amazing speed from the fertile ground, growing thick and strong and bearing fruit in impossible seconds.
Twilight giggled and reached up with a hoof to pick up a pear, tossing it to Applejack, who gave her a look.
"Y'all know these are illegal in Ponyville."
Twilight snorted. "They're not."
Applejack shrugged, biting into it. "Should be."
Chokilitsatsi watched them in bewilderment as they ate and stumbled, before gathering his courage and approaching them.
"Oh great ones!" He called. "Please! Let us share of your blessings!"
Twilight gave him a glare. "Whatever, I'm not staying anyway. Come on, AJ, let's go."
"But—please!" Chokilitsatsi asked again. "Please teach us, oh great one! Surely one such as you can only be the goddess of life and creation!"
Twilight gave him an amused look. "Me? Nah." She hugged Applejack, dragging the giggling mare into an embrace before levitating her up to the Chokilitsatsi's face. "AJ here. She makes things grow. Y'all hear me?!"
"She! Not me! Plants? HER. Magic? ME! You understand!?
Applejack giggled. "Y'said, 'y'all', that's so goshdarn cute, sugarcube."
"Did not!"
"Did to!"
Twilight hiccuped, raising a hoof to the her mouth. "In any case," she swept her hoof and pointed shakily at the ponies. "Y'all… y'all build something stupid. Like-like a giant statue! With a hat!"
"And a stupid labyrinth!" AJ added.
"And record everything you ever do!" Twilight hissed. "To the last detail!"
"And build a bar!"
"A big bar!"
"With Southern Comfort!"
"And lots of expensive whiskey!"
The horrified shaman nodded quickly.
"And we're done here." Twilight dropped the mic. Then blinked when Applejack cursed. "Oh… sorry there, AJ, thought you were a microphone."
"Do Ah look like a microphone to you?"
"Eeyup."
"Whatever."
o.0.o
UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh................................
Oh.
Oh.
Oh.
Twilight. Is going to be pissed.
Bwhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!
The only reason the island group exists is becuase of a drunken bender by Applejack and Twilight! Oh boy will they have some explaining to do when they get back!
What... what?
That was the ending?
Well I guess it was comedy so, eh?
Sorry, story was ruined for me because Twilight throughout the story felt like an entitled spoiled brat.
A drunk alicorn and a drunk earth pony walk into a bar...
Funny ending!
Wait. What. So the whole mess was caused by a drunk, pissed off Twilight Sparkle and Applejack going back in time?!
*headdesks*
... I cannot believe I read this... Happy June Fools everybody!
Why did you sunk that story like that? Sure the idea is funny, but with that kind of execution, it is just boring and disapointing.
I would have enjoyed seeing them hungover, realizing this entire mess is there own fault, but this is still great--
--Didn't Luna come here to learn things?
Wouldn't she have seen the statue?
Did the Royal Sisters know about this the entire time?
...Anyway, this ending rescued what was looking to be a gratingly predictable story. Thank you.
Twi... last night... Did we...?
Travel back in time, create a new island, inspire a new quasi-religion and way of life, and land ourselves in this mess up of roles to begin with?
Eeyup.
How did they get Yolilistlitlatlakoli from AJ, anyway?
Wait hold on, how is this the end?
This can't be the end.
You had some good worldbuilding going on, how is this the end?
That's it?
If Twilight ever had some kind of revenge fantasy, this what I'd imagine it would be.
Well done.
Not what I was expecting. Throwing in time travel made for a rather deus ex machina ending, despite Chekhov's Statue of Applejack. How would the present-day islanders have reacted to the overnight disappearance of the new island, and that their entire way of life was due to a misunderstanding and a drunken bender (not necessarily in that order)? Or did they have some (dim?) understanding of what would/had to happen? Did either of the Royal Sisters know, or at least suspect? The story had some excellent world building going on, and then it was thrown away for a twist ending that just fell flat for me.
I'm still keeping a thumbs-up on this story for the first three-and-a-half chapters, but I'm removing it from my favorites because of the ending.
Ok... kinda torn now...
Liked the overall story... but that ending, on its own, without some kind of epilogue or something... it was really out of left field. On the one hoof, I found it funny, on the other... I found it disappointing. Reminded me of how LOST actually left me feeling when it was all done...
static1.fjcdn.com/comments/Tonythetiger+rolled+a+random+image+posted+in+comment+884544+at+_d725867e2082444428d9d32e25d3a3f4.png
Tell me this was just a drunken binge fantasy scene rather than the actual ending-ending.
(Either that, or someone shorted someone else on the comission.)
...U fukin' w0t m8
I can't say I cared for this at all. Really didn't. You really made Twilight's emotions come through strong, her hurt and anger and growing fury...and I felt so terrible for her, even if she was learning, because it was drowned out by the misery and fury and shame and pain...and then the ending is this. She doesn't come to an understanding or anything, it's just...this. No.
This was well written, but so aggravating to read that I have to down vote it.
I don't understand how this is the ending? Okay, they created the island by going back in time...that's creative. But honestly I felt like this was a waste of a good world. Also, we don't see enough of Applejack to feel her pain of thinking the roles were accidentally switched. Were they really switched? I think Twilight would have done well if she had learned some Earth Pony magic that she didn't know exist, or something like that...
I felt like she was too bratty and it never got resolved. Like, she at first told Applejack her role as a gardener would be great then when she got the role it showed that she was actually a hypocrite. If she really did think this role was great then she wouldn't have minded getting it. But that never got resolved. Instead she just kind of complained for a few chapters, Applejack tells us she doesn't like her role but we don't really see it, and then...it ends?
Awesome. Simply awesome.
That was SO out there that it was an absolutely brilliant and at the same time logical conclusion.
Drunk time travel shenanigans. That just explains so much
Nice story, but a stupid ending. Sorry, thumbs down here too.
This story started off as a comedy, but then it looked like you were actually playing it straight and setting up a full character arc of Twilight learning some humility through gardening, to appreciate the earth pony aspect of her alicornhood.
But then comes the ending that whips it right back into comedic territory. At this point, I think many readers were more invested in Twilight's crisis and emotional turmoil than the comedy, so it feels rather unsatisfying to leave that whole part completely unresolved.
Even though Twilight's selfishness and stubbornness had been dialed up pretty high, it still feels genuine. I think you made Twilight's pain too real for us to simply take it as a joke.
This story would probably benefit greatly from an epilogue that deals with the aftermath of the Mane 6 and the islanders finding out that it was all due to a stable time loop. And heck, there's still a chance for Twilight to learn something from this self-made mess. The punchline might be over, but this story feels like it's outgrown the joke; it yearns to be more. Will the Yolilistli please consider nurturing it just a teeny bit longer?
I would say that this last chapter feels earned. The drunken shenanigans would have felt cheap without the accompanying build-up. My only complaint would be that they feel that they should be the centrepiece of the chapter, not the end. I agree with those that say that the ending felt abrupt.
It also would have been nice to have had exposure to AJ's troubles before this chapter, but c'est la vie.
8234202 8234114 8233831 8233444 8233365 8233284 8232868 8232422 8232294
Thank you. You glorious bastards. I was feeling uncomfortable with the ending as it was and ignored my instincts in favor of delivering something funny, but ultimately not rewarding. I'm glad I have readers willing to call me out on BS when this happens, consider the story re-opened, I'll be working on what I had the feeling I should add after this chapter. I hope you'll give it another chance.
That explains everything! You did shortchange Twilight on the emotional arc, and if nothing else, I want to see the reactions in the present if these two remember their drunken chronomancy. But still, amazing stuff here.
But yeah, definitely have them confront the issues with something other than alcohol.
8234460
Hey, I'm not complaining! It was a hilarious way to end the story... even if there was a sudden shift for the absurd.
However, I won't be offended if you do add something more
Did *too.
And ... I agree with most of the comments. The ending is sub-par. Not, like, ME3, but ... meh.
8234460
I'll definitely check out a revised ending!
Well... After really enjoying this story I get slap on the face with a time loop that doesn't mean anything about how I first read this story...
Some of the best Twilight stories out there always have her learn something new to herself that isn't learn from books. Like when Celestia sent her to gain friends she didn't think it was worth it till she meet the M6. Twilight has always been more of a Unicorn tribe thinker that thinks she knows all about magic when she never once tried Earth Magic.
There is opportunities to write amazing story for Twilight to learn Earth Pony magic that isn't from books but from hard work. When reading this story I thought I found a really good story that pushes Twilight in areas and places her in a spot she doesn't agree with...
I'm very sad that this chapter... if it's really the end this might be the worst ending to a good story I have yet to read on the site.
You might have lost a like now
8234908 Does it still say "the end"? because it shouldn't.
8234460
Maybe just have that part has only a dream or what the fantasy mind thing Twilight did at the beginning of S7.
You have place yourself in a tough spot that the next chapter has to save the story or else it will fall apart.
8234913
After I read the chapter and looked at the comments I miss understood some of the people thinking this was the last chapter.
8234460
It's like how you have those stories that ultimately have someone post "Dammit, (author) " in the comments section because of the twist ending... but usually those stories are one-shots, and this one was heading toward something a little more epic.
Trust your instincts... you've got something here, and we want to read it.
*blink*
*Blink*
Did... Did they just time jump? Did Twi and AJ just create their own mess?
Oh, bother, this is going to get weirder isn't it?
Oh look, it's me at work. Of course, I'm happy to help! Sure, I'll go get the manager for you! You are so right... I'd love to stay till midnight!
WELP! Way to dig your own grave, Twilight!
Oh.
My.
Glob.