Princess Luna knew that something was not quite right. Even though she had retired from her royal duties for three years at Silver Shoals, Luna knew something that no pony was willing to admit. Princess Twilight Sparkle desperately needed help. Twilight was too proud to admit it and Princess Celestia was perhaps oblivious to Twilight’s struggles. Twilight seemed comfortable in the role, but her dreams hid deep anxieties that she would fail both the sun and moon over Equestria. Luna knew that there was an easy solution. She just hoped that her sister, Celestia, would be on board.
Luna, the moon princess, would need to have a chat with her sister, the sun princess. To think that Twilight could handle both and maintain her sanity was preposterous.
“Tia”, said Luna, “I need to speak with you.”
“What’s the matter, sis?”
“I was thinking. How has Twilight Sparkle been doing in our former residence?”
“From what I hear, Twilight has been exceeding expectations! She has handled herself so well. I cannot believe that she has done both of our duties effortlessly.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“What? Are you belittling my star pupil?”
“No. I agree with you that Twilight has been doing an excellent job. I just wonder if it is as easy for her as she makes it seem.”
“Twilight never mentioned anything to me.”
“Not to me either. But you know how Twilight hates to disappoint.”
“You’ve been spying on her dreams, haven’t you?”
“Yes, I have. I see a bright princess who has lost touch with her friends. I see one who is afraid that the slightest mistake will destroy Equestria.”
“Luna, Twilight has always been a perfectionist.”
“I know, but this is worse. I think Twilight needs a partner. Some pony to help her with duties.”
“So, what are you thinking?”
“You helped pick out Twilight Sparkle to be your successor – or I guess, our successor – but now it should be my turn to find someone to take care of the moon.”
“A new goddess of the moon? I must admit that I am liking the idea, but it will take a long time to find and train an appropriate pony for the job.”
“I know”, said Luna, “but later is better than never.”
“This is true”, responded Celestia with a smile, “Twilight certainly has a long road ahead of her.”
“I already have been thinking about this. We need somepony who can handle my moon duties and who can handle a duty I haven’t quite relinquished yet.”
“The dreams?”
“Yes, Tia. I have been watching over many ponies for years and I think I know who I want as my replacement.”
“Really? I mean – if this will help make Twilight’s life and your life easier, I am all for it.”
“I think the answer is clear. My replacement needs to have the drive, the empathy, and the intellect to handle the life as the Goddess of the Moon.”
“I am going to say though. I don’t think it would be a good idea to take Princess Cadence away from the Crystal Empire.”
“No, I wasn’t thinking of Cadence. I have watched this young mare grow up. She has gone through her own share of struggles. Losing both of her parents at an early age, struggling without a cutie mark for so long, and yet she has shown that she can overcome tragedy and disadvantage. Another quality I am looking for is resilience and that is Apple Bloom in spades.”
“Apple Bloom? But it’s never been done before?”
“What?”
“An earth pony transforming into an alicorn.”
“I don’t care about what hasn’t been done before, Tia. You knew in your heart that Twilight Sparkle was the best one. I know that pony is Apple Bloom.”
“I won’t stop you from trying. But any other ideas?”
“I don’t think any other pony matches up to be honest – not even Twilight Sparkle.”
“She’s your replacement, Luna”, said Celestia, “and if Twilight is really going through the agony you say – then I will certainly do whatever you think will help my star pupil.”
“This will help Twilight. I promise.”
Apple Bloom couldn’t believe she was finishing another chapter of her life. Today was graduation day at Ponyville High School. She would be starting college at Canterlot University in the fall – the first in her family to attend college. Apple Bloom knew that the farm life wasn’t the end-all for her. It worked well for her older siblings, but Bloom was different. At heart – she was a Cutie Mark Crusader along with her best friends in the whole wide world, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo.
Apple Bloom smiled as she saw those two best friends of hers. She still found it hard to believe how much they had all grown up since they met that fateful day eight years ago. High school was filled with crazy drama but nothing broke up their friendship. Apple Bloom made sure of that.
The three mares huddled in an embrace.
“Wow, girls”, said Apple Bloom, “ah can’t believe that we are done with high school!”
“Yeah”, said Sweetie Belle, “feels like yesterday that we were still little fillies without cutie marks. I’m going to miss you both. Why do you two have to leave Ponyville?”
“I’ll be around sometimes”, said Scootaloo nonchalantly, “wherever Rainbow Dash says I need to go.”
Scootaloo – a future Wonderbolt.
“You’re going to be just as good as Rainbow Dash someday”, said Apple Bloom cheerfully.
“Nah probably not. But I have other tools to help me put on a show!”, responded Scootaloo as she flapped her wings knowing far too well that she couldn’t take off.
“Ponyville is going to be so boring without you two”, said Sweetie, “going to miss you both!”
“Hey”, said Scootaloo, “you get to go to Ponyville State with your boyfriend. Bloom and I are still single!”
Button Mash, thought Apple Bloom, she lost that competition but she swore she would forget about it.
“I know”, said Sweetie Belle, “at least I still have Mashie.”
“Ah will still be home during the holidays and breaks”, said Apple Bloom, “it’s not like ah will be gone forever.”
“Honestly, you’re too good for Ponyville”, said Sweetie Belle.
“C’mon, that’s not true. Ah am just lil’ Apple Bloom.”
“Yeah yeah”, said Scootaloo, “says straight-A Apple Bloom who is only going to the most prestigious university in Equestria.”
Ah guess that's something, thought Apple Bloom.
“Ah just study hard.”
“Don’t be so modest”, said Sweetie Belle, “you’re a genius and every pony knows it!”
Apple Bloom could see a large crowd of ponies approaching them. The crowd included Applejack (Apple Bloom’s older sister), Big Mac (Apple Bloom’s older brother), Rarity (Sweetie Belle’s older sister), Rainbow Dash (Scootaloo’s “sister”), Pinkie Pie, Cheese Sandwich, Spike, Fluttershy, and Discord.
“Hey, there’s my sis”, said Applejack, “moving on to the big leagues! Don’t forget about our farm.”
“Eeyup”, said Big Mac with a smile.
“We are so proud of all three of you”, said Rarity, “can’t believe my baby sister is becoming an adult!”
“I’ve been feeling grown up for a while”, responded Sweetie Belle.
“You’ll always be my baby sister to me!”
Apple Bloom noticed a peculiar absence.
“Is Princess Twilight coming to our graduation?”
“She couldn’t make it”, said Spike shaking his head, “her royal duties have been just so much but she is looking forward to hearing all about it when I go back to Canterlot.”
“Poor mare”, said Discord, “I have offered multiple times to help Twilight with her princess stuff and she always seems to decline.”
“Oh perhaps I should tell her that I have no intention of taking over Equestria as my own. All the responsibility! What’s the fun in that?”
“Too bad Twilight couldn’t join us”, said Apple Bloom, “ah think she needs some steady help.”
“But I must warn you all, I asked Twilight for assistance and she was like”, Discord said while transforming into Twilight Sparkle, “oh, Discord. Thank you for your kind offer but I have everything handled on my own.”
“Steady.”
“Ooh, will there be sprinkles”, asked Pinkie Pie.
“Another one we can cross off Twilight’s Little Helper list”, said Spike.
“Well, the ceremony is starting in a little bit – so the girls and I better get going”, said Apple Bloom.
“Ready for your big speech, Apple Bloom? Ms. Valedictorian of Ponyville High?”, said Discord.
“Ah didn’t write anything down. Just going to wing it.”
“Alright”, said Discord with a wave of his claw, “just don’t bore me.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” Apple Bloom could honestly not care what Discord thought about her speech.
Apple Bloom honestly had almost forgotten about her speech. She knew she would have to put on a fake smile and pretend that everything was so bittersweet and great in her life. She felt something important was missing in her life but the young mare couldn’t figure out what that was.
“And now we have our next speaker – one of our most accomplished students graduating from Ponyville High today – Apple Bloom!”, said the principal enthusiastically.
The crowd cheered. Apple Bloom still didn’t fully know what she wanted to say. She thought about making the speech short and sweet. As Apple Bloom approached the podium, she noticed another omission besides Twilight Sparkle – her grandmother, Granny Smith. This wasn’t good at all. Apple Bloom remembered Applejack telling her that Granny would make it if she was well enough.
Apple Bloom began to speak. She couldn’t let Granny’s absence derail her.
“Thank you all for joining me and my fellow graduates today as we finish one chapter and begin another. Some of us are going far and some of us are staying close to home. But something we all have in common is the spirit of Ponyville and the great community our town has provided. As some of my fellow students relentlessly reminded me in my youth, ah was a blank flank for some time. It was something that had frustrated me for the longest time. Along with two of my best friends, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, we experimented with everything including the most embarrassing talent show skit of a lifetime to obtain our cutie marks. We wondered why we were so late when others found their purpose sooner. We called ourselves the Cutie Mark Crusaders and still do today. When we stopped focusing on ourselves so much and focused on helping others deal with their crises – that was when we finally earned our cutie marks: ones that each of us are so proud. What ah learned is that it is not about how long something takes – what matters is that you find the right purpose in your life. And ah also learned that no pony is defined by their cutie mark. We are more than our ‘special talent’, we are individuals capable of constant growth and development. Ah would like to give special thanks to my family. Applejack, my older sister who is never afraid to give me her honest opinion on anything – ah learned so much from you big sis! Big McIntosh, my older brother – strong and silent with a heart of gold. If ah needed somepony to listen to me, ah know ah can always count on you, Big Mac! And of course, my grandmother, Granny Smith, unfortunately she couldn’t make it to today’s ceremony but with her wisdom and sense of humor – she has taught me to have pride in being an Apple! Ah may be off to Canterlot but ah will never forget my roots in Ponyville at Sweet Apple Acres. And finally, my mom and dad, ah may have no memories of you but ah know that they are still watching all of us in the great heaven above.” Apple Bloom felt herself tear up from talking about her parents. She wondered if life could have been different if they were still here.
“Thank you everypony and let’s celebrate our graduation!”
Apple Bloom was glad to see the audience cheer her speech. Even Discord, who seemed to expect embarrassing moments, was impressed and cheering.
After the ceremony ended, Apple Bloom met up with Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Button Mash. She tried to ignore the almost obnoxious lovey-dovey staring between Sweetie and Mashie. At the moment, it was basically just Apple Bloom and Scootaloo.
“Wow, that was the best speech I ever heard”, said Scootaloo, “I don’t even think Rainbow Dash could give a speech like that!”
“Aww thanks”, responded Apple Bloom, “ah just spoke from the heart.”
“I mean it. You inspired me to take on this ‘scooter brigade’ Rainbow Dash wants me to put together for the Wonderbolts! Finding the right team is gonna be tough though.”
“I have faith in you, Scoots.”
Apple Bloom and Scootaloo saw Sweetie and Mashie kissing each other like no pony else was around.
“Maybe we can give these two lovebirds a little privacy”, said Scootaloo.
“Best idea I heard all day, Scoots!”
What was more pressing on Apple Bloom’s mind than a little PDA was the health of her grandma. The fact that Granny Smith didn’t show up to the graduation was a horrible sign. Apple Bloom knew that Granny wanted to go so badly but she hit some hard times. She could see her siblings from a distance. Apple Bloom knew they knew more than she did.
“Hey Scoots, I gotta find out about Granny from AJ and Big Mac.”
“No problem”, said Scootaloo, “I really hope Granny is ok.”
“Me too. I don’t feel so good thinking about it though. Granny is not the type to miss something as big as this unless her condition was getting worse.”
“Well, good luck”, said Scootaloo, “I’ll go find Rainbow Dash to talk to her about this scooter brigade.”
“You’ll do great”, said Apple Bloom, “but you don’t need me to tell you that!”
After a goodbye wave, Apple Bloom ran over to her siblings to find out what was happening.
Applejack and Big Mac smiled at her.
“Great speech Bloom”, said Applejack, “ah knew you would knock it out the park.”
“Eeyup”, said Big Mac, “really touched our hearts. You’re going to do great things.”
“Thank you both. Ah wish that Granny could have been here.”
“Me too, sugarcube”, said Applejack, “me too.”
“How was Granny since I left?”
Apple Bloom saw the look of dread on both of her older siblings’ faces.
“Errr”, said Applejack, “Granny is not having a great day. She couldn’t get out of bed at all. Or you know..”
“Ah knew it couldn’t be good.”
“But ah don’t want this to ruin your graduation day.”
“Eeyup”, agreed Big Mac.
“Ah had enough fun for a day”, said Apple Bloom, “can we go back home and give Granny some company?”
“Of course, sugarcube”, responded Applejack, “ah am sure Granny will appreciate the company. The stroke didn’t do anything to her wits.”
At least Apple Bloom could be grateful that Granny was still the same pony on the inside. She remembered the trouble that Sweetie Belle went through when her grandfather had dementia. He died not even remembering his own family. And of course – Granny wasn’t going to die, she was going to make it through all of this.
The Apples arrived home.
“Granny, we’re back”, said Applejack.
Apple Bloom heard a, “heavens, you’re back too soon. Go out and enjoy yerselves.”
“We couldn’t stand to leave you all alone”, said Apple Bloom.
“Ah’m just a dyin’ old lady”, said Granny, “not much time left for me.”
Apple Bloom hated when Granny talked like that. Ever since the stroke put Granny out of commission and in bed – she would remind them everyday she was dying.
Apple Bloom and her siblings went into Granny’s room. Granny was just staring at the ceiling and feeling miserable. She couldn’t physically get out of bed anymore.
“Hey Granny”, said Apple Bloom.
“Ah, there’s our newest graduate”, said Granny, “ah never finished high school but of course things were different back then.”
“How are you feeling?”
“The same as this morning”, said Granny with a cough, “ah’m 90 years old- so of course ah’ll die soon.”
“Don’t say that, Granny. You’re going to be with us forever!”
“A young whippersnapper like you has her whole life ahead – don’t you worry about your ol’ Granny.”
“Have faith, Granny. You’ll pull through. You always do.”
“Bloom, yer destined for great things – going to that fancy school in Canterlot. Don’t feel like you need to stay on the farm just because ah can’t help no more.”
“Things will be okay. They need to be.”
Granny coughed and said, “ah don’t think ah’m dying tonight but it’s gonna be soon. Get used to it, my grandchildren.”
Apple Bloom began to cry. She refused to accept the fact that her granny would someday die. Life would be so empty without her. She turned around and saw that Big Mac was crying. Applejack was trying to stay strong, but her eyes were wet.
“Time for me to sleep, ah will see y’all in the morning”, said Granny.
“Rest well”, said Apple Bloom, “you need to recover.” Apple Bloom was so distraught. All she could do was run into her room and let the tears flow. Granny was the closest she ever had to a parental figure. She wished there were something she could do to help her granny rather than offer support. Nothing else seemed to matter now.
Apple Bloom stared out her window. She watched the sun set and then the moon rise. The moon was full tonight. It gave her hope that Granny would at least survive through the night. Exhausted with sadness, Apple Bloom got onto her bed and closed her eyes. She tried to think of a future where Granny fully recovered from her stroke and every pony was happy and healthy.
It took some time, but the young mare finally fell asleep.
Apple Bloom opened her eyes. She saw that her surroundings had completely changed. She was no longer in her bedroom but at Canterlot Castle. What was she doing here?
Apple Bloom could see proud armored ponies from the Royal Guard to her left and right. They didn’t seem alarmed by her presence in the castle so she decided to move onward. She didn’t remember why she went to Canterlot. Her first day at university was three months away.
Apple Bloom could hear a groan. Was that Princess Twilight Sparkle?
She ran up a set of stairs and she was at the door of the Royal Chambers – formerly the bedchambers of Princess Celestia and now those of Princess Twilight Sparkle.
Apple Bloom knocked on the door. No answer. She knocked again. No response. She could hear Twilight talking to someone.
“Spike, I don’t think I can do this. I am just not the pony that Princess Celestia thought I was.”
“That’s nonsense, Twilight. You’ve been doing a great job for three years! Every pony is so proud of you!”
“Certainly they must have noticed that the rising of the moon isn’t quite as precise as it used to be.”
“I haven’t noticed.”
“It’s been off by minutes sometimes! I am sure every pony knows but just doesn’t want to tell me!”
“Heh, I’m a dragon so maybe I don’t..”
“I meant, every creature. Spike, I am at a loss!”
Apple Bloom could feel the pressure that Twilight was putting on herself. She wanted to let them know but it seemed that neither Twilight nor Spike were interrupted by Apple Bloom’s knocking.
Apple Bloom felt her own presence in the castle was odd.
The conversation continued.
“Well, maybe the moon doesn’t need to be perfect.”
“This is Equestria! Everything must be perfect!!”
“Anything I can do to help?”
“Nothing. I can do this on my own!”
Apple Bloom then heard a voice without a body.
“And it is clear that Princess Twilight Sparkle is wrong.”
Princess Luna?
“Princess Luna? Is that you?”
“Yes, Apple Bloom. I am here. Do you know why I brought you here?”
“Where are you? I can’t see you.”
“Oh, oops”, said Luna, “I forgot to turn off the invisibility.”
Apple Bloom was as impressed as ever to see Princess Luna – the former goddess of the moon. Even in her retirement, Luna held a royal presence to her – one which would probably never leave her.
“How’s retirement?”
“Some days, it’s relaxing. Some days, it’s boring. But I must admit that it is time for me to end all of my duties.”
“Is time? Ah thought you fully retired?”
“There is one skill I couldn’t give Princess Twilight Sparkle. My sister wanted me to give it to her but I flat our refused.”
“Why?”
“Paralyzed by the fear of failure and far too jittery. Twilight would be a horrible dream watcher.”
“So, is this a dream?”
“It is not but I brought you here in your slumber. So sorry that your grandmother isn’t doing well by the way.”
“We’re all worried about Granny. Ah wish there were something any pony could do.”
“Me too. I have been alive for over a thousand years and I know that mortality is something none of us can avoid.”
“Even an alicorn?”
“Even alicorns die someday, Apple Bloom, we just live a long time.”
“What about Discord?”
“Hmmm… I hardly think of that nuisance. He might very well be immortal.”
“Oh, so forever chaos?”
“I suppose so”, said Luna with a chuckle.
“So ah wonder, why did you bring me here?”
“Good question, Apple Bloom. I wanted some pony to see what I have been seeing the past three years. Things aren’t quite as easy for Twilight Sparkle as one would think.”
“Ah would imagine it’s real tough trying to take care of the sun and the moon.”
“Exactly. By all accounts, Twilight is doing a good job, but it is costing her sanity and happiness.”
“So why is no other pony helping her?”
“Celestia, my dear sister, sometimes is so blind. She was able to manage the sun and moon for a thousand years since she banished me to the moon. I suppose Celestia tried, at some point, to find a replacement for me but she held out for my reformation. It wasn’t easy on Celestia, but she is a super alicorn, as much as I hate to admit it, more powerful than me or Twilight Sparkle.”
“This is all really interesting and ah imagine that it’s gotta be tough on every pony but why are you telling me this and not some pony who can make a difference?”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Apple Bloom. I have been watching over so many ponies since I returned to Equestria. This will sound crazy to you, I know. Hear me out. I have been looking for my own replacement for some time. Twilight is precious and brilliant, but I never thought she could be Goddess of the Moon. The Princess of Friendship is more suited for the sun. I put my hoof down at giving Twilight my dreamwatching abilities. But I am getting old in my age and am ready to fully retire and Twilight needs help with the moon. I knew I needed a pony with wit, empathy, and ambition. I also needed one who knows life is a tragedy but deals with it.”
“Hold on. Are you saying that..”
“Yes, I want you to replace me as the Goddess of the Moon. I have seen many ponies and you are the best one out there.”
“But that requires becoming an alicorn, ah’m just an earth pony who lives on a farm.”
“There’s a first time for everything”, said Luna, “earth ponies have as much capability of becoming alicorns as unicorns or pegasi.”
“Oh, that makes sense. But what ah meant is that there’s nothing real special about me, ah can’t be an alicorn. Ah’m not like Twilight Sparkle who was practically raised to be Celestia’s little helper.”
“Yes, you are different from Twilight Sparkle. And that’s something I like about you. Despite your current doubts, I have seen a pony with incredible confidence and unstoppable determination. You’ll catch on to the magic stuff unicorns know how to do and magical prowess isn’t the most important quality for my role.”
Apple Bloom was still in shock. Was this some crazy dream? It was something that Apple Bloom had never considered before but Luna was right there talking about how she was perfect for the role.
“What about my family? Ah would have to stay in Canterlot for this job.”
“You’re already planning on attending Canterlot University, aren’t you?”
“Yeah but that isn’t the same.”
“Not too different. You can visit your friends.”
“Ah hardly see Twilight anymore. She’s stuck in that castle.”
“Because she doesn’t have anypony else to help her. So, what do you think?”
“Ah’m honored that you think so highly of me, Luna. But ah need to stay by Granny’s side while she’s feeling sick.”
“That won’t be a problem”, said Luna, “we can train in Ponyville. I can’t make you an alicorn just yet. A few things to learn first!”
“Like what?”
“I have never trained another pony before but I suppose it is learning how to focus the power inside of you. There will also be lessons of flight and magic. You would oversee the moon going forward! I also, dare I say it, would also learn how to inhabit the dreams of other ponies.”
“Wow..that’s a lot. Are you sure that ah am the pony you want?”
“Absolutely, Apple Bloom! Oh, this will be so exciting! In your case…hmmm..what to do? I know! I will give you your own unicorn horn! How does that sound?”
Apple Bloom still couldn’t believe what she was hearing. With a wave of Luna’s horn, Apple Bloom felt something grow out of her forehead. This was definitely odd.
“Are you sure ah’m not dreaming?”
“100%. You are now a unicorn/earth pony. Take a look in the mirror behind you.”
Apple Bloom ran to the mirror. She couldn’t believe it. She had a horn. It was a yellow horn, the same color as her coat. Apple Bloom had no idea how to use it but she certainly had one.
“Wow, wait till ah show this to my family and friends!”
“Yes, this is very real, Bloom. I shall teleport you back to bed. Tomorrow, at 20:00, we shall begin our lessons at Sweet Apple Acres! Nothing about this is secret. You will be the new goddess of the moon!”
“Ah hope ah can make you proud, Princess Luna.”
“Oh please, just call me Luna.”
In a second, Apple Bloom found herself back in her bed. She was still trying to absorb everything that had just happened. Thinking of more immediate matters, Apple Bloom was thinking that she could do something to help Granny once she became an alicorn. The young mare fell asleep.
Apple Bloom woke up. She felt well-rested despite not having slept much. She rubbed her forehead feeling the horn protruding from her head. This was reality.
Apple Bloom got dressed and went outside. She saw that Applejack and Big Mac were already working on the farm. Boy, would they be surprised by her development.
“Hey guys”, shouted Apple Bloom, “guess what’s different about me!”
Applejack and Big Mac paused from their work to look at Apple Bloom.
“Jeez”, said Applejack, “is that what ah think it is?”
“Eeyup”, said Big Mac with a nod.
“Ah am becoming an alicorn!”
“But wait”, said Applejack, “alicorns have wings. You just have the horn.”
“Long story and you probably won’t believe me until you see Princess Luna – or as she now wants me to call her, Luna.”
“Ah did notice you were out of your bed for some time”, said Big Mac, “where did you go?”
“Luna brought me to Canterlot Castle. She was telling me about Twilight Sparkle and her struggles with the job. She said that she needed a pony to raise a moon and well..Luna decided that pony was me.”
Applejack and Big Mac were both speechless. This was surprising.
“You’ll see Luna tonight and maybe ah can help Granny get better with my new powers.”
“So what’s happening exactly”, asked Applejack.
“Luna is going to train me to become an alicorn during the nighttime. She’s gonna teach me all her special tricks and – poof – ah become the next Goddess of the Moon!”
“Ah think that’s real swell, sugarcube. Just don’t get your hopes up about Granny. Otherwise, couldn’t one of those princesses do something now to save her?”
“That’s a good point, but ah got my potions from Zecora. That and the alicorn magic could do wonders! Ah’m hopeful!”
“Well, ah would be thrilled if Granny is all better too! But no matter what, so proud of you – sugarcube. You know how big of a deal this is, don’t you?”
“No clue, sis. Ah’m gonna show off my skills. Even though ah have no idea how to use this thing. Oh, maybe Sweetie Belle can help me! Ah can impress Luna tonight!”
Apple Bloom decided to stroll around Ponyville showing off her horn to those who might care. The only dumb one was Snails who asked if it was a zit.
She then met up with Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and… Button Mash. Why did Button Mash have to go everywhere that Sweetie Belle went?
“Look what ah have on my head!”
“Woah”, said Scootaloo, “that’s so awesome. So you’re a unicorn now?”
“Well”, said Apple Bloom, “unicorn/earth pony. Ah still have my earth pony powers!”
“Did you just wake up with it or is there a reason”, asked Sweetie Belle.
“This is the part which is really going to knock all of you out. Ah had a visit from Princess Luna last night. She said that she is ready to relinquish her position fully and she was looking for a good replacement. And that replacement happens to be me, ah guess.”
“Damn girl”, said Scootaloo, “so does that mean you’re going to become a princess?”
“That’s the plan. Ah have to do some training to Luna. She said she’ll give my wings soon too.”
“Shit”, mumbled Button Mash, “that’s crazy.”
“Ah’m glad you can appreciate it, ‘Mashie’.”
Apple Bloom could see a quick scowl of jealousy from Sweetie Belle which went away in seconds. What? This drama shit again.
“That’s really impressive”, said Button Mash, “I don’t think an earth pony has ever transformed into an alicorn princess.”
“Of course”, said Sweetie Belle, “because Apple Bloom is perfect at everything she does!”
“That’s not true. Ah don’t even know how to use this horn.”
“But you’re getting special training from Luna. Soon you’ll be the greatest magical pony in the whole wide world. Even better than Twilight Sparkle, I bet!”
Apple Bloom could easily tell from Sweetie Belle’s tone that she was angry.
“Ah don’t think so. What do ah know about magic? Ah’m just a simple farm pony.”
“Oh, please”, scoffed Sweetie Belle, “you and your family are basically the backbone of Ponyville’s economy. Don’t give me that crap about simplicity!”
“Umm Sweetie”, said Button Mash, “I don’t think you’re being fair to Apple Bloom.”
“And what are you doing taking Apple Bloom’s side? What? Do you now want to be her coltfriend since she’s going to become some almighty alicorn?”
Apple Bloom felt awkward and just wanted to go home.
“Sweetie Belle, what’s gotten into you”, asked Scootaloo, “we are Cutie Mark Crusaders and we should always support one another.”
“Once Apple Bloom becomes a full-fledged alicorn, do you think she is going to still be a Cutie Mark Crusader?”
Apple Bloom was getting miffed.
“Without a doubt, Sweetie Belle”, responded Apple Bloom, “ah’m amazed that you would ever question my loyalty. Just because ah am doing what Princess Luna wants doesn’t mean ah won’t ever give up on the CMC!”
“I hope so”, said Sweetie Belle, “I’m sorry for my outburst..I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
“If you’ll allow me to still be your friend – ah will always be here. Like how Twilight Sparkle is there for her friends.”
“We barely see Twilight anymore though.”
“That’ll change once ah go to help Twilight with the moon. Ah would never abandon my friends and family!”
“Ok, I want to believe you. But taking Luna’s position isn’t easy – it will be hard work, not effortless perfection.”
“Ah agree with you, sugarcube. But ah will never give up on my friends. You should know that from last year.”
“Yeah, you lost. I know that’s a near impossibility for you.”
Apple Bloom didn’t exactly “lose”. She actually told Button Mash that Sweetie Belle was the better match for him and, honestly, it probably was true. Last year caused a huge riff between Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. It was the most messed up love triangle in the history of high school. Apple Bloom started off selfish and saw Button Mash as somepony needed to be won. But after she saw how it was destroying her friendship with Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom made the conscious decision to give up her pursuit. Especially when the pursuit was actually working, Sweetie Belle and Button Mash were a sorta-item for years but Apple Bloom had to interject herself into that when she decided that she wanted him. It was a mistake that she wasn’t sure that Sweetie Belle ever truly forgave.
“Ah make mistakes all the time and ah accept that. We all do. It’s life.”
“Well”, said Scootaloo, “I just think this is so damn exciting. A Cutie Mark Crusader becoming an alicorn! Can’t wait to hear about how the training goes.”
“Me too”, said Apple Bloom, “should be interesting. Luna said that she never trained a pony before.”
“So does that also mean you’re going to be able to go into other ponies’ dreams and stuff like that?”
“Yeah, Luna specifically said that would be part of my training.”
“I think it’s a great calling. I remember when Princess Luna helped me get over some of my fears back on that camping trip years ago. You’ll make a great alicorn.”
“Ah’ll see what happens. Honestly, don’t know the first thing about it.”
“Yeah you’ll have to tell us how magic works in an earth pony”, said Sweetie Belle.
“I suppose the same way that Princess Twilight Sparkle could fly when she became an alicorn or how Princess Cadence could do magic”, said Button Mash, “when you become an alicorn – you essentially take on all three of the pony races. So, I think we know the answer to that question already.”
“Only problem is, ah don’t know how to use this horn at all. Been thinking about it all day. How does the magic work? Doesn’t feel as natural as ah am sure it does for a real unicorn like Sweetie Belle.”
“I wouldn’t worry about it. I’m sure Princess Cadence went through the same thing.”
“Ah appreciate the encouragement, Button Mash.”
Nighttime was approaching. Apple Bloom was back at Sweet Apple Acres.
Despite it being a summer night, it was chillier than usual. The weather reports didn’t indicate this would happen. Apple Bloom wondered if the colder weather was by another design. She had no clue what to expect. Sweetie Belle didn’t seem to be in the mood to help and Apple Bloom didn’t have time to ask other unicorns in Ponyville. Apple Bloom still found it odd. Out of all ponies, Luna picked her. Was she deserving of this position and would she let Luna down? This must have been how Twilight felt with Princess Celestia every day of her life.
She knew her training was beginning – as she heard a booming voice from the sky, “Ms. Apple Bloom, tonight shall be the first of your lessons to become the next Goddess of the Moon! Are you ready?”
Apple Bloom knew this was the point of no return. She was ready to take in whatever was going to happen.
“Luna, ah’m ready. For whatever we are going to do!”
“Excellent. We shall proceed with instruction.”
Luna appeared in front of Apple Bloom.
“That was so cool how you did that. Will that be part of my lessons?”
“Everything will be part of your lessons”, responded Luna, “so, how are you liking your horn?”
“Ah’m liking it so far. But ah don’t quite know how to use it yet.”
“Of course. I didn’t give you unicorn magic yet! I only gave you the physical properties of a unicorn.”
“Oh ah got it.”
“So the first thing we will want to do is raise the moon. Of course, tonight you’ll observe.”
Apple Bloom nodded with anticipation. She noticed for the first time that the sky was missing the sun and the moon.
“I instructed Twilight Sparkle to take the night off”, continued Luna, “poor girl – she’s exhausted.”
“Does she know?”
“Yes, she does. Twilight actually commended me on making an excellent choice!”
Apple Bloom blushed at the compliment. She was amazed so many ponies felt confident that she could handle the job.
“Raising the moon is perhaps one of the easier parts of my job. It has a predictable pattern and has a cycle. Tonight is a slightly less full moon over Sweet Apple Acres than last night. Watch and learn.”
Apple Bloom saw Luna swirl her head around in a counterclockwise fashion three times. Luna then emitted a beam of magic from her horn. The rest of her environment seemed frozen in time. Apple Bloom supposed that wasn’t part of her imagination.
The moon began to rise into the air. Where it came from? Apple Bloom honestly didn’t know. The moon reached its usual position. She had noticed that this moon was only about 90% full. Luna made the job seem so easy.
“So, Apple Bloom – have you observed what I have performed?”
“Yes, Luna. Ah saw the way you moved your head and then the moon rose into the air.”
“It needs to be fairly precise”, said Luna, “but it has a perfectly logical pattern to it -as the moon goes from full to empty to full and etc and etc. You just need to remember what the moon looked like the night before?”
“Ah am sure Twilight was good at that.”
“Twilight wasn’t made for the night. You, despite your upbringing on a farm, are one for the night.”
“Heh”, said Apple Bloom, “my family and ah sometimes do our best work at night.”
“The hard part is timing the setting of the sun and the rising of the moon perfectly. It does take a lot of energy out of a pony. Twilight knew that but she is too proud to ask for help.”
“You made it look so easy. Something tells me it will take time for me to be perfect.”
Luna laughed and said, “it doesn’t need to be absolutely perfect. Twilight drove herself crazy getting the moon up to the exact fraction. I never did that and you certainly don’t either. I said the moon needs to be fairly precise but not perfectly so.”
“Ah think ah can do that but am ah at a disadvantage because ah never used magic before?”
“Definitely not”, said Luna, “as your earth pony powers came naturally to you – your unicorn powers will do the same once I give you your magic.”
“Wow, I don’t even know where to start – this is incredible.”
“Ready to get your magic?”
Apple Bloom nodded.
“Let’s begin.”
Luna closed her eyes and emitted a magnificently large purple beam outside of her horn. The beam rose into the air and then landed right onto Apple Bloom.
Surprisingly, the beam didn’t knock Apple Bloom over. She simply absorbed it and felt her body tingle. Was this the unicorn magic? Apple Bloom just took it all in without fear. She trusted Luna to keep her alive.
Apple Bloom felt different. The young mare could have sworn that she grew a little bit.
“Now, Apple Bloom, you are partially the way there to becoming an alicorn.”
“My horn feels different. It’s like ah definitely notice its presence now.”
“This is customary for unicorns. It is now a part of you.”
“So how do ah work this thing?”
“We are going to start with a basic skill – movement of objects.”
“Ah’m ready.”
“You probably feel a little tingle in your horn. This is perfectly natural for unicorns and how magic works.”
“So what do ah do?”
“You need to focus and direct the magic on an object of your choice.”
“Only objects near us are apple trees. Ah have rarely seen unicorns be able to lift up objects so large!”
“I have a solution for that”, said Luna with a smile. With effortless perfection, Luna had used her horn to shrink down one of the apple trees to a tiny fraction of its size.
“Woah”, said Apple Bloom, “can most unicorns do that?”
“No they cannot”, responded Luna, “only the most magically skilled unicorns and the alicorns. So, can you move this tree now?”
Apple Bloom focused on the tree. She could feel the magic tingling aggressively from her horn. But she had trouble focusing the magic. Apple Bloom closed her eyes and snarled. But the magic fizzled.
“Nothing happened.”
“Keep trying”, said Luna, “consider yourself like a baby unicorn just learning how to use magic. This is perfectly normal.”
Apple Bloom tried to move the tree again. She was impressed that Luna had even shrunken the roots. She decided to focus on the direction. Apple Bloom tried moving the tree a little to the right. She could hear the roots begin to lose their grip on the apple tree. Was this really happening?
Apple Bloom could feel some sparks of magic leave her horn and land on the apple tree. The very tiny apple tree rose from the ground broken off from its roots.
Apple Bloom let the tree levitate in the air for a little bit – admittedly anxious that she was going to drop the tree on the ground.
“Are you going to do anything with the tree”, asked Luna.
“Ah’m still thinking about it.” Apple Bloom still found it unbelievable that she could even do this. Never in her wildest imagination did Apple Bloom think she could have unicorn powers – and eventually, she would be able to fly.
With that, the tree fell to the ground. The tree only made a tiny thud but some of the miniature apples fell off from the tree.
“Apple Bloom, you must focus. We must try again.” Luna levitated the tiny apple tree and planted it back on the ground.
“Round two”, said Luna, “where do you wish to move the tree?”
“Ah guess we could move the tiny tree by our pond.”
“Admirable goal. Now, focus. Think about where the tree should be. This is what we, with unicorn magic, do every day.”
Apple Bloom nervously chuckled. What did she get herself into?
Apple Bloom decided it was time to be totally serious. She conjured up the destination she needed the tree to travel. Apple Bloom tried the magic again. The same process as before. The tree was uplifted from the ground. She focused on the pond and, to her surprise, the tree was making its way to the pond. It seemed the magical sparks from Apple Bloom’s horn knew what she was thinking – it was kinda creepy in a way..but a useful creepy, thought Apple Bloom.
The magic carried the tree closer and closer to the pond. She couldn’t believe that this was actually happening. This was so cool!
The tree landed right by the pond as Apple Bloom had wanted. She wasn’t able to get the tree to stand upright and watched as the tiny tree fell into the pond. At this point, all the apples had split apart from the tree.
“Well, that didn’t quite go like ah expected”, said Apple Bloom.
“Excellent progress! You are doing great. I think you are getting the gist of telekinesis.”
“Ah tried to get the tree upright but it fell in the pond.”
“It takes practice, Apple Bloom, but you see how your magic improved when you put in the right focus.”
“Yeah, ah do. Ah focused on where I wanted the tree to go – not on whether ah could get it there. Is this really what unicorns do all the time?”
“Yes, but I will teach you to be much better than the average unicorn. Of course, your powers will automatically increase in strength once you become an alicorn. I believe this is it for tonight’s lessons – but same time tomorrow?”
“Absolutely, thank you Princess Luna!”
“I encourage you to keep practicing what we did tonight. And we will move on to tougher exercises tomorrow.”
Apple Bloom was thrilled. She couldn’t wait to learn more magic!
Apple Bloom woke up filled with excitement. She couldn’t wait to tell every pony what she had learned about magic. Apple Bloom jumped out of bed and was ready to test out her magical skills.
However, what Apple Bloom saw stunned her. She could see Applejack and Big Mac standing still by Granny’s door. Both of them looked devastated.
“Sugar cube”, said Applejack, “we got some bad news.”
“Huh? Is..is..Granny..”
“She’s not dead but she ain’t doing well at all.”
“Nope”, said Big Mac with tears in his eyes.
“What happened?”
“We wanted to wait till you woke up – didn’t want to disturb your magic lessons”, said Applejack, “but Granny fell into a coma. She’s in the hospital now. The doctor said that…the doctor said..oh .. I can’t even say it.”
“No, it can’t be! Ah am gonna figure out how to save Granny Smith!”
“It takes at least eight years to become a doctor, sugarcube.”
“But ah have my magic and my potions! Ah swear to you both! Granny will be back in our home soon – happy and healthy! Ah am going to make it happen. You both will see!” Apple Bloom began to cry. She couldn’t believe this was happening.
“Would you like to go to the hospital with us?”
“Of course! Let’s get going. Zecora taught me this real powerful wake-up position. Maybe it will take Granny out of her coma.”
“I wish”, said Big Mac, “don’t think that’s how waking ponies out of comas work.”
“Let’s ask the doctor!”
“We want Granny to get through this as much as you”, said Applejack, “but every pony has an expiration date, you know – except those high and mighty alicorns which hey, that’ll be you soon!”
The thought of extreme longevity wasn’t appealing to Apple Bloom at the moment.
Apple Bloom and her siblings arrived at the hospital. This was such a sad moment for the three Apples. None of them wanted to talk about Granny and her condition. They saw a nurse pony.
“Hello”, said Applejack, “we’re er.. here to see Granny Smith.”
The nurse pony said, “oh, of course. Let me take you to Granny’s room.” The three of them followed the nurse pony.
Apple Bloom couldn’t believe what she saw. Applejack wasn’t exaggerating. There was Granny hooked up to a feeding tube and doing nothing.
“Thank you nurse”, said Applejack.
“Sure thing”, said the nurse pony, “if you need anything, just ring that bell over there.”
“Certainly.”
The nurse pony left.
Apple Bloom was feeling useless. She tried to think of what she could do to help Granny. Apple Bloom groaned. How would being able to move a couple of objects be able to help Granny?
“Ah wish there were more ah could do to help Granny! This horn is so dang useless!”
“So what can you do with that horn now”, asked Applejack.
“Well, Luna taught me how to move objects last night. It was real fun. Oh, maybe Luna can help me get Granny out of this coma! And we’ll all be back to normal!”
“If a little unicorn magic could stop a pony from dying, we would have a lot less dead ponies around.”
“Luna is more than just a little unicorn magic. She’s an alicorn and ah am on my way to becoming one too!”
“Then why don’t all those alicorns just go in and stop ponies from dying? Sugarcube, hate to break it to ya but there’s nothing you and ah can do except hope that modern medicine does its trick!”
Apple Bloom knew that Applejack had sound logic, but she didn’t want to believe it. There had to be something she could do.
“Ah think ah know what Granny would want”, said Big Mac, “she would go and tell us, ‘don’t go worryin’ about me’, but of course ah’m worried sick!” Apple Bloom felt especially bad for Big Mac. He never talked about his recent loss – but Big Mac was the youngest widower that Apple Bloom ever knew. Poor Sugar Belle – cancer is a bitch. Losing Granny too would be an especially big blow for her brother even if he never showed his pain.
“We all are”, added Applejack, “maybe that nurse pony knows more about her condition.”
Apple Bloom took that opportunity to ring the bell. In a flash, the nurse arrived. Apple Bloom took note that the nurse was a unicorn.
“Umm, Ms. Nurse Pony”, said Apple Bloom.
“Please, call me Daisy Fields – or Daisy.”
“Daisy, can you tell us more about Granny’s condition.”
“Oh dear”, said Daisy nervously, “I..I…”
“You can be honest with us”, said Applejack, “we’re Apples – we can handle it.”
“Very well”, said Daisy, “we have been doing tests and it er.. appears that the likelihood of Granny waking up from her coma is quite slim.”
“Damn”, said Applejack, “ah figured. All we can do though is hope for the best. You say that there’s a chance, right?”
“Certainly”, said Daisy, “Doctor Stable and I think there’s a chance. But Granny’s brain has too much damage. Even if she wakes up, she may never be the same again.”
“Ah have something that could help”, piped Apple Bloom, “you see ah’m training to become an alicorn!”
“Oh, I did notice your horn”, said Daisy with a smile, “how are you liking it?”
“Real good”, said Apple Bloom, “ah am learning how to move objects. Being trained by Princess Luna herself, she will help me save Granny and bring her to back to her normal self!”
“I like your spirit”, said Daisy, “honestly, I was never that good at magic. My dad was a unicorn, but my mom is an earth pony. You probably know more magic than me to be honest. I grew up with my mom and brother – both earth ponies. Never knew my dad.”
“Ah have very few memories of my parents”, said Apple Bloom with a frown, “Granny is basically my mom and dad. Sorry about your dad.”
“It’s okay”, said Daisy, “I just sincerely hope that Granny is ok.”
“Me too. Just keep us posted on Granny. Ah know y’all are doing the best you can to help her. But ah will be working just as hard to try to save her!”
“Certainly. I wish I could offer better news for all of you. Sorry.”
Apple Bloom surprised herself at how she was the chattiest of the Apples right now. Usually Applejack would do all the talking while she and Big Mac didn’t say much.
“Thank you, Daisy. We are lucky to have you taking care of Granny. Ah can tell that you’re a real caring pony”, said Applejack, “you know how to reach us with any updates.”
“Certainly”, said Daisy, “Granny is such an important part of Ponyville. We are all rooting for her!”
“Ah’m gonna go look up some of my potions now”, said Apple Bloom, “something in there must help Granny!”
“There goes my sister thinking she can save everypony”, said Applejack.
“Maybe that’s why Luna picked me”, said Apple Bloom, “because ah will save the world!”
Apple Bloom ran back to the farm.
She looked anxiously through her notes on potions. There had to be something!
Apple Bloom spent what must have been hours doing her research. She knew that Zecora had plenty of rejuvenating potions and Apple Bloom even invented one of her own. However, those were for healing things like boo-boos not going into a coma. The young mare was at a loss. She groaned with frustration. Why does everything have to be so hard?
Apple Bloom noticed that neither Applejack nor Big Mac were back home. They must have still been staying by Granny’s side. Apple Bloom face-palmed. She should have been there too. What the hell was she thinking that she could find a cure so easily?
No, no, no, thought Apple Bloom, she was smart and determined! If any pony could think of a solution, it was her. She thought about if there was anything with magic which affected the brain which she could use to her advantage. Apple Bloom had so many questions to ask Luna tonight. She had thought about cancelling the second night of training due to Granny’s worsening condition, but perhaps she would learn some new things.
Apple Bloom perhaps could enhance one of her potions with unicorn magic and that would be the trick to waking up Granny. She needed to try. She knew how awful her life would be if Granny were to die. Apple Bloom already felt the emptiness from Granny in her coma. She worked out some equations to see if she could figure something out now.
After a couple more hours, Apple Bloom began to grow tired. She didn’t want to give up but then she looked at the clock. Crap, her training was in five minutes. Apple Bloom rushed out to the deep part of her property. If any pony would know how to save Granny, it was certainly Princess Luna!
She saw a flash of lightning in the air. It looked like it was headed towards the path of one of the apple trees but it never hit.
Apple Bloom then heard a voice, must have been Luna.
“My pupil, you must let me know what you are up for tonight!”
“Errr..ah’m not sure. What’s the most logical thing to learn next?’
“It depends on you.”
“What do you mean?”
“I know about Granny’s condition. I was saddened to hear the news. My best wishes to your grandmother. I wish there were something I could do to help.”
“But you’re an alicorn – don’t they have almighty powers?”
“It doesn’t work like that. Do you really think we would let so many ponies die if we could stop the process?”
“What about making Granny an alicorn?”
“My child”, said Luna, “there is still so much you need to learn. I sympathize with you of course. But we alicorns do not have infinite power.”
Apple Bloom gave a nod showing her understanding.
“And we need to be very careful about giving our own alicorn powers to others. Celestia didn’t just magically wave her horn and Twilight became a princess. No, my sister had to give up some of her power – she made herself weaker to make Twilight who she is. This is the same thing I plan to do for you.”
“Oh, ok. That makes sense – ah suppose. What if ah were to give my alicorn magic to Granny so that she can live forever?”
“That would be a waste honestly”, said Luna, “not in a life – I mean, that the alicorn magic needs to go into some pony youthful and with potential. Your grandmother wouldn’t age backwards. She would be permanently 90 years old. She would be an alicorn with horns and wings, yes. But she would still be an elderly mare with limited energy.”
“All of this seems awfully convenient leading to the inevitable conclusion which ah so dread.”
“I’m sorry, Apple Bloom. I’m so sorry. Your grandmother is an incredible pony and she deserves full health and happiness.”
Apple Bloom sighed. Her sister was right. There was nothing she could do to help Granny stay alive.
“So..um..what sort of advice would you give to me?”
“Your grandmother knows that you love her. She knows that you are always there for her. My only advice would be to continue supporting her. She’s fighting to live. Maybe a miracle will happen, but I do know that your grandmother would want you to achieve to your full potential.”
“Ah know that’s true. Granny would always tell me, ‘don’t go worrying about me – ah just want you to live a happy life’. But ah don’t think ah can without Granny. You know very well that she was my only parent.”
“I know, Apple Bloom”, said Luna, “death is never easy. I have been alive for over one thousand years. I have befriended many ponies who have perished. For those you love, it never is easy.”
“So would ah really want to keep living as the Goddess of the Moon? More than Granny are gonna leave me. By the time ah am your age, ah will have lost so many.”
“But you will have gained so much. The chance to be an alicorn is one that very very few ponies get. You will be helping all of Equestria. And I believe in my heart that you, Apple Bloom, are the only one fit to take over my position. I’ve been around for a long time, I know.”
“Ah still can’t believe that you think so highly of me.”
“Most ponies accept their lot in life and just take it. You clearly have shown that you are committed to making your life and the lives of those around you as great as possible. Your determination to find the cure for your grandmother’s illness speaks further volumes to why I want you to be my replacement.”
“But almost every pony ah know and love is going to die well before me.”
“Yes, that will be hard. You will still have some friends going through the same thing as you.”
“Ah never really got to know Twilight Sparkle that well, to be honest. Ah know she’s one of Applejack’s closest friends but still..”
“I see”, said Luna, “I suppose that makes sense – your closest friends then would be your fellow Cutie Mark Crusaders.”
“Of course but ah feel once ah become an alicorn – Sweetie Belle is going to write me off. She’s so jealous of me and ah made a couple of mistakes.”
“I’ve been watching some of your dreams and Sweetie Belle’s. Sweetie Belle will not hate you when you become an alicorn – I promise that. Yes, she fears that you will take her coltfriend away but she is so proud of you – even if she doesn’t necessarily show it. She does worry that you don’t think very highly of her – like she’s a simpleton.”
“Ah guess you had a similar relationship with your sister.”
“You could say that. Tia was never good at giving me praise and, frankly, I wasn’t good at giving her praise either. We never hated one another. But there were some dreadful miscommunications which led to my transformation to Nightmare Moon. Let Sweetie Belle know that she’s an important part of your life and some of the conflict will end.”
“That will be easy”, said Apple Bloom, “ah would never be who ah am without Sweetie Belle or Scootaloo! Ah made a horrible mistake by trying to make Button Mash mine.”
“And why was that? He barely registers in your subconscious.”
“Ah guess ah just felt the need to win. And didn’t think of the consequences. He became hot in high school and ah felt making Button Mash mine was my ticket to becoming somepony valuable.”
“Value”, said Luna thoughtfully, “no other pony determines your value – not even me. You are the only one who determines your value.”
“Ah was young and stupid”, said Apple Bloom, “and ah know it would be stupid of me to turn down this opportunity.”
“So, are you ready for your next lesson?”
“Yes, ah believe ah am all ready! Thank you for your guidance, Princess Luna.”
“Anytime. Our first task will be a recap on yesterday. Are you still able to move objects effectively?”
Apple Bloom had no time to practice given the situation with Granny but she said, “let me see if ah can get those apples off that tree.”
Apple Bloom focused on the apple tree. She furrowed her brows. Hoping that the tree would make things easy for her. Apple Bloom pointed her horn upwards and focused on moving the apples off their tree home.
Seemed like the apples were not so easy to move off. Apple Bloom decided to change her strategy to focusing on one apple. As she did that, she saw the apple begin to move away from the tree branch. The apple made it off and flew slowly to Apple Bloom – she had done it almost effortlessly when there was only one apple in her focus. Apple Bloom smiled to herself.
“Very good”, said Luna, “you are getting the hang of this magic thing!”
“Ah think my horn is starting to agree with me.”
“This is essentially the spell that most unicorns know how to perform. You are now just as proficient as a typical unicorn!”
“Ah don’t think ah’m ready to move objects the way a typical unicorn can yet. It took a lotta focus for me to get that apple off the tree!”
“You’re a quick study”, said Luna, “now, I know one of your extracurricular hobbies is potion-making.”
“Yeah, ah always found it to be so cool!”
“I think our next lesson should be you concocting one of those potions with your magic.”
“You really think? Wouldn’t it be hard to mix all the ingredients so precisely with my baby magic?”
“That’s why I’m here to teach you. I instruct and then you can do. Believe in yourself.”
“Ah wonder what ah can do with a little unicorn magic with these potions.”
“Surprisingly, not much more. It’s just another way to prepare a potion. These have been skills for those of the earth – not one of the skies or spells.”
“So what potion do you want me to make? Ah know them all!”
“Up to you, Bloom.”
Apple Bloom thought about it. What would be the best potion for this situation? She thought again of Granny. She deeply wished she had something that could make Granny feel all better. But there was nothing. Apple Bloom was excited to try out a potion though.
“Luna, ah was thinking maybe the rejuvenating potion. We have almost everything right here on the farm. If ah can make it more efficient with my magic, that would be perfect!”
“Sounds like a great idea, Apple Bloom. I’m looking forward to seeing the results.”
Apple Bloom was quick to work. She picked an easy potion because she wanted to show results. All it required was some apples, grass, water, and pig hair. The pig hair would be the hardest item to get. Apple Bloom pulled some apples off the trees using her magic. The young mare felt like she was on Cloud Nine with her powers. Apple Bloom let the apples gather in a field. She pulled a total of six. That would be more than enough for the rejuvenating potion and some more. Did a princess like Luna eat apples, thought Apple Bloom.
Apple Bloom used her unicorn magic to pull a bucket towards the small lake and watched as the water flew up in the air and landed seamlessly into the bucket. This was too easy! She then moved the bucket of water next to the apples.
Since the grass was small, it was harder for the new unicorn to unroot than she hoped. Apple Bloom wasn’t a quitter. It was just like the apples – just smaller roots. Apple Bloom narrowed her focus on the grass as much as she could. It took a couple moments but the grass began to release itself from the ground. With a newfound confidence, Apple Bloom catapulted the grass into her pile.
She wondered whether the potion could work without pig hair. That was going to be crazy to get with unicorn magic. Apple Bloom usually had to sneak up on a pig, tackle it and snip off its hair with some scissors. She supposed it was the same concept as the grass or apples – just different roots.
“Do you have all the ingredients”, asked Luna.
“Not yet”, said Apple Bloom, “one more. Ah just need to go to the barn!’
“Okay, I’ll be waiting here.”
Apple Bloom ran to the barn and went to where the pigs were sleeping. The pigs ranged from small to large based on age. She decided that trying for one of the piglets would be enough.
There was a little pink piglet sleeping peacefully. Apple Bloom quietly used her horn to focus on the little pig hairs. These hairs were tiny, but it was certainly better than trying to provoke one of the large adult pigs.
Apple Bloom put her focus on the little pig and her hairs. She gingerly used her magic to lightly snip off the hairs. She got a few of them which she levitated in the air. But she needed some more to make the potion. Apple Bloom began to take off more of the hairs at a quicker pace. She was really getting the hang of this magic stuff! Easy peasy!
Apple Bloom was so focused on collecting the hairs that she was not paying much attention to her surroundings. Until she heard heavy breathing. She turned around and saw the largest pig staring right at her – the one that was considered the alpha pig. He was a large black pig and he looked angry.
Apple Bloom yelped and began to run while keeping the hairs levitated above her head. The pig pursued her. Apple Bloom was a little faster but the pig was persistent. She just wanted to get the hairs with the rest of the ingredients. The pig was beginning to catch up but not before Apple Bloom stealthily levitated the hairs and let them float in the bucket of water.
But the alpha pig wasn’t finished with Apple Bloom yet! He lunged at Apple Bloom and pinned her down. Apple Bloom tried to use her magic to move the pig away but he was too strong.
Apple Bloom was about to cry for help but suddenly the pig let go of her and walked back to the barn.
“You’re welcome”, said Luna with a smile, “this doesn’t surprise me since I know you are the daring type.”
“You really saved my ass over there, can’t thank you enough Luna.”
“Did you get enough pig hairs for your potion?”
“Ah’ll find out but ah think so.”
Apple Bloom approached her pile of ingredients. The bucket would be the perfect petri dish for her potion. She used her magic to slice up the apples and threw them in the bucket along with the pig hairs. She stirred it altogether and then put in the grass – all with her magic. Apple Bloom turned around occasionally to make sure that she wasn’t going to be attacked by a pig. Boy that would be a story to tell Granny once she wakes up!
Apple Bloom wasn’t quite sure how much magic for the potion to be in process. However, she wouldn’t know without trying. Everything was mixed together and the potion turned into layers of red and green – just like how the potion was intended to be!
“Luna”, said Apple Bloom, “ah think ah’m done with the rejuvenating potion.”
“I’ve been watching”, said Luna, “you are definitely catching on with using unicorn magic. Soon you will be raising the moon just like me!”
“Seems like a tall order, Princess Luna.”
“You’ll see that it isn’t so bad once I decide to grant you alicorn status.”
“Does that mean ah will be getting wings soon?”
“Yes”, said Luna, “I think we will begin flying lessons in about a week or two. Honestly, it’s easier to master than unicorn magic – so that’s why I gave you the horn first.”
“Only problem though, how are we gonna test this potion? Nobody needs rejuvenation around here.”
“The success of the potion wasn’t the point of this exercise”, said Luna, “you made it only using unicorn magic. How was the experience for you?”
“Definitely different than anything else ah learned, Luna. Ah can’t believe ah actually did all of that. Certainly not easy though.”
“Oh, you will get the hang of it”, said Luna, “every baby unicorn does.”
“Ah met a unicorn in the hospital today. Real nice nurse. She said that she never really learned how to use magic.”
“She must be a hybrid. Sometimes hybrids can’t do magic no matter how hard they try. But honestly, she’s a rare case. Honestly, not even a real unicorn despite possessing the horn. But you know what I mean.”
“Ah sure do. So am ah now a real unicorn?”
“You’re better than a real unicorn”, said Luna with pride, “you are going to become a real alicorn! You will have earth pony strengths, pegasus strengths and unicorn strengths. All three in one! But you are kind of like a baby unicorn now with your magic, it’s kinda cute actually.”
“Ah will get out of my babyhood real soon – you’ll see!”
“Practice makes perfect.”
“So what’s next in our lessons?”
“This next lesson will take us out of Sweet Apple Acres. As you well know, while Equestria advocates for peace – things are not always peaceful. There are threats to our land and as an alicorn, you will need to learn how to fight. I shall teach you the art of combat.”
“Oh a’hm ready for that. Ah’m an Apple and we Apples are strong – never back out from a fight!”
“My strong Apple, you shall be facing a formidable foe tonight one on one.”
“And who might that foe be?”
“This one is a dangerous sort. Tricky and powerful. A baby unicorn would have a hard time facing this foe – but the foe will go easy on the baby unicorn.”
“Wait, am ah going to be fighting you?”
“Precisely. This will be a learning experience as you learn the ways of unicorn combat. You will have a Royal Guard but you must know how to defend yourself. Through convenient struggles, Twilight Sparkle has learned to do this. Thankfully, I think your route will be a lot simpler.”
“Oh wow. Honestly ah have no idea what to expect?”
“You don’t, huh? Well, I suppose this makes sense. We will teleport to the Royal Grounds. This is where ‘Tia and I used to play against each other. I am the better fighter but Tia is a cheater.”
“Ah’m sure you have some of your own sneaky moves too, Luna.”
“Well, let’s see about that!”
“Okie dokie lokie!”
Luna transported herself and Apple Bloom to the Royal Grounds. The Royal Grounds would have been an open grassy field except for the stone walls surrounding that field.
“This is so exciting”, said Luna, “I never taught a pony how to fight before!”
“Ah sure am glad to be your guinea pig.”
“First, we need to armor up!”
Luna created armor out of thin air and armored suits landed perfectly on both Luna and Apple Bloom.
“It’s a little hard to see out of this armor”, said Apple Bloom.
“Yes it is”, said Luna, “but you will need it to fight!”
Apple Bloom was thinking in her head how she could even shoot out powerful beams of magic. This was going to be an interesting series of events.
Luna said in a commanding voice, “Are you ready, Apple Bloom?”
Apple Bloom was nervous. She had no idea what to expect from this combat training. She didn’t even know how to use her new horn yet.
But Apple Bloom said, “I am ready, Luna. Show me what you got!”
“Baby unicorn, I shall teach you how to focus your magic into a powerful beam. Step aside. I do not want to hit you yet.”
That’s a relief, thought Apple Bloom.
“Rather than using your magic to move an object – you need to concentrate your magic inside into one point. The sparks will push amongst one another with an eagerness to escape your horn. They concentrate into a powerful beam which can shoot out at intruders.”
“That’s so cool”, said Apple Bloom, “you unicorns have the cool tricks.”
“Most unicorns cannot do what I am about to teach you effectively”, said Luna, “actually the extreme power come from the earth pony part of us. You’re learning as a baby almost-alicorn. Now, observe and learn.”
Luna brought her focus onto the stone wall. She quickly swirled her horn and a large purple beam was emitted from her horn. The beam went out and hit the wall causing the stone to break apart.
“Woah, that was amazing”, said Apple Bloom, “ah can’t believe that any pony could do that, wow!”
“It’s an alicorn thing”, said Luna nonchalantly, “soon, you’ll be able to do this too. Now, I want you to try.”
Apple Bloom could feel the sparks tingling inside her horn. She furrowed her brow and put her focus on a closed portion of the stone wall.
She needed to get this down especially if she was going to be going into combat in her new role. Apple Bloom thought about the strength she needed to put in when bucking apples off trees.
She was ready. One, two, three.
A yellowish beam of magic was working its way out of Apple Bloom’s horn but it fizzled out.
“Aw, dang it.”
“Don’t give up, Bloom. Not bad for a first try. You almost got it!”
Apple Bloom kept trying and trying. The next five attempts were all duds – some worse than others. This wasn’t something that any pony could do. She was going to be the next Goddess of the Moon. But it was okay to not be perfect. Apple Bloom just needed to do her best.
Through trial and error, Apple Bloom was figuring out what was working and what wasn’t working. First of all, she realized that she needed to give the sparks time to gather which seemed counterintuitive to how fast Luna did it. Secondly, Apple Bloom couldn’t lose focus – not even for 1/100 of a second. She must have tried another fifteen tries and still no beam would shoot out. The best she could do was get a beam out of her horn for a few seconds just to watch it evaporate into thin air.
“You are getting so close”, said Luna, “the only advice I can give you: Pow!”
The young mare was confused at first, pow? But then she tried again with a beam of magic which she could see – she was getting close and… POW!! The beam shot out of her horn and hit the stone wall. It bounced off the wall and began to boomerang its way right back to Apple Bloom. She managed to dodge the beam before it hit another part of the wall. It was chaos.
Luna giggled and then said, “that’s so cute. I think your magic wants to play with you.”
“Ah’m not so sure ah want to play with it.”
“Maybe we should play with it a little.” Luna blasted a beam of magic out from her horn. It was larger than the one Apple Bloom created.
Luna’s beam collided with Apple Bloom’s beam. Luna won this battle with flying colors. Luna’s purple beam “ate” Apple Bloom’s yellow beam. Luna then redirected the beam to break off another portion of the wall.
“Holy crap”, said Apple Bloom with shock, “you make it look so easy.”
“I consider it a success”, said Luna, “you know how to generate your own magic beams. Until you are an alicorn, no beam you create will be strong enough to break apart a stone wall.”
“So how am ah supposed to face you in combat?”
“A great question, Apple Bloom. I think I can go easy on you.”
“Ah am ready to fight!”
“First, we must get into our stances.”
Luna bent her knees and straightened her back. She directed her horn right at Apple Bloom
“Now, get in your stance – Apple Bloom. See what I did.”
Apple Bloom bent her knees and attempted to straighten her back at the same time. It was a tough stance to imitate. She couldn’t do it without her legs shaking.
Apple Bloom felt like she was going to fall on the ground.
“Stance”, repeated Luna.
“Ah’m trying.”
“Stance is key for making sure you have control over your magic – especially in combat.”
Apple Bloom focused on focusing. Her muscles felt like they were aching but she felt like she finally got the stance.
“Good good”, said Luna, “I think you are getting the hang of it. Now we can begin battle. I am ready.”
Apple Bloom awkwardly kept her position in place. She knew that there was no room for failure here.
“Aim for my armor”, said Luna.
Apple Bloom stayed in position and aimed for Luna’s body armor. She shot a beam of magic and watched as it hit the armor causing it to slightly crack.
“Excellent hit”, said Luna with encouragement, “now I shall mimic that move.”
Apple Bloom was nervous. Would she actually be hurt by this?
But she bravely watched as Luna emitted an identical beam from her horn and directed it right at Apple Bloom. The beam tore into Apple Bloom’s armor and she noticed her left side was no longer covered. Apple Bloom felt no pain from this display.
“Looks like you took off a lot of my armor”, said Apple Bloom.
“This is normal for alicorns in training, I have heard.”
Apple Bloom wondered if Twilight went through similar training with Celestia. She would have to ask Twilight next time she saw her.
“Alright”, said Apple Bloom, “ah’m ready to make my next move.” She focused into making a stronger blow of magic. It was larger and more concentrated than her first beam. This time, it hit Luna on her right side. The armor was beginning to open more but still largely intact.
“Ah’m not giving up”, said Apple Bloom.
“Alright, my turn.”
Luna seamlessly generated a beam of magic which pushed Apple Bloom backwards at least two meters. Apple Bloom didn’t feel any pain but she noticed that her armor had vanished.
“It looks like I have won the battle”, said Luna, “but you are showing great promise in combat. I think you will be better than Twilight once you finish your training.”
“You really think so, Princess?”
“Absolutely. I have so much experience on my side. Of course, I will be stronger than you are now. For now, I want to give you the opportunity to pierce my armor.”
Apple Bloom increased her focus tenfold. She wanted to prove to herself that she could handle magic. She could feel the pressure of the sparks tingling throughout her whole body now. Apple Bloom was determined to break off Luna’s armor.
Here goes nothing, thought Apple Bloom.
Apple Bloom generated her most powerful magic beam yet. It escaped her horn and hit Luna pushing her back a distance. Once the beam evaporated, Apple Bloom was shocked to see that Luna’s armor was gone.
“Wow”, muttered Apple Bloom, “was that really me?”
“Yes it was, you aren’t a baby in training anymore”, said Luna, “you have a gift. I am more convinced every night that you are the right choice.”
“Soon ah might be able to help Twilight – like how you and Celestia help each other.”
“Twilight will always have the edge over you with spells, but that was just… so powerful. Invaders of Equestria will learn to fear your power, Apple Bloom.”
“What if that was just a fluke? What ah did?”
“That was no fluke. You are an adept fighter. I am proud of you.”
“Thank you, Luna. Ah appreciate that.”
“I think we will have a few more nights of magic lessons and then I can give you your wings. You will learn the Art of the Pegasus. After that, I can finally teach you my special moon powers.”
“Can’t wait to learn how to raise the moon!”
“And I’ll be teaching you something even more interesting – Apple Bloom, you will be learning how to visit other ponies’ dreams. This will complete your training as the Goddess of the Moon.”
“Looking forward to it.”
Apple Bloom was so excited for these upcoming lessons with Luna. But she still wondered if there was something she could do to save Granny.
Apple Bloom heard a knock at her door. The sun wasn’t out yet and Apple Bloom was mad tired. What could be the matter?
“Open on up”, grumbled Apple Bloom.
Apple Bloom saw a distraught Applejack.
“Oh no”, muttered Apple Bloom, “don’t tell me..”
“It’s terrible”, said Applejack with tears in her eyes, “ah can’t believe it…Granny..Granny..”
“Granny’s dead?”, responded Apple Bloom already crying. Applejack nodded.
Apple Bloom was devastated. This couldn’t be. She was supposed to have the skills to save Granny and she was already taken away from the world.
Applejack and Apple Bloom embraced in a hug – sharing their grief with one another. This all happened too soon. At least, thought Apple Bloom, Granny didn’t have to suffer for so long.
“Where’s Big Mac”, asked Apple Bloom.
“He’s at the hospital. Mac’s making sure that everything goes well with the… the… funeral preparations.”
“Why couldn’t have Granny stuck around? Ah would have saved her once ah became a full-fledged alicorn!”
“Sugarcube, there’s nothing you or ah could have done. We have to start informing the rest of the family. This is gonna be a big ol’ Apple funeral.”
Apple Bloom sighed. Everything was changing way too fast. All at once. Life would never be the same without Granny.
Apple Bloom spent all day moping in the treehouse. She just couldn’t stop thinking about Granny Smith. Why did she have to die like that? Granny was supposed to live forever like an alicorn. Apple Bloom groaned. She wasn’t so sure she wanted to be an alicorn if all her friends and family were going to die.
Apple Bloom bawled at the thought of losing everypony around her. It would just be her, Twilight, Spike, and goddamn Discord wandering Canterlot if there was an apocalypse – probably Discord’s fault.
Apple Bloom was considering telling Luna that she couldn’t go on with the alicorn training. She wouldn’t be able to handle everypony dying around her. It would only be about 80 years before every non immortal pony she knew was going to die.
“So sorry about Granny.”
Apple Bloom turned around and saw Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle.
“You guys didn’t have to visit me”, said Apple Bloom, “ah’m gonna be getting awfully used to loneliness. Ah wish ah could have done something to save Granny. Just a little more time and ah could have figured it out!”
“I feel the same way about my grandpa”, said Sweetie Belle. “But ah’m supposed to become an almighty alicorn – what good does it do if ah can’t actually help ponies cheat death except myself?”
“Becoming an alicorn is a honor”, said Scootaloo, “it takes a really incredible pony to get there and that’s you.”
“You’re going to make a great alicorn”, added Sweetie Belle.
“But what happens when well.. you know… alicorns live an awfully long time. Just losing Granny has been horrible enough – what happens when everypony ‘round my age grows old and…”
“I guess I never thought of it like that before”, said Scootaloo, “but Equestria needs you! You’ve always been such a special pony and I’ve been honored to be your friend.”
“Yeah! You’re the one who always told us to never give up on our cutie mark quest! You may not see it, Bloom, but every pony else does. Like Twilight Sparkle, you’re one of a kind.”
“Ah guess Twilight will stay young with me. But maybe ah should tell Luna that ah don’t want it. Maybe one of you two can take my place.”
“I wouldn’t be able to handle it”, said Sweetie Belle.
“Me neither”, said Scootaloo.
“Ah’m just like you two. No need for me to become an alicorn. The sooner ah can see my parents and Granny in Heaven, the better!”
“Don’t say that”, said Scootaloo, “you know your Granny would never want that for you.”
“Scootaloo and I plan to be here a long time and we are rooting for you!”
Apple Bloom began to cry and embraced her two friends in a hug. Losing Granny Smith was rough. But she knew that ending her own life or giving up on her alicorn training wouldn’t make anything better – it would only make things worse.
Apple Bloom did message Luna letting her know that she couldn’t continue the lessons until after the funeral. Luna not only understood but promised to attend the funeral.
The funeral took place two days after Granny’s death. She was amazed by the number of ponies who showed up to pay their respects. The crowd was enormous. She even saw Twilight Sparkle. Now might be a good time to talk to her, just to get her perspective on the whole alicorn thing.
Apple Bloom ran over to Twilight Sparkle and said, “hey, long time – no see, Twilight!”
“It has been forever, hasn’t it? I am so sorry for your loss, Apple Bloom. Granny was an inspiration to us all.”
“Thank you, Twilight. Ah learned so much from her and ah love her so much.”
“Granny is so proud of you! I know that much. Losing any pony you love is hard.”
“Ah guess it will only get harder in the upcoming years.”
“I foresee that being the toughest part of alicornhood for certain but I have no regrets of taking on the mantle from Celestia and you certainly shouldn’t feel that way with your upcoming role. We’re doing great things.”
“Ah don’t know, Twilight. Ah wasn’t meant for this kind of stuff – ah think. You’re a unicorn who was blessed with magical talent from birth. You were made for alicornhood. Me, ah am just a simple earth pony who grew up on a farm.”
“I see your horn. You’re at least part unicorn now.”
“Luna has been the best teacher ah ever had besides Granny”, said Apple Bloom, “ah really appreciate all the faith she has in me..but ah don’t know if ah can live life like that.”
“I know”, said Twilight, “it’s not an easy transition. I never asked for alicornhood but Princess Celestia had faith in me. She knew it was time to retire and she picked me. I honestly don’t fully understand why I’m the one Celestia chose but I was and I have been slowly growing into the role.”
“Of course you know why because you are only the smartest and most talented pony in the whole wide world.”
“I’ve seen your test results, Apple Bloom”, said Twilight, “you are off-the-charts smart. And you also possess a drive which I think Equestria could use. I know I’m an anal perfectionist but you are so good at going outside the box. We’ve all seen those talents in play over the years. I see why Luna picked you and I am so grateful for that. Plus, I could never deal with other ponies’ dreams. You have the strength and empathy to help others in the same way Luna has.”
“Ah sure feel weak now though.”
“Of course, you just lost someone so special in your life. But you are not weak. You are strong and confident. Luna has been telling me and Celestia about your lessons. You’re really coming along for a “simple earth pony”.”
“Ah know what Granny would want me to do. She wouldn’t want me to mope around and give up on everything. Ah just wish there was more ah could have done to save Granny.”
“Unfortunately”, said Twilight, “not even alicorns can stop death. We can stop our own deaths but not others. Or apparently if you’re Spike.”
“Spike? Ah know dragons can live long but..”
“He doesn’t know it yet but he’s immortal. Apparently I granted him immortality by accident when I had him hatched. At least, that’s what Celestia told me.”
“So at least you have Spike. But who do I have who is super close?”
“My best advice for you is to focus on the present moment. I know, I’m totally the wrong pony to be saying that – but it’s true. Good things and beings end so enjoy them while you can.”
“Ah know you’re right. Ah just still can’t believe that Granny is gone. Ah’m going to miss her so much.”
“I know. Me too.” The two of them hugged.
“Ah’m looking forward to getting back to my lessons with Luna.”
“You’re going to do great! Sometime we should go over some really cool spells I’ve learned over the years.”
“Definitely once ah get the hang of this horn.”
“From what Luna said, you really kicked butt in combat training. Good for me since you’ll be protecting me at Canterlot Castle!”
“Ah don’t know about that. Luna must be exaggerating.”
“I doubt that.”
“Nice seeing you again and ah really enjoyed our chat. Maybe ah can do this.”
“Likewise!”
Apple Bloom waved to Twilight and went over to her family. One thing she did notice was that Big Mac and Daisy were in a loving embrace. Apple Bloom smiled. At least it looked like her brother could find love again.
It seemed like every pony Apple Bloom ever knew was at the funeral and more. The funeral was held at Ponyville Cemetery. Granny Smith was to be buried right next to her husband and Apple Bloom’s own parents, who died far too young. At least Granny would have some company in Heaven, thought Apple Bloom.
Apple Bloom also volunteered to give a speech at Granny’s funeral. She regretted volunteering but neither Big Mac nor Applejack wanted to do it at all.
“Ah don’t know if ah can do this speech”, said Apple Bloom to her siblings.
“You can do it”, said Applejack, “remember that heartwarming speech you gave at graduation. Ah really think you’re the best one to say our farewells to Granny.”
Big Mac nodded in agreement.
“But ah think ah’m going to cry”, said Apple Bloom.
“You and me both”, said Applejack, “Granny will be so proud of you.”
“Ah think you’d be so much better at it, sis. You’re so strong.”
“Ah would be crying like a baby up there too. And ah told Granny about yer speech at graduation and she said that she wanted you to give one at her funeral.”
“Granny would say that. If she talked less about dying, maybe she would still be alive.”
“Ah don’t think so, sugarcube. Granny got sick and we did our best to help.”
Apple Bloom sat down as she saw the funeral director, an elderly male earth pony with a halo cutie mark, approach the coffin.
“Greetings, every pony”, said the funeral director, “we have all gathered here today to pay our respects to Granny Smith. An incredible mare who has lived a long and meaningful life. She has touched the hearts of every pony here today. We will always remember her as the pony who brought Sweet Apple Acres to what it is today – the pillar of Ponyville. We will remember Granny for her strong work ethic, her sharp wit, and her sense of fun and adventure. She will be missed dearly by all, including me. I actually grew up with Granny right her in Ponyville – back when Ponyville was a very tiny town. Granny’s love of Ponyville helped make this town what it is today – a town known for its diversity and the magic of friendship. Granny’s legacy will never be forgotten, and neither will Granny herself. I have been told that her granddaughter, Apple Bloom, will be saying a few words. Your time has come to speak, Apple Bloom.”
Of course her family would tell the funeral director in advance. Apple Bloom sighed. She didn’t know if she could do this – and besides, she didn’t want ponies to be distracted by her horn. She already saw that ponies were looking at her with awe. Word had spread quickly she was going to be the next alicorn. She was grateful that this guy didn’t remind them of that.
Apple Bloom walked to the coffin and took the microphone. She gulped and began to speak.
“Thank you everyone for joining me and my family today as we mourn my Granny. As many of you know, ah lost both my parents when ah was really young, so Granny was my parental figure. She is full of wisdom and heart. She taught me how to exercise my muscles and my mind. She wanted me to be both a farmer and a scholar. Ah don’t know where ah would be today without Granny Smith. Ah hate that she is now dead. Some ponies might say that Granny lived above life expectancy, but ah wish that Granny could have lived forever. We all have benefitted from her kindness and helpfulness. Ah guess, like the funeral director said, she really did help make Ponyville what is today. Ah guess you could say that Granny was a parental figure to Ponyville too.”
Apple Bloom could hear a couple chuckles in the audience for that line.
“The biggest thing that Granny taught me and any pony ah know is, “don’t give up on your dreams. You know what they are – don’t stop pursuing them”. Ah admire Granny so much and she has helped me become the pony that ah am today. So much ah can say about Granny that can’t even be put into words. Granny, ah don’t want you to leave – please come back to us. Ah love you so much.” The tears were flowing out of Apple Bloom’s eyes. She briskly walked back to her seat. This felt more real than ever. Her grandmother was dead. Where did ponies go after they die? Did Luna know the answer? Apple Bloom wanted to find out.
Ponies kept on commenting throughout the funeral about how impressive Apple Bloom was for her journey to alicorn. But Apple Bloom felt like a scared filly who was lost and miserable. She couldn’t take this loss at all. Thankfully, every pony was taking the funeral seriously – even Discord.
Every pony gathered at the coffin. The sun was shining but the mood was gloomy. She could only stare at the coffin as it was slowly moved into its permanent home.
“Bye Granny, ah will miss you so much”, whispered Apple Bloom.
The coffin went two meters under the ground and then that was it. The funeral was over. Apple Bloom felt so miserable. She would be seeing a lot of death if she becomes an alicorn.
“Apple Bloom, are you doing alright?”
She turned around and saw Princess Luna. Apple Bloom ran over to Luna to give her a hug.
“No, Princess Luna. Ah’m not doing alright. Going to miss Granny so much.”
“Losing someone you love is never easy”, said Luna, “I have had my own share of losses over who knows how long.”
“Ah don’t know if ah can take losing so many friends over the years. Granny dying is hard enough.”
“Becoming a Princess is a calling and takes a ton of responsibility. There is sacrifice and sadness but there is also reward and relevance.”
“Relevance?”
“As the newest Goddess of the Moon, you will be bringing Equestria into the future. I’ve seen you handle your new horn nicely. Still a baby unicorn but a talented baby unicorn. As Celestia and I fully retire and leave behind our responsibilities over Equestria, I want to ensure that Equestria is in good hooves. You are that pony. You have proven repeatedly. I understand if you need time or a break given your grandmother’s demise but I hope you finish your alicorn lessons. We all need you. I need you.”
“Honestly”, said Apple Bloom, “ah think that ah…”
Apple Bloom needed to make a decision. But this all felt right. Yes, Granny is dead and yes it sucks – but… this was something she needed to do. She always knew there was something missing from her life – this was it.
“Ah would like to continue with my alicorn lessons immediately”, said Apple Bloom, “ah know that’s what Granny would have wanted for me. That seems to be what every pony wants for me.”
“Every pony seems to be aware of how amazing you are except you. But don’t worry, I was the same way at your age.”
“Ah just hope that ah can make you proud, Luna.”
“You already are. I think tomorrow night, we can teach you how to fly.”
“Looking forward to getting my wings – does this mean ah will be an alicorn?”
“Technically, yes. But you’ll still be like a baby pegasus – learning how to flap her wings for the first time.”
“Ah’m so psyched! This can’t be real, can it?”
“Oh my baby alicorn, this is as real as it gets!”
Apple Bloom was psyched. She couldn’t believe that she was going to be a full-fledged alicorn. She only wished that Granny could have been there to see it.
Apple Bloom could hardly sleep. It would only be about another 22 hours until she got her wings. Apple Bloom was lazily moving objects around her room with her horn – testing it out. This was a new chapter of her life. Apple Bloom would get to protect those she cared about with her new powers and responsibilities. She was going to make Luna so proud.
Apple Bloom grew tired of testing out her magic and stared at the ceiling. She hoped that she would be able to sleep all day until it was time for her lessons – the anticipation was killing her. How would she feel inside knowing that alicornhood was on its way?
Suddenly, Apple Bloom heard a knock on the door.
“Go away, Applejack”, muttered Apple Bloom, “ah’m trying to sleep.”
There was only another knock. And then another.
“Hey, Apple Bloom – I really need to talk to you. It’s real important.”
Apple Bloom wanted to tell whoever it was to go away but her curiosity got the best of her.
Apple Bloom opened the door wondering who was knocking so late. The young mare was shocked. It was Button Mash.
“Button Mash”, said Apple Bloom, “what are you doing out here so late?”
Button Mash looked nervous but lovey-dovey. Oh shit… Apple Bloom thought of how she would explain this to Sweetie Belle.
“Just needed to see you. We didn’t get a chance to talk at the funeral. I’m so sorry about Granny Smith. I can only imagine..”
“Thank you, Button Mash. Ah appreciate that but is that really the main reason why you went to my house in the middle of the night?”
“I have been doing some thinking.”
“With what part of your body, Button?”
“Head and heart.”
Oh crap, thought Apple Bloom, she knew where this was going. Button should just be with Sweetie Belle. Sweetie was a much better match for him and besides Apple Bloom didn’t want to do anything to risk her friendship going south.
“Ah think ah know what you’re going to say – but Button, we talked about this. You should be with Sweetie Belle. She cares for you so much and she’s gonna be real pissed at me that you even came over.”
“Ok, you know me too well”, said Button, “but you see. That kiss last year felt so real.”
Karma was really biting Apple Bloom in the ass. She made some bad decisions. Her love of competition had created a rift with Sweetie Belle – possibly forever.
“Ah was being so stupid. We talked about that. Ah’m sorry that ah led you on like that last year.”
“But you must have had some feelings for me, right?”
“Ah mean you are attractive and smart – there are plenty of reasons to like you. And ah do, as a friend. You have an incredible marefriend – one who will be devoted to you and give you whatever you want. Ah think this is foolish.”
“I feel like something is missing with Sweetie Belle – something I had with you.”
“You barely know me. Ah’m no good for you. Ah wish you could see that. Besides, ah’m gonna be far too busy with my alicorn duties to be stuck with love.”
“Every pony needs love – even an alicorn.”
“Ah will figure that out later – but we just aren’t a match. Trust me. Three months with me and you’ll want out.”
“Why’s that?”
“Ah’m not the kind of mare to be tied down to a stallion – ah see you and Sweetie, that’s not going to be me. Sweetie has always been fine with that lifestyle.”
“I know. She’s already talking about what our children will look like and honestly – that scares me a little bit. I feel like Sweetie is moving things way too fast.”
“Oh, ah see. But you think she’s great otherwise, right?”
“I guess so. Sweetie is caring and devoted. I know she’s a romantic at heart and I’ve always been like that too.”
“Have you heard me talk about anything related to romance? That night was a stupid fling – one which ah regret.”
“Because it was with me or because Sweetie Belle got so mad?”
“Yes because Sweetie got so mad – but she’s important to me and, hell, ah know she’s important to you too. Or you’re a better actor than I thought?”
“Ok – I know you’re right. There’s always been something so attractive about you, Bloom. But yeah, you’re right, we probably wouldn’t be a good match. Scares me though that Sweetie is already talking about our future, we’re starting college in the fall and have so much other stuff going on first. How do I let Sweetie know my thoughts without causing a fight?”
“Be honest with her. Tell her about how much you care but you want to keep things slow and see where they go. She wants to know if your relationship could ultimately lead to marriage and starting a family. Tell Sweetie Belle that, after a certain point of time, you will feel more comfortable with talking about marriage and having kids. By that point, you two will either be together or broken up. No harm, no foul.”
“Didn’t think of that before. You’re so smart, Apple Bloom! I can let Sweetie know how I really feel but it doesn’t mean that I’m going to cut ties with her. I’ll also let her know that I’m over you.”
“Glad ah could help! And ah will always be here for you if you need a friend to talk to. Even when ah’m an alicorn in Canterlot Castle raising the moon.”
“Sure thing! Are you still going to college?”
“Ah have to talk to Luna about that but probably not. Seems like all the instruction ah’ll need is from Luna for my next phase in life.”
“We’re all rooting for you, Bloom! You’re perfect to replace Luna. And it’s a good message that we, earth ponies, can rise up to that echelon of the pony hierarchy.”
“Ah guess that’s true.”
“Yeah, first earth pony in Equestrian history to ever become an alicorn. I’m kind of obsessed with Equestrian history but I’ll say that I’m not surprised that Luna was the one to go the extra step and not Celestia.”
“Ah know you read that book written by that fringe author, you think that’s true about Celestia?”
“Yeah, I do. Celestia has become wiser and more tolerant in her older years – but historically, Celestia believed unicorns were superior until proven otherwise. Luna, even a thousand years ago, wanted to encourage the three pony races to be equals. Accounts indicate that Celestia was reluctant to give pegasi and earth ponies equal standing with unicorns – but Luna, through her dream visiting powers, was ready to create unrest in Equestria if not all ponies were equal. Celestia was forced to do so or her empire would fall apart.”
“Are you sure that’s true, Button?”
“I believe it. I know people think that Quibbler is an extremist kook but I can see it to be honest. We spent years being told that earth ponies could never become alicorns.”
“Ah guess ah have Luna to thank.”
“I’m glad that you and Twilight are taking the realm. I think both of you will make the other types of creatures feel welcome in Equestria – you know, the griffons, yaks, dragons etc.”
“All these creatures have equal rights under the law.”
“I know but you know that there are some ponies out there who hate the changes happening to Equestria and may make terrible decisions based on that hate. Ponies have all these ill preconceived notions especially of griffons. It’s not always out in the open – but something to watch out for.”
“Ah definitely promise that ah’ll make Equestria a great place for every creature. And ah know the training ah’m getting from Luna will help me out with that!”
“The history books ignore it especially since Luna was banished to the moon for a thousand years – but she has always been a champion of rights for all creatures.”
“Ah know, Luna’s a great pony. My new position is going to give me a lot of responsibility.”
“I have faith in you, Apple Bloom. And I know you say that you aren’t interested in finding love – but I hope you do someday.”
“Even if it’s not you”, responded Apple Bloom with a giggle.
“Yeah, even if it’s not me. I think Sweetie Belle is the one for me anyway. Thanks for your advice, Bloom.”
The two of them hugged and said good night. Button Mash then headed home.
Apple Bloom sighed. She remembered why she liked Button Mash in that way. He was so smart and principled – he had real beliefs and didn’t just follow popular opinion like so many ponies did. Button Mash also made Apple Bloom think about things. However, it was for the best that Sweetie Belle had Button Mash. She could offer him support and undivided attention. Apple Bloom didn’t even know who a good match for her would be given her alicorn responsibilities. Neither Celestia nor Luna ever had children or got married. Twilight had a fling with some jackass from the Royal Guard but nothing long term on her end.
Apple Bloom decided that she would need to ask Luna at some point whether alicorns could have a happy love life. It would be hard since almost all stallions would live a much shorter life than her. Maybe that was why most alicorns didn’t have partners. There was Cadence and Shining Armor. An incredible love story which would be told for ages.
What was Apple Bloom thinking anyway? She couldn’t focus on love. She barely knew how to be an alicorn yet! Love was stupid anyway. She was just looking forward to her flight lessons tomorrow night. Apple Bloom could not imagine what it would be like having wings and flying in the sky. Would she be able to do a dash like Rainbow Dash could? Would flying make travel significantly easier for her or would it seem like a chore? So many questions, thought Apple Bloom. Would need to wait until tomorrow.
The moon rose over Sweet Apple Acres as Apple Bloom rushed to the open field. She couldn’t imagine what it would be like to fly. It seemed to be an impossibility – at least now since she didn’t have any wings. Apple Bloom looked up at the sky and could see a couple of crows flying in the air – they could do it with so little effort, like a pegasus. Would that be Apple Bloom soon?
She heard a commanding voice, “My student, are you ready to learn how to fly?”
It was time.
Luna appeared in Apple Bloom’s line of vision.
“Hello, Apple Bloom. And yes you will eventually learn how apparition. It is easier than it looks.”
“Hello, Luna. Ah can’t believe that tonight is the night ah learn to fly.”
“I can. There isn’t much to it unless you want to become a Wonderbolt. I would recommend going to Rainbow Dash for tips on that rather than me.”
“Heh, seems like ah really got a lot on my plate.”
“I have always wanted to learn how to generate a sonic rainboom myself. But once I give you my full powers, my flight abilities will be too weak for that – since I was born a unicorn.”
“You sure you wanna give those powers to me?”
“Yes, the benefits strongly outweigh the costs. And it’s time for me to retire the same way Tia has. It is time for me to give you your wings! Stay still.”
Luna closed her eyes and began emitting magic from her horn. Apple Bloom could have sworn that the magic was wing-shaped but maybe she was just imagining the shape.
The magic enveloped Apple Bloom and she began to levitate. Apple Bloom could feel something on her back. It felt like it was morphing. Her wings? The process was painless but felt like it was taking forever. It was definitely longer than when she was given her horn.
After another fifteen minutes.
“There we go. I believe we are done.”
Except for an unusual feeling on her back, Apple Bloom didn’t notice anything different.
“Wings are light but, believe me, they are powerful”, continued Luna.
“Ah was gonna say that ah barely know ah have wings.” “Take a look at your reflection in the pond.”
Apple Bloom ran over to the pond and she could see a set of wings on her back. They were yellow and looked like they were made of a different material than her mane – feathers. Holy crap, was this real?
“Oh my, ah see the wings alright!”
“Now let me teach you how to use them. Stand in place.”
Apple Bloom stood in place trying to feel the wings on her back.
“Yes, my baby pegasus, get used to your wings. You will need to use them for your upcoming flight. Think of how a bird flies. That is how you will use them.”
Apple Bloom began flapping her wings – wait, how did she even do that?
“Confused?”, “asked Luna, “your wings are connected to muscles in your back. All you need to do Is move those muscles and your wings will work. Try again.”
Apple Bloom focused on her back muscles and let her wings move. She began to move her wings faster – she felt herself begin to lift off the ground. Woah, she was flying. She was actually flying. Apple Bloom felt herself lift up in the air and then shortly after, she landed.
“Ah got in the air, Luna”, said Apple Bloom with excitement, “did you see that?”
“I did”, said Luna, “excellent start, Apple Bloom!”
“Thank you for your kind words. So, how do ah move when ah fly?”
“It is the same as how you walk – except you use your wings.”
“Ooh, ah wanna try that!”
Apple Bloom focused on getting off the ground again. And up she went! She still didn’t fully understand how the wings could lift up her whole body – but pegasus magic, she guessed.
Apple Bloom felt herself going farther up in the air but it was clear she didn’t know how to go any other direction besides up and down. It didn’t feel like walking.
“Ah can’t go anywhere”, said Apple Bloom, “err.. how far up can ah go?”
“To the atmosphere, I suppose” responded Luna who was now flying by Apple Bloom’s side.
“How do ah move? Feels like nothing is happening.”
“It is simple, my child. Just move forward.”
“But what if ah fall?”
“I see that’s the problem. Don’t be afraid. You will not fall. Believe in yourself. C’mon. I’ll challenge you to a race!”
Luna dashed into the air.
Apple Bloom didn’t think she could do it. This was ridiculous. She focused her energy onto moving forward. She gasped. Was she going to plummet to her death?
But plummet she did not! Apple Bloom found herself moving forward. She gained more confidence with each movement until she realized she was flying for real.
This was incredible, thought Apple Bloom, she could see her whole farm from far above. Now it was time to find Luna. Apple Bloom moved her wings as fast as she could. Luna must have been far ahead by now.
Apple Bloom had no clue how to do a dash but she tried to see if she could detect Luna’s movements somehow. There were typically remnants from a dash that lasted for at least a couple minutes.
But she couldn’t track Luna at all.
Apple Bloom heard, “Baby pegasus! I am beating you in the race.”
“Ah am still a baby – learning how to flap these wings.”
Apple Bloom took the time to just look at her surroundings. She couldn’t believe this was real. How didn’t a pegasus like Rainbow Dash is not awed by these powers every day. Now flight was that of Apple Bloom. With increased confidence, the alicorn in training began to flap her wings faster. She wanted to experience it all! She sped through the air – no stream from her flight could be seen but she flew like she wanted the world to see it.
Apple Bloom flew higher as she watched the world look smaller. She was going to be the fastest flier in all of Equestria! She didn’t have a care in the world. From the corner of her eye, she could see a smirking Luna. Apple Bloom knew she was making her mentor proud.
Apple Bloom wasn’t tired. She flew across the center of Ponyville. She passed her school, Sugarcube Corner, her friends’ houses, and the School of Friendship. She wondered if any pony knew that she was Ponyville’s newest flier.
It seemed most of Ponyville was already at bed. With the exception of some birds, Apple Bloom didn’t see any other fliers in the sky.
“I see that the baby pegasus is ready to race.” Wow, she barely knew Luna was there.
“You betcha’!”
The two mares sped off. Apple Bloom wanted to win. She needed to win. She knew Luna was going easy on her since she was still a “baby” but Luna wasn’t going that easy.
“Maybe ah wanna try one of those dashes!”
Apple Bloom focused her energy into flying as fast as she could. She used her unicorn horn to concentrate her magic into a powerful burst of flight.
“Bam!”
Apple Bloom felt herself speeding past Luna. This was amazing.. this was not like anything ever… but wait, how does she stop this? Apple Bloom kept on dashing through the air, unable to slow down. This was getting embarrassing.
Apple Bloom cried out for help. There was no way she could stop going so fast on her own.
Thankfully, Luna was there to stop Apple Bloom from her insane bursts of flight.
“I would say you won that race”, said Luna, “very clever. Now, let’s go back to your home.”
“Yeah, ah’m ready. Just think it’s good for me to fly slow this time.”
“Couldn’t agree more.”
The flight back home was peaceful and serene. Apple Bloom still couldn’t believe that she was going to be Equestria’s next princess. She wondered what the next lesson would entail.
“So, what did you think of your first night of flight?”
“That was incredible. Ah can’t believe pegasi get to have all the fun!”
“But alicorns have even more fun.”
“Ah’m never walking again”, said Apple Bloom, “maybe ah will beat Rainbow Dash in a flying race someday.”
“A little more practice and you just might. But it will take some practice for you to combine your unicorn magic and pegasus magic into one. As you saw, it is not easy to control.”
“Ah don’t think ah’m trying that trick anytime soon.”
“To the contrary”, said Luna, “I think we can incorporate that into our next lesson. The lesson where I can officially grant you alicorn status.”
“Really? Can’t wait!”
“Good. We’ll begin your final alicorn lessons tomorrow night. After that, you will learn how to raise the moon and visit ponies’ dreams!”
Apple Bloom took to the air. She was absolutely thrilled to have learned how to fly. She was getting the hang of her wings as she flew around Ponyville in the daytime. Thankfully, the weather ponies brought on a sunny and calm day for the flier-in-training.
Apple Bloom wanted to show off her flying skills to any pony who would care. She passed Rainbow Dash in the air.
“Woah, sweet wings, kid”, said Rainbow Dash, “aren’t they the coolest?”
“Hell yeah”, said Apple Bloom, “Luna gave me my wings last night and ah can’t believe ah lived life without them!”
“I can teach you some real cool moves. Some things that Luna might not even know.”
“Like a Sonic Rainboom?”
“Yeah maybe. I couldn’t teach Twilight how to do it but you might be different. But do you know how to dash?”
“Ah tried to dash last night but ah couldn’t control it.”
“It’s easier than it looks! Here, let me show you how it’s done.”
Rainbow Dash moved her front hooves forward along with her wings and dashed forward creating a rainbow stream from her body.
Apple Bloom couldn’t imagine how she could do that herself.
“Ah’m a new flier”, said Apple Bloom, “ah don’t if ah can do that. Think of me as a baby pegasus.”
“I could do tricks like that when I was a baby! You can’t get anywhere quickly without dashing. It just takes a little bit of muscle.”
Rainbow Dash completed another dash and then circled back to Apple Bloom.
“Now, you can try this dash yourself. Oh, a tip. Try to not rely on your horn so much. Twilight really struggled with that but since you’re new to the unicorn stuff too – shouldn’t be too hard for you!”
Apple Bloom smiled and then tried to move forward with another dash. She closed her eyes and just focused on the wings – with a push, Apple Bloom found herself floating through the air. This was unbelievable. She was on top of the world! With another push backwards, Apple Bloom was able to smoothly stop her dashing.
“Woah, that was so cool, Dash!”
“So extreme, kid! You could become the second best flier in Ponyville some day.”
Apple Bloom smirked and said, “yeah, ah know Fluttershy has some real talent.”
Rainbow Dash laughed and said, “trust me, you’re already better at flying than Flutters. I love the mare like a sister – but she can barely fly.”
“Ah gotta share this with Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle!”
“Oh – speaking of Scootaloo, something I’ve been meaning to ask you since you’re now pals with Luna and stuff?”
“Yeah?”
“I know it would be Scootaloo’s dream come true if she could actually fly. If Luna could make that happen – or even you once you become an alicorn – I would really appreciate it and I know Scoots will too.”
“Of course, Dash. Anything for Scootaloo! Ah can’t make any promises but ah will ask the question.”
“Thanks, that’s all I ask.”
Apple Bloom met Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo at the CMC Clubhouse.
“Damn”, said Scootaloo, “Rainbow Dash already messaged me about your air skills. Luna is your lucky angel.”
“So how does it feel to be an alicorn”, asked Sweetie Belle.
“Ah’m not an alicorn just yet. That will be tonight. Ah am still only a few inches taller than either of you. And Applejack is still taller than me!”
“Height would be like one of the things I would be least excited about if I was to become an alicorn”, said Scootaloo, “I would want to fly for real!”.
“Maybe you can”, said Apple Bloom with a smile, “ah will see what Luna can do. Since you’re one of my best friends, ah can definitely try.”
“Woah, that would be so awesome – AB! No pressure, but if I could fly side by side with Rainbow Dash – my life would be perfect!!”
“How are your magic lessons”, asked Sweetie Belle.
“Really amazing. Luna taught me how to engage in combat with magic. Soon ah will be Equestria’s finest protector”, said Apple Bloom with a chuckle.
“If you ever need any help or tips with magic, I’m here”, responded Sweetie Belle.
“Definitely. Ah think it would be cool to fight you someday.”
“I’m not exactly the combat type of unicorn”, said Sweetie Belle nervously, “I can help out with other things though.”
“Coolio. Soon, ah will be the most powerful alicorn in all of Equestria. Tonight is when Luna will officially grant me alicorn status. Ah have no idea what that’s gonna entail.”
“Maybe it will entail a daring test where you have to save the world or all the things Twilight did to become an alicorn”, said Scootaloo.
“I dunno”, said Sweetie Belle, “Apple Bloom’s route to alicornhood has been pretty easy so far.”
“Ah think Luna is ready to retire – so she doesn’t have years and years to train me. Besides, Twilight’s training was more about learning the power of friendship. The stuff you need to know as an alicorn seems pretty quick.”
“Just don’t forget about us when you become an alicorn”, said Sweetie Belle.
“And see if you can get me to fly”, added Scootaloo.
Apple Bloom sighed. She did not know if alicorns had the magic to cure disabilities but Apple Bloom knew there was no harm in trying. She wanted Scootaloo to fly for real.
“Ooh, what can you do for me”, asked Sweetie Belle.
“Ah dunno – um – maybe ah can make you good at magic combat?”
“Oh oh, what about making sure that Button Mash stays with me forever?”
“Ah don’t think alicorns have the power to make a pony love another pony forever.”
“Button is all I really need to be happy.”
“Then ah don’t know what ah can do for you but ah will think of something. Besides, ah don’t even know if ah can grant Scootaloo her wish.”
“My wish is better”, said Scootaloo, “you’re looking at the newest Wonderbolt and not just one who is part of a scooter brigade.”
“Ah will do my best. You deserve to fly in the sky too!”
“What’s it like? Flying?”
“It’s everything ah am sure Rainbow Dash has told you in the past.”
“You are going to ask the question, right?”
“Definitely. If Luna can do it, ah know she will. It sucks that you can’t fly.”
“Does it make a difference if it is because I have a disability or because I have earth pony genes?”
“If the latter, definitely. Ah was born an earth pony and look at me – ah can fly and do magic.”
“What about me?”, said Sweetie Belle, “can I get wings too?”
“Hmmm..what if you two became alicorns too? That would be sweet even though I don’t know if Luna has enough magic for that?”
“Does she have enough to give me wings and Scootaloo the power of flight and magic?”
“Ah honestly don’t know”, responded Apple Bloom with a shrug “ah will do the best ah can.”
Apple Bloom continued to fly around Ponyville and practiced her magic skills. If she was going to be an alicorn, she would need to one of the best of the best. A part of her didn’t feel like she was ready for alicornhood. It just seemed like an impossibility. Deep inside, she was still the earth pony who lived on a farm her whole life – not a castle. Was this really meant to be? Was she going to fit in with the folks at Canterlot? Not that it seemed like Luna fit in much with them anyway – that was more of a Celestia-related duty. Maybe things wouldn’t be so hard as Equestria’s newest alicorn and Equestria’s second-in-command. Being second-in-command was perhaps even more odd to the young mare. How was she going to do it? Was she really going to be making decisions that affect all of Equestria or is that more of a Twilight/Celestia thing? Apple Bloom supposed she would find out sooner rather than later.
What worried Apple Bloom most though was what would happen if she couldn’t grant the wishes of her friends. It would be nice to fly with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo but would Luna have any desire to do that for them? They were her best friends but, in the grand scheme of things, they were just regular ponies who didn’t have any chance of reaching alicornhood. This was supposed to be something special for Apple Bloom – her time to really shine and show the world how amazing she could really be. However, Apple Bloom did want to see Scootaloo finally be able to fly. Scootaloo was too good of a pony to be grounded by not being able to fly despite pegasus wings.
Apple Bloom decided – she would scrap Sweetie Belle’s suggestion and just ask Luna if Scootaloo can learn how to fly. She felt like Luna would say yes to that at least. Apple Bloom wanted to help Scootaloo fly.
Apple Bloom arrived at her usual meeting spot. She didn’t know what to expect for her final test to complete her transformation to an alicorn. She always assumed that it was just having powers of an earth pony, unicorn, and pegasus.
Apple Bloom saw a flash of lightning and heard, “My alicorn-in-training, tonight is the night that you shall become a full-fledged alicorn! Are you ready?”
“Ah’m ready.”
Luna appeared with a smile.
“Good. You have performed quite well in your trainings. I have no more tasks to give you. While you still need to learn your nightly duties but I think you are ready. Is there anything you would like to ask of me before you become an alicorn?”
Apple Bloom was nervous. She knew what she wanted to ask but would this change everything. But she would do it for Scootaloo.
“Princess Luna, ah do have one question for you. Not sure if it is possible. But my friend, Scootaloo.”
“I am well acquainted with Scootaloo. What do you need?”
“Scootaloo always wanted to fly but her disability has prevented that. Pegasi should be able to fly. Would you or ah be able to grant Scootaloo flight?”
Luna smiled and said, “I would be able to help Scootaloo fly but my powers are limited. There is a catch. Are you ready for it?”
“What is this catch?”
“You would lose your wings and the ability to become a true alicorn. I wouldn’t want you to lose your opportunity to be a true Goddess of the Moon. I don’t want any other pony to replace me and honestly my magic would be too limited to pick another successor. You can raise the moon and walk dreams without wings but you would not be an alicorn princess. That’s the catch.”
“Really?”
“Yes, as I said my magic is unfortunately limited. It is up to you. What is more important?”
Apple Bloom didn’t think she had a good choice either way. She either had to give up her wings or Scootaloo would have to live the rest of her life without being able to fly.
“So would ah still be able to do most of your duties without the wings?”
“Of course, Apple Bloom.”
“In that case, ah say make Scootaloo fly! Ah want to give up my wings.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, Scootaloo is a great friend. She deserves to fly!”
Luna smiled and said, “Congratulations, Apple Bloom.”
Apple Bloom was confused. Was this congratulations for Scootaloo?
“You have passed your final test”, said Luna, “I was thinking hard about the type of test I wanted to give you as your final. I even asked some other ponies. The one who gave me this idea was Rainbow Dash.”
“So you can make Scootaloo fly?”
“Yes, I can. And you will still be an alicorn. I wanted to see if you were willing to sacrifice your own dreams for the dreams of your friends. And you proved this. Now, I want you to bring Scootaloo over here. She will learn to fly tonight.”
Apple Bloom couldn’t believe it – this was all going to happen tonight. This was a dream come true.
“I will be here for as long as you take. I am assuming Scootaloo won’t mind being woken up for this nice surprise.”
“Wow, thank you Princess Luna. You are amazing!”
Apple Bloom quickly flew to the other side of Ponyville where Scootaloo lived. She rushed over to Scootaloo’s window and knocked on the window.
“Hey Scoots”, said Apple Bloom, “you’ll never believe what ah am about to tell you.”
Scootaloo walked to her window and asked, “what is that AB?”
“So ah spoke with Luna and she kinda said that she’s willing to help you fly.”
Apple Bloom saw Scootaloo’s face glow with happiness.
“This is gonna happen. We got to hurry over to Sweet Apple Acres. Luna is waiting for us.”
“I am all ready. I don’t know what else to say – this is unbelievable!!”
Apple Bloom and Scootaloo rushed back to Sweet Apple Acres. Luna brought a small crowd of ponies to observe. Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Big Mac, Daisy Fields, Button Mash and Sweetie Belle.
“Thank you all for being here tonight”, said Luna, “tonight – we will be celebrating the well-deserved transformations of two incredibly deserving young mares. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom, both of Ponyville. Scootaloo, you probably know this but your disability hits about 1% of newborn pegasi a year. A small number but it is unfortunate as you know. I shall grant you the power of flight. But unfortunately my power is limited and I won’t be able to make all pegasi fly but do you promise to advocate and help those pegasi who are in your situation?”
“Absolutely, Princess Luna”, responded Scootaloo, “I know how awful it is to live like this. I am supposed to be a pegasus but never being able to fly – no matter how hard I try. I promise to help those with my problem. They may never be able to fly themselves but I can help them discover their true talents like I did with my scooter.”
“Excellent”, said Princess Luna, “we shall now begin your transformation. Everypony, watch!”
Luna emitted a powerful blast of magic onto Scootaloo.
After a minute, the magic finished its work.
Scootaloo didn’t look any different but Luna said, “Scootaloo, try your wings!”
Scootaloo began to move her wings with caution but it could be seen that she could take off from the ground. Scootaloo began to cheer with glee.
“Rainbow Dash, Rainbow Dash!! I can fly!”
“Way to go, Scoots! I’m seeing you fly.”
Scootaloo flew in the air and began to dash through the sky. Apple Bloom was elated that her friend could finally fly. The whole crowd began to cheer.
“Enough sitting around from me”, said Rainbow Dash, “I’m joining you up in the air, Scoots!” Rainbow Dash launched into the sky and the two pegasi were enjoying their time in the sky.
“Thank you, Princess Luna”, said Apple Bloom, “ah am eternally grateful for what you’ve done for Scootaloo.”
“Once these two are done flying in the air a little longer – I will begin the process of your transformation.”
“What is that going to entail?”
“You’ll be as tall as me and your wings will be bigger. That’s probably about it.”
“Wow”, said Apple Bloom, “that’s a mighty big change. Hey Mac, I’m gonna be taller than you!”
Big Mac smirked and said, “but you won’t have my muscles.” Daisy Fields giggled at Mac’s comment.
“An alicorn is not intended to be.. I believe the word is.. ripped”, said Luna, “lean but not ripped. Would make it hard for you to fly, Apple Bloom.”
“Alright, Mac. Ah suppose you win this one.”
“Eeyup.”
After a few more minutes, Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo returned to the ground.
“Now”, said Luna, “tonight is a night where you will see history in the making. Apple Bloom shall become an alicorn princess. You all know her. You know how awesome she is. She will make an excellent replacement for me. Please join me in applause for Apple Bloom. To become a true alicorn. Step back everypony, this will be a powerful wave.”
With a hum from Luna and a wave of her horn, Apple Bloom saw a huge wave of magic which engulfed the young mare. She felt herself lift off the ground. All she could feel was the magic surrounding her body. Apple Bloom was going to become one with the magic. She couldn’t feel the changes otherwise. She could hear Luna’s voice, “Princess Apple Bloom – Goddess of the Moon. You will rule over Equestria and be the advocate for the night. Apple Bloom, you shall take on my responsibilities with a sense of duty. Equestria needs your intellect, your drive, and your empathy as it is time to replace me. Princess Apple Bloom, I know you will make me proud. Now the transformation shall finish.”
Apple Bloom felt herself rising higher in the air. She couldn’t see anything except for the magic. She would trust the process.
“And now, I believe it is all done”, Apple Bloom heard Luna say.
Apple Bloom landed on the ground. The first thing she noticed was that she was eye to eye with Luna – maybe even a little taller.
“Congratulations, Apple Bloom. Goddess of the Moon. You are now an official alicorn.” The audience of ponies hooted and hollered at Apple Bloom’s full transformation.
Apple Bloom smiled as she took off into the air. She noticed right away that flying was so much easier with the larger wings. Apple Bloom was elated. She was now the Goddess of the Moon. The next step was to learn the special nightly duties: raising the moon and dreamwalking. But for now, Apple Bloom would celebrate the moment. All of this felt so right.
Everything was changing so fast. Apple Bloom was moving to Canterlot soon – but not for college. The newest alicorn already had to tell Canterlot University that she needed to defer her enrollment at the university indefinitely. However, she knew that she wouldn’t have the time to enroll full-time in college. Besides she was already getting the best education she would receive from Professor Luna.
Apple Bloom was already packing her things out of Sweet Apple Acres and getting everything ready for her move to Canterlot Castle. But this wouldn’t be goodbye to Ponyville at all. She would never forget Ponyville.
Apple Bloom’s biggest concern though was the state of Sweet Apple Acres itself. Would the farm need her to survive? Applejack and Big Mac both claimed that they could handle the farm themselves. They might have to hire another pony or two to help – but they would be able to survive. Applejack even told her that she thinks Apple Bloom’s rise to alicorn status would help expand Sweet Apple Acres’ reach outside of Ponyville itself so they could start an “empire of farms”.
Yeah, things were changing way too fast.
Apple Bloom ended up not packing too much. She decided that she wanted to have some keepsakes at home for whenever she visited.
Luna was going to meet her outside for the move to Canterlot Castle shortly.
She hoped AJ and Big Mac were nearby. She needed to say goodbye to both of them.
Thankfully, they were both out in the farm doing their daily work.
“There’s my Princess Sugarcube”, said Applejack with a smile.
“Ah hope that’s not my official princess name”, responded Apple Bloom. “You’ll also be my sugarcube to me”, responded Applejack, “still can’t believe you’re an alicorn. We’re gonna miss you here so much at home.”
“We can always see each other any time we want. Ah can always fly to Ponyville.”
“You sure can! Yer gonna do some great things, you know that.”
“Eeyup”, said Big Mac, “gonna miss you so much, sis. Don’t forget about us common folk.”
“Ah could never forget”, said Apple Bloom with a chuckle, “all of you helped make me the pony ah am today. Princess Luna knows that too. How’s your new marefriend doing?”
“What marefriend?”
“You know who ah am talking about!”
“Oh Daisy Fields”, said Applejack, “those two are getting along just fine. Daisy is a real sweetheart.”
Big Mac began to blush.
“And you, AJ”, said Apple Bloom, “don’t forget to find a nice companion of your own.”
“The farm is my life these days, sugarcube. But ah’m open to the opportunity if it arises.”
“Tell that to Rainbow Dash next time she visits”, said Big Mac with a wink.
Applejack looked embarrassed – she knew she been had.
The three of them couldn’t help but to laugh. Every pony could kind of guess there was something going on between AJ and RD.
“So what about yer love life, Apple Bloom? If we’re on the subject.”
“Ah’m gonna be a princess and ah don’t really feel like going out with some royal jackass from Canterlot.”
“As long as yer happy, sugarcube. That’s all that matters. There are probably some real nice ponies – just don’t have as bad taste as Twi.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it. Flash Sentry and Blueblood are exactly the kind of ponies ah wanna avoid.”
“Ah know all they would get from you is a kick in the nuts!”
Apple Bloom giggled. This was true.
“It’s gotta be mighty hard to date as an alicorn. Ah don’t think Luna ever found true love at all.”
“These alicorns have been alive for over a thousand years”, said Applejack, “maybe Luna did find love at some point.”
“Ah suppose it is possible”, said Apple Bloom, “maybe ah will ask her that on my way to Canterlot.”
“Ah am so proud of you, sugarcube. For everything, you have the proudest big sister in the whole wide world.”
Apple Bloom and Applejack embraced in a hug.
Apple Bloom heard a whoosh. It was Luna.
“Princess Apple Bloom, Goddess of the Moon. Are you ready to leave for Canterlot?”
“Ah think so. Ah am gonna miss Sweet Apple Acres and ah am gonna miss you AJ and Mac – the best siblings a filly can ask for!”
“You’re definitely not a filly anymore, sis”, responded Applejack with a chuckle.
“Princess Apple Bloom shall not be far – no need to worry”, said Luna.
With that, Apple Bloom and Luna flew off to Canterlot.
“Ah still can’t believe this is all real”, said Apple Bloom, “do you really think ah could be the Goddess of the Moon?”
“I don’t think. I know. Raising the moon is easy along with your other nightly duties. Dreamwalking can be hard but it is so much fun – that it won’t feel like work!”
“Was there a Goddess of the Moon before you?”
“Before me and Celestia, there wasn’t. Equestria was so different from what it is now. The sun and moon used to be in constant battle – one minute it would be day and the next it would be night. And then we had brought order to Equestria as you and Twilight will continue to do now.”
“Wow ah really have big shoes to fill.”
“You have already filled them, Princess Apple Bloom.”
“It’s gonna take me a while to get used to that, ah think.” “Took me over a thousand years to get used to being Princess Luna. I wouldn’t worry about that. A part of me is glad to be retired.”
“Something ah was curious about. Have you ever been in love? Ah noticed that neither you nor Celestia have a special somepony?”
“Interesting question, newest alicorn”, said Luna with a blush, “I trust that you will keep your mentor’s secrets?”
“Ah certainly will.”
“I was in love once. It was over one thousand years ago. He was a dashing stallion – a unicorn who was exceptional at magic. Perhaps as good as Starswirl the Bearded himself. But he had a dark side to him or should I say a different point of view. His name was Nova. Nova wanted to take over Equestria from my sister ‘Tia. He promised that I would be his queen and the two of us would rule together. He already had a family of his own including a son and daughter but he saw me as his ticket to world domination. I was in love with Nova and I thought he was in love with me. Nova helped me realize my transformation into Nightmare Moon. He was clever and the two of us had a strong bond. I saw Nova’s dark side and hoped to change him and make him good – but instead Nova brought me to the dark side.”
“So what happened?”
“Nova wanted to kill Celestia. I refused to go along with killing my own sister. But there was nothing I could do to stop Nova. I pleaded with him and said that we could make Tia one of our servants. However, Nova was convinced that if Tia were around that his plans would fail. And in a sense – he was right. Nova challenged Celestia to a magic duel. He was crafty and skilled with spells. Arguably more talented than Celestia. However, Nova was no match for my sister’s raw power. She killed him in battle. I was distraught by Nova’s death – just a mare in love and, in a fury, I sought to take Equestria for my own. I then lost to Celestia as well. Rather than Celestia killing me, she banished me to the moon. I am glad that my story did not end there. I was a foolish young mare in love and everything was just so complicated. But Apple Bloom, you are better than I am. I don’t think you will make the same mistake I made.”
“Ah don’t know about that. Nova sounded like he was impressive.”
“Yes he was but his heart was filled with hate. I regret giving my heart to him. It had ruined so much for me. I am done with love but you shouldn’t give up on it. And while my story is secret, there is something you must be wary.”
“What’s that?”
“Some of Nova’s descendants are still alive. I have been watching one of them for some time. She seems to have reformed and Twilight has warmed up to her. But I am suspicious. I think Starlight Glimmer is waiting for her chance to conquer Equestria. I see so much of Nova in her and it concerns me.”
“You have my word, Luna. Ah will keep an eye out on Starlight Glimmer. Ah don’t trust her either.”
“Good. I know you will be ready. Celestia and I are now much weaker versions of ourselves but you and Twilight should be ready if it happens. I hope I am wrong but I don’t think I am.”
This majestic castle was now going to be her home, thought Apple Bloom. None of this would ever feel real to the young mare. This didn’t even feel like a house. The few belongings Apple Bloom brought would fit in easily in the gargantuan castle.
“Tia and I had good times in this castle”, said Luna, “I miss it but it’s time for the younger folk to take it over.”
“This definitely doesn’t feel real to me. Ah never asked for a castle this large.”
“Oh you will need it”, said Luna, “even if it’s just to ensure your protection. Unfortunately, as you well know – Equestria has plenty of enemies who wish to cause harm.”
“Ah think ah need a few more lessons in magic combat.”
“Oh, we will definitely do that. With that said, Twilight Sparkle would be more than happy to train with you too.”
“Ah hope she goes easy on you – like you’ve been.”
“Now that you’re as tall as me, I’m never going easy on you anymore – not baby alicorn. Now, it is time to see your new quarters.”
Apple Bloom followed Luna. She thought she was going up the stairs but instead they went down the basement. Luna took Apple Bloom to a large door with a painting of a moon.
“Ah guess this is my moon room.”
Luna chuckled at Apple Bloom’s pun and opened the door. The room was large but empty except for a bed and a telescope.
“Ah guess my belongings will add some things to this room”, said Apple Bloom.
“I’ve never been a mare for material things”, said Luna, “so I always preferred to keep things simple – but feel free to do what you like with your new room.”
“Maybe ah will ask Pinkie Pie for guidance on this.”
“The Goddess of Moon and Cupcakes. Quite the ambition.”
“Ah am just marching to the beat of my own drum.”
“You’re now one of the most powerful ponies in the world. You can do as you please. I just hope you can encourage Twilight to relax once in a while. She is always working.”
“Ah thought that’s why ah’m here.”
“That’s how I convinced Tia to bring you on. But really, I just felt it was time to fully retire. And I knew you were the mare I wanted to take my place.”
“Ah can definitely take on many of the responsibilities Twilight has now. But don’t ask me to put on a façade during the daytime.”
“Oh definitely not. Celestia and I swapped responsibilities once and it worked out horribly. Think of this moreso as Twilight no longer having to do anything I would normally do. Speaking of that – I am looking forward to teaching you how to raise the moon. We can do that within the next couple of hours when it is nightfall.”
“Ah can’t wait!”
“In the meantime, I’ll let you get settled in your new room and the castle. Let us meet at the Royal Grounds at 6 PM.”
As Apple Bloom was putting her clothes in a closet so big that it would even intimidate Rarity, she hard a knock on the door.
“Come on in, door’s unlocked.”
Apple Bloom saw her fellow alicorn princess, Twilight Sparkle.
“Princess Apple Bloom, I wanted to formally welcome you to your new home.”
“Hey Twilight, how long does it take to get used to all of this?”
“Honestly, I’m still adjusting to this castle at times.”
“Ah am excited to work with the moon though. This all feels so new, yet it all feels so right!”
“From what I hear, you’re already getting the hang of things nicely. It will be nice to have another friend in the castle.”
“Ah couldn’t agree more. Ah have so much to learn from you, Princess Twilight.”
“I appreciate all that you and Luna have done for me. Luna was right. Taking on the sun and moon was too much for me. I am grateful that Luna brought you here.”
“Ah can understand how you felt. Ah always try to do everything on my own too. But ah am looking forward to being on a team with you and the other princesses.”
“So what else do you still have to learn from Luna?”
“Luna still has to teach me to raise the moon and go into ponies’ dreams.”
“Just don’t go into my dreams – only kidding. Do whatever you have to do!”
“Luna said that ah would know in my gut when a pony needs my help and ah would know what to do.”
“I’ve never been so comfortable going with my gut on things. But I always knew I wouldn’t be right for that kind of job. But you’ve been helping others with their problems ever since you got your cutie mark – you’re going to be a natural at it.”
“Ah hope so. What’s most important to me is making Luna proud. Ah don’t wanna let her down.”
“I don’t think that’s possible”, said Twilight with a wink, “you’ve never let a pony down. You learned so many lessons that it took me years to figure out.”
“Like what?”
“Of course, the magic of friendship. It has been natural to you. For a pony like me, it was a real struggle to learn the ins and outs of friendship. Celestia was a great mentor for me in that regard.”
“Ah think you got a lot of that done on your own personally!”
“You’re so sweet, Apple Bloom. Yet again, I’m so glad that you will be helping me out with.. well.. everything. I would be really interested in hearing you input on what direction you want Equestria to go.”
“Ah haven’t put much thought into it – but ah guess ah want a world where every creature is happy and has access to the best opportunities our world has to offer.”
“Agreed. I hope you agree with me that the Friendship School has been a great place to encourage those values. Any creature who wants to learn can do so. I hear that the school is still making great progress under Starlight Glimmer’s leadership.”
Apple Bloom tried not to twitch. She remembered Luna’s warning. With the wrong message, equality of opportunity could become equality of outcome – which Starlight certainly did back in her evil days.
“It’s been so long since ah been back there. After you left, my friends and ah just kinda starting doing high school stuff – ya know.”
“Speaking of school stuff – are you still planning on going to Canterlot University? It’s right by here.”
“Ah don’t think so. Ah got the best teacher in Luna. She’ll make sure ah take on my destiny.”
“Because if you wanna go – I could probably take on the moon duties for another four years.”
“Ah can’t! Then you’ll collapse due to exhaustion and ah will be taking on the sun and moon duties myself! In all seriousness, ah can go back to school anytime.”
“I’m sure Canterlot University would be happy to have an alicorn student.”
“Don’t worry Twilight. Ah am glad to be here. Starting tomorrow, we can talk strategy. Ah already have tons of ideas on keeping Equestria strong.”
“I thought you haven’t put much thought into it.”
“Ah didn’t, but my mind is already buzzing with ideas. We can really throw those hoity toity elitists to where they need to be.”
“They’re not all that bad – they have grown to respect their newest alicorn princess.”
“Yeah but you were a unicorn. Ah was born an earth pony and ah don’t talk or act like them at all. They are all probably horrified that somepony like me would be their ruler.”
“I had a humble upbringing myself. Celestia found me and made me who I am today – the same as Luna did with you.”
“Ah guess ah could use my alicorn powers to shut down any snobs who don’t like what ah have to say.”
“With great power comes great responsibility, remember you are supposed to be an advocate for all creatures – not just those you like.”
“We’ll revisit this whenever we have to go to one of those boring royal events. Then we’ll see what they think about Princess Apple Bloom from Sweet Apple Acres.”
“I think Luna hardly goes to any of those parties. You don’t have to go if you don’t want.”
“It’s funny that you call them parties in my opinion.”
“Celestia knows how to keep them fun. She’s kind of a prankster.”
“Oh ah can be a prankster too. Maybe ah will go to one of those snoozefests someday.”
Princess Luna arrived.
“Oh goodness. Those anti-parties are no place for the new Goddess of the Moon”, said Luna, “only the Princess of Friendship is required to attend. Apple Bloom, are you ready for your final lessons?”
“Woah, are we doing the dreams tonight?”
“Yes we are. I decided that we could learn moon raising and dream walking tonight. You are definitely ready for both.”
Apple Bloom flew with Luna for what seemed like at least 100 kilometers – wherever this was, it was far from Canterlot Castle.
“Patience, my protégé, we are almost at our destination.”
“Ah trust you’re taking us to the best spot possible.”
“Certainly. The best spot possible. Especially since the sun is beginning to set!”
Luna and Apple Bloom finally landed on a peak of a mountain. The air was chilly. From the look on Luna’s face, Apple Bloom could tell that Luna was comfortable with and possibly preferred the cold weather.
“Now we shall commence raising of the moon.”
Apple Bloom looked down. She wasn’t sure why. It wasn’t exactly like the moon would be at the foot of the mountain.
“Remember your stance”, said Luna.
Apple Bloom put all four hooves to the ground and kept her back straight and her horn in focus. At this point, she had mastered the stance.
“Take your focus away from the environment and put it on all the moon”, said Luna with a commanding voice, “it is hiding in plain sight.”
Apple Bloom focused on the moon, its shape and bringing the enormous rocky sphere up to the sky. She let her horn emit a small beam of light blue magic as it made its way into the sky – partially revealing the moon’s shape.
“It appears that we are going to have a crescent moon tonight. Certainly easier than a full moon in my opinion.”
Apple Bloom began to generate more magic. The moon didn’t seem to want to budge. Apple Bloom tried again for a few more moments – but nothing was happening. What was wrong?
“Luna, ah don’t know why the moon isn’t moving.”
“The moon has a mind of its own. You must be one with the moon – then it will listen to you.”
Apple Bloom focused on the moon again with determination. She then whispered, “Princess Luna has entrusted me with this responsibility. As Luna did, ah will make sure ah work in your best interests” She let another beam of magic hit the moon and it seemed to start to move.
The moon was rising into the air. Apple Bloom no longer could feel the resistance. The moon seemed to be working in tandem with her magic. This was amazing. She did it all on her own!
Apple Bloom pushed the crescent moon all the way up the sky bringing light to Equestria.
“Bravo!! Bravo!!”, cheered Luna, “you handled your first moon raising quite admirably. I believe you and the moon will become close friends.”
“Thank you, Princess Luna. Ah am so happy that worked.” Apple Bloom was never more happy to see the moon in the sky. This was her accomplishment and it would continue to be for many years.
“Moony”, said Luna, “Princess Apple Bloom will keep you happy.”
Apple Bloom noticed that the moon began to flicker quickly.
“The moon said thank you“, said Luna, “and that it looks forward to working with Princess Apple Bloom. In no time, you will learn the moon’s language. In fact, I think it will teach you.”
“Glad to have a new friend. Thank you Moony!”
The moon flickered again. Apple Bloom grinned at the moon.
“Now are you ready for another lesson of a lifetime. I shall teach you how to enter another creature’s subconscious. You will learn their deepest desires and darkest secrets. And you will be able to help ponies reconcile their problems with their dreams.”
“That’s so cool”, said Apple Bloom, “so how do we enter another creature’s subconscious?”
“To put it bluntly, with magic!”
“You make it sound so easy.”
“I imagine that you have noticed the color of your magic?”
“Ah did”, responded Apple Bloom, “just like yours.”
“I have given you not just any unicorn magic – I have given you some of my magic. We will walk through a dream of a pony together and you will see how easy it is.”
“So, who are we gonna visit?”
“It is up to you, Princess Apple Bloom.”
“Ah do worry about Sweetie Belle – she always seems so mad at me these days. Ah made a bad mistake with Button Mash last year and ah fear that Sweetie never really forgave me for that.”
“That certainly is a difficult first dream. But I am sure that it will answer some questions you have about Sweetie Belle.”
“Have you been in her dreams recently?”
“I haven’t. Last time I visited Sweetie Belle’s dream, she was still a pre-teen.”
“Let’s do it!”
“Very well.” Luna built a dome of magic surrounding herself and Apple Bloom.
In a second, Apple Bloom saw that she was floating in the air along with Luna. There was an uncountable crowd of sleeping ponies.
“To Sweetie Belle, we go”, said Luna.
They found themselves on a mountain made of candy. There was a rainbow in the sky.
“This seems pleasant”, said Apple Bloom, “ah am guessing this is a good one!”
“Most important lesson”, responded Luna, “never judge a dream by its scenery.”
Apple Bloom and Luna could see two figures at the bottom of the mountain.
“Let’s go talk to those folks”, said Luna. The two alicorns flew down. Apple Bloom could see that it was Sweetie Belle and Button Mash staring at each other all lovey-dovey.
“Sweetie Belle! Button Mash!”, shouted Apple Bloom, “me and Luna wanna hang out.”
Sweetie Belle and Button Mash turned around. Sweetie Belle looked nervous. Button Mash looked excited like he was.. oh man, Apple Bloom knew what was going to happen in this dream.
“I am blessed to have such a beautiful alicorn in front of me.”
“Yeah ah agree that Luna is beautiful”, said Apple Bloom with a smile. She gave Sweetie Belle a wink trying to show her whose side she was on. But Sweetie didn’t seem convinced.
“Don’t play dumb, Princess Apple Bloom! Not that Luna isn’t beautiful too, but you, Apple Bloom, are the apple of my eye! Sweetie Belle – I must leave you now for this goddess of the moon!”
Apple Bloom could see the tears forming in Sweetie Belle’s eyes.
“Button Mash”, said Apple Bloom, “we have been through us a million times! We cannot be together. You belong with Sweetie Belle, not me.”
“But my heart says otherwise. I shan’t ever give up you, my princess.”
“What? Do you wanna be Prince Button Mash or something? ”
“A royal title is nothing I desire. If being with you means I can’t be royalty. I will say yes.”
“Button”, said Sweetie with a whimper, “why are you doing this to me?”
“I am sorry. It is nothing against you. Apple Bloom is perfect at everything she does”, said Button Mash, “she has always been a superior pony to you. You are so ordinary in comparison. C’mon AB, give me a kiss!”
Apple Bloom slapped Button Mash. She was surprised to see that Button Mash began to glitch. Sweetie Belle looked confused. He then disappeared into nothing.
“What did you just do”, asked Sweetie Belle with a surprising calmness.
“Ah will never take Button away from you”, said Apple Bloom, “that thing – you realize you’re in a dream?”
“What?”
“Yeah, it’s all a dream. Luna and ah are just visiting!”
“So..er..wow I have to be careful what I dream these days, haha. But you’re actually in my dream?”
“Yes”, said Luna, “Apple Bloom and I are in your dream. I have seen your fears and you can see they are unwarranted.”
“I guess”, said Sweetie Belle, “maybe my only fear is that you’re going to cause Button Mash to turn into nothingness with your alicorn powers.”
“Ah am not going to take Button away from you – ah promise. Maybe in some stupid dream you make up but not in the real world.”
“I understand”, said Sweetie Belle, “well sort of..”
“What’s there not to understand?”
“You’re amazing. Compared to you, I am a nobody. You’re smarter and stronger than me. Why wouldn’t Button want to leave me for you? You’re perfect.”
“Ah am not perfect. Ah make mistakes – like what ah did with Button last year. It aches me so much what happened. It was selfish of me and ah am tired of this tension between us. Tell Button that ah am going to hook up with a bunch of assholes in Canterlot and get an STD. That should get him to think twice if he wants to pursue me again.”
“Again? Did something happen recently?”
Apple Bloom was nervous – Sweetie Belle had no idea.
“Ah can’t lie to you. Button Mash did stop by my house to pay his respects after Granny died.”
“I had no idea of this! I wonder why he didn’t tell me.”
“Nothing happened. Ah don’t like him that way!”
“That’s irrelevant because he loves you more than he loves me!” Sweetie Belle snarled and suddenly their landscape disappeared.
Apple Bloom sighed, “Ah guess Sweetie Belle is real mad at me.”
“Jealousy is dangerous”, said Luna, “I think the best thing that we can do is to not let it consume our entire being. As you know, it caused problems with me and ‘Tia.”
“Ah agree”, said Apple Bloom with a quick nod, “but how can ah make things better with Sweetie?”
“It seems like she is afraid that she will lose her coltfriend to you.”
“Ah don’t want to be with him – especially if it is going to hurt one of my best friends. Ah thought ah made it clear in Sweetie’s life. What was ah supposed to do? Tell Sweetie as soon as Button made an impromptu visit at my house?”
“That might have been a good idea actually.”
“But she might have gotten mad.”
“I don’t think that Sweetie fully trusts you because of what happened last year. I had trouble thinking my sister would have my best interests at heart and I lashed out. You have to show Sweetie Belle that she can trust you without a doubt. Also that nothing has changed just because you’re an alicorn princess.”
“Ah would be glad to have that talk with her – if she will let me.”
“You know Sweetie better than I do. What do you think?”
“She can hold a grudge like no other. Ah am so scared that ah am going to lose her. And ah feel like there is nothing ah can do for Button to lose interest in me if that is a problem.”
“Patience is a virtue here”, said Luna, “I have been alive for so long- and I have seen friendships go up and down. Hopefully this isn’t the case, but if Sweetie wants space – you should give it to her.”
“What would that accomplish?”
“Since she is such a close friend, I think Sweetie will see how much she misses you – a few months of distance will make Sweetie think differently. That is my prediction.”
“Ah still wanna try to see if ah can patch things up now.”
“Of course. That is the most optimal result! But don’t be despondent if she stubbornly refuses to do so. Like me, Sweetie Belle is a Scorpio – so we feel things rather intensely.”
“Ah don’t have to believe in astrology to be Goddess of the Moon, do I?”
“Certainly not”, responded Luna with a chuckle, “otherwise I would have made it part of the lessons.”
“Thank goodness for that. But yeah ah know that’s true about Sweetie. Ah know how to be careful with her when she’s upset.”
“Good luck, Princess Apple Bloom. Overall, how did you enjoy dreamwalking?”
“It was really cool. Ah feel like it is something ah can be really good at if ah’m not the target of a pony’s frustrations.”
“I found this to be the most rewarding part of my job – helping those in need, particularly those who are harboring feelings in the subconscious – trying to hold back.”
“Ah love that. Me and my friends spent so many years trying to help others find their purposes in life – this is another way to do that.”
“Exactly”, said Luna with a smile, “you will be helping more than ponies who don’t know their cutie marks. As you well know, there is more to a pony’s destiny than their cutie mark. There is one more dream I think we should visit tonight.”
“Whose dream?”
“I know I am putting myself at the risk of sounding like a conspiracy theorist – but there is a pony who I do not trust much.”
“Starlight Glimmer?”
“That is correct”, said Luna, “I do not have much proof she is truly planning anything nefarious. But her dreams are well.. you will see. We need a quick window though. Starlight only sleeps four hours a night at most – so we should go now.”
Luna and Apple Bloom made their way to Starlight Glimmer’s dream.
The first thing Apple Bloom noticed is that the sky was dark – there wasn’t a moon to light up the sky. It looked like Canterlot but nowhere as lively as it once was.
Apple Bloom then heard marching. She saw lines of ponies marching in unison. Apple Bloom noticed that not a single pony in the battalion had a cutie mark except for the unicorn leading the battalion. It wasn’t Starlight but another unicorn – Trixie Lulamoon.
Trixie shouted on the top of her lungs, “ALL HAIL QUEEN STARLIGHT GLIMMER!!”
The crowd behind her repeated what she said with equal loudness and enthusiasm.
“We have only been here for a minute and ah hate it”, said Apple Bloom.
“Me too. Equestria cannot turn into this.”
“So you think Starlight is really planning this or is she just having dreams from her past?”
“That’s the part I haven’t quite figured out yet. Anytime I try to interact with Starlight directly in her dream, she wakes up. So I think there are things she doesn’t want me to know.”
“Ah guess tonight isn’t going to be that night.”
“I don’t think so”, said Luna with a sigh, “but she reminds me so much of Nova – I don’t trust her.”
“Ah can get her fired from the School of Friendship.”
“Over a dream? Twilight would never believe you.”
“Ah will hate myself if ah don’t try.”
“You’re a brave mare”, said Luna, “let us go.”
They transported back to Canterlot Castle.
“So did you get the gist of how to transport into a dream? Once you go through your coronation, you will be doing these on your own with occasional visits from me.”
“Ah do – but won’t a lot of ponies be surprised to see me instead of you?”
“After your coronation, every pony will know who you are.”
“When’s that gonna be exactly?”
“Whenever you’re ready.”
“Oh wow..ah wasn’t expecting that. Maybe we can do it next week?”
“That can certainly be arranged, Princess Apple Bloom, should be enough time for the preparations to be adequate.”
“Ah don’t care much about the fine details. Ah am just happy to be where ah am now.”
“My replacement only deserves the best of coronations. You will see.”
“Okie dokie lokie!”
Apple Bloom woke up and saw that it was already noon. She figured that she would be sleeping in the mornings going forward. She knew the one thing that she needed to get resolved now – forgiveness from Sweetie Belle.
Apple Bloom flew as fast as she could with Ponyville. She could have sworn that she saw Starlight Glimmer hiding in a cloud on her way but Apple Bloom must have been imagining it after last night’s dream.
She arrived at Sweetie Belle’s house – hoping that her friend was home.
“Hey Sweetie”, said Apple Bloom, “we should talk.”
She heard a, “Button, go back to your game. I need to talk to the alicorn alone.” Sweetie Belle.
The door opened and she saw Sweetie Belle who didn’t look so thrilled.
“What brings you here to speak with lowly me?”
“Don’t be like that, Sweetie Belle. Ah only want to help and still be friends.”
“Your selfish stunt last year has my coltfriend all crazy about you.”
“Ah apologized for that a hundred times and it’s not like he broke up with you or anything like that. You two are going to Ponyville State together and ah will be away at Canterlot. If you’re worried about Button Mash going leaps and bounds to be with me, that’s ridiculous. You saw ah punched dream Button into nothingness.”
“Button sees me as a second choice – a consolation prize. He really wants you. He just accepts me because he doesn’t think he can have you.”
“C’mon. That’s craziness. Ah am sure there are plenty of colts out there who wanna be with an alicorn princess but they can’t – not every pony can. So they settle for reality instead.”
“That’s your problem. You think you’re so much better than the rest of us now. But you know what, you’re still the same earth pony hick that you’ve always been.”
Apple Bloom was getting fed up.
“You know what – maybe ah am better than you, Sweetie Belle! That’s why Button hooked up with me when ah still was just an earth pony hick. You’re a snob and it eats you inside that ah am now an alicorn. Even though without my alicorn powers, my IQ is still at least 50 points higher than yours and ah am way prettier and more athletic than you. Grow up! Ah have helped you so much and you know it!”
“I think I’m fine without you”, snarled Sweetie Belle, “good luck as Goddess of the Moon or whatever.” Sweetie Belle slammed the door on Apple Bloom’s face.
Apple Bloom sighed. She had probably ruined things with Sweetie Belle forever. She just was so mad at what Sweetie said – but Apple Bloom wondered, did she always subconsciously see Sweetie Belle as being inferior. Apple Bloom flew away.
Today was the day – or the night. Luna insisted on having the coronation during the night. Apple Bloom was going to officially become an alicorn princess.
Apple Bloom had a beautiful dress picked out. It was a dark blue dress with a crescent moon sown on the back. It was perfect for her upcoming coronation. Luna was also going to give Apple Bloom her tiara tonight to complete the dress in full.
Apple Bloom heard a knock on the door. “Come on in, door is open!”
It was Scootaloo.
“Hey Scoots, glad you could make my coronation!”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Rainbow and I flew from Ponyville to get here. I’m forever grateful to you and Princess Luna for making my dreams come true.”
“Ah am so glad to hear that. We can fly around a little bit before the coronation. Ah am still trying to get used to these wings.”
“I’m always up to flying – you know that!”
“Alrighty, let’s go. Ah got a couple hours before ah have to get in my coronation dress.”
Apple Bloom and Scootaloo flew around Canterlot. It was hard to believe that just two weeks ago, neither of them could fly – no matter how hard they tried.
“So, what’s the plan now Scootaloo?”
“Well – I got some great news to tell you. After I could fly, I applied to enroll in Wonderbolts Academy. They gave me some preliminary test where I got to show off my skills. And I’m in! This fall, you are looking at the newest Wonderbolt-in-training. The icing on the cake is that I get to go for free. They gave me a full-tuition scholarship.”
“That’s amazing! So happy for you. Ah think you could be a Wonderbolt someday.”
“I hope so. Rainbow thinks I can.”
“You’re flying better than me.”
“That’s okay. You don’t need to be a super flier to become an alicorn princess. You got that massive Royal Guard protecting you and Twilight everywhere you go.”
“Ah still want to constantly improve on my flying and magic. Luna is insanely good at both – especially magic. Ah bet she could beat any pony in a magic duel.”
“She’s got over a thousand years of practice. So, was wondering – what’s been going on with you and Sweetie Belle? Sweetie said she didn’t even want to go to the coronation. I know how Sweetie can be and frankly I already know that I’m going to side with you. But how bad did things get between you and Sweetie Belle?”
“Pretty bad. Ah think Sweetie is mad about what ah did last year and she just can’t forgive me for that.”
“But you apologized like what – a thousand times.”
“Ah know. But she said the problem is that Button Mash is still into me. Ah made some stupid move last year and he’s now forever entranced or something like that.”
“That sucks. Sweetie Belle didn’t even tell me that but I see why she’s worried.”
“Me too. So probably the best thing ah can do is just give her space and hopefully things work out.”
“I think Sweetie is being ridiculous but I know how she is. Giving her and Button some space will be good, it will either make or break their relationship.”
“With me out of the picture, ah am sure they will live happily ever after.”
“I’m not so sure about that.”
What do you mean?”
“Button Mash seems like he’s afraid that Sweetie Belle is moving things too fast. Maybe try visiting his dream.”
“It’s probably my fault he’s thinking like that anyways.”
“Don’t be so hard on yourself, Princess Apple Bloom. Wanna race?”
“Sure – ah am good for a race.”
Apple Bloom and Scootaloo raced in the sky. It was clear to Apple Bloom that her friend was the faster one of the two. Apple Bloom tried to dash to speed ahead of Scootaloo but it didn’t work.
After about a half hour – Apple Bloom knew for sure she couldn’t fly faster than Scootaloo.
“Hey Scoots, you can say that you kicked an alicorn’s ass in flying.”
“Rainbow is so going to love to hear that! Now, get ready to take what is yours.”
“You’re the best friend an alicorn can ask for, Scootaloo.”
Luna had asked a small crowd of ponies to meet her outside Canterlot Castle. Apple Bloom didn’t get many hints regarding what her coronation would entail. The young alicorn walked outside of her castle and she could see about 50 ponies – all who she knew well – looking at her with anticipation. Apple Bloom didn’t see Sweetie Belle in the crowd. But she wasn’t going to let that get to her.
At a podium, Apple Bloom saw Luna, Twilight, and Celestia.
“Princess Apple Bloom”, said Luna, “please join us at your rightful spot.” Apple Bloom headed over and bowed to the three alicorn princesses.
“The sky is dark but there is no moon”, said Luna, “Princess Apple Bloom, show the crowd how it is done.”
Apple Bloom channeled her energy into the sky. The ground was lower than last time so the moon was harder to pick out – but the moon seemed to trust her enough to avoid much embarrassment. She could feel the moon’s presence – it was… wait, the moon wasn’t an it… the moon was a she. The moon was speaking to Apple Bloom.
“Princess Apple Bloom”, “said” the moon with flickers, “I have watched you throughout your journey and while I am saddened to see that Luna is finally moving on, I am glad that she has chosen you as her successor. Now help me make the sky a little brighter.”
Apple Bloom could already understand the moon’s language. She turned back to Luna with a smile. Apple Bloom used her magic to rise the moon all the way to the sky. It was slightly more full than the night before. She was looking forward to her first night of a full moon over Canterlot.
“And now I present to all of you the new Goddess of the Moon, Princess Apple Bloom from Ponyville. Please join me in congratulating her!”
The crowd cheered. Apple Bloom could see the rest of the Mane Six, Scootaloo, Spike, Apple Bloom’s family, Discord, the Young Six, and some others – including a smirking Starlight Glimmer and a bouncy Button Mash. No Sweetie Belle in sight.
Every pony in the crowd rushed over to Apple Bloom to offer their congratulations.
“Ah am so proud of my little sis, but ah ain’t so sure ah can call you little anymore, sugarcube”, said Applejack.
“You’ll always be my big sister to me, AJ”, responded Apple Bloom, “ah am always going to you for advice.” The two sisters hugged.
“Goddess of the Moon”, said Discord, “expect a couple of surprises from me now that you’re such a big cheese.”
“Don’t worry”, whispered Twilight, “I know how to deal with this clown.”
“Oh heavens – I mean no harm at all. This reminds me – perhaps I would like to retire someday and find my own master of chaos.”
“Aren’t you immortal or something like that?”
“Yes, I am, Princess. Invincible to any deadly danger” Apple Bloom did hint a tinge of sadness in Discord’s eyes – he must have known that all of them would perish someday before him, including the alicorns.
“I have been alive long enough to know that your little experiment in friendship is a horrible failure – but don’t worry – that one is a lost cause and incapable of any goodness unlike me“, continued Discord.
“Stop trolling us, Discord”, groaned Twilight.
“You do not make many mistakes, Twilight. But this one is your biggest. Congratulations, Princess Apple Bloom.”
“Thank you, Discord.”
“Discord means well but he gets on my nerves sometimes”, said Twilight to Apple Bloom.
“Ah know what you mean”, said Apple Bloom, “what did he mean by little experiment in friendship?”
“We can chat about that later. For now, enjoy your coronation.”
Apple Bloom knew exactly who Discord was talking about. Starlight Glimmer. Apple Bloom didn’t trust her at all. But more on that later.
Button Mash ran over to Apple Bloom to extend his congratulations.
“I am so proud of you, Princess Apple Bloom”, said Button enthusiastically, “you are perfect as Goddess of the Moon.”
“Thanks Button”, responded Apple Bloom, “question though – where’s Sweetie Belle?”
“I don’t know”, said Button Mash, “Sweetie and I actually broke up today. Things just weren’t working out.” “Ah’m sorry to hear that. You know that ah am not going to date you, right?”
“Yeah, I know”, responded Button, “but I need to find some pony that helps me get over you.”
“Ah wish you best of luck with that, Button. You really deserve the best - better than me.”
The two hugged.
Seemed like there would be a lot for Apple Bloom to deal with later – but for now she would take the victory and accomplishment. Apple Bloom was now the Goddess of the Moon.
