Twilight Sparkle and her friends travel to a far away island to learn the secrets of Earth Pony magic.
Twilight Sparkle and her best friends have been sent to the paradise islands of Iluikatliltik for over a month so that Twilight can learn the secrets of the ancient Iluikatliltik ponies—a tribe who have mastered Earth Pony magic like no other culture has.
Each of her companions has a role to play... although it just might not be the one they wanted.
But really, what else could Applejack's role be?
**This is a commission for GaPJaxie *Additional thanks to The Masked Ferret for moral support and The Abyss for combing through the mess of words for mistakes.
The airship drifted over the clouds, its masts fully deployed and extended by the power of the wind. Pegasi crawled all over the upper deck, checking equipment, and making sure the ship was working perfectly.
Inside the guest rooms, a small group of friends gathered together around a table, looking at the map of their destination.
"Ladies and gentlecolts," the captain's voice echoed into the cabin, "we will be arriving at the island of Iluikatliltik within the hour."
"So tell me more about this resort we're staying at for the next month and a half, Twilight… I must say, one does not hear the words 'tropical,' 'Paradise', and 'Island' in vain in my circles," Rarity said, reclining back on her seat and watching the clouds float below them, and far below, small islands in the middle of a vast ocean. "I have certainly never heard of it, and let me tell you, that is highly unusual." She smiled. "Why, I thought I knew every single tropical paradise known to ponykind, but this place sounds absolutely delightful!"
"More like a waste of time, if y'all ask me," Applejack spoke up, turning to look at them without moving her face from where it rested on top of her hoof. "Ah don't see why we need to be the ones to represent Equestria this time, there ain't no friendship problems there that the map could see, and Princess Luna and Princess Celestia have been there before! They told us themselves."
"Oh, don't be a party-pooper, Applejack!" Pinkie said, her head popping out from between the two pillows of the seat. "I've heard they hold the most amazing parties ever!" Her eyes were wide as she took Applejack's head in her hooves to pull her down until they were muzzle-to-muzzle. "I've been told their parties can last for weeks, Applejack."
"Yeah, bu—"
"Weeks! Applejack!"
"And you can't deny that going to an island in the middle of nowhere doesn't sound fun!" Rainbow Dash said next, looking over from the back of her seat, giving Applejack a knowing look. "There's going to be a lot of stuff to do! We can go flying, surfing, swimming, scuba diving..."
"And it really sounds like fun, bu—"
"And I've heard that they have the most amazing variety of animals living in their island and the ocean around them," Fluttershy added from her seat across the aisle. "I've heard that the Birds of Iluikatliltik are unique in their coloring and that their plumage is especially beautiful this time of the year."
"You did say that before we left, Fluttershy, thing is—"
"You can't possibly be upset about coming here by order of the princesses instead of staying home to help with the harvest?" Rarity asked. When Applejack lowered her head and mumbled something grumpily, Rarity shook her head. "Dear… you know the Princesses wouldn't have asked if it wasn't important."
"Ah know," Applejack acknowledged with a sigh. "And Ah know Ah can trust Big Mac and Apple Bloom with the harvest…"
"And Sweetie Belle!" Rarity added with a nod. "They're hardly on their own."
Twilight Sparkle, who had up to that point been engrossed in a book looked up from it. "Not to mention I asked Starlight Glimmer and Spike to help out too."
"And don't forget that they also asked their friends to help… so Discord will be there…" Fluttershy pointed out.
"And Trixie..." Rainbow Dash added.
"And Maud!" Pinkie exclaimed.
Applejack started twitching in her seat before she visibly forced herself to calm down. "Ah think Ah'm better off not rememberin' any of those things." She tipped her hat and looked away. "Ah just… well, gosh darn it, Ah miss being there for the apple pickin' season," she said.
"Ah know Ah matter to y'all, but over at Sweet Apple Acres, especially these days, Ah get to be in charge and ponies appreciate what Ah can do and what Ah'm good at. Ah know here," she tapped her head with her hoof, "that things will be fine without me this one time, but here," she tapped her chest, "Ah'm a bit afraid we'll all find out it don't matter if Ah'm there or not."
"That's not true, Applejack," Twilight said, putting down her book and smiling benevolently at her friend. "Nopony thinks you're not important, or that just because you weren't around this one time they won't need you."
"Yeah!" Rainbow Dash added enthusiastically. "I mean, just look at how many ponies and… Discord… they needed to replace you for a couple of days! The fact that you have kept it going when it was basically just you and Big Mac for so many years is really awesome!"
"And as a professional myself, my dearest Applejack, I can also tell you that no one will think less of you for this, especially—and I feel the deep need to re-emphasize this—because this was a personal request from two of the princesses," Rarity pointed out.
"Rarity is right," Twilight said after a moment, reaching out to put a hoof on Applejack's shoulder. "I know it's not easy for your to leave things to others, but the princess wouldn't have asked us all to go if it wasn't necessary. But look at it this way… there is a lot you could learn from this trip, Applejack."
Applejack eyed Twilight warily. "Oh? What do you mean, Twilight?"
Twilight grinned. "I'm glad you asked!" She seemed oblivious to Rainbow Dash's groan of exasperation and happily levitated several books. "Turns out the ponies of Iluikatliltik are a very agrarian group of ponies! They worship a goddess of nature, Yolilistlitlatlakoli, who blesses all the islands with gifts of wisdom, growth and nature's bounty. Legend has it that their island itself appeared through the grace of the goddess herself, and nopony knows how it happened!
"It's the island's tradition to invite the Yolilistli as they call us alicorns, to private sessions with their circle of shamans, powerful Earth Pony magicians who have controlled their earth magic to an extent we alicorns can only begin to rival or understand."
"The legend says that when the island appeared with the statue of their goddess in the middle of a giant field full of fruit trees and vegetables, an alicorn was witnessed flying around as if paying homage to the goddess herself… although nopony has been able to identify the alicorn, both Princess Luna and Celestia have said they felt the familiar echo of alicorn magic in the land itself."
Twilight flipped the pages. "So now, whenever a new alicorn is born, they are eventually sent here, where ancient knowledge is passed and we share our own insight and development into Earth Pony magic with them, a great feast is held, where the Yolilistli and the Grand Shaman sit at the head of the table right under the Kilokilo star, an item ancient in origin and delved in mystery which stands right in the cross-point of no less than eight Ley Lines!
"They say that you can feel the magic permeate your body and exalt your conscience just by being in its proximity, but that sitting there is where Celestia and Luna learned how to truly commune with the heavenly bodies they control!" Twilight giggled, flipping to another page. "The connection to the ethereal is so strong that, as the centuries pass and the Ley Lines fluctuate, the island itself is said to move to remain in constant contact with it."
"Well, that sounds very interestin', Twilight," Applejack said after a moment. "But Ah don't see why we all need to be there."
"Ah, well," Twilight brought up some extra books. "On that, I am not too clear. But legend does tell about the Yolilistli bringing their closest friends and confidants. There is apparently a lot of symbolic meaning about the growth of the Yolilistli and the roles of those that come with her. Surprisingly, like our Elements, they all have to fulfill some roles: The Guard, the Jester, the Advisor, the Healer and the Gardener."
"Oh my, are we to take those roles during this visit?" Rarity asked, fanning herself.
"That would be my guess," Twilight said, nodding. "While I'm with the Shamans, you all will perform duties related to these roles, although we have no sure way of knowing who will be doing what… it falls on the shamans to assign those duties."
Rainbow Dash Snorted. "As if we didn't know. Come on, Twilight, could it be more obvious?" She pointed a hoof at Pinkie. "Jester."
"Yay!" Pinkie disappeared from her spot next to Applejack to reappear in a shower of confetti next to Twilight. "I'm your jester! Oooh! Oooh! I know! I know! Fluttershy has to be the Healer! She's great at helping critters and even ponies feel better!"
Fluttershy tapped her hooves together. "Oh my, I-I guess that could be me. I do like helping ponies. Um… then that means that Rarity would be the Advisor?"
Rarity smiled. "To be fair I am well versed in politics and international trade, I do believe my skills would suit that role very well. And given the options left, I would be surprised if Rainbow Dash didn't get the role of Guard."
"You know it!" Rainbow Dash grinned, lifting up to hover confidently next to Twilight. "I will protect you from any harm, Princess! Just like any Wonderbolt would, only, in a much more awesome way. Because I'm both. Awesome and a Wonderbolt."
"So y'all are saying I'm only good for plantin' and farmin', is that it?"
There was a moment of awkward silence.
"Of course not, dear," Rarity spoke up at last. "In my case it's just because I honestly don't think myself fit to truly perform any of the other roles," she admitted. "Quite frankly, out of anypony here I believe you to know as much about the market as I do, and I do think you'd be a good advisor, certainly centered and honest."
"Yeah! I mean, I'm awesome, but if there's anypony I'd have guarding my back it would be you! No offense girls," Rainbow Dash said, looking at the others. "But AJ can give me a challenge in the Iron Mare competition. That's guard material right there."
"A-and I have seen you take care of your farm animals, and your grandmother and your brother and sister," Fluttershy said, smiling. "You could do the healing too."
Applejack looked at Pinkie.
"Nah," Pinkie shrugged, "Maybe if I trained you for ten years or got you super, uber high on something and then spoon fed you a sense of humor." She grinned. "But You can do just about everything else!"
"See Applejack?" Twilight asked. "It's not that we think that's the only job you can do… besides, you should never underestimate the name of a Sacred Duty. More often than not, it means much more than what the title implies."
Applejack sighed. "Whatever you say Twilight… you're probably right, after all." She smiled. "Ah guess Ah am pretty good at growing things! Why, Ah bet Ah have a thing or two Ah could teach them about planting apple trees."
"That's the spirit! And don't forget, we don't know what roles we'll get until we get them!" Twilight added bumping hooves with Applejack.
Rainbow Dash snorted once more. "As if we didn't know what role you'll be getting, Twilight."
Twilight smiled, a bit embarrassed. "Well, be that as it may, everypony will receive their titles from the wise ponies of Iluikatliltik when we get there."
The group crowded to the closest window, gazing out of it as the clouds parted and the deep, blue sea was revealed in all its glory below them. They could see a group of large islands, where the water slowly became lighter and lighter until it reached the crystalline tan edges of the beaches.
They gasped in delight at the small, quaint villages, the largest of which seemed to be dominated by a gigantic amphitheatre where they could see a large group of ponies had gathered and were cheering their approach.
The airship glided in, slowly and ponderously, jerking a little when it finally descended onto its landing bay. The group made their way through the ship to the upper deck, where a bridge extended down to the red carpet that had been laid down for them to walk to the where shamans waited.
They followed Twilight, who walked down confidently towards their destination: a large cavern completely dark beyond the altar where the shamans stood.
The way was of course packed with eager islanders, all smiling and throwing flower petals on their way, making Rarity and Fluttershy giggle, while Rainbow Dash preened and Applejack grumbled.
Pinkie returned the favors by shooting confetti at the crowds, which slowly would fall into an awed hush as the mares made their way.
"Welcome, Yolilistli, to our island," one of the Shamans said.
The girls all bowed, and Twilight smiled. "Allow me t—"
"Oh my goodness!" One of the Shamans, an old mare possibly as ancient as Granny Smith said, raising a trembling hoof to point at something behind Twilight.
Blinking, Twilight stepped to the side and glanced back, trying to figure out what the problem was.
"It can't be!" One of the shamans cried, falling to his knees in worship, followed soon by every pony in the area, except for Twilight, her friends and the Grand Shaman who waddled her way down, brushing past Twilight to bow deeply and reverently at Applejack, who stood there, rooted to the spot and eyes wide.
"You grace us with your presence, oh great one!" the Grand Shaman said in a hoarse whisper.
"Um… what now?" Applejack stammered.
"Your presence is a boon that we never expected to receive," the Grand Shaman said. "Truly, we expected a great being to join us in our long celebration… a great being to discuss the secrets of life, the universe… everything!"
Twilight took a step forth. "And that is why I'm—"
The Grand Shaman ignored her. "And now that you, Yolilistlitlatlakoli are here, it will be our greatest honor to discuss these secrets with you."
"Um, well, shucks," Applejack was blushing scarlet. "Ah mean, well that's uh, darn nice of y'all bu—"
"Come now," the Grand Shaman said, nudging Applejack to take the lead. "We have much to discuss."
When Twilight made a move to follow them, her way was barred by two masked shamans. "I am sorry, but even if you are an alicorn, your presence in these meetings will have to wait until next time," one of the shamans said.
"B-but… next time?!" Twilight gasped. "That's a thousand years from now!"'
The shaman shrugged.
"I'm the one supposed to discuss all of those things with you!" Twilight insisted. "Why would you take Applejack?!"
The shaman tilted his head. "I do not understand what your problem is, Yolilistli. You are after all the harbinger of Yolilistlitlatlakoli," the shaman said, motioning with his hoof at the giant stone statue that was being illuminated by several torches. "Know your place, or leave our lands."
Twilight had no reply; for as more and more of the cavern beyond the altar was lit, the more she could recognize the familiar features of the statue, from the mane to the hat, Yolilistlitlatlakoli was an exact replica of Applejack.
While Applejack was taken into the temple by the Grand Shaman, Twilight and the others were led by another smaller group of shamans away from the main cave and out into the island, where they were marched past the crowds into a hut large enough to house them all comfortably.
All of the shamans were elderly and wise-looking, glancing at the group of friends with friendly if slightly judgmental glances.
"Tell us," the eldest of them, an old stallion with a patchy, white coat spoke up as he stepped forward. "Why is it that you're here?"
Seeing her chance, Twilight cleared her throat. "I came here to learn and discuss the growth of Earth Pony magic through the thousands of years this island has existed and grown. Princess—" She stopped when the stallion raised a hoof and then pointed at Rainbow Dash.
"I came here to enjoy all the challenges that this place has!" The stallion nodded, then pointed at Rarity with a steely, emotionless gaze.
"I came to discover the beauty of this place, explore the markets, and talk to the ponies that make things happen," Rarity said with no small amount of excitement.
"I came here to party!" Pinkie Pie said, bouncing up and down in place.
"I, um… came here to meet all the animals that are unique to these jungles and to learn how to take care of them in case I, um… ever have one visit my home and… um…"
The shaman slowly nodded once and walked over to converse with the others.
"I can't believe this is happening," Twilight muttered, drawing looks from the other mares who turned to face her. "Everything was going as planned and somehow they confused Applejack with their goddess, and now I'm stuck here while she's with the Grand Shaman!"
The others shared a look before Rarity stepped forth. "Um, Twilight dear, I fear you are taking this too personally. If there has been a mistake, I'm sure the Grand Shaman will realize it soon enough. There is no need for anger."
"Yeah," Rainbow Dash said. "Chill out, Twilight. Enjoy it while it lasts."
Twilight closed her eyes, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. "Okay, okay, I think I got it." She nodded to herself before opening her eyes. "You're right, of course, once they realize Applejack doesn't know jack about magic, they'll sort this out."
"Um, that's a bit harsh," Fluttershy mumbled.
"I've been studying for this for the last week!" Twilight whispered back. "Every day, for hours with almost no sleep! I can't lose my chance to learn!"
"Geez, calm down, Twilight," Rainbow Dash muttered. "I know you're an egghead but you shouldn't drive yourself mad over this!"
"Yeah! You're pretty unhinged as it is when it comes to understanding things," Pinkie pointed out, popping out from under Twilight's wing. "Like, remember that time when I rearranged all of your books when you weren't looking because you were packing to leave on a trip and then you realized that they weren't in order and tried to figure out how that had happened for almost two days while on an airship until you forced your brain to ignore that and concentrate obsessively on the history of some islands only you wanted to visit for academic purposes?"
Twilight's eyebrow twitched.
Before she could say anything, however, the lead shaman approached again. "We have deliberated amongst ourselves and have decided what your roles here will be."
Each of the shamans took their place next to each mare, the leader remaining with Twilight.
"My name is Iluitonalli," the shaman next to Pinkie said, putting a hoof on her shoulder. She was an old unicorn mare with a deep green coat and a brown mane. She had a gentle smile as she motioned Pinkie to follow.
"I, Tlaesotia will teach you our arts!" A sturdy-looking pegasus said to Rainbow Dash, jerking his head towards the exit.
"My name is Ketsalkoskatl," the youngest-looking shaman—maybe just a few years their elder—said, smiling at Rarity. "I believe you and I will be good friends. We certainly seem to have things in common."
"Come with me, gentle one," the one standing next to Fluttershy said, "Yolkati will show you all the beautiful creatures that live in this island, and teach you much more about the arts of healing."
"My companions will lead you to your homes here in the island, Yolilistli, if you would follow me, I will lead you to your domain," the stallion said, motioning for Twilight to follow.
"Listen, Mr. Shaman," Twilight began as they started walking, "I'm afraid there has been some sort of mistake…"
The shaman gave her a look. "Are you not the Yolilistli?"
"Well…" Twilight hesitated. "Yes, I am bu—"
"Then worry not," the shaman interrupted, guiding her into the nearby jungle. "We all have our place here, Yolilistli, and yours has been waiting for you for a thousand years. Fear not, even though there was some confusion upon your arrival, your place was never in doubt."
Twilight sighed, relieved. "Well, that's very nice to know. I was worried for a while that I would be… what is this place?"
They had arrived at the edge of the island, where, past about half a mile of seawater, another massive island lay. However, that one was little more than black rock and dirt.
"This is where you, Yolilistli, will perform your duties." The Shaman waved his hoof at the island. "It will be my duty to teach you how to farm this land, and you, as the chosen Gardener of the Yolilistlitlatlakoli herself, will achieve greatness. Being a Yolilistli, I expect this will be something amazing to witness."
Twilight gazed at the shaman in an uncomprehending stupor for a few seconds. "Wait, did you say I'm the Gardener?!" she whispered harshly. "I can't be the Gardener! That's Applejack's job!"
"Who?" the shaman cocked his head to the side.
"Applejack! Blonde mane, grew up in a farm! Good at math, bad at literature! Earth pony, orange coat, cowpony hat!" Twilight listed.
The shaman gave her a look then started chuckling. "Ah, the Yolilistli has an excellent sense of humor, but I am afraid the Jester is none other than your pink friend, the Yolilistlitlatlakoli being the Gardener! Hah!." He became serious again. "I would warn you, Yolilistli that not all islanders have a sense of humor as developed as mine and might find the implication that the Yolilistlitlatlakoli isn't the most divine being of all grounds for war."
Twilight stared in horror at the shaman, who motioned towards the island. "Come, there is a rowboat down here… Now, as you must learn this sacred duty, I urge you to listen well…"
o.0.o
The shaman's name was Kuautemiktlan, which had something to do with dead eagles. Or eagles and death. Or something along those lines. As far as Twilight was concerned, the stallion's name should've been Eagle Eye or possibly Old Fossil. Either way, he had managed to convince her to go with him to the island, and for the next several hours, they combed the place, discussing its relatively recent creation due to underwater volcanic activity.
Despite herself, Twilight found her interest piqued by the history of the place, as it was unusual in both origin and behaviour.
According to KK (Twilight refused to embarrass herself further by attempting to say his name one more time), this island was just about as big as Iluikatliltik itself, and was sitting on the exact same spot that had given birth to its greener and more populated counterpart. As Twilight had read, through thousands of years and more than one tsunami, the island had been pushed by natural forces just far away enough for this new one to emerge without damaging Iluikatliltik itself.
"Again," Kuautemiktlan said, watching Twilight as she used her Earth Pony strength to smash rocks and soften the ground.
"W-We've been at this for hours!" Twilight gasped.
KK raised an eyebrow. "Earth Ponies work for hours more to make land arable."
"I can use a spell to smash all the rocks in the island and soften all the ground in a second!"
"I see," Kuautemiktlan said slowly, nodding in understanding. "That is indeed a possibility, Yolilistli, but if you did so, you wouldn't feel the land under your hooves speak to you."
"The only thing speaking to me from my hooves ARE my hooves." Twilight gave him an unamused, deadpan look. "And they are saying: ouch!"
"Yolilistli, if you need to rest, we shall do so," Kuautemiktlan said. "We can continue this tomorrow. Do you remember where your hut is?"
Not even waiting for him to finish talking, Twilight was gone in a flash, leaving him alone.
She materialized in her new, humble abode: a little single-room hut that might have seemed cozy enough for her before she got her own castle. Nevertheless, she had no energy to argue about things and simply climbed up to the hemp hammock that was to be her bed.
"I'm…” Twilight paused as a yawn forced itself from her lips. “I’m going to have to sort this out tomorrow..." she mumbled before sleep embraced her.
o.0.o
Twilight snarled awake, swinging wildly on her hammock when the very loud knocks started. Confused and panicking due to the unfamiliar feeling of hemp rope around her, she moved her forelegs around and spread her wings in a futile and violent attempt at standing up… which ended up with her face first on the soft earth below the hammock.
She struggled, groggily pushing herself back up to her hooves as the banging on the door continued, noticing through the window that Celestia was definitely not awake yet. Still feeling the warm wetness of her drool on her muzzle, she used the back of her foreleg to wipe it off, only managing to plaster black soil on the fur around her mouth.
"Who. The. Hay..." she growled, letting the threat hang in the air as she forced her aching head to painfully look up enough to use her magic to unlock the door.
Kuautemiktlan smiled pleasantly at her. "Good morning, Yolilistli, I hope you slept well."
"Can't say I woke up well," Twilight growled before slowly straightening out and taking a deep breath. Then another. Then she tried Cadance's calming breath technique before opening her eyes and regarding her guest with a slightly forced smile. "I'm sorry, KK, I just didn't expect to wake up quite so early. How can I help you?"
"As the dawn approaches, the Yolilistli's work begins. I understand you were too tired to carry on last night, but if you wish to meld with the spirit of this island, you need to set to work now, Yolilistli."
Twilight rolled her eyes. "Look, KK—"
"Kuautemiktlan."
"Quack-mic-lan," Twilight repeated. "I'm sure being a gardener is a very nice thing for earth ponies bu—"
"It is a title held in the highest esteem."
"Right. High esteem." She nodded. "I'm sure once we sort this out, Applejack, who happens to actually enjoy planting trees instead of reading them, would be absolutely delighted to—"
"The Yolilistlitlatlakoli is already hard at work and has been awake for several hours."
Twilight blinked. "Oh?"
"Indeed," Kuautemiktlan said, "by now, she will have been taken to Chikomostok, where our Secret Temple resides," he explained, ignoring Twilight grinding her teeth. "It has been described by Starswirl the Bearded himself as one of the great wonders of the ancient times, full of power and spirits of wisdom who will no doubt converse with her with great interest."
Twilight visibly cringed at the sheer loss of academic experience she was facing. "Listen, this is all a big m—"
"For now, give me your hoof."
Taken aback by the sudden demand, Twilight complied without thinking, allowing Kuautemiktlan to hold her hoof carefully.
"You see, Yolilistli, I find it very interesting that your hoof, dainty and well-kept as it is, craves to commune with the soil beneath it. It's not a working hoof. It's not used to crack rock, plant roots, and coax earth. It is not used to water and wind or raw life caressing it… and yet—though perhaps you don't recognize it—it yearns for these feelings."
Twilight carefully removed her hoof from his grasp, then lowered it back to the earth.
Did it feel alive under her? It just felt squishy.
"Now come, I have brought breakfast and after that, it will be time for us to continue our job from last night."
Still trying to see if anything was different under her hooves, Twilight followed in his wake.
o.0.o
The party was in full swing later that night by the time Twilight stumbled in. She glanced around the dancing and celebrating ponies, taking note of the head table far on the other side of the room where Applejack was engaged in a deep discussion with the shamans.
Twilight grumbled, feeling her hooves throb in pain at the whole day of work she had been forced to endure and made her way to the bar, where she took a seat and glared at Applejack. Twilight didn't even blink when Pinkie cartwheeled up to her and placed some sort of drink inside a hollowed-out pineapple in front of her.
"Look at her," Twilight grumbled, her magic picking up the tiny umbrella in her drink and tossing it into a trash bin as Applejack laughed at something the lead shaman had said. "All smug in her stupid hat. Taking all of the credit. Learning all of the magic. I'm stuck with kicking dirt, digging trenches and destroying rocks."
"Wow, you're really unhappy about this," Pinkie observed, pulling another drink out of her mane and slurping it loudly.
"Of course I am!" Twilight hissed. "I had lists of questions to ask, empty notebooks on fast teleport to take notes, three research papers that I prepared for comparison purposes, and the countless nights I spent discussing possibilities with Sunset Shimmer and Starlight Glimmer!"
Twilight covered her head with her hooves. "What if Princess Celestia tests me on this? Luna did it too, two thousand years ago! What if I disappoint them both!? What can I tell them? 'Oh, Applejack will take care of everything?' If I don't learn those secrets how will they be kept and used properly?"
Twilight slurped on her drink, humming in appreciation before looking at Pinkie. "I won't be the Princess of Friendship, I'll be the Princess of Failure!"
Pinkie blinked. "But… aren't you learning all of that stuff anyway?"
Twilight glared at her. "That's not the point! I should be up there learning the theory." She pointed with her hoof. "Not down here."
"Look Twilight, I don't tell you this nearly enough," Pinkie said, putting her hoof on her friend's shoulder and adopting a solemn look. "But you need to calm down."
"Yeah! You're learning what you need right?" Pinkie pointed out. "Just like I'm learning how to up my party skills with new techniques! Even if we're not sitting at the main table we're getting what we want, right?"
Twilight stomped down before sliding back from the bar. "This. Is not what I want."
A flash later, she was once again standing on her barren island.
Feeling the firm ground under her, she started stomping around. "They want me to do this? To smash rocks and ground them to soft dust instead of learning?" She kept slamming her hooves down on all of the rocks within her sight, until only soft earth and small rocks remained, leaving her utterly exhausted.
Angry at the shamans, herself and her inability to escape her current fate, she collapsed onto the earth and flopped onto her stomach, breathing heavily and glaring at the distant lights and sounds of partying ponies.
"And that is how the spirits bless this land by sharing the wisdom and discoveries of your glorious deeds by oral tradition," the Great Shaman said.
Applejack nodded, trying to keep interest in the conversation.
"So what you're sayin' is that since this island was given to your ancestors by your goddess, their spirits have roamed the maze under it and you can hear their voices down there?"
"Correct, Yolilistlitlatlakoli, by your grace their voices remain there, echoing and reminding us of their lives and their wisdom."
"It's very interestin'," she managed to say through gritted-teeth. "Ah think Ah see my friends down there, by the bar, so Ah think I'll go greet them. Twilight looks a bit stressed and Ah sure as sugar don't want to deal with a breakdown if Ah can help it…"
"Who, the Gardener?" the Great Shaman asked, making Applejack pause.
Applejack started laughing. "Ah'm sorry? Ah think Ah misheard you."
"By 'Twilight', you mean the Yolilistli? She is performing and learning her designated task under one of our best Gardeners: Kuautemiktlan," the Great Shaman said. "Just like your other friends have taken to their roles."
"If y'all put Twilight in a garden, Ah don't think y'all know Twilight as well as Ah do…" Applejack said slowly. "That mare is a bookworm, she knows more about Earth Pony Magic theory than Ah do, and Ah do Earth Pony Magic just by existin'. The reason we're here is because of her."
"And yet, she is merely the Gardener and you are Yolilistlitlatlakoli," the Great Shaman reminded her. "You are the one that carries the soul of the goddess that created this island. That other great beings would gather around you is no mere coincidence."
Applejack shook her head, looking again towards the bar to maybe try and signal Twilight that she was on her way, but her friend had disappeared.
"As you see, the Yolilistli has gone now, most likely so she can be well rested for tomorrow's efforts."
"Ah'm not sure I like the sound of that…"
"Worry not, the Yolilistli will be fine. For now, we should celebrate, as the spirits of our ancestors look forward to speaking to you."
o.0.o
Twilight woke up covered in dirt. When she pushed up, dark, rich black earth cascaded from her body and wings, some of it sticking, but for the most part parting easily from her body with just the smallest of shakes. Yawning, she started ambling around the island with no aim in mind, simply enjoying the warmth of the sun, the coolness of the breeze and the feel of the moist earth under her hooves.
The humidity from the air had been absorbed all through the island and it almost felt like she was walking on marshmallows as she tried to get blood flowing through her system. It was a sharp contrast to the rocky surface it had been made of just a day before.
Her fit last night had evaporated not only from herself but the area too. There was a gentle calmness around her now; a deep contrast with the anger with which she had taken to destroying rocks, digging and turning earth with all the power behind her muscles and for all intents and purposes "fluffing" the island while beating the daylights out of it.
"You have outdone yourself, Yolilistli," Kuautemiktlan said happily as he approached carrying a large box. He set it down and extracted a small table and two folding chairs before heading back the way he had come after insisting she sit down.
Gingerly, still mostly asleep and terribly tired, Twilight sat down on one of the chairs, looking down at her scratched, dirty hooves. They were a sorry sight now, certainly not befitting a princess at all.
Kuautemiktlan soon came back with some food and a pitcher of water infused with fruits, which he set down for her. "Please eat, I know you didn't last night when you left the party so quickly."
The night came rushing back to Twilight and she stared angrily at the food before forcing herself to calm down.
"Thank you, Quack-mic-lan…"
"Kuautemiktlan."
"That. Thank you for the food… I'm sorry I left early I—"
Kuautemiktlan had raised his hoof. "You are not happy with your role, I understand. Out of all your friends, you were given the role that most displeases you."
Twilight sighed, but nodded, acknowledging his words as she used her magic to levitate a cup of tea up to her lips.
"All of us shaman understand, for the Yolilistli, a servant of the goddess, to not be constantly basking in the wisdom and presence of the Yolilistlitlatlakoli must be pure torture."
Twilight bit through the cup, splintering it and splashing tea everywhere.
"But, in her wisdom, the Yolilistlitlatlakoli has granted you a role," Kuautemiktlan said. "Usually since she is not here with us, her teachings and discussions are dispensed through lesser beings than her, such as yourself and the other Yolilistli. Since you are both here, your role would have been irrelevant were it not for her grace to bring you as part of her entourage."
"What about the others? Why was I chosen as the Gardener? Why not the Advisor?"
"The other mares were more fitted for the comparatively simple lives of scholarship and discourse, or entertainment and war. But you, Yolilistli, were chosen from the beginning of your existence to exalt that which makes Yolilistlitlatlakoli truly a goddess among goddesses: prepare the land for her glory to provide with bounty."
"And what…" Twilight asked, eyes narrow and teeth gritting. "... is Applejack doing today?"
"The Yolilistlitlatlakoli will be allowed into a sacred place: the Akisalistlayokan, or in your language, the Maze of Discovery, where questions regarding the magic of life far exceeding your comprehension or ours can be answered."
Twilight closed her eyes and flinched, as if she had been slapped in the face.
"In the meantime, we shall use that…" Kuautemiktlan pointed towards the north coast of the island, where several boats were filled to the brim with leftovers from the party from the night before. "To make this soft earth more worthy of the hooves of the Yolilistlitlatlakoli."
The table between them disintegrated as Twilight stood up, lavender magical flames escaping from her eyes and horn and the sheer pressure of her presence made Kuautemiktlan take several steps back.
"Enough is enough," Twilight hissed. Summoning her magic, she enveloped herself in a sphere of pure energy as she levitated off the ground and shot towards the main island.
It took just a few seconds before several warrior pegasi rose into the air to follow her, most falling behind, but soon enough she had a visitor able to keep up with her. Rainbow Dash grinned at Twilight. "Hey! That's pretty fast, Twilight! How come you never want to race me to see how fast you could make it?"
Twilight growled. "I don't have time for racing! I've had enough with this islanders and their ridiculous expectations!"
A second later she had to force herself to stop before she hit Rainbow Dash, who had shot past her to bar her way.
"Alright, you're not getting past me until you explain."
"Rainbow Dash…" When her friend simply crossed her forelegs stubbornly, Twilight sighed. "They're making me do gardening while I'm losing every chance I have to learn, which is what I came here to do!" Twilight waved a hoof at the islands below. "I'm not the Gardener! These ponies think that Applejack is their goddess reborn! They think we princesses are her servants and that the only reason I'm here is because Applejack gave me a chance!"
Rainbow Dash started laughing.
"It's not funny!" Twilight snarled, wiping the smile off of Rainbow's face. "I'm a Princess of Equestria and the only pony that came here to study! Applejack is the one that's good at field work!"
"Twilight, I think you're taking this too seriously, you told us all roles in this situation were important."
"That was before the shamans mistook Applejack for a goddess and sent me to break rocks!" Twilight huffed. "I'm heading straight to the Great Shaman to straighten this up right now."
"Uh, no you're not," Rainbow Dash said.
"What."
"Listen, I get it that you're angry, but barging in like that? That's not cool." Rainbow Dash said. "You're going to make a total mess if you do that!"
"Get out of the way, Rainbow Dash."
"No. And you're not getting past me either."
She saw red. And for just a second, Twilight considered blasting Rainbow Dash out of the sky. Only for a moment, but that was jarring enough for her to release her magic and just flap her wings, looking away in defeat.
Rainbow Dash grimaced. "Twilight, I—"
"I'm sorry."
She turned and flew away from Rainbow Dash, who thankfully didn't try to stop her.
o.0.o
Twilight flew back to the island, landing near the boats where Kuautemiktlan waited for her. The shaman gave her a wary look, but didn't comment when Twilight simply took hold of a shovel with her hooves and started mixing the compost with the loose earth and buried it under a thick layer.
She silently thanked the shaman for that small consideration. She kept guiltily reliving the anger she had felt earlier and the fact that she had actually thought about striking out against Rainbow Dash.
Her thoughts kept her mind occupied and the more she worked, the more she felt at peace with what had happened. When the first shovel broke and cut a thin line just above her fetlock, Twilight simply shrugged it off, grabbing a new one and setting off to work again.
It was several hours later that Twilight and Kuautemiktlan stood overseeing her hard work and the shaman once again spoke. "Now, Yolilistli, you must truly use your gifts from the goddess…" he trailed off when the latest shovel splintered, but cleared his throat and continued, "...and let your hooves feel the connection with the earth below it."
Twilight sighed, concentrating on her hooves. But all she felt was the soft earth below, and what she was fairly certain was a banana peel.
She also smelled the rest of the stuff they had mixed in. There was no link. No connection to the soil, the compost or anything. In fact, she was starting to feel the cuts, bruises and scrapes on her forelegs and hooves.
"I… I can't," she mumbled, turning to walk towards the beach. "I need a break. Maybe tomorrow."
She half-stumbled, half-walked away, awkwardly shifting the weight of her body with every sharp, stabbing feeling of pain that shot up her forelegs.
When she reached the edge of the beach, rather than stay in her island, Twilight teleported across the water and continued walking into the jungle, not even pausing to appreciate how much softer the sand was on this side.
"Oh my, Twilight?"
Twilight blinked, looking at her surroundings. She had walked into a small valley in the middle of the jungle, where several animals of all sorts were looking at her in consternation, while Fluttershy and the shaman training her were glancing her way in worry.
"F-fluttershy?" Twilight asked, shaking her head and looking around. "What…"
"Yolkati, would you let me speak to Twilight alone?" Fluttershy asked the shaman, who gave her a small smile before nodding.
"I shall go back to the town to resupply, Selika," Yolkati said, picking up her saddlebags and trotting off into the jungle.
Slowly, after receiving a look from Fluttershy, most of the animals around them left them alone, while Fluttershy motioned for Twilight to sit down. Once she did, Fluttershy gently took Twilight's mangled hooves in her own and started to carefully clean them and apply ointments. "I know you try to do your best, Twilight, but you shouldn't be forcing your body to the point of damaging yourself," she said.
"That shaman, what did she call you?" Twilight asked, not really wanting to acknowledge the damage she had done herself by overworking.
"Oh, Yolkati decided to call me that," Fluttershy giggled. "Selika, it means… kind one, in their language."
Twilight chuckled, "Fits you… ouch!" She hissed as Fluttershy spit out the splinter of wood she had pulled from Twilight's coat and poured some potion on it, which sizzled a little when it came in contact her blood. "Scratch that. It doesn't."
Fluttershy giggled once more, then carefully bandaged Twilight's hoof before setting it down and starting to work on the other. "You still need to promise not to do this again."
Twilight sighed, watching in silence as her friend did her best to heal her. "I almost got into a fight with Rainbow Dash today…" she shook her head when Fluttershy's eyes widened. "Nothing happened… but I didn't want to think about it."
"Is this because you're not there with the Great Shaman?" Fluttershy asked.
"I should be the one there, Fluttershy."
Fluttershy bit her lip. "Didn't you say we were all intended for a role and that all roles were important?"
Twilight snorted, getting up. "Turns out I was wrong. Turns out the only thing Yolilistli are good for ponies here is as servants without merit or value unless their goddess says otherwise."
"I'm not sure…"
"Thanks for the help, Fluttershy but it's late and… I have a really early morning."
Fluttershy looked down. "O-oh. Well, could you try flying? It's best to give your hooves time to heal, even if it's just a few hours." Twilight gave the other mare a quick hug before beating her wings and heading out back to her island.
When she arrived, it was all quiet. Kuautemiktlan was gone, and the place stank, but Twilight was too tired to care. In the distance, she heard the roll of thunder and so she headed to her small hut.
She didn't bother jumping onto the hammock. She just stretched onto the soft earth, feeling like she was sinking into it. Her coat tingled and her wings fluttered as she relaxed and let her frustration leave her. Here, in her hut... on her island... she wasn't going to be bothered.
No shaman would remind her that she was worthless as a student or as a representative of Equestria. It was just her, the island and that stupid compost that wouldn't stop stinking up the place.
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."
Twilight snorted and rolled over. Or tried to. Something warm and heavy was stopping her from doing so.
She frowned and slowly opened her eyes, smacking her lips at the sudden dryness that they seemed to have. She took a deep breath and coughed, before looking around and down at the figure of Applejack, who lay curled up next to her.
That's odd… Twilight thought. Why is Applejack here wi— Her thought was interrupted as a deep sense of dread invaded her.
Flashes of what had happened after her visit to the bar came to her. The uninterrupted drinking. The hugging. The belching. And finally...
"So you were sayin' you said something about it being on time?
Li.. *urp* lishen," Rarity had responded. "I just want to say I love you both. Youse my very very bestest friends. Almost sisters."
"Yeeah, Ah hear you filly, ah love you too!"
No. Nonono… someshing about… about time…"
Rarity stared at Twilight owlishly before sniffing. "You don't love me?"
"No, no, I do. A lot. But you said something…
"There ain't no time like the present!"
"That! That's the thing you said…" Twilight frowned. "That's what she said." She shook her head. "Wait, wait… why are you laughing?"
She looked up to where her island was.
Or where it was supposed to be. The sense of dread became panic. "Ohnonononononononono…"
She turned around and gasped.
Behind her, staring almost dispassionately at the pair of them stood the shamans, while shuffling nervously next to their assigned mentors were the rest her friends.
Twilight elbowed Applejack, who mumbled and turned, snuggling into her. Twilight, panicked, elbowed her again. And again.
"Whu…" Applejack blinked and tried to see what Twilight was looking at. Slowly, Applejack's confused eyes widened as Twilight could see the events of the previous night repeating in her memory as well.
Finally, she turned to share a look with Twilight. "Oh, buckin' Tartarus."
o.0.o
"And so," The Great Shaman said casually as the two mares followed her with drooped heads into a private room. She closed the door, allowing them to be alone. "It seems our new island has disappeared."
Both mares cringed.
"To think, we had both the Yolilistlitlatlakoli and the Yolilistli together for the first time ever, and following our traditions ended up in us losing our future island."
"Well, the thing is…" Applejack stammered. "Y'all didn't lose it exactly."
"Oh?"
"It… well, you're sorta walking on it right now…" Twilight grudgingly admitted.
The Great Shaman looked down at her hooves. "Funny, this island we stand on does not seem like the barren volcanic surface that was next our shore just last night."
"I'm sorry!" Twilight finally gasped. "I'm so sorry! I just got so mad! Applejack is so good with plants! And she knows everything there is to know about growing them! I wanted to learn the theory, the history and the secrets!"
Applejack sighed, taking off her hat and pressing it to her heart as she nodded solemnly and looked down. "Ah'm sorry too. Ah hated doing everythin' we did. Ah did not want to learn history. Or maps. Or theory. Or solve puzzles. Ah was angry too… and Ah was jealous of Twilight here doing what Ah am so good at."
The Great Shaman looked at both of them and waited.
Twilight gulped. "I was very jealous of you… but it wasn't just that…" she admitted, glancing guiltily at Applejack. "T-the truth is… I felt a lot less important than I've grown used to… and well…" she shuffled in place.
Applejack gave her a look. "You thought you were supposed to be more important than Ah was?"
Twilight cringed. "Y-yes…"
"Oh, Twi."
"N-not at first," Twilight explained quickly. "I just… every time they reminded me you were their goddess reborn it was just another nail on how I wasn't good enough."
Applejack blinked. "What made you think you weren't? It's all a statue and the beliefs of these ponies… not to mention, this is all our fault in the first place!"
"Well, yes," Twilight sighed. "But I didn't know that and I let my jealousy of you really hinder my thoughts and views. Maybe I could've learned more if I hadn't been so focused on the fact that I wasn't… that I wasn't the center of attention."
Applejack chuckled. "Oh Twilight, what am Ah goin' to do with you?"
Twilight's eyes widened. "A-aren't you mad?"
"Mad? No." Applejack shook her head. "Mildly disappointed? Yes. But not just in you. Ah could've swallowed mah pride and learned, and Ah didn't. Ah'd much rather preferred to be doin' what you were doin'." She grinned. "Probably would've taught a thing or two to that Kuautemiktlan fella."
Twilight laughed, wiping away the small tears that had formed as she heard her friend speak. "Yeah, I bet you would have."
"Aww, come 'ere you silly filly."
They embraced, all grievances forgiven.
"Ahem."
And quickly were reminded they were not alone.
"While I'm happy that the Yolilistli and the Yolilistlitlatlakoli have found new strength in their friendship, we are still short an isle."
The two mares shifted uncomfortably until Applejack's eyes narrowed. "Wait. Ah just remembered somethin'," she said. "Didn't y'all say a few days ago that the underwater volcano created the new island?"
Twilight blinked. "Yes, but that's an event that happens outside of our control. And even if we could control it… The volcano is not accessible from here."
Applejack gave the Great Shaman a look. "Well, that ain't exactly true."
Twilight blinked. "What do you mean?"
"Ah mean, there's a series of tunnels under this very island, that connect straight into the volcano."
Twilight narrowed her eyes. "You are not suggesting we force the volcano to erupt to create a new island, are you?"
Applejack shrugged.
"That's insane, Applejack."
o.0.o
"This is insane, Applejack!" Twilight shouted as she hovered high above the molten lava. Her shields active to keep her from getting cooked from the proximity.
"Ah know! But we also kinda made this whole mess!"
Twilight shook her head but looked high up towards the lone exit hole at the top of the volcano. "You two better head out!"
"Good luck, Twi!" Applejack called, Ah'll see you outside!"
Once she was sure Applejack and the Great Shaman were safe, Twilight started a slow spiral, letting her magic seep into the lava below, stirring it and slowly applying as much of her earth pony magic into the flow as she started to mix her magic with it. Once she was circling as fast as she could with the lava below churning dangerously, she shot a single, powerful blast into it, before shooting up as fast as she could fly and pulling with all her magical prowess.
She saw the world rumble around her as her magic strained, but didn't break, she shot straight out of the volcano, a purple star in the middle of the day, followed by a river of shimmering lava, that followed her miles into the air and then down on the side towards the ocean, where it splashed with tremendous force. The lava slowly poured over itself, expanding with the aid of her magic from the coast outwards until at last it stopped several kilometers offshore.
Twilight glided down to land next to Applejack, who was overseeing the whole process. She saw Rainbow Dash guiding several pegasi pushing heavy clouds that they placed on top of the smoldering, cooling rock and then kicking them to entice the rain to fall onto the surface.
Several unicorns, Rarity included, cast cooling spells on the rock, slowly advancing as it became solid and cool enough to walk onto. Then, (Rarity sporting a grimace of disgust) they spread several tons of old produce and organic trash mixed with soil.
Once it was done, Applejack turned to face her friend. "Now, Twilight. Ah know you don't like this, but somehow you managed to do it. Hay, Ah couldn't have done better myself. Ah might've been drunk out of my flank, but Ah do remember the feel of your island, and it was ripe for growth. You can do it again, filly. Trust yourself."
"I don't know if I can…"
"Child," the Great Shaman spoke up, placing a hoof on Twilight's shoulder. "The Yolilistlitlatlakoli has faith in you… have some faith in her."
"Well, if the Yolili still talk talky says so…" Twilight grinned at Applejack who shared the smile and rolled her eyes.
"Just relax, Twi. Remember how you felt when you woke up with the earth all around you," Applejack said, bumping shoulders with Twilight. "How it felt under your hooves. How it did it smell when it was ready to be planted in. You did it before, sugarcube. You can do it again."
Twilight nodded, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. Her thoughts went back to the mornings when she had woken up from an exhausting night… and the ground had been soft and inviting, no trace of the smells from the compost or hard pebbles under her. She remembered how she had felt like she belonged there and how it had been asking, almost begging for plant life to begin.
She opened her eyes and took off, flying to the center of the newly formed island before dropping down onto it, hard with her hooves as she willed her magic and the ground below her to be one. The impact seemed to create some sort of wave, originating from the point of impact as rock cracked loudly over and over becoming dust that quickly mixed with the rain and disintegrating organic matter.
Like a drop of water into a still pond it expanded turning hard volcanic rock and trash into soft, water-absorbing spongy ground at a speed and scale that before last night she had thought impossible.
As the sun began to set ponies started trotting happily onto the island... the islanders, shamans, merchants, townsponies and even her friends, all spread tiny seeds into the island's more than ready soil.
As each seed landed, Twilight felt a tiny pinprick tugging at her. Her connection with the island was beyond anything she could have imagined, and grinning, she leaned down to gently whisper: "Grow."
~o.0.o~
"Twilight?" Spike called, opening the door into her room with one claw as he held a tray with breakfast in the other. He frowned and looked around. "Hm." He glanced around before stepping back and closing the door behind him.
He wandered about the castle, using his flame to keep the metal tray warm so Twilight's breakfast wouldn't get cold. He checked the study. He checked the library. The throne room. But there was no sign of Twilight.
"Huh." He scratched the back of his head. "Where could she be?"
He wandered out of the throne room and was about to start calling her out again when he heard something. Curious, he placed the breakfast tray on a side table just outside the room and followed the noises.
He found himself using one of the smaller side-doors of the castle, which led into a small, private garden. Neither of them had done much with it since discovering it, and thus had left it alone. It wasn't like anypony really visited all of the place anyway.
Thus, he was surprised to find Twilight, of all ponies, getting her hooves dirty as she spread compost around.
"Twilight?" he whispered. "What are you doing? Are you sleepwalking again?"
Twilight shot him a glare, but shook her head, lifting a hoof to signal him to be quiet.
Spike rolled his eyes and leaned back, watching as Twilight took a deep breath… and slowly, all of the compost seemed to crumble and mix with the earth right in front of Spike's eyes, which went wide as dinner platters.
He watched in muted awe as Twilight levitated several small bags of seeds and spread them around before leaning down and whispering something… just before they sprouted right then and there.
"H-how?" Spike gasped, walking into the grass and touching a tomato carefully, as if it would fade away just by that. He gazed at Twilight, who somehow seemed to just… belong there, in the middle of nature, like never before.
Twilight shrugged. "I guess I just discovered a new talent..." she giggled. "Or rather an old one?"
Spike narrowed his eyes. "That makes no sense."
Twilight laughed. "True. Come on, let's eat some breakfast."
