Letters to a Lost World

by EileenSaysHi

Letter 5: Applejack

Author's Note:

For the purposes of this story, the Rainbow Rocks promotional short “Perfect Day for Fun” (watch here) takes place the summer before 12th grade, 1.5 years after Rainbow Rocks and a year before this story.

Dear Princess Twilight,

Believe me when I say I ain’t happy to be writing this.

It’s probably not too hard for you to guess that it was me who really put my foot down and told Sunset she had to tell us exactly what was going on with why you haven’t been able to come see us. I’m not angry at her or you for holding it back, I get it. There’s still plenty of reasons to hope and a whole lot of doom and gloom ain’t gonna help anyone.

But I can’t let something that’s this big of a deal be kept secret from all of us. Even if it hurt to learn, we needed to know.

I’m holding myself back a bit, as best I can, because I know I’m still processing. Still need to think about exactly what this means to me, and why it’s hurting to think about you being gone. Even if you’re not really gone-gone. I can’t say all the not-knowing-for-sure is helping.

I know it’s kinda complicated for you when you live in another world, we don’t see you that often and you know other us-es, or something. But we still think of you as one of us, in a pretty real way. I don’t think any of us have ever not been excited to see you whenever we hear you’re stopping by; we’d always get together and try to think of the best things we could do as a group and make the most out of each visit. Every time you’re here, it’s an event.

And it’s not because of what you are. You aren’t special to us because you’re from a planet of magic horses, or even that you helped us discover new powers and fight evil and stuff like that. I’m not saying that that ain’t special or meaningful or nothing, but it’s not really why you’re special to us.

You’re special to us because you’re our friend. Simple as that. You helped show us there’s magic in friendship, and every time you’re here, we get a new reminder of that.

Remember last summer, when we went to the county fair right behind the school? Most of us had all been before, and we weren’t really planning to go when Sunset and Twilight said they couldn’t be there that night. But then we heard that you were coming, and we all knew we had to take you. (Besides, you were gonna walk out right into the middle of it anyway with the portal and all.) Anyways, it was just such a perfect night of fun, doing all this silly carnival stuff that was all old hat to us but somehow had all this new energy because we were getting to do it with you. Hall of Mirrors, strength testing, photo booths, having to explain the whole idea of the carousel to you… I remember you going off about how weird it was to ride one of those.

And top it all off, we got to perform onstage! Still don’t know who it was that had to cancel, but it sure was lucky for us. It was our first time playing with you since the Sirens, and it felt like we hadn’t missed a single beat in all that time. Felt bad when we had to text Sunset and Twilight for their blessing to play without them, but like I said, no secrets held back. Besides, those two got to take you sailing the next day anyway (like heck if I’m ever getting on another boat).

But the point is that you’re one of us, Princess. We love having you around and making your every visit to our world the best it can be. And maybe you’d have had a lot less time for us anyway with your new position and all, but still, the idea that maybe it’s just over already? No. Heck no. Doggone it, that can’t be right.

Maybe I’m being a bit selfish right now, and maybe I’ll feel bad about saying some of this. But right now, I need to say it. I don’t want you to go away, Twilight. There’s more adventures ahead for us. There’s more fun ahead for us, more stories to be told. I know in my heart that we ain’t seen each other for the last time.

Then again, maybe I’m also just not ready for the big changes in our lives, period. Maybe I’m not ready for the seven of us on this side of the portal to start going to separate schools, studying different things. Maybe I’m just too stubborn to let things be different. Maybe this is just one uncertainty too many for me.

But it hits a little differently when you put that word forever into the mix. I’m not gonna be apart from all my other friends forever. I don’t see why that shouldn’t be true for you.

I’ve had more than enough forever goodbyes in my life already.

So I’m gonna have to grab on to Sunset’s ray of hope and clutch it with all my might. And once we can crack that portal open, you’re gonna be in for the biggest hug of your life.

Hang tight there, sugarcube. I know we’ll see you soon.
Applejack

Comments

[Bookwurm666]

(like heck if I’m ever getting on another boat).

If AJ thinks she has had a bad run on boats Ranma Saotome has had it worse.

[redandready45]

In this, you capture AJ's determination, stubbornness, and tenderness.

Can't wait for how this ends.

[ScisetShimmerEvan]

And it’s not because of what you are. You aren’t special to us because you’re from a planet of magic horses, or even that you helped us discover new powers and fight evil and stuff like that. I’m not saying that that ain’t special or meaningful or nothing, but it’s not really why you’re special to us .

Ponies AJ, not horses.

Remember last summer, when we went to the county fair right behind the school? Most of us had all been before, and we weren’t really planning to go when Sunset and Twilight said they couldn’t be there that night. But then we heard that you were coming, and we all knew we had to take you. (Besides, you were gonna walk out right into the middle of it anyway with the portal and all.) Anyways, it was just such a perfect night of fun, doing all this silly carnival stuff that was all old hat to us but somehow had all this new energy because we were getting to do it with you. Hall of Mirrors, strength testing, photo booths, having to explain the whole idea of the carousel to you… I remember you going off about how weird it was to ride one of those.

Not to mention she had a cell phone for some reason.

But the point is that you’re one of us, Princess. We love having you around and making your every visit to our world the best it can be. And maybe you’d have had a lot less time for us anyway with your new position and all, but still, the idea that maybe it’s just over already? No. Heck no. Doggone it, that can’t be right.

There are just times in life AJ where traditions will stop happening for many reasons, whether it's good or bad.

Then again, maybe I’m also just not ready for the big changes in our lives, period. Maybe I’m not ready for the seven of us on this side of the portal to start going to separate schools, studying different things. Maybe I’m just too stubborn to let things be different. Maybe this is just one uncertainty too many for me.

No one likes change AJ, myself included, I have a bit of a history with struggling with changes, big or small, I don't like them at all.

[Bicyclette]

It’s probably not too hard for you to guess that it was me who really put my foot down and told Sunset she had to tell us exactly what was going on with why you haven’t been able to come see us. I’m not angry at her or you for holding it back, I get it. There’s still plenty of reasons to hope and a whole lot of doom and gloom ain’t gonna help anyone.

oh yeah, definitely see Applejack as the reason here

You’re special to us because you’re our friend. Simple as that. You helped show us there’s magic in friendship, and every time you’re here, we get a new reminder of that.

aww, that is so sweet! it is easy to think of the reason that Twilight is important to them is just because she brought them together, considering that she really only interacts with Sunset out of the Humane Seven after the events of Rainbow Rocks.

Besides, those two got to take you sailing the next day anyway (like heck if I’m ever getting on another boat).

hehe, between the seasickness and the Equestrian magic shenanigans, yeah i'd imagine!

But it hits a little differently when you put that word forever into the mix. I’m not gonna be apart from all my other friends forever. I don’t see why that shouldn’t be true for you.

I’ve had more than enough forever goodbyes in my life already.

So I’m gonna have to grab on to Sunset’s ray of hope and clutch it with all my might. And once we can crack that portal open, you’re gonna be in for the biggest hug of your life.

aww, bringing in Applejack's previous experience with loss was a great way to tie this together. this letter did well in balancing character voice, exposition, and emotion. this part definitely felt very EqG Applejack

[Thranx]

Then again, maybe I’m also just not ready for the big changes in our lives, period. Maybe I’m not ready for the seven of us on this side of the portal to start going to separate schools, studying different things. Maybe I’m just too stubborn to let things be different. Maybe this is just one uncertainty too many for me.

But it hits a little differently when you put that word forever into the mix. I’m not gonna be apart from all my other friends forever. I don’t see why that shouldn’t be true for you.

I’ve had more than enough forever goodbyes in my life already.

So I’m gonna have to grab on to Sunset’s ray of hope and clutch it with all my might. And once we can crack that portal open, you’re gonna be in for the biggest hug of your life.

Hang tight there, sugarcube. I know we’ll see you soon.
Applejack

This is probably what hit me the hardest as of yet.

But it hits a little differently when you put that word forever into the mix.

I hate to be reminded of time. But they're there for a reason. As a reminder that things will end and things will change. Many times I thought of how different would I be had I taken my mom's offer to take up piano lessons 10 years ago. Would I be very good at it? I don't know since I resolutely shoved the offer away. I've always thought of who I would be had I taken the offer to that prestigious boarding school. Would I be more disciplined and not lazy? I don't know, I pushed that offer hard as well. Sometimes I just want to experience what it's like then, how I would be now had I done those. Not saying that my life is bad now, just reminiscing of how much opportunities I missed.

I’m not gonna be apart from all my other friends forever. I don’t see why that shouldn’t be true for you.

I’ve had more than enough forever goodbyes in my life already.

So I’m gonna have to grab on to Sunset’s ray of hope and clutch it with all my might. And once we can crack that portal open, you’re gonna be in for the biggest hug of your life.

I still remember 10 to 11 years ago, I had two friends that I would consider best friends, being with them was one of the most fun times I've ever had till this day. For me, back then it felt like it was us against the world. We were classmates and even played together after school ends while waiting for our parents to pick up. Then, it ended abruptly, for two years we had this going then one of them transferred to another school, followed by another to the same other school. I begged my mother to transfer me there but since our home is much farther to the school than my friends' it was not possible. It stung very hard. I remembered I had cried myself in bed that night. Knowing that I'll never see them again. I never even managed to say goodbye and I don't remember their address, I only know their names, faces and memories. All I know was that I would start a new year trying to find friends from scratch, I did but it didn't reach the point that I will go lengths to keep it alive. Now, I'm 19, I still consider them one of the few to have earned the title of best friends. Even if I don't even know they even remember me.

Sorry for this long block of text, reading this had just opened a can of worms that I thought I've moved on from. Turns out it still stung.