Chapter One: Pneuma
The Assumption of Applejack
or
Appletheosis
Chapter One: Pneuma
AJ cantered up one of the many hills overlooking the vast orchards of Sweet Apple Acres. She paused a moment and sighed with contentment. The crop was ripening nicely, and the pegasi had been prompt with the rains this season. The trees had been pruned and fertilized and everything was in perfect order in her little corner of the world. Sure, there would still be more to do tomorrow. There always was and always would be, but she could be content in knowing that she had put in an honest day’s work.
Celestia’s sun sank low in the west, shedding its last few golden rays across the green earth. Working her hooves deeper into the yielding sod, AJ reveled in the natural earth-pony connection to the soil. She could feel the quiet potency of the rich loam. It seemed to sing to her of new life and abundance. Applejack chuckled. She must be pretty worn out to be getting all poetic like this. Still, there was something special in the air and in the soil tonight. A faint shimmering of something magical, more felt than seen. Tilting her hat forward over her eyes, she breathed deep, taking in the richness of ripening fruit and the gentle fullness of a rainstorm on the horizon. She paused, holding that breath. Rich, full, magical, alive. For what seemed like the first time, and through closed eyes, she saw the world for what it was. She seemed to grasp the simplicity of existence and the harmony which pervaded everything, earth, sky and aether. Exhilarated, she inhaled again, filling her lungs to bursting with the energy and simple joy that illuminated her being.
For a brief moment she felt completely centered in the world, as though she had truly found her place in it, a place from which she could not be moved nor shaken. Finally, after that endless and endlessly full moment she exhaled. Calm now and more at peace than she had ever felt, she opened her eyes. She was startled at what she saw. Instead of the burgeoning fields of her farm, all that greeted her eyes was swaying brown felt.
Rearing back she tossed her head. Her hat flew off, landing at the base of a small tree. Unsure how it had fallen in her eyes like that she bent down to pick it back up. Something stopped her before she could reach it, a branch she hadn’t seen or something poking her in the forehead. Taking a step back she scanned the trunk. It was bare. Confused, she scratched her head with a fetlock. Her hoof hit something hard, and sensitive.
“What in tarnation?”
She stumbled back in shock with an audible ‘whoomph’. Freezing in place, she turned her eyes to the side. At the corners of her vision was a silky array of orange feathers, spread in surprise. Not daring to move, she shuddered as a gentle breeze ruffled the feathers. AJ was a sensible pony, not usually given to flights of fancy or drama like some of her friends. Taking a deep breath she steadied herself.
“A’right. Let’s just look at the situation here. Ah got wings an’ a horn. Nothin’ hurts an’ it ain’t like I’m missin’ bits… Ah think…”
Now worried, she gave herself a once over. Legs: one-two-three-four, though they were longer and even more toned than before. Tail: check. Mane: check, though she’d lost her hair tie. Cutie mark: no check. The trio of apples that had adorned her flank since fillyhood were gone. In their place was a blue circle with crossbars inside. Resting under it was a stylized apple leaf. Oddly, she wasn’t upset by this. A cutie mark was supposed to represent the destiny and deepest desires of a pony. Thinking back to a minute ago, she did indeed feel that there was some subtle change in her purpose to go with her new appearance.
Ever practical, her first concern was for her farm. Walking to a tree with a few early apples on it, she gave it an experimental buck. Every apple on the tree fell, along with a large portion of the leaves. A significant dent was punched into the splintered bark where her hooves had made contact. She frowned at the damage. Her next attempt was much gentler. This tree yielded its fruit to her as normal, giving no small relief to the farmer. Whatever else this new form meant, at least the harvest was in no danger; it might even go easier than usual.
Her livelihood safe, she spent a minute in stillness, just trying to feel the extensions to her body. The wings were odd, but responded to her thoughts easily enough. Trying to fly seemed a mite risky without anyone to spot for her. She had no idea how to use a horn. Concentrating and sticking her tongue out failed to elicit even a single spark. At any rate, it didn’t get in the way of her hat as long as she tilted it back a bit farther than usual. Shrugging, she turned towards home, it was getting late and there were chores to do in the morning. Whatever had just happened to her didn’t change her responsibilities in the slightest. Maybe tomorrow afternoon she could find some time talk to Twilight about it.
As she neared the homestead she saw Mac hanging up his harness for the night. Walking past him she greeted him with a yawn. “Evenin’ big brother.”
“Eeyuuu-AJ!” The steady stallion reared up in shock. His little sister now towered over him by a good head height or more. And she suddenly had the wings, build and horn of a goddess, not just an alicorn, but more like one of the Royal Sisters. To say that he was speechless, while unsurprising, would also be a gross understatement.
“Whut?” Applejack glanced back at her new wings. “Oh, these? Ah dunno, they jest popped outa nowhere while Ah was out in tha back forty. I figure, what the hay, Ah got ‘em now, no sense gettin’ yer saddle in a bunch over ‘em.”
“But sis… They ain’t…” Big Macintosh trailed off.
“That’s right, they ain’t. They ain’t that big a deal. Now Ah don’t know about you but Ah’m tired and Ah’m goin’ ta bed. Ah suggest you do the same.” She cantered inside and upstairs with exaggerated dignity. The effect was fairly impressive, considering her current look. Impressive that is, until she struck her horn on a low hanging rafter. “Consarnit!” Prying the point free she continued up the stairs, just a little dizzier than before.
***
The early dawn found Applejack stiff and sore in places she knew were impossible. Sleeping with wings was apparently something that took a bit of practice. No wonder Rainbow always napped in clouds. Groaning, she rolled out of the now too-small bed and onto her hooves. She walked over to her mirror and began brushing her mane. Despite Rarity’s complaints and little jabs, Applejack did care about her appearance, just not enough to wear makeup or clothes. Her blond mane had almost doubled in volume since yesterday. The golden waves refused to sit neatly in a hair tie, so she let her mane hang free, curling loosely around her face and neck. Trotting downstairs she grabbed an apple on her way out to the cow barn.
Grannie Smith looked up at her granddaughter as she passed by. Squinting a bit, she noticed something seemed different about the mare. “Mah stars, but they grow up fast,” she said as she turned back to the pie crusts she was rolling out.
The resident cows were grumpy as usual in the early morning. The bright light streaming into the barn coupled with uncomfortable udders left them all on edge. Mooriella shook her head and blinked the sleep out of her eyes as Applejack entered with the milking pails. Something was off about her today. Their caretaker seemed much larger than life, as big as one of the girls, if quite a bit thinner. The cow’s eyes scanned down to the pony’s sides. Something orange rustled against her sides, blending in with her coat. Mooriella’s eyes widened in horror, she had heard about reptiles in distant places that could change color to blend in. Maybe the local snakes have learned how to… Oh no! “SNAAAAAKE!”
The ensuing panic was brief, but furious. Applejack looked around herself dumbfounded as the entire herd reared and bucked in fear. The stalls were still closed from the night, preventing a stampede, but there were still one or two cows who managed to hurt themselves trying to escape from the imaginary horror. Facehoofing in frustration, Applejack shouted to the startled bovines, “GIRLS! SETTLE DOWN!” The shout came out as a deafening roar, rocking the entire barn with its force. Instant silence reigned. AJ herself was more than a little bit startled at the sound. Every single one of the cows was huddled at the back of her respective stall, eyes rolling and darting about in abject terror. Welp, there goes the morning, she thought.
***
Apple Bloom sat up from her bed with a start. That had sounded like her sister! She jumped down and ran out her door, not bothering to grab her bow. As she slid down the bannister she spotted her brother frozen in shock. He turned to look at her as she hopped to the floor.
“Stay here Blooms,” he said as he galloped out the door.
Apple Bloom rolled her eyes and ran after her brother. If AJ was in trouble, there was no force under heaven that would keep her from her sister. As she sped across the yard, hot on her brother’s trail, she saw her sister come stomping out of the cow barn, each hoof leaving a deep print in the hard packed dirt.
“Darn it all flighty, no-good, halfwit… Big Mac, Apple Bloom, what’chall doin’ out here?”
Big Mac stopped short and frowned back at Apple Bloom for following him.
Applebloom for her part was paying her brother no attention at all. “Sis, what happened to ya? Yer all big now and ya got a horn and ever’thin’.”
Applejack grimaced. “Well, Ah don’t rightly know mahself Blooms. Jest somethin’ that happened last night.”
“AJ, this ain’t just somethin’,” said Big Macintosh. “Ah think y’all need to talk to tha Princesses. If… If yer like them you got a responsibility like them too.”
“Mac, I ain’t gotta do nothin’. The farm ‘n’ family’s all that matters, nothin’ and nopony has any more claim on me jest ‘cause Ah have wings and a horn.”
***
As the family carried their argument inside, nopony noticed that in each of the deep hoofprints left by AJ’s stomping was a tiny flower blooming for all it was worth.
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So, Author's Notes... This is a little thing I came up with after reading about half a dozen Alicorn-Twilight fics. I swear, it's its own genre on this site. Thinking about it, I wondered why no love for AJ? Quite honestly, Twilight reacts pretty similarly in each of them: she freaks out instantly and quickly descends into angst. I'd like to think AJ would take a more down to earth approach to it. That's not to say she won't have her share of troubles and frustrations to deal with. Yes, the individual chapters are quite short, but I already have a backlog and hope to update quickly. I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoy writing it.
[Edit:] I just realized that I hadn't given mad props where mad props were due! Thanks to Guy_Incognito, Quantum_Shift, Jazz Beat, Raindrop, Tune Up and my bros for prereading this story. You have all been a big help in getting me to actually take the plunge and submit. Thanks also to the wonderful writers who have made fimfiction a wonderland of imagination and craziness. Most importantly, thanks to Lauren Faust for seeing the potential in everything!
I'm definitely coming along for this ride.
Haven't even read the story yet, but the first paragraph of the first chapter is huge dude. Break it up.
What I'm already liking in this story is the way that Applejack, being the stoic, no-nonsense, maybe even slightly unimaginative pony that she is isn't letting any of this get in the way of her chores. She's busy and has work to do. I'm betting that it won't be until she's forced to sit back and think that she'll suddenly realise that she's an alicorn.
I'm wondering if that moment of connection with life and the earth was something to do with it. Maybe the potential was always there or, possibly, the power had been looking for a vessel and, in a mare who has always loved the earth, growth and life, it found one.
Right, this Applejack is a Princess now thing seems to have become a bit of a, well, thing recently. I like it. It's a trend I can get behind 100%.
Especially, I should add, when it's well-written like this.
Good first impression.
I'll read the rest of this later.
Her new cutie mark is the symbol of Terra with a leaf? Interesting. And makes complete sense.
1479877 There are not enough OtherManeSixAlicorn-Fics. The most I have been able to find so far are the whole group, or a team with Twi, one Fluttershy and a Rainbow alicorn. Thanks for Doing one for my other favorite pony.
EDIT: Oh, and I forgot about the one where Granny Smith is an alicorn.
The last time I read an alicorn shift so nonchalant, it was a parody!
Like it so far. I considered giving it a like for the title alone. Just two things.
1 Whatever it might look like, I don't think AJ's hat is actually leather. Cows talk in this world.
2 Granny's senility gag is just sad.
1517458 Well, it's not quite a parody and it is about as far from a tragedy as you can get... Dromedy?
1517541 Apple-leather? As for point two, maybe, but it's also in-character.
I would just like to go on record by saying that Stetson hats, which is what AJ's hat is, are NOT made of leather. They are made of high quality felt that has been shaped, pressed, and cured into a rigid state.
Love this.
1517812 Fixed! Thanks.
I'm dubious about the reaction to the situation. While AJ is certainly the most emotionally stable of the Mane Six, and the most practical, even she should be a little taken back by not only switching race (species?), but one that is so rare and illustrious as an alicorn. I wasn't expecting some mental breakdown or nothing, but some healthy concern wouldn't be out of character. In fact, with her practical mind set I would think her first thoughts would be what the immediate consequences would be and how she would meet them.
1498826
Actually, there are almost no AJ Alicornization fics. Almost all of them are Twilight due to the rather obviousness of it, with the second most populous -including- AJ because all the Mane Six sprout up into sudden godhood due to the Elements of Harmony, which in those fics is also how Celestia and Luna ascended.
But just AJ by herself? Practically unheard of, especially with any quality of work attached to them.
1479877 I've never said this before, but... Me gusta. Gotta' love the Apple love.
This here's the good shit. Tracked and thumbed.
1479877
Oddly enough, Applecorn is second only to Alicorn!Twilight in frequency, at least from what I've seen.
Well, this is good. Just one little thing:
Applejack seems to be taking this in stride. I know she probably wouldn't freak out like Twilight
or Rarity
might, but still, it still seems slightly weird that she's taking apparent godhood so well.
I'd probably totally freak out. But that's just me.
I love how Applejack is so nonchalant about it. Yeah, i'm randomly an alicorn now, no big deal.
I like how AJ is dealing with things. Alicorn Shmalicorn get out ma way, i got a farm to run!
i.chzbgr.com/completestore/2012/4/6/f7c0b530-5f6b-4949-90f3-f4f8e4ee43f8.png
Granny Smith, you are the best
I like what you're doing here. On to the next chapter!
Applejack is best pony. I approve of this story!
P.S 400th like right here! Boo-Yah!
... Alright... This seems intriguing enough! Time to get readin!
Interesting...
Applejack is Mama Nature! I love it!
1518221 that ending, is the cutest one i have ever read :D its simplicity and innocence! (no im not being sarcastic o.o) aww
Okay, two things:
And Mac's and Applebloom's reaction too. But I suppose that it's too late to solve it.
1)We all know how AJ is, but...I think her reacion would have been far more exagerated than the 'meh' you gave her.
2)I'm liking the detail flower-growing-steps. Lets see how it devellops.
Anything with Applejack is good in my book, and this one has the start of a fun ride!
1499385
do my eyes decieve me is that Ahri form League of legends I think it is and here is my evidence 1.bp.blogspot.com/-0BFHckPbdds/UBacOYS0bGI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/q1CzEFFLF-o/s1600/Ahri_splash_0.jpg
I always love a story with an alicorn! It's amazing!
1519724
I must say, despite liking the chapter, I share this point of view. AJ is taking it way too well. Of course, a reasonable way to handwave this is to say that the transformation has muddled her thoughts a bit.
The title of the first chapter is the same as a spell in the game Glory of Heracles [Which I have a crossover]
Pneuma: Turn Dark Ether to Wind ether,
Attack with Created Energy
And the main character is kind of like an alicorn in a way [Not physically mind you] for the fact he is well rounded out character [Magic and Physical power about equal and being immortal
1729797
You like Glory of Heracles?!
i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv24/moriahbard/miscellany/You-are-now-20-cooler.jpg
Certainly is an interesting contrast to all those "Twilight becomes an alicorn" stories.
1543761
Gotta agree.
2241319
Well, doesn't it feel ironic to read this...
Applejack does not give a shit.
While I share a lot of the complainants about AJ's reaction, after reading God knows how many fics about Twilight dealing with the heavy subjects like immortality and such, it'll be nice to read a story that tackles some of the same issues in a more comedic way and with a completely different character.
5288635
Guess I must have read this when I wasn't on my account, because none of the chapters are marked as 'read' for me.
Guess I'll have to re-read the entire thing~
5959524 oh such a horrible idea!
6006992
Mr Swanky Hat! You're back!
I used to see you all the time. But not for a while.
I like your hat.