a My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic fanfic by Alerhys
Part One
“I can’t thank you enough,” Fluttershy told Applejack as the two ponies walked out behind her cottage. “Are you sure this isn’t too much trouble?”.
“Shucks no,” Applejack replied, “Ah know you been talkin’ about expandin’ your garden for a while now, and what with the last rain an’ all it’s the best time to be pulling out that old tree stump that’s in your way.”
“Oh, that’s so nice of you,” replied Fluttershy. “You’re sure you don’t mind? I just haven’t been able to do a thing about it by myself. It’s so old and hard and tangled and no matter how much I tried I couldn’t budge it.”
“Now don’t you worry, sugarcube. Ah’ve hauled out a ton o’ stumps in my day, an’ this one’s no diff’rent. Just show me the problem an lemme take a look at it.”
Fluttershy led Applejack to the object in question, a misshapen lump that looked as if it could have been as much rock as wood. “Here it is. You can see that my animal friends and I tried to dig it out, but we had to give up. In the end none of them would even go near it.”
Applejack gave the stump an appraising look, then carried over tools and rope from her cart. “That’s a right ugly one for sure. Almost looks like we oughta get Pinkie to come by and laugh at it while we get to pullin’ it up.” She set to work, rigging a framework for a block and tackle and attaching a stout rope to the stump. “Now how it works is that you’ll steady the frame and keep an eye on the stump while Ah’m doing the heavy pullin’,” she explained to Fluttershy, helping her into a harness cabled to the frame’s top. “After it’s out Ah’ll load it on the cart and haul it away.” She positioned Fluttershy behind the stump and made sure the rope was taut, then climbed into the yoke attached to the block and tackle and took her place in front of the recalcitrant stump. “OK, sugarcube, you ready?”
“I... I guess so,” Fluttershy replied.
“All right then. One, two, three, and heave!” Applejack surged forward against her yoke, relaxed, then surged forward again, each tug loosening the stump slightly as Fluttershy flapped backwards against her own rope, keeping the frame braced. “An heave! An heave! It’s givin’ way, Ah kin feel it. One more time, an HEAVE!”
***
Over at Sugarcube Corner, The Cakes found themselves diving for cover as Pinkie Pie suddenly went into convulsions in the kitchen, bits of batter and utensils flying everywhere.
“Woah. I never felt one like that before!”
***
Applejack wasn’t sure what had happened. She felt the stump give way; then as she came to a stop from her final pull it felt as if something twisted her inside out and the world went grey as she struggled to stay on her hooves. As she fought off the dizziness that threatened to envelop her, something cut through the mental fog and brought her back to full attention; Fluttershy’s scream.
Opening and focusing her eyes, she found that she had somehow backed out of the yoke and was facing Fluttershy, who was looking at her own back in shock as Applejack felt a sense of deja vu.
Her wings were missing. There was no sign of injury, no blood; just a bare yellow back under the harness.
“Oh mah gosh, Fluttershy! What happened?”
Fluttershy looked up at Applejack. Her eyes widened and her mouth opened, but no sound came out.
“Fluttershy? Say somethin’!”
“Applejack. Look behind you,” the yellow pony managed to squeak.
Applejack’s whipped her head around, thinking that something was approaching them from the Everfree Forest. She found her line of sight partially blocked by feathers. Orange feathers. Sprouting from her back. “What the hay?” She looked them up and down. There was no doubt about it; she had pegasus wings growing from her back. She looked back toward Fluttershy and found the other pony looking at the hole where the stump had been, which had a few wisps of smoke or perhaps mist coming from it; of the stump itself there was no sign, just the dangling end of a rope from the block and tackle.
Fluttershy looked back up at Applejack. “I don’t understand,” she said quietly. “The stump came up and then I fell down and when I got back up it was all like this.”
“Lemme get you outta that harness, and then we better get Twilight,” Applejack replied.
***
Twilight Sparkle realized that it was going to be one of those days when Pinkie Pie burst into the library with a breathless story about something that was going to be even doozier than the dooziest doozy ever and could her science machine maybe help her figure out what the doozyness was? Her attempts to get Pinkie to explain further had only resulted in a litany of physical symptoms that taken in aggregate made Twilight wonder if Sugarcube Corner could possibly still be standing. Just about the time that she had finally begun to consider if perhaps hooking Pinkie Pie up to the brain scanner might not be productive after all, there came a pounding on the library door.
“Twilight? You at home? We got a real problem here!” came Applejack’s voice.
Twilight started to answer, but before she could reply Pinkie was at the door, throwing it open to reveal Applejack and Fluttershy. She was distracted from the entry of her two friends as Pinkie reared up, performed a back flip, and landed back on her hooves saying “So that’s what my Pinkie Sense was trying to tell me!”
“Pinkie, what in the world are you talking about?” Twilight turned to Applejack and Fluttershy. “Do you two have any idea what she’s talking...” she broke off as she finally took a good look at the pair.
“Yeah, Ah think Ah might have some idea what she’s talkin’ about. You got anything in those books of yours about this kinda thing?” Applejack replied.
“Oh wow Fluttershy did you lend Applejack your wings? Why didn’t you ask me first I would have totally wanted to try them out hey Twilight does that mean I can borrow your horn?” Pinkie interjected, bouncing enthusiastically up and down.
“PINKIE!” Applejack and Twilight shouted in unison. The pink pony stopped and flopped down on her haunches, mercifully silent for the moment.
“Ah cain’t rightly say what happened, Twilight,” Applejack began. “Fluttershy and Ah were just pullin’ out an old tree stump behind her cottage and when it came up everything went crazy and then we were like this.”
Twilight looked over at Fluttershy, who only nodded. Her brow wrinkled in thought. “Spontaneous magical transformations are highly unusual, and usually transitory.” She turned and called up the library stairs. “Spike! I need your help down here!” She paused. “Of course, this could also be something from the Everfree Forest that we’re dealing with. Pinkie, can I count on you for something?”
“You can always count on me, Twilight!” Pinkie responded, saluting. “What can I do you for?”
“Run and get Zecora. There’s no blue spots in evidence, but Poison Joke isn’t the only surprise the Everfree has. I could use her advice on this.”
“Okie Dokey Lokey! I’ll be back with her in a jiffy-wiffy!” and with that Pinkie was out the door.
Meanwhile, Spike had responded to Twilight’s call. “What is it, Twi? I wasn’t finished cleaning upstairs... Oh my gosh, what happened to Fluttershy? And Applejack? Is Discord back?”
“I doubt it, but you had better take a letter to the Princess anyway. But first, I need you to help me find some reference books.”
Fluttershy tried to give Applejack a reassuring smile as Twilight began directing Spike around the library’s shelves. She’d had time to get over her initial shock, and standing in the familiar surroundings of the library tree she found herself feeling more at ease. She didn’t understand what had happened to the two of them, but she was certain that if anypony could get to the bottom of it, it was Twilight.
Twilight looked up from where she had been consulting one of her books and trotted back over to the pair. “Just to be sure, before Pinkie comes back with Zecora I should make sure that this isn’t just a conventional spell effect.” She lowered her head and concentrated, her horn growing brighter and brighter until she released a shining wave of purple and white magic over Applejack and Fluttershy.
Applejack closed her eyes as Twilight’s spell washed over her. Blinking away the afterimage, she looked at her back, then Fluttershy’s, but saw no change. “Ah take it that means what you said.”
Twilight nodded. “I didn’t think it was likely, but I wanted to be sure before I started looking at alternative explanations. Now I can continue my research while we wait for Pinkie to get back with Zecora.” She turned back toward the table where Spike had been dutifully stacking tomes when the library door flew open, revealing not Pinkie or Zecora but a confused Rainbow Dash.
“What the hay is going on, Twilight? I saw Pinkie heading into the Everfree, and when I asked her what was up she gave me this crazy story about Applejack having Fluttershy’s wings...” She broke off, finally registering the sight of the two ponies in question off to the side of Twilight and Spike’s work area. “Wait, it’s true?”
Twilight sighed. “Applejack and Fluttershy encountered some unexplained phenomenon that appears to have transposed their pony types.”
“Unexplained pheno-what? No, never mind. You’re gonna fix Fluttershy, right?”
Applejack’s feathers literally ruffled. “Yer concern is downright touchin’, Rainbow.”
Fluttershy began to say something, but Rainbow Dash cut her off. “What? It’s Fluttershy that has the problem here.”
“Hold on there, it’s not like Ah wasn’t affected too!”
“Yeah, now you’ve got Fluttershy’s wings!”
Twilight attempted to interject. “Actually, Rainbow, that’s not strictly true.”
“What’s not true about it?” Rainbow Dash pointed a hoof at Fluttershy. “No wings.” She pointed at Applejack. “Wings. Seems pretty simple to me.”
Applejack glared at Dash as her new appendages flared. “Dangnabbit, Dash, I didn’t take anything from Fluttershy!”
Rainbow glared back, her own wings flared in return. “So what are those on your back, then?”
Applejack paused, her pinions folding back to her sides. “Uh, well, it was an accident. We just pulled up an old stump and this happened.”
“That’s right,” Fluttershy managed to get in.
“Rainbow, you’re not helping here,” Twilight added. “Zecora and I will figure out what happened, and if we can’t the Princess will. Oh, right! Spike, take a letter.”
Rainbow Dash looked from Fluttershy to Twilight and back again. “Fine. Fluttershy, you let me know if you need anything.” and with that she sped back out the library door and into the sky.
Applejack watched Rainbow Dash take off, her wings starting to open as if she intended to follow, then settling back again. “If that don’t just beat all.”
“Don’t feel bad, Applejack,” comforted Fluttershy. “She doesn’t really mean anything by it.”
Applejack sighed. “Ah reckon not. Ah am sorry about yer wings.”
“Don’t worry about it. It’s not like I live in the clouds, after all. I can get by on the ground for a while.”
“Now send that off to the Princess, Spike,” Twilight ordered, having shut the door behind Rainbow Dash with her magic and finished her dictation. “I’ll read up on persistent transformations while we’re waiting for Zecora.”
“Sure thing, Twilight,” replied Spike. He walked over to where Applejack and Fluttershy were standing. “Can I get you anything? Tea, maybe?”
“No thanks, Spike,” Applejack responded, echoed by Fluttershy.
“OK, then. Want me to get things cleaned up in the basement, Twilight?”
“Mm? Oh, yes, that would be a good idea,” she acknowledged, nose already deep in her books.
Fluttershy settled down to wait, finding a cushion and lying down on her side, watching Applejack with a concerned expression as the orange pony shuffled in place, looking from Twilight to the door and back again while avoiding looking back at Fluttershy.
Finally, the scene was interrupted by another knock at the library door. Twilight trotted over and answered it. “Zecora, I’m so glad you were able to make it!” welcomed Twilight. Zecora, clad in her traveling cloak and carrying full saddlebags, entered the library accompanied by Pinkie Pie.
“The pink one’s tale took much explaining, of wings one losing and one gaining; such things are not unknown to me, unusual as they might be.”
“That’s a relief,” said Applejack as she tried to keep Pinkie from poking her and Fluttershy.
“I can tell you that it’s not any sort of conventional magical effect,” put in Twilight. “Any light you can shed on the situation is welcome.”
Zecora walked over to the end of the table that Spike and Twilight had not already covered in tomes and began to unpack her saddlebags. “There grows within the Everfree fungi and herbs of mystery; some have been known to induce change, from harmless pranks to ones most strange.”
Twilight blushed. “We all remember the Poison Joke. Do you think that this is related?”
Zecora finished laying out her bottles and packages. “I must perform some simple tests to indicate the course that’s best.” She indicated that Applejack and Fluttershy should come over, and began to examine them carefully, checking their bodies and looking in their eyes, mouths, and ears while making thoughtful noises. Twilight followed the process with interest, though she was also occupied with preventing the equally intrigued Pinkie Pie from ‘helping’.
Zecora finally concluded her examination and shook her head. “No obvious signs can I perceive, no traces that the change did leave. But this is not cause for despair; I still have treatments to prepare.”
“Now hold on there Zecora. If ya cain’t see any signs of what did this, how can ya treat it?”
Zecora smiled. “The lack is in itself a clue; such subtle causes are but few. If they indeed have caused your plight, I shall attempt to make it right.” and with that she began to select ingredients.
“Not to dispute your expertise, Zecora, but are you sure this approach will work?” asked Twilight.
“You’re right; assumptions traps can be, these ponies safety should be key. My dosages cannot cause harm; there is no need for an alarm.” The zebra expertly mixed her potion, dividing it into two portions and giving it to Applejack and Fluttershy, who drank it down.
“So, that’s it, then?” asked Spike.
Applejack and Fluttershy looked at each other. Nothing seemed to be happening. “Um, how long before it takes effect?” Fluttershy asked softly.
“For caution’s sake I did prepare your dosage with the utmost care; a few hours, a day, no more, should see you as you were before.”
“A day?” exclaimed Applejack.
Zecora nodded. “If to the cause I am correct, that is the time you can expect.”
“That’s fine,” put in Fluttershy. “Thank you very much, Zecora. If you’d like, I’ll walk back to the forest with you.”
Zecora smiled as she put away her ingredients. “I tell you with sincerity, I would enjoy the company.”
“Um, Fluttershy, you mind if Ah stay with you tonight? Just in case an’ all.”
“Not at all, Applejack, if that’s what you want.”
“Thanks. Twi, could you please go out to the farm and let Big Mac know that Ahm, well, kinda indisposed until tomorrow?”
“Sure, AJ, no problem. And I’ll keep up my research, too, just in case.”
“Thanks t’you, too. An Pinkie, Ah’d appreciate it if this whole thing didn’t get talked up all over town. Ah don’t need to be gawked at any more that Ah already have been.”
Pinkie Pie cocked her head, staring at Applejack for a long moment, the nodded, holding one hoof up and the other over her heart. “Pinkie Promise, AJ.”
“Thanks as well, Pinkie.” Applejack walked over to where Zecora had joined Fluttershy by the door, and the three headed out for Fluttershy’s house.
a My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic fanfic by Alerhys
Part Two
Applejack’s plan was simple and straightforward, the way she preferred it: accompany Fluttershy back to her cottage; stay and lend a helping hoof, possibly spending the night, until Zecora’s remedy took effect; get back to the farm and start catching up on her work; and put the whole incident behind her, letting it take its place alongside the other peculiar happenings that were a fact of life in Ponyville.
The plan started off well enough, with Fluttershy and Zecora chatting about mutual interests pertaining to the Everfree while Applejack walked along with them and ignored any curious looks that came their way. Once back at Fluttershy’s home and having taken their leave of Zecora, Fluttershy began checking on the animals under her care, and Applejack was able to busy herself feeding chickens, cleaning out animal bedding, and weeding in Fluttershy’s garden (though by unspoken agreement neither pony approached the hole where the stump had been, the block and tackle still sitting over it).
Things didn’t go entirely smoothly. Every once in a while Fluttershy’s expression would betray a hint of frustration; occasionally Applejack’s wings would start to open and she would grimace and fold them back to her sides. Still, the two ponies were getting by well enough until evening approached and Fluttershy began preparing treatments for her animal patients.
“Applejack? I don’t want to be any trouble but I need that box on the top shelf. Do you think you could get if for me?”
Applejack looked at the high shelf where the box sat. “Don’t ya have... Shoot, course ya don’t have a step stool. Well, Ah reckon Ah could give ya a boost up.”
“Well, I though maybe you could, um, just...”
Applejack frowned. “I got no idea how ta fly, least of all indoors.”
“Oh, but it’s really easy, you just...” Fluttershy trailed off, flinching from Applejack’s disapproval. “Never mind, then,” she said, her voice growing more determined. “I can get it myself,” she added, turning toward the shelf and crouching into a jumping position.
“Now hold on, sugar...” Applejack was interrupted by Fluttershy’s leaping up and stretching her forehooves toward the box, snatching it from the shelf and landing back on her hind legs, stumbling briefly before catching herself and putting the box on the floor. “See? I told you I could get it,” she said brightly.
“Yeah. Good jump,” Applejack mumbled.
As they finished up Fluttershy’s tasks for the day, Applejack’s mood slowly recovered, the two friends preparing and eating dinner together and making small talk until it was time to go to sleep. Fluttershy offered her bed, but Applejack refused, insisting on taking the couch.
***
She was floating, like a cloud. Bright blue sky surrounded her. It was at once alien and perfectly natural, terrifying and yet strangely comfortable. She tried to understand what was happening...
...and Applejack woke up and fell three feet onto Fluttershy’s couch with a crash.
Rustling came from upstairs. “Is everything all right down there?”
“Uh, Yeah, Ah just rolled over in mah sleep. ‘Fraid I disturbed a few critters, but nothin’ serious.”
Fluttershy came halfway down the stairs, peering at Applejack in the dim light. “You’re sure?”
“Ah’m sure. Ah’ll try and be more careful.”
“You’re sure you don’t want to take the bed? Or I don’t mind sharing it.”
“Nah, I told ya, Ah’m fine. Go on back to sleep.”
Applejack watched Fluttershy head back up the stairs. She sighed, looking at her back. “Too much to hope that fallin’ like that meant the potion was finally kickin’ in,” she muttered to herself. As if acknowledging the attention, her wings tried to spread. Forcing them against her sides once more, she took the blanket Fluttershy had given her and rolled up in it snugly. “Last thing I need is ta start flyin’ in my sleep again.” Sleep came fitfully, but at least it came without further dreams of floating.
Morning came with no change in the two ponies’ condition. Fluttershy awoke first, coming down to find Applejack cocooned in her blanket on the couch. She tried to creep past her friend, but as she headed for the kitchen Angel Bunny thwarted her good intentions by appearing in the doorway with a pot and spoon, which he proceeded to bang together.
“Angel, no!”
“Waah!” *THUD*
“Applejack, I’m so sorry! Are you all right?”
Applejack looked up blearily from where she had landed on the floor and began to struggle out of the blanket. “Ah think so. Didn’t mean ta keep ya from startin’ yer day.”
“I was going to let you sleep, but someone...” and here Fluttershy glared at Angel, who was unimpressed. “...had other ideas.” She walked over and finished pulling the blanket off Applejack, shaking her head as she looked the disheveled orange pony over. “Why don’t we go upstairs and freshen up before breakfast?”
Under other circumstances Applejack might have objected, but she was still too groggy from her restless night and sudden awakening to put up a fight as Fluttershy nudged her up the stairs and into the bathroom, pouring water into the washbasin so that Applejack could splash her face. As she did so, Fluttershy got out some mane and tail brushes and set them out for Applejack to use, then took out another instrument that Applejack didn’t recognize.
“What’s that?”
“It’s a preening comb. Not to be rude or anything but your feathers are a mess.”
“Aw Fluttershy, you don’t need ta...”
“Yes I do. It’s just like your mane and tail, you’ll be much more comfortable when you’re properly groomed, and maybe your wings won’t twitch so much.” She took the comb in one wrist and pressed her other hoof against Applejack’s back, smiling in satisfaction as the pressure caused her wings to pop open, and set to work.
Applejack finished washing her face and looked at Fluttershy as she smoothed feathers into place. “Ah’ve gotten dressed up with ya before, so how come Ah never saw one of those till now?”
“Um, pegasi normally preen themselves by mouth, it’s easier that way. I didn’t know about preening combs myself until the spa used one on me. I bought a set mostly to work on birds.” She finished her efforts and admired the results. “There, doesn’t that feel better?”
Applejack stretched and folded her wings. “Ah gotta admit, it does. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” Fluttershy put the comb down and looked Applejack in the eyes. “Rainbow Dash was wrong.”
“Excuse me? Wrong about what? Ah don’t understand.”
“She was mean to you, and you don’t deserve it.”
“Ah know, but that’s Dash for ya. She’ll get over it. If that dang potion would get its job done, anyways.”
“I’m just... worried about you. You didn’t sleep well, and you’re all tense. If it’s because of what Dash said, you shouldn’t believe it.”
Applejack managed a grin. “Ya oughta know me better than that. I don’t take anything Dash says seriously nohow.”
“Good. Let’s get our manes brushed and fix breakfast.”
***
Twilight Sparkle trotted toward Fluttershy’s cottage, saddlebags loaded with reference materials and items useful in magical analysis. She’d meant to get an early start, but in typical fashion she had stayed up late with her reading and Spike had seen no reason to wake her up, so it was late morning before she’d left the library. As she grew near she heard voices coming from behind the house, so she went around to the back, where she found Applejack (with wings) and Fluttershy (without) discussing carrot cultivation. “Hi, girls!” she called out, getting greetings in response.
“Well, girls, I see there’s no obvious change. How do you feel?”
“About the same.” “Me too.”
Twilight nodded. “I realize it hasn’t been a full day, but I’m thinking that what happened to you two wasn’t because of the Everfree’s flora per se. Huh, if I shortened that I’d almost sound like Zecora. Anyway, not to doubt her expertise, but I’d like to run some tests on where that tree stump you pulled up was.”
Fluttershy and Applejack looked at each other. “If you think you need to,” said Fluttershy, and Applejack added “You’ll excuse us if we keep our distance. Ah don’t think you’d cotton to losin’ yer horn.”
“That’s fine. I take it that’s the crater over there?” Seeing the other two nod in agreement, Twilight walked over to the crater and levitated a metal plate and a book from her saddlebag. She concentrated, and magic washed from her horn over the crater, block and tackle and was absorbed into the plate. She set the plate down and began consulting her book, casting spells over the plate, pausing between each one to take notes, and casting another. Applejack and Fluttershy didn’t understand what was going on, but neither of them wanted to distract Twilight with questions until she finished.
Finally, Twilight put the book back into her saddlebag and looked over to the pair. “You can pack up your cart and take it home, Applejack. There’s not enough potency left here to affect a fly, let alone a pony. Fortunately the spells and plate I prepared were designed for just this sort of situation.”
“So, did it tell ya anything about what happened to us?”
“To an extent. There was definitely magic, but it’s not any type that is easily recognized. Now that I’ve utilized the residue collection plate, I can have Spike send it to the Princess. The School for Gifted Unicorns will certainly be able to learn more, with all their facilities.”
Applejack sighed. “So it’s gonna be more waitin’, then?”
Twilight nodded. “I’m sorry, Applejack. There is one more test I’d like to do at the library, but it isn’t anything that’s going to fix the problem.”
“Do you have time to stay for lunch?” put in Fluttershy.
“Lunch? It is around that time, isn’t it? I’d be happy to stay for lunch.”
Applejack kept her voice and expression neutral. “Ah guess Ah’ll pack up the cart while you’re fixin, if ya don’t mind, Fluttershy.”
“Not at all. Do come in as soon as you’re done, though.”
Fluttershy and Twilight went into the cottage as Applejack set to packing away the block and tackle. She had just finished loading up the cart when Rainbow Dash landed nearby.
“I see you returned to the crime scene.”
Applejack just hung her head. “Ahm not gonna argue with ya, Dash. I’m powerful sorry about what happened to Fluttershy and if Ah had any notion what to do about it these wings would be back on her so fast even you would be impressed.”
Dash blinked and paused. It wasn’t the type of response she’d been ready for, and she was unsure what to say next. Not knowing what else to do, she took off again, over the clouds.
Applejack watched Rainbow Dash vanish into the sky. “Ya just can’t understand, Rainbow. An’ now I guess there’s not gonna be any gettin’ around it.” She went to rejoin her other friends in the cottage.
“Ah, there you are,” was Twilight’s greeting. “I was just explaining to Fluttershy that I’d like to test you both back at the library to see if the accident produced a complete phenotype exchange.”
“In plain talk, Twi?”
“My theory is that this is not simply a case of Fluttershy’s wings being transferred. I think that what has happened is that you have each become the other’s type of pony.”
“Oh. I think so too,” Fluttershy said.
“Shoot, we coulda told ya that,” Applejack added.
“I see. I’d still appreciate being able to do the tests, if you don’t mind.”
“Will it take long?”
“Not at all. Ten or fifteen minutes apiece should do it.”
“After we’ve had lunch and cleaned up, then.”
“Certainly. That looks delicious, Fluttershy.”
***
Applejack trudged up the road toward Sweet Apple Acres. The cart harness hadn’t been made with a pegasus in mind, and the adjustments she’d made, while functional, chafed. Turning into the gate, she pulled the cart up to the barn and opened the door.
a My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic fanfic by Alerhys
Part Three
Applejack opened the barn door and trudged inside with the cart. She was weary and looking forward to getting out of the harness, if not what she faced afterwards.
“EEEEEE! IT’S TRUE!”
“GAAH!” Startled, Applejack shot into the air, taking the cart with her briefly before it pulled her back to the ground with a crash. Shaking her head, she staggered back to her hooves and looked for the source of the scream.
“You OK, sis?” rumbled Big Mac from where he and Apple Bloom stood at the back by the barn’s workbench.
“Oh Ahm just peachy, Mac. Apple Bloom, what in tarnation possessed you ta scream at me like that?”
Apple Bloom peered out from behind her big brother. “Scootaloo said that you took Fluttershy’s wings and now she won’t come near me in case it’s catching. I didn’t believe her, but then you came in and,” she pointed, “there they are!”
Applejack pushed several very uncharitable thoughts about Rainbow Dash from her head. “First of all, Ah did not take Fluttershy’s wings, no matter what Scootaloo said. We tangled with some sort of wild magic that swapped the kinda ponies we are, but it was an accident. An Twilight Sparkle did her fancy tests and said it was all used up, so you can just tell everypony that it ain’t catchin’ no how. Now, could someone please help me out of this dang harness?”
Macintosh walked over as Apple Bloom shot out the barn door. “Hold still, then, an’ I’ll getcha out.” The two siblings pulled open buckles with their teeth, freeing Applejack, who took the opportunity to stretch.
Mac looked his sister over. “You don’t look bad like that, truth to tell. What’s it like?”
“How am Ah suppose to know? It’s not like Ah know how ta work any of this anyhow.”
“For not knowin’ how to work it you took off pretty sprightly back there. Almost got the cart up, too.”
Applejack eyed her brother. “You wouldn’t be wishin’ it was you instead of me, would ya?”
“Maaaybe.”
She shook her head. “Ahm more interested in fixin’ this than playin’ with it. Don’t be forgettin’ that this whole thing grounded Fluttershy, an’ that ain’t right.”
“Commendable. Still don’t mean you can’t take advantage of it while it lasts.”
“Uh huh. Ah can predict just how well that’ll go over. Ah’m in deep enough as it is.”
“You mean like with Fuji? Not the same thing.”
“Close enough. She’s plum set in her ways.” Applejack began removing the block and tackle from the cart and returning it to its usual storage place in the barn. “Now why don’t you be helpful for a change an’ fill me in on what needs doin’, since this little setback has already cost me a day’s work.”
“Well, the northwest orchard’s a bit dry, could use a little drizzle and some cloud cover afterwards.”
“Dangit, Mac, can’t ya please just give it a rest?” Applejack replied with a glare.
“Excuse me, but who is it always does the talkin’ with the weather team, what with bein’ such good friends with it’s head and all?”
Applejack flushed. “Sorry, Mac. Ah guess Ah’m a tad on edge. Ah don’t think Rainbow Dash is in much of a mood to talk to me right now, but Ah’ll get the word to the weather ponies somehow.”
“I’m sure you will. Why don’t you just help me patch up these baskets before dinner time, seein’ as I lost my other partner when you came in?”
“Sounds good.”
***
Rainbow Dash floated on a small cloud. Usually this would mean it was nap time, but sleep was the furthest thing from her mind. Seeing Fluttershy missing her wings had shaken Dash deeply; unlike when Discord had taken the wings from both of them there was no immediate assurance of their return, which Dash knew (though would never admit) was the only thing that had saved her from freaking out completely at the time. Worse, she had lashed out at Applejack in fear and frustration, and she was at a loss for what to do next. Her confrontation with Applejack outside Fluttershy’s cottage had deflated her anger like a burst party balloon; and later, as she had trailed Applejack home from above, the orange pony’s misery had been evident in every step. Now Dash had no idea what to do next; she didn’t know what to say to Applejack, she didn’t really want to see Fluttershy in her current state, and she had the feeling that there was a lot about the situation that she wasn’t aware of. She rolled to her hooves and kicked the cloud, drawing a rumble from it. “I hate this. What the hay am I supposed to do, anyway?”
Over the edge of her perch she saw on the ground below three familiar young fillies; the yellow one with the red bow appeared to be talking earnestly with the orange one, who was hiding behind the confused-looking white one. Rainbow spread her wings and dove off the cloud. “Maybe there’s one mistake I can start fixing, anyway.”
***
Rarity hated being left out of the latest talk around town. Not that she was a gossip, perish the thought! She simply believed in fully participating in her community; she did deal with the public, after all. Still, in her business it was inevitable that there would be times when large orders would keep her busy for long stretches of time, with little opportunity to hear the news until she was done. Sweetie Belle would occasionally come around and run small errands for her, but the schoolfilly, despite her turn as a reporter, was just too young and fanciful to be a reliable source; why she had come in the evening before with a wild story about Applejack having stolen Fluttershy’s wings, of all the absurd notions!
“Wait, you’re telling me that it’s true?”
Pinkie Pie set Rarity’s order down on the table in Sugarcube Corner and nodded. “Well, not the part about stealing. Applejack would never steal anything, you know that, but something switched her and Fluttershy around, well, not entirely around, because Fluttershy is still Fluttershy and Applejack is still Applejack but now Applejack has the wings instead of Fluttershy.”
“Oh, my. And nopony knows what to do about it?” The eclair that Rarity had ordered to celebrate completing her order lay on the plate in front of her, forgotten.
“Nope. Twilight tried, and Zecora tried, and Twilight sent a letter to the Princess but I haven’t heard about any reply.”
“Poor Fluttershy! I wonder if there is anything I could do for the dear?”
“That’s a wonderful idea! You finish your ‘celebrate that the dresses are done’ treat and I’ll box some sympathy cookies for Fluttershy.”
“Oh, that would be nice. I take it you’d like to come along?”
“Wild horses couldn’t drag me away!”
Rarity decided that ignoring that last statement was the best policy. “That’s fine, Pinkie.”
***
The baskets were patched and stacked and Applejack and Macintosh were cleaning and putting away the tools and supplies when Apple Bloom burst back into the barn, laughing with delight.
“Yay! Scootaloo and me made up!”
“Good to hear,” commented Big Mac.
“Yeah, I was tryin’ to tell her what you said, sis, and she wasn’t gonna listen but then Rainbow Dash showed up and told her that she should believe me and then she did so it was all OK.”
“Is that a fact? Huh. Wonder what turned Dash around?”
“Guess you can talk to her about that northwest orchard, then.”
“Gonna have to be tomorrow, I reckon.”
“Yeah! It’s dinner time!” Apple Bloom put in.
Applejack looked at Mac. “I s’pose it is.”
The trio entered the farmhouse to the sounds of Granny Smith in the kitchen. “Hope you fixed for four, Granny, ‘cause Applejack’s home.” rumbled Big Mac as the aged matriarch appeared at the kitchen door, squinted at the arrivals, then slowly shook her head. “Well, I admit that middle one does bear a resemblance to my older granddaughter, but there are no cloudwalkers in the Apple family.”
Applejack shot an I-told-you-so look at Mac. “Fluttershy an Ah got mixed up with some kinda leftover wild magic, Granny, but Twilight Sparkle done wrote a letter to the Princess and Ah’m sure that She’ll get it all sorted out before long.”
“Humph. This is what comes with gallavantin’ around, bein’ a hero an all, instead of stayin’ on the farm like a responsible pony.”
“Granny, Ah was helpin’ a friend pull up an old stump. Nothin’ but bein’ neighborly in that.”
“I reckon.” added Big Mac.
Granny Smith snorted. “Not like it was in the old days. Cloudwalkers lived in the clouds, Hornbearers lived in the city, we lived on the farm. Everypony knew their place.”
Apple Bloom frowned. Her best friends were a unicorn and a pegasus, and she didn’t think Granny’s stories about the good old days sounded all that good to her. She knew that saying anything about it directly would only get her in trouble; fortunately, another strategy came to mind, or at least to nose. “Granny, I think I smell muffins burning!”
“Land sakes!” Granny hobbled back into the kitchen, muttering under her breath. “Scorched, but we’ll just have to make do.” came a few moments later.
Luckily for Applejack, the clan had never been much for idle chatter while engaged in the serious business of eating, though she noticed that Granny Smith didn’t seem interested in looking at her, while Apple Bloom was sneaking looks at her wings every time she thought Granny Smith wouldn’t notice.
Finally the meal was finished, the dishes and kitchen cleaned up, and Granny off to her room and to bed. Applejack took the opportunity to stretch her wings, which had started to ache with the effort put into keeping them from moving and drawing unwanted attention. Apple Bloom was promptly at her sister’s side, poking at the pinions.
“So what’s it like? Can ya feel them? Can ya fly?” she hissed in a clear attempt to keep her voice down.
“Diff’rent, yes and please stop pokin’ them, an I guess so but Ah don’t know how.”
“Know how? Don’t ya just flap?”
“If it were that easy, wouldn’t yer friend Scootaloo be makin’ more progress?”
“Her wings are tiny. Yours are as big as Rainbow Dash’s, easy.”
“Eeyup.”
Applejack looked at her siblings. “The two of you ain’t gonna give me any rest till Ah give this a try, are ya?”
“Nope.”
Applejack swallowed. She’d seen Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy fly indoors plenty of times, and the main room was fairly large. Then again, she’d seen Rainbow crash plenty of times, too. Apple Bloom decided to up the ante, giving her sister a puppy-dog look that would have made Winona jealous. “Pleeeeease?”
“Ah feel like the rope in a tug ‘o war contest. Fine, fine, just remember when yer pullin’ me out of the wall that it was your idea. Now stand back and gimme room.” She opened her wings, took a deep breath, and tried to remember her dream at Fluttershy’s cottage. Starting slowly, she moved her wings through a full beat, getting a feel for the motions, then once she was confident in her control she began to flap more strongly and quickly. As she increased her pace, first her front hooves then her hind ones left the floor, until she was hovering a few feet in the air.
“Ya... Good goin’, big sis.” Apple Bloom had started a cheer, then clapped her hooves over her mouth, as she remembered that there was a sleeper that shouldn’t be awakened.
For her part, Applejack realized that taking off was one thing, but landing was another. She carefully slowed the pace of her wingbeats, breathing a sigh of relief as her hooves gradually descended back to the floor. “Whew! That’s a mite more work than it looks.”
“Ya don’t say.” drawled Big Mac.
Applejack rolled her eyes. “All right, maybe there’s more to how much time Dash spends restin’ up than I realized. You two happy now?”
Apple Bloom was jumping up and down. “Do it again!”
Applejack eyed the schoolfilly. “Don’t you have homework tonight?”
Apple Bloom’s face fell. “Aw, that’s no fair, bringin’ that up.”
“Go on, getcher homework done an Ah’ll tell you a bedtime story.”
“Can it be one with a pegasus in it?”
“We’ll see.”
As Apple Bloom trotted back to her room, Applejack walked over to the couch and flopped down. “Silly filly, makin’ so much fuss about such puny flyin’.”
Big Mac grinned at her. “Not bad for a first time. How was it?”
Applejack smiled. “It was... kinda amazin’.” She caught herself and frowned at her brother. “Dangit, Mac, this is what I was tryin’ to stop from happenin’. Tomorrow, next week, whenever, it’s gonna go away. Till then it’s a distraction is all, and there’s enough to do without flittin’ about with mah head in the clouds.”
“Things have been goin’ pretty well this spring, I reckon. No need to fret about it nohow.”
“Now you’re just temptin’ fate, Mac. Now let me be, so’s Ah kin figure out what kinda story Ah’m gonna tell Apple Bloom.”
a My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic fanfic by Alerhys
Part Four
Applejack woke with the rising sun, as was her normal habit. She usually slept fully on her side, but this morning she found herself resting on her left flank and chest, front legs and head curled around her pillow. “Guess Ah was trying to make m’self a cloud ta sleep on,” she chuckled, getting up and making the bed.
Walking over to her washstand, she wiped her face and brushed out her mane and tail, tying them with practiced ease. She began to reach for the hat hanging next to her mirror when she noticed her wings in the reflection. “Huh. Feathers do seem ta be a mite outta place there. Preenin’, Fluttershy called it. Guess Ah outta give it a try.” She thought back to what she had seen and heard the day before, when Fluttershy had groomed her wings. Stretching her right wing up, she took a primary in her mouth, feeling it slip naturally in between her teeth as she smoothed it into place. She paused, running her tongue over her teeth, trying to figure out if this was another thing about her that had changed, but she couldn’t be sure. “Makes no never mind anyhow,” she muttered, resuming the work of smoothing feathers into place and removing a few small loose ones. She started to discard those, then decided to leave them on the stand instead. “Might as well have a souvenir of the experience.” She repeated the process on her left wing, then folded them neatly to her sides.
“That was neat!”
Applejack looked over to the room’s doorway, where Apple Bloom stood enraptured.
“Now, don’t you go gettin’ too enthusiastic about this, sis, or you’re likely ta spook yer friend Scootaloo all over again.”
“Aww. Anyways Granny says you’re late to breakfast .”
A night’s sleep hadn’t improved Granny Smith’s mood where Applejack was concerned, but the rest of the family carried on like any normal day, getting Apple Bloom ready for school and going over the list of chores for the day. Late spring and early summer were mostly maintenance times for the orchards, and it wasn’t a market day, but there were secondary crops to be weeded and trees to be inspected for any signs of trouble. After the breakfast dishes were cleaned up and Apple Bloom sent off to school, Applejack and Big Mac gathered the tools they needed and set to work.
After a few hours of weeding, Applejack was done. She was also hot, tired, and annoyed, both at the fact that she was more worn out by the job than she though was reasonable and at the fact that there had been no sign of Rainbow Dash or any other pegasus in the sky over the farm that morning. “Don’t it beat all that the one mornin’ I need her to come by, she up and vanishes. Course as far as Ah know the weather schedule is clear, so she’s likely practicin’ her stunts somewhere on the other side of town.” She looked at the sun’s position and grinned. “But that don’t change the fact that Ah still need to get word to her, and Ah’ve got just the mare for the job.” and with that she headed back to the farmhouse and started preparing a note while keeping an ear out for the mailmare.
She was about to address the letter when there came a familiar clatter at the front porch. Opening the door, she greeted the grey pegasus dropping letters into the box. “Heya, Derpy.”
Derpy Hooves smiled back, cocking her head and indicating Applejack’s side with a hoof. “Hi! I heard about you getting opinionated!”
“Yeah, I guess the story’s all over town by now, huh?”
The mailmare nodded. “Yep! Real wibbly-wobbly stuff!”
“Zactly. Anyhow, Ah’ve got a special delivery for ya. Got time for a fritter while Ah finish getting it ready?”
“Sure, that sounds scrumptious!”
Derpy followed Applejack into the house, waving at Granny Smith knitting in her chair and taking a place at the dining table as Applejack fetched the apple fritter from the kitchen. While she devoured her treat with gusto, Applejack finished her letter. “Now, this has got to get to Rainbow Dash right away, it’s an official weather team request.”
The mailmare put the letter into her pouch and saluted. “Priority Class!”
“Ah’m much obliged.”
After Derpy took off, Granny Smith broke her silence. “Not gonna hoof-deliver it yerself?”
Applejack snorted. “Derpy files better than Ah do. Honestly, Ah suspect chickens fly better than Ah do.”
The answer seemed the mollify the elder mare, who went back to her knitting. “Fix up a basket for you and your brother then, won’t you? He’s probably clear out to the back forty and takin’ lunch to him will save a passel of time.”
“Sure thing, Granny.”
***
Fluttershy looked embarrassed, but she was smiling all the same. “Really, you shouldn’t have gone to all this trouble for me.”
“Nonsense, darling,” Rarity replied. “You told me yesterday that Twilight didn’t know how many days or weeks it might be before they found a way to reverse your condition, and it’s simply not like you can be expected to put your life on hold until they do. Besides, these step stools are divine! Light but sturdy, easily carried, and just perfect for your decor! I was lucky to remember seeing them.”
“But you didn’t need to get me two of them.”
“Trust me, dear, if you only have one it will always be upstairs when you need it downstairs and vice versa. It almost defeats the purpose of having them in the first place. Now, let’s find a good place for these and you can tell me if there’s anything else I can help with.”
“Oh, well, if you’re sure you don’t mind.”
“Not at all. Whatever are friends for?”
***
Rainbow Dash sat in the tree, picking twigs and leaves out of her tail. Keeping her mind on her loops was proving to be difficult, but she was at a loss for what else to do. It seemed like all anypony in town wanted to talk about was Fluttershy and Applejack, which was the last thing she wanted to discuss.
“Official Special Derplivery for Rainbow Dash!”
Startled, Rainbow looked up to see Derpy Hooves hovering next to the tree. “How do you do that?”
“Simple, it’s synchronicity!”
“What? No, never mind. What have you got for me?”
The mailmare pulled out the letter from her bag and gave it to Dash. “Swift completion!” she added, before saluting and speeding away.
Dash inspected the letter in her hooves, frowning. “Official Weather Request from Sweet Apple Acres.” She opened and read the note. “Northwest orchard, afternoon drizzle and cloud cover.” She looked out at the horizon. “Not a lot of raw material in the sky, but the lake isn’t that far away. So I can put half the team on it, or just do it myself. Fine. Guess I’ll go show AJ what a real pegasus looks like.” Tucking the letter under her mane, she took off, arriving over the lake a few minutes later. Coming in fast and low, she skimmed the surface of the water, drawing the moisture up in her wake and forming it into a vapor trail. Pulling up into a loop, she repeated the process several times, building up a substantial cloud, which she then pushed up into the sky and towards her target.
Sitting in the shade after finishing her lunch, Applejack spotted the massive cloud approaching. “Looks like we got our weather order comin’, Mac.”
“Eeyup.”
Dash spotted the two farm ponies below as she moved into position. Maneuvering the cloud to the edge of the orchard, she began spreading it out in a thin layer over the apple trees, kneading a thin drizzle out of it as she did so. In minutes, the whole area was covered in overcast and mist. Dash looked down at her work, noting that she was no longer visible from the ground, which gave her the perfect opportunity to just call the job done and take off. She shook her head; that’s was the coward’s way out. Sailing beyond the edge of the drizzle, she landed with a flourish, forcing a grin. “One orchard, misted to order, courtesy of your Ponyville Weather team.”
Big Mac grinned and indicated the lunch basket. “Thank ye kindly, Miss Dash, and help y’self to a fritter by way of gratuity.”
“Don’t mind if I do.” She looked over at Applejack. “So, were you taking notes?”
“Can’t say that I understood it so well, but it did look mighty neat. Kinda like rollin’ out a big ol’ pie crust.”
Dash paused between bites of fritter. “That’s... not a bad way to think of it. Like dough.”
Applejack shrugged, startling herself as her wings half-opened with the gesture. “Just what it reminded me of, is all. Anyways, thanks as usual Rainbow, we owe you.”
Dash licked her lips. “Just doing my job. Not that I don’t appreciate the apple-favored bonuses.” She looked down, then back up. “Um, AJ, you know that I was just worried about Fluttershy, right?”
“Yeah, I figgered as much. Don’t worry about it. Thanks for helpin’ Apple Bloom patch things up with Scootaloo.”
“You’re welcome.” Dash looked away, awkwardly.
“Not ta chase you off or anything, Miss Dash, but AJ and I hafta get back to work.” Big Mac put in.
“Oh. Sure. I’ll see you later, AJ.” and with that Dash turned and flew off back towards Ponyville.
“Nice save there, bro.”
“Eeyup.”
***
Twilight Sparkle looked at the stack of books on her reading table and frowned.
“Problem, Twi?” asked Spike.
“It’s just annoying. What happened to Applejack and Fluttershy doesn’t follow any of the rules of magic as I understand it. Even my oldest references don’t mention anything I hadn’t already thought of.”
“Well, that’s why you sent those messages to Princess Celestia, right?”
Twilight grumpily started levitating books back into place on the shelves. “That’s not the point, Spike. I’m their friend. Besides that, I’m supposed to be the one that takes care of things for the Princess, not running to the Princess when I can’t figure out what to do.”
“Aw, Twilight, I’m sure that the Princess understands that... *uuurrpp*!" Spike’s reply was interrupted by a belch of green smoke and a rolled and sealed parchment, which he plucked from the air. “Speaking of the Princess, it’s a message for you.”
Twilight levitated the letter over, breaking the seal, unrolling the parchment, and scanning the contents.
“Good news?”
“She wants me to have Fluttershy and Applejack here tomorrow morning so that she can talk to them. That’s all the letter says.”
a My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic fanfic by Alerhys
Part Five
Twilight Sparkle awoke with a groan. Opening one eye, she looked blearily at the baby dragon that was shaking her shoulder with one hand while holding a parchment in the other. “Spike? What is it?” She opened her other eye and looked at her window. “It’s barely dawn.”
“She’s coming!”
“I know she’s coming, Spike. You read me the letter last night, remember?”
“No, I mean she’s coming NOW!”
“What?” Twilight sat up and became very attentive.
“She woke me up with another letter! She says they’ll be here shortly after sunrise!”
Twilight leaped out of bed and ran for her bathroom. “Ohmygoshthatsnotwhatthelastlettersaid...” she stuck her head back out and blinked at Spike. “Wait, ‘they’?”
“Princess Luna’s coming, too.”
“Oh. Well, that explains... Never mind! Start cleaning up the main room, and I’ll... No, strike that. You go get Fluttershy, I’ll clean up the main room and then teleport to Sweet Apple Acres, tell Applejack, and teleport back to greet the Princess...es.”
Spike dropped the letter on Twilight’s bed and headed down the stairs. “I’m on it, Twi!”
***
Applejack once again woke up with her bedclothes and pillow bundled under her, wings hanging over the edges. “Ah don’t remember Fluttershy sleepin’ like this. Ah havta remember to ask her about it after this is over.” She got up, tossing her pillow onto her back, shaking out her blanket, and dropping it precisely in place, then tossing the pillow at the head of the bed. “Nice and neat.” Stretching, she walked to her washstand, washed, brushed, tied, preened, and tossed her hat onto her head with a flourish. “Not late for breakfast this mornin’,” she remarked with a grin.
Entering the dining room, she greeted her siblings; today was market day, which meant loading up the sales cart with preserves and baked goods and heading for town. Granny Smith had made waffles with apple butter, and Applejack had just finished her first plate when a knocking came at the door.
Apple Bloom was the first to respond, going over and throwing open the door to reveal a somewhat disheveled Twilight Sparkle.
“Hi Apple Bloom. Where’s Applejack? I need to talk to her!”
“Ah’m right here, Twi. What’s up?”
“Princess meeting, want to see you and Fluttershy at the library right away!”
“Now? Well, if that’s what the Princess wants...”
“Great!” Magic began to build up around Twilight’s horn.
Applejack stepped back. “Uh, you aren’t gonna...”
“What? Oh, no! I’m just going to go back and get ready and you meet me there.” and with that Twilight vanished in a flash of color and sound.
Applejack breathed a sigh of relief at not having to experience teleportation. Turning back to her family, she shook her head. “Well, there ya go. Royal summons an’ all. Mac, AB, can you get set up in the market and Ah’ll spell ya as soon as Ah can?”
“Be happy to.” Big Mac said.
“Won’t let ya down, sis!” Apple Bloom added.
Granny Smith snorted. “Throws our schedules off again.”
Applejack just grinned at her. “Hopefully fer the last time, Granny. Sorry ‘bout eatin’ and runnin’.” and with that she headed out the door and began galloping toward Ponyville.
***
Fluttershy hummed a happy tune as she finished putting away the dishes. She had woken up early and found herself full of energy, so she had gone ahead and taken care of her morning chores and animal feedings before fixing her own breakfast. “Isn’t it a beautiful day, Angel?” she asked the bunny. “Just perfect for a shopping trip into town.” She began to think over what she needed in the way of supplies when a rapid knocking at her door interrupted her. Answering the summons, she was surprised to see Spike leaning on her doorway, panting wisps of green smoke.
“Goodness, Spike, did you run here all the way from the library?”
“I *huff* told Twilight *puff* we should have *huff* told you last night *puff* but she said *huff* there would be *puff* plenty of time *huff* in the morning *puff*.”
“Time for what?”
“Princess *huff* wants to see you *puff* and Applejack *huff* at the library *puff*.”
“You mean... now?”
Spike nodded as he finished catching his breath. “Sorry for the short notice.”
“Oh not at all. I was just about to head into town anyway, so it’s no trouble, really.” Fluttershy looked at the still recovering baby dragon. “Would you like a ride back?”
“Ride? You mean, on you?”
“Well of course. You ride Twilight all the time, and you ran all the way here to get me so I should return the favor.”
“I guess, if you’re sure.”
“Oh, yes.” Fluttershy replied. “Angel, I’m headed for town, take care of things until I get back!” she called into the cottage, closing the door and indicating her back to Spike. “Climb on, then, and we’ll get going.”
Spike carefully climbed onto Fluttershy and settled down. “There’s no need to gallop back. Your legs are longer than mine, and anyway Twilight has to go get Applejack.”
“All right then.” Fluttershy settled for a canter, enjoying the rhythm of her hooves on the road as she carried the baby dragon into town.
“You seem happy this morning.”
“I do? I guess I am. It’s such a nice day, it just makes me feel good.”
As they got deeper into town, Fluttershy slowed to a trot, greeting the occasional pony who stopped to take in the unusual pair. “They do seem surprised to see you on my back,” she remarked. “You don’t think Twilight would be upset, do you? I wouldn’t want to be a problem.”
“Nah, we’re good. I appreciate the lift. Anyway, here we are. Let me just peek inside and see what’s up.” Spike replied, sliding off Fluttershy’s back and opening the door.
“Oh, you’re here. Um, I brought Fluttershy.” Spike held the door for the yellow pony, who stepped into the library to see Twilight standing in the main room with not just Princess Celestia, but Princess Luna as well.
She immediately bowed to the Royal Sisters. “Good Morning, Your Highnesses, Twilight.”
Princess Luna replied first. “It is well to see you again, good Fluttershy. I have endeavored to keep your voice lessons in mind.”
“Oh, that’s nice of you, Your Highness.”
“Please, simply ‘Luna’ is preferred when we are not in Court.”
Fluttershy nodded. “Thank you for taking the trouble to come here just for Applejack and me.”
Twilight looked over at Spike, who had continued to keep watch out the door. “Spike, do you see Applejack?”
In reply, the dragon swung the door open to reveal Applejack trotting up to the library. “Yep.”
Applejack paused as the library door swung open to reveal the room’s occupants, then hastily doffed her hat and bowed to the Princesses. “Greetins, yer Majesties.”
This time it was Princess Celestia who replied first. “Please, come in Applejack. We need to talk to you both about what happened.” Though it was nothing like the tone of voice Celestia had taken when Discord had gotten loose, she was clearly being serious about the subject.
Applejack took a deep breath and entered the library, stopping next to Fluttershy as Spike closed the door behind them.
Princess Celestia looked over at her sister, then back at the affected pair. “First, Luna and I would like to confirm personally the findings of Twilight Sparkle and the magic professors at the school.” The two alicorns pointed their horns, sending waves of magic through Applejack and Fluttershy as Twilight looked on in fascination. After a few minutes of concentration, they lifted their heads together and seemed to come to the same conclusion.
“That’s it, then.” sighed Princess Celestia.
“I concur.” replied Luna.
“My little ponies,” Celestia began, “I am afraid that our options in this situation are limited.”
“WHAT?”
All eyes turned to Twilight Sparkle, who flushed, ears down with embarrassment at her own outburst. “But... But you’re...” she tried to continue, then looked at the floor at a loss for words.
Princess Celestia sighed, more deeply this time. “Let me explain. To all magical senses, everything is as it should be. Applejack is a pegasus, Fluttershy an earth pony, with nothing to show that they were not always that way.”
Luna chimed in. “Nothing shows amiss. Their cutie marks are unchanged, their links to their Elements of Harmony intact. Only our memories tell us that they were not in fact born to the bodies they now exhibit.”
Twilight looked up again. “I don’t understand! It was magic that did this. Magic doesn’t work that way!”
Princess Celestia shook her head. “Pony magic does not work that way. What changed Applejack and Fluttershy is much older, old even by my standards; perhaps a remnant from powers that predate Equestria itself. How it ended up where it was found I cannot fathom.”
Now it was Luna’s turn to sigh. “It is possible that it might be related to the condition of the Everfree, and have been broken loose a millennium ago by my actions. If this is indeed the case, I am truly sorry.”
Applejack had felt her heart sink with the Princesses’ first words. Swallowing hard, she pulled herself together enough to ask “So what yer sayin’ then is that ya cain’t change us back?”
Celestia shook her head. “There is no ‘back’ to change you to. Changing you to an earth pony would be like changing any other pegasus to an earth pony, and the same principle goes for Fluttershy.”
“That’s a very difficult spell. I’m not sure I could cast it, and at best it might last a day.” Twilight put in.
“Were I or my sister to perform the spell, it would endure longer, perhaps a matter of weeks.” added Luna. “It is also possible that an artifact could be enchanted to maintain the effect.”
Fluttershy spoke up for the first time. “Excuse me, but do you mean that you are offering to do this for us?”
Both alicorns nodded. “We know it wasn’t what you were hoping to hear, but at least for now it’s all we can offer. The magical college will continue to work on the issue, but they can’t promise anything.” Celestia replied.
Fluttershy looked at Applejack, then back to the Princesses. “Thank you very much, and I don’t want you to think that I’m not grateful, but I can’t put you to all that trouble.”
“Fluttershy, are you sure?” Twilight exclaimed.
“Oh, yes. It’s not like I live or work in the clouds, after all. I wouldn’t feel right having to have one of the Princesses keep coming over to cast a spell on me for as little as I would be taking advantage of it.”
All eyes swung to Applejack, who looked up at the Princesses. “So even if ya changed me ta be like before, it wouldn’t be lastin’.”
“That is correct.” Luna replied.
“What about... havin’ a foal, some day?”
The Royal Sisters looked at each other once again, and this time Celestia took the question. “Maintaining that sort of transformation during pregnancy? That’s not something that has been tried very often, if at all. I can’t say that I would recommend it.”
Applejack shook her head. “It’s livin’ a lie, then. Ah cain’t do that, beggin’ yer pardon. What Fluttershy says is the truth, it’s mighty kind of ya ta make the offer, but Ah wouldn’t feel right about it.”
Princess Celestia drew herself up. “Very well, then. We respect your wishes in the matter.”
“And once again, know that if there is anything we can do to make this easier for you, you have but to ask.” added Luna.
“Just have Spike send us a letter, and we will see to it at once.” concluded Celestia.
“Thank you so much.” replied Fluttershy.
“Yeah, thank you kindly.” added Applejack.
“Then goodbye for now, my little ponies.” and in a flash, Celestia and Luna were gone.
Fluttershy looked from Twilight to Applejack and back, concern written on her features, then reached out with her forelegs and pulled the other two ponies into a hug. “Please, don’t be sad. As long as we have our friends we can get through anything.”
Twilight managed a smile in return. “That’s right. Together.” She returned the hug. “Fluttershy, I want you to know that if you need to go to Cloudsdale or anything like that, come to me and I’ll cast the flying spell I used on Rarity for you.”
“That’s very sweet of you.” Fluttershy replied. “Applejack, what about you? Are you going to be all right?”
Applejack also returned Fluttershy’s hug. “Ah’ll be OK. It’s a lot to get used to, is all.”
Fluttershy still looked concerned, but she didn’t press the issue. “Well then, it’s Market Day, and I was going to go there before Spike came to tell me about the Princesses, so I suppose I’ll get to my shopping and see you all later.” She turned and headed for the library door.
Applejack followed. “Yeah, Ah’m supposed to be workin’ the Apple cart today, and Ah don’t want Mac ta have to do my share, so Ah oughtta get over there.”
Spike opened the door for the pair, acknowledging their thanks, and closed it behind them. He walked back to Twilight, who had resumed looking at the floor. “Twi? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing! Ah, nothing, Spike. Of course, I wish I had been able to do more to help, but I did everything I could think of, right? I mean, even the Princess, the Princess, even, couldn’t do...” she turned her head away, but Spike could see the tears start to fall from her eyes. “Stupid, so stupid, it’s not like anything happened to me, it’s not like anypony is really hurt, it’s stupid to think that Princess Celestia can just come in and wave her horn and make everything right again, I’m not a little filly any more after all and I know better than, better than... oh, Spike!” and with that she buried her head in the baby dragon’s chest and began to sob.
a My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic fanfic by Alerhys
Part Six
As they walked from the library, Applejack cleared her throat. “Say, Fluttershy?”
“Yes?”
“Thanks, fer showin’ me about preenin’ an all. You were right, it’s a lot more comfortable that way.”
“You’re quite welcome.” The yellow pony looked at Applejack’s pinions and nodded. “You’re doing a good job; your wings look very neat.”
“Yeah, well, I guess it’s not like Ah’ve done much to get ‘em out of place, ‘cept sleepin’ on em.”
“You should. Your wings are good wings. They’re strong wings. Give them a chance, and they’ll do you proud.”
“Fluttershy?”
Applejack got a shy smile in return. “I have to get some new shopping bags. I’ll come by later, OK?” and with that Fluttershy turned and trotted down the street.
“Guess she’s got a point.” Applejack muttered to herself as she headed for the spot where the family apple cart was set up. Glancing around, she noticed that the number of looks she was getting had fallen off considerably. “Third day and already the novelty is wearin’ off. That’s life in Ponyville, Ah reckon.”
As she approached the cart, she saw Macintosh filling an applesauce order for Roseluck while Apple Bloom stacked bags of apple chips at the front of the display. She waited for their customer to walk away before trotting up. “Hey you two, looks like you’re doin’ good business!” she greeted her siblings.
They looked their sister over. “Thought you were gonna be back to normal,” Bic Mac commented.
“Welcome ta the new normal. The Princesses themselves say there’s nothin’ can be done.”
Apple Bloom was bouncing up and down, “So you’re gonna stay a pegasus?”
“And Fluttershy stays an earth pony, so keep a rein on that enthusiasm, sis.”
“Sorry. So what are you gonna do now?”
“Sell apple products, and let Mac get back to the farm.”
“That’s not what I meant!”
Applejack shook her head. “Ah haven’t thought about it, truth ta tell. We still got Sweet Apple Acres to attend to, regardless.”
“You want me to tell Granny?” Big Mac asked. “Give the idea time to settle in before you get home.”
“Give her time ta have mah things thrown out in the road, ya mean?”
He snorted. “Told you, it’s not the same as with Fuji.”
“Who’s Fuji?” Apple Bloom interjected.
The older ponies froze. “Me and my big mouth,” Mac muttered.
Applejack sighed. “You never met Fuji, AB. She’d be, lemme see, yer second cousin once removed, if Ah got it figured right. Younger than our folks, older than Mac, here. She used ta be in charge of lookin’ after the young’uns at the Apple Family get-togethers; Ah liked her a lot.”
“Did... something happen to her?”
“You could say that. She got ta know one of her local weather pegasi, they fell in love, and they got married.”
“Oh. Then something bad happened?”
Applejack and Big Mac looked at each other, then both looked away for a moment, embarrassed. Finally Applejack spoke. “Ya gotta remember, Applebloom, this was a ways back, before you were even born.”
“What’s that got to do with it?”
“The heads of the Apple branches, um, they decided that by marryin’ a pegasus, Fuji had left the family.”
“What? Why?”
“Well, pegasi, they’re not farmers. They don’t grow things.”
“Fluttershy does. Did. You know what I mean. And isn’t there a pegasus that grows grape vines around here?”
Applejack kicked the ground. “Yeah. Ah was just a filly, not even your age then. When Fuji wasn’t at the next reunion, Ah asked why. Nobody would talk about it, till her little brother took me aside and told me about it.”
“That’s dumb.” Apple Bloom said emphatically.
“Reckon yer right, AB.”
“So did you ever hear from her again?”
“Not directly. Ah’d hear bits and pieces over the years, how she had a couple of foals, an earth pony colt and a pegasus filly, and far as Ah know she’s doin’ all right.”
“Well, that’s good at least.” Apple Bloom replied. She thought for a moment, then her eyes grew wide as she made the connections between what her brother and sister had been saying. “Wait a minute. Are you sayin’ that you’re gonna be kicked out of the family for gettin’ turned into a pegasus?”
“Ah didn’t say that, exactly... but you saw how Granny took it when Ah came home with wings.”
“She doesn’t run the farm any more. You and Mac do.”
“She’s still head of our branch of the Apple Family, Apple Bloom.”
Apple Bloom stepped up to her sister, ears laid back and mouth grim. “I don’t care! If you get kicked out of the family, then I’m goin’ out of the family with you!”
“Eeyup.” added Big Mac.
Applejack looked between her siblings, emotions playing over her face. “You two are talkin’ crazy. Ya cain’t just leave the family like that!”
“Wouldn’t be leaving them. They’d be leaving us.” Mac drawled.
“That’s right. I’d rather change my name to, to Pomme Floraison than not have you for my sister. Nopony gets to do that, not even Granny!” Apple Bloom added.
“Ah... Dang it, Ah got somethin’ in my eye here.” Applejack wiped at her eyes with a hoof.
“I bet cousin Fuji would let us be part of her family. We should go visit her instead of goin’ to the Summer Sun get-together.”
“Oh mah stars. That’s just two weeks away, ain’t it? Plum slipped mah mind. No wonder Granny was so put out.”
“So what are ya gonna do?” asked Apple Bloom.
Applejack shook her head. “Fer now, Ah’m not gonna worry about it. Takin’ care of the farm is the most important thing.” She looked around, noticing several ponies waiting a short distance away. “And not scarin’ away customers is part of that. Step up, the best apple products around for sale here!”
Big Mac turned toward the road. “Won’t say anything to Granny, then. You want me ta come back at closing time?”
“Nah, Ah kin handle the harness, now that Ah know what not ta do.”
“See you at home, then. Don’t forget to eat lunch.”
“Not a chance of that.”
Applejack spent the next few hours answering the same questions from curious ponies while making sales: yes, she and Fluttershy would be staying the way they were now; no, she hadn’t gotten the hang of flying yet but yes, she intended to learn; yes, she intended to keep working the farm and no, she didn’t know how being a pegasus would affect that yet; and no, she didn’t plan on changing teams for Winter Wrap-Up but that was a ways down the road. In the middle of it Apple Bloom’s fellow Cutie Mark Crusaders showed up, and Applejack sent them off with the rest of the day-old apple muffins and an admonition to be careful, to which the fillies gave their usual breezy assurances.
It was after the usual lunch time, and Applejack’s stomach rumbled as she looked over a depleted apple cart. “Ah guess this whole thing didn’t hurt business none. Guess Ah can afford to take a little time off.” She shut up the cart, hung up an Out To Lunch sign on it, and headed over to Sugarcube Corner.
Entering the shop, she noted that the lunch rush seemed to be over in there as well, with Pinkie Pie behind the counter of an otherwise empty shop. “Howdy, Pinkie. What ya got that’s sweet and substantial?”
“Ooh, we still have some chocolate chip banana nut bread left and that should put some spring in your wings!”
“Sounds like a plan. Ah’ll have it for here, thanks.”
“Okie-dokie-lokie! Mind if I join you?” Pinkie stuck her head through the kitchen door and called “Mrs. Cake, I’m taking my break now!” before grabbing up the banana bread platter, two plates, and two bottles of milk and carrying them over to a table. “It’s on me today.”
“Aw, Pinkie, you don’t have ta do that.”
“But I want to do that! Even if you don’t want an Applejack’s A Pegasus Now party, I can at least treat you to lunch.”
Applejack joined Pinkie at the table. “Thanks, sugarcube, Ah appreciate the thought. Ah don’t want anypony ta make a big fuss about this.”
“Because you aren’t sure that your traditional farming family is going to be understanding about your nature.”
Applejack’s eyes widened. “Oh mah gosh, Pinkie. Ah didn’t think about it, but Ah guess you have a pretty good idea about how Ah’m feelin’ right now. Come to think of it, you’re a quarter pegasus yourself, ain’tcha?”
“You remembered about Granny Pie! Sometimes I wonder how things might of been if Daddy had been a pegasus, but then I think that’s silly, because then I’d be somepony else, and if I wasn’t me then who would be?”
Applejack laughed. “Pinkie, you’re just what Ah needed right now.”
Pinkie smiled back. “So it’s OK if I’m just a teensy weensy bit jealous?” she said quietly. “Don’t tell Fluttershy.”
“It’s our secret. You were right about the bread, by the way. Hits the spot.”
***
After cleaning up from breakfast, Rarity decided to take advantage of market day to restock her larder, levitating her shopping bags from stall to stall and shop to shop with practiced ease as she picked through the edibles offered. It didn’t take long for her to also pick up the gossip of the day, which not surprisingly contained that morning’s development in Applejack and Fluttershy’s situation. Following the trail of talk to the grain store, she was rewarded by the sight of Fluttershy emerging well-laden from the entrance.
“Goodness, Fluttershy, would you like some help with that?”
“Oh, good morning Rarity! I wanted to thank you again for your gifts, especially since it seems that I’ll be getting good use out of them from now on.”
“So I had gathered. Is there anything I can do for you, dear?”
“Well, if you get a chance could you go by Applejack’s cart and let her know that I won’t be by today after all? I got such a good deal on corn feed and I need to take all my purchases back home.”
“Most certainly, but are you sure that’s all you need?”
“Yes, please, if you don’t mind. If I don’t see you again today, we’re still on for the spa tomorrow, right?”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“See you later, then.” smiled Fluttershy, turning and stepping smartly down the road towards her home.
Rarity watched the yellow pony leave. “She certainly seems to be taking all this rather well,” she mused.
***
Rainbow Dash hadn’t slept especially well. She couldn’t remember the exact details from her nightmares; she was fairly sure that plummeting was involved, but whether it was her, Fluttershy, or even Applejack doing it wasn’t clear. Fortunately, the weather schedule was clear (barring anything unexpected blowing in from the Everfree), so she had the luxury of taking her sweet time pulling herself together in the morning and making sure her wings were in tip-top condition before launching herself from her cloud home down into Ponyville for a late breakfast (or for most other ponies, an early lunch).
Circling over the town as she set course for Sugarcube Corner, she caught sight of a familiar yellow pony; she was wearing oversized saddlebags, but Rainbow didn’t see any sign of wings. Angling across the marketplace, she spotted Applejack talking to her siblings, still obviously a pegasus. “Taking their sweet time about it.” she muttered as she swooped down to a landing.
Walking into the bakery, she got in line behind a couple of other customers who were chatting with Pinkie Pie at the counter.
“Yeah, I heard it too, Bon Bon came in and she heard it directly from Fluttershy while they were buying sugar.”
“Heard what?” Rainbow put in.
“Oh, hi Dashie! We were talking about Fluttershy and Applejack, they’re telling everypony that they have to stay the way they are.”
“What? You mean Fluttershy doesn’t get her wings back?”
“Nopey-wopey, but from how I heard it she...” but Dash was already back out the door.
Rocketing into the air, it struck Rainbow that she had no idea what she should do. She was really upset, but it made no sense to her to be mad at Fluttershy and she’d given up on being mad at Applejack. Only one other possibility occurred to her, so she shot toward the Golden Oaks Library, bursting through the front door.
Spike jumped his own height into the air at the sudden intrusion. “Aah! What the...?”
“Spike! Where’s Twilight?”
“Ah, well, uh, now’s not a good time.”
Twilight walked in from the next room. “It’s all right, Spike.” she said, wiping her face with a hoof.
Rainbow took in the sight of the purple unicorn. “Twilight? Have you been... crying?”
Spike started to say something, but Twilight held up a hoof to stop him. “Yes. Yes, I have. I’ve been bawling my eyes out like a little filly, as a matter of fact.” she answered.
“Oh.” Between losing sleep and the amount of mood whiplash she’d been through, Dash was starting to feel dizzy. “Um, sorry?”
“It’s not anything you did, Rainbow.”
“I... That’s good, I guess.”
“But you’re not the only one that hates losing.”
“Excuse me?”
“I assume from the way you burst in here that you heard the latest about Fluttershy and Applejack.”
“Well, yeah.”
“So you know that we couldn’t do anything. Not me, not the magic college, not the, the Princesses, not all the spiral horns in the world could do a blasted thing.”
Rainbow absorbed the statement, then walked up to Twilight and looked her in the eyes. “I know you did everything you could, Twi. You’re the most awesome unicorn in Equestria.”
Twilight looked down. “I don’t feel very awesome, but thanks.”
“Trust me, I’m an expert on awesome.” Dash rubbed the back of her head with a hoof. “Look, you want to get some lunch? We can go over to that café you like. My treat. You too, Spike, to make up for startling you like that.”
“That would be nice. Just let me wash my face and brush my mane.”
a My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic fanfic by Alerhys
Part Seven
Applejack looked at an empty cart. She’d had another stream of curious ponies and well-wishers once she’d returned from lunch, most of them happy to buy something from her in exchange for hearing the story, from the horse’s mouth as it were. The resulting business had left her without anything to sell by mid-afternoon. “Guess that’s one silver lining to this cloud.” She closed up the cart and began to look over the harness; she was used to adjusting them to switch between Macintosh and herself, but accommodating her wings properly would take some thought.
“Can I offer you some assistance, Applejack?”
Applejack looked back and grinned. “Howdy, Rarity. Didn’t think you were the sort to be messin’ around with tack.”
“A good designer must know function as well as form, darling. Please allow me.” A light blue glow formed around the harness, buckles opening, adjusting, and closing again until the result was neatly fitted to Applejack, leaving her wings unimpeded. “And voilà!”
Applejack inspected the rig, shifting in place and opening and closing her wings. “Thank you kindly; it’s mighty nice, Ah admit. Ah’ll have ta remember how it’s done, for future use.”
“You’re quite welcome. Before you take off, Fluttershy wanted you to know that she wouldn’t be by today, but I gather that’s a moot point now.”
“Yeah, I’d heard as much indirectly, but thanks again.”
“I left her by the grain shop, laden with her purchases. She seemed almost giddy about it.”
“If her day was anything like mine, she got some real good deals today. Seems like everypony was willing to part with a few bits in exchange for askin’ me questions. Guess Ah don’t blame ‘em none for bein’ curious.”
“I must confess to being rather intrigued myself, but you’ve undoubtedly had enough interrogation for one day. Do come by if you need any alterations done, perhaps new bags or a strap for your hat?”
“Ah’ll be sure to. If ya see Apple Bloom, remind her ta get home before dark, OK?”
“By all means.”
“Appreciate it. Later, then.” and with that Applejack began pulling the cart down the road toward Sweet Apple Acres.
***
Rainbow Dash’s lunch had been pleasant, all things considered; she, Twilight and Spike had talked about the upcoming Summer Sun celebration, how their pets were doing, Sapphire Shores’ latest tune, Rarity’s latest accessory line; anything and everything but what had happened to Fluttershy and Applejack. Bidding her two friends farewell, the cyan pegasus took to the air and flew high enough to select a nice puffy cloud just right for an after-lunch nap, but once again sleep eluded her. Finally she became tired of tossing and turning and stood up. “I’ve got to stop avoiding Fluttershy some time. Might as well see how she’s doing,” she sighed to herself, before sailing off her perch and gliding back over the town. A quick pass through the market section elicited the information that Fluttershy had headed home, and a couple of minutes later Rainbow was knocking at the cottage door.
“Oh, Rainbow, it’s so good to see you,” Fluttershy said brightly when she saw who was there. “Won’t you come in? I was just putting my shopping away and was going to put on some tea.”
Despite herself, Rainbow was still shaken by the sight of the grounded pony. “Um, sure, great,” she replied to the ground in front of her in a manner that was more reminiscent of Fluttershy herself than her usual style, as she followed Fluttershy’s hooves into the cottage.
Fluttershy paused and looked back as she reached the entrance to her kitchen. “Rainbow, are you all right?”
Dash glanced up, then dropped her eyes again. “Of course, why wouldn’t I be? Are you all right?”
Fluttershy stepped close to her friend. “I’m fine. But... you don’t believe that, do you?”
Dash glanced up again. “What? What are you talking about?”
Fluttershy’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Rainbow Dash, please, look at me.”
Dash tried to hold Fluttershy’s gaze. “I am looking at you.”
“No, you aren’t. You’re looking everywhere else but. Look at me!”
Rainbow tried, but at the sight of Fluttershy’s bare back she averted her gaze again. “What are you going on about, Shy?” She was startled when Fluttershy grabbed her head in her hooves and glared at her. “Hey! What are you doing?”
“What do you see, Dash? What do you see when you look at me?” Fluttershy released Dash’s head and took a step back.
“This is crazy. I see you, Shy, what am I supposed to see?”
“You see a pegasus that’s lost her wings, don’t you? You won’t even look at me, like there’s something wrong with me!” the yellow pony retorted, her voice starting to rise.
“That’s not...” Dash tried to reply, but Fluttershy stepped forward again and interrupted her, poking a hoof into the other pony’s chest.
“There’s nothing wrong with me, Rainbow Dash! Nothing! I’m not a maimed pegasus!” Fluttershy punctuated each sentence with another poke to the chest, and Rainbow found herself pushed into a sitting position.
“Fluttershy...”
“I. Am. An. Earth. Pony! You don’t look at Pinkie Pie like that. You didn’t look at Applejack like that. And You. Will. Not. Look. At. Me. Like. That!” Rainbow Dash found herself on her back on the floor, looking up at an angry Fluttershy without quite being clear how it had happened.
“I’m an earth pony! I’m a good earth pony. You know those big sacks of corn feed, that I used to have delivered? I walked home with three of those on my back this morning. Three! Along with a bulging set of shopping bags. Like it was nothing! All the ponies in town, Rarity, they saw me, they were impressed, they didn’t look at me like I was crippled, because I’m not!” Fluttershy was breathing heavily, but to Dash’s relief she hadn’t resorted to The Stare.
Rainbow took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, Fluttershy. You’re right. I... It’s not easy. We’ve known each other since we were fillies, I can’t just forget that in a day. And I know I couldn’t have done anything, but I still feel like I let you down. Again. And, and it scares me, OK? One second you’re same as always, the next you’ll never fly again. Every time I try to sleep, it’s the same nightmare, everypony falling and I can’t do anything...” Dash realized that tears had begun to leak from her eyes.
The anger vanished from Fluttershy’s face, and an expression of concern replaced it. “Oh, Rainbow, none of this was your fault.”
Dash blinked furiously. “I know that. It doesn’t help. I told Twilight the same thing this morning about not being able to fix it with her magic, but I don’t know if it helped her either.”
Fluttershy put a hoof under Rainbow’s neck and helped her friend back up onto her hooves. “Come on, let’s get that tea on and have a talk, all right?” She led the way into her kitchen and busied herself with preparations while Dash sat down at the table. “It’s not like you might think, Rainbow. I do remember being a pegasus before, but I know that’s not what I am now. I’m an earth pony, and I don’t feel like I ought to be able to fly. I feel strong and stable on the ground, even more than I used to.”
“I’m not sure that makes me feel better, Fluttershy.”
“If you mean that what did this is scary, I agree, but it’s gone now. What I’m trying to say is that I’m not trying to put on a brave front here. I’m really, truly, content.” The conversation was paused as Fluttershy added tea leaves to the pot and carefully brought it and the cups to the table. “Please understand, it’s not that I don’t miss being a pegasus; flying is really convenient sometimes, and it was easy to overlook all the flying I used to do when so much of it was below treetop level. And, well,” she added shyly, “it’s been kind of awkward, with the birds.” She smiled again. “But Pinkie is helping me with jumping and climbing, and Rarity is helping me reorganize my house and she got me these really cute step stools, and Twilight said that when I really need it she’ll use the spell that she used on Rarity for the Best Young Flier competition.” She looked up from pouring the tea and giggled. “I would look good in butterfly wings, don’t you think?”
“Sure. Really nice.”
“I’m still me, Rainbow. I might not have wings on my back anymore, but I still have them on my flank. Taking care of critters is what I do, and if some of how I did it before isn’t available, well, other things about it are better. I can understand my animal friends even more now, and that’s a good thing, right?”
Dash found herself looking at Fluttershy’s cutie mark as she took in what the other pony was saying. “You’re right. I didn’t think about it like that. I didn’t realize, but you’re right, it makes sense. You’re my good friend, Fluttershy, the earth pony who takes care of the forest critters, and that’s how it is.” She stretched her neck and wings with a groan as the tension of the last three days finally released itself.
“Do you want me to give you a massage?”
“Nah, I’d probably fall asleep on your couch if you did that and I have a feeling if I did I wouldn’t wake up for a while. I’m going to have my tea and my visit, and after we finish I ought to go pay a visit to Applejack.”
Fluttershy nodded “I think that’s a very good idea.”
***
Applejack couldn’t decide if the cart felt heavier to her than before she had changed or not; she tried flapping her wings a few times when she had to pull uphill, and it seemed to help, but whatever pegasi did to make vehicles fly through the air didn’t appear to be something that just happened, at least not for her. Still, she made it back to Sweet Apple Acres in good time and stowed the cart away, carefully looking over how Rarity had arranged the harness before hanging it up. She hadn’t encountered anypony else in the process, and she was just as happy about that; by her reckoning Granny would be busy in the house, Macintosh inspecting the south section, and if Apple Bloom was around it was probably at her clubhouse. Exchanging her usual hat for the helmet she wore for demolition work, she headed west to where she knew there was a relatively clear spot among the stands of apple trees.
As she trotted between the trees, the familiar sights, sounds, and smells should have reassured her, but she knew that something was different. Walking up to one particularly large tree, she put a hoof up to it’s bark. “Howdy, Old Sprout. How’s it goin’?” She waited a moment, then dropped her hoof back to the ground. “Just like yesterday.” She shook her head. “Oh, Mac, how are we gonna work this?” Straightening up, she resumed heading for the clearing with a determined look. “One thing Ah am not gonna do is waste time cryin’ about somethin’ Ah cain’t do anything about.”
Reaching the clearing, she looked up at the sky and stretched out her wings, thinking of all the times she had seen pegasi in flight. Jumping as high as she could, she beat her wings furiously, hauling herself up to treetop height before her momentum slowed and she found herself barely able to keep hovering. As she had managed at home the first day, she slowed her efforts just enough to descend safely to the ground, where she stood breathing heavily. “All right, there’s gotta be somethin’ Ahm not gettin’ here. Let’s try it again.”
***
After heading back to the market place and finding that Applejack, like Fluttershy before her, had left early, Rainbow Dash flew high over Sweet Apple Acres and was rewarded with sight of a flash of orange between the trees in the western part of the orchard. Soaring toward the spot, she watched the other pegasus making an attempt to fly. “She’s strong, no doubt about that, but she has no idea how pegasus flying really works, not that I can blame her I guess.” Seeing AJ drop to a landing, she dove down and landed next to her, eliciting a surprised look.
“You know, AJ, I can understand orange pegasus loyalty and all that, but I have to let you know that Scootaloo is not your best role model for flight.”
Applejack’s mouth worked for a moment. “Yeah, I kinda made that joke to Apple Bloom already,” she replied in a flat voice.
Dash promptly sobered up. “OK, you know what? I’ve spent three days being stupid with my best friends. It wasn’t fun. Talk to me, AJ.”
Applejack pulled off her helmet, wiped her face with a hoof, and met Dash’s gaze. “Ah’m lost, Dash. Ah don’t know what Ah’m doin’. Ah don’t even really know what Ah am anymore.”
Rainbow nodded. “You know what? I just had a long talk with Fluttershy. Little, uncertain, Fluttershy. And not only did she know exactly what she was, she explained it so well than even I understood it.”
“Ah’m glad for her, then.”
Dash walked to Applejack’s side. “Look past your wings, AJ.”
“Huh? Ah don’t get what yer sayin’.”
“On your flank. Three apples. Not three clouds, or twisters, or feathers, three apples. You’re still you, your cutie mark proves it.”
“Mah cutie mark. I got it when Ah realized how much Ah loved this place.”
“And that hasn’t changed, has it?”
“No! Never.”
“So you’re still Applejack. You’re just not Applejack the earth pony any more; you’re Applejack the sky pony. Even if you can’t be everything the earth pony was, be the best sky pony you can.”
“Yeah. That’s kinda what Ah had in mind when I came out here, truth to tell.” She looked at her friend, green eyes staring into magenta ones. “Dash?”
“Huh? What?”
“Please? Teach me. There’s nopony anywhere that’s better at bein’ a pegasus than you. Ah got ponies dependin’ on me, a farm to work, an’ not a lot of time to figger all this out.”
“Teach? I’m no...” Rainbow Dash gazed back into Applejack’s eyes; the mare that never needed help from anypony looking at her without a trace of pride showing, pleading for her to show the way out of the maze her life had been thrown into. She couldn’t help but recall her own journey; the parents, teachers, coaches, and friends that had made the effort to try and help an undisciplined flying prodigy realize the potential they had seen in her. It hadn’t always been the most successful, but it had always been sincere. “I mean, yeah, of course, what are friends for? When I’m done with you, you’ll be the most awesome pegasus in Equestria!”
“Heh. Dontcha mean the second most awesome?”
“Hey, either I’m the most awesome pegasus around, or I trained the most awesome pegasus around. I can’t lose!”
Applejack threw her wings around Rainbow’s neck, a pegasus hug. “Thanks so much, Dash.”
“Don’t thank me yet, AJ. Wait five minutes.”
“Fer what?”
“First lesson. Spread your wings and look up.”
Applejack complied, opening her pinions and her gaze as instructed.
“See that? That’s the sky, AJ. That’s where pegasi live, and it’s where you belong now. I know you’ll always love the land, but you can’t let it hold you down any more. You can take care of the ground, but you have to let the sky take care of you.”
Applejack struggled with the concept. Since she’d gotten her cutie mark, the idea that she was the farm and the farm was her had been the center of her world, but the utter conviction of her best friend’s words was undeniable. The dream from her first night came back to her, with the feeling of floating like a cloud; was that what she was missing?
“Now listen carefully,” Dash added, “because I’m going to tell you the most important thing that a pegasus ever learns. It’s where everything about flying comes from. When you fly, your entire body, from wingtip to wingtip, is nothing more than a part of the sky itself.”
“Th’ sky... itself.” Applejack trembled, her ears cocked as if hearing a call for the very first time. She felt light, like a cloud.
Rainbow smiled. “Now, let’s begin with Level Flight.”
a My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic fanfic by Alerhys
Part Eight
Princess Celestia was engaged in putting the sun away for the day by the time the two pegasi flew toward the Sweet Apple Acres barn, soaring down and landing side by side.
“Ah can’t thank you enough for this, sugarcube.”
Rainbow Dash laughed. “What’re you talking about, AJ? I had a blast. You’re a natural, you’ve got the basics down pat. Next I’m starting you on fine control.”
Applejack looked concerned. “Ah don’t know about any stunt flyin’, Dash.”
Still grinning, the cyan pony shook her head. “Nah, that’s not your style, but you’re going to want to fly in and around the apple trees, be able to get to where the apples are, right? You have to learn to read the space all around you, how to keep your wings clear, and the finer points of perching. It’s precision work, but like everything else it’s just learning the basics and then practice, practice, practice.”
“That sounds good, but Ah can’t spend all day at flyin’ practice.”
“Don’t worry, most of your practice will be on the job. Your free time I want to spend teaching you about weather.”
“Weather? What for?”
Rainbow rolled her eyes at Applejack. “Well, duh! How great will it be when you can just grab a cloud and put the shade or the shower right where you need it?”
“Huh. I reckon it would be mighty nice at that. Wait, aren’t there schedules and stuff about that?”
Dash waved a hoof dismissively. “No problem, I’ll take care of the paperwork.”
“Ah really don’t know how Ah’m ever gonna be able to repay you for this.”
“You wouldn’t say that if you knew how many apples I’ve poached since I moved to Ponyville. Besides, I told you, I’m really enjoying myself. Teaching you is making me think about all the parts of flying that I haven’t thought about in forever. It can’t help but make me a better flier too, so everypony wins!”
“Well, all right then. See ya tomorrow?”
“Of course! I’ll even get up early for it.”
“So, lunch time?”
“Ha! Seriously, a lot of weather work is around dawn, I just usually grab a nap afterwards. What works for you?”
“If you’re really gonna be up early, just come on over when you’re done. You can nap here as well as anywhere if it comes to that.”
“True enough. See you tomorrow then!” and with that Dash took off, flitting into the clouds.
Applejack ducked into the barn to put her helmet away and retrieve her hat before heading into the house. “Sorry Ah’m late for dinner, everypony!”
At the head of the table, Granny Smith squinted at her granddaughter. “Well, that explains why I couldn’t get word one out of yer brother and sister. Thought you was gonna get taken care of this morning.”
Applejack shrugged. “Official word was ‘Nothing we can do, learn to live with it’. So that’s what Ah’m doin’.” Launching herself with a casual flutter of her wings, she sailed across the room and dropped into her spot at the table. “And Ah’d say that at least now Ah am able to outfly a chicken.”
“Woah,” breathed Apple Bloom, eyes wide.
Granny frowned. “That’s all well and good fer you, but Mac can’t work this whole farm alone while you’re gallavantin’ through the clouds.”
Applejack nodded. “An’ he won’t have to. As mah good friend pointed out to me, Ah still have apples on mah flank, and Ah have to believe that means somethin’.”
“Agrees with what I was thinking as well,” rumbled Big Mac.
“Ah’ll help,” added Apple Bloom. “School’s almost done for summer.”
The eldest Apple sighed. “You three already have yer minds made up, I see. Should have figured that.”
“So yer not gonna throw Applejack out of the family?” Apple Bloom asked, then immediately clapped her hooves over her mouth as her siblings gaped at her.
Granny looked askance at her youngest grandchild. “Land sakes, child, what possessed you to ask something like that?”
Apple Bloom was engaged in an intense study of her dinner plate. “Cousin Fuji,” she answered quietly.
Her grandmother registered surprise for a moment, then resignation. “Oh. Someone’s been tellin’ family business out of turn, I see.”
Applejack’s wings flared. “This happens to me, and you don’t suppose it’s the first thing Ah thought of?”
“What happened to you was an accident. I wouldn’t disown you for losin’ a leg, I won’t do it for growin’ feathers, not so long as you’re willing to do yer best fer the family.”
“Not every Apple works a farm.”
“Barn building, harness making, even bein’ a cook is still farm pony work.”
“And weather work has nothin’ to do with growin’ crops?” Applejack was standing with her front hooves on the table by this point, though she had kept her voice steady.
It was Granny Smith’s turn to examine her plate. “You were young, Applejack. Decio ruled the family with an iron hoof in those days.”
“Decio passed on some three years back. Applesauce is eldest now, an’ you two are closer than two seeds in one core. The Apple Family’s gatherin’ in two weeks. Is a pegasus welcome there or not?” Applejack watched her grandmother’s jaw work, the play of emotion evident in her eyes, ears, and mouth. “I... I don’t know,” she finally answered weakly.
“Granny?”
“I don’t know. I never wanted this, I never wanted any of this. I’m just a farm pony! I love my family, I love my farm, why can’t that be enough?”
The elder mare’s words were like a bucket of cold water on Applejack’s anger. She put her hoof on Granny Smith’s shoulder. “Ah’m sorry, Granny. Ah had no cause to put it all on you.” She sat back down at her seat before continuing. “Ah’ll skip it this one time,” she started, holding up a hoof to forestall interruption as Macintosh and Apple Bloom started to respond. “Next year, after Ah’ve had a chance to show that Ah still belong and everypony’s had a chance to hear about and get used to the situation, Ah can come without causin’ a ruckus.”
Big Mac waited for Applejack to finish. “Still doesn’t seem right.”
“I don’t want to go if you don’t go, sis,” added Apple Bloom.
“None o’that now,” replied AJ. “Ah’m countin’ on you ta tell mah story and keep the rumors from gettin’ outta hoof, and that means all of you.”
“But we’ll be leaving you all alone!”
“Durin’ the Summer Sun Celebration, AB? Ah don’t think you have ta worry about that. Now look, Ah’ve delayed supper long enough. Let’s dig in!”
Though perfectly willing to load up her plate and start eating, Apple Bloom’s curiosity was undiminished. “So how come you can fly so good all of a sudden?” she asked her sister between bites.
“You have ta ask? When yer teacher is the best flyer around pickin’ up the basics ain’t too hard.”
“Rainbow Dash gave you flyin’ lessons?”
“You sound surprised. She’s only one of mah best friends.”
“Wait’ll Scootaloo finds out, she’ll be so jealous. So how did Rainbow Dash teach you?”
“Same way you learn anything, Ah guess. Mostly she told me what Ah needed to know and when Ah tried it out she gave me pointers on what Ah was doin’ right an’ wrong.”
“So what did she say?”
Applejack glanced over at Granny Smith. “Ah don’t think it would make much sense to you, sis. Flappin’ rates and feather angles and such.”
Apple Bloom looked disappointed. “Oh. Guess not.”
The rest of the meal passed in relative silence. Applejack offered to do all the cleaning up since she had been late, but Apple Bloom volunteered to help with the dishes. At the sink, dish towel in hoof, she looked up at her big sister with concern written on her face. “AJ? Did you mean it about your flyin’ lesson or did you not wanna talk about it in from of Granny?”
Her sister shrugged. “Both, Ah guess. Ah don’t think what Dash told me woulda made much sense to me last week, an’ Ah don’t see any point in gettin’ Granny any more stirred up.”
“I didn’t mean anything by it, sis.”
Applejack stretched her wing over Apple Bloom, pulling her into a hug. “Ah know ya didn’t, AB. It’s just as new ta you as it is ta me, an’ Ah don’t blame ya for bein’ curious.”
The filly snuggled into her sister’s feathers. “So when do I get a ride?”
She got a grin in reply. “Ah don’t know, you’re a pretty big pony to be flyin’ around with.”
“Oh, now I’m a big pony?”
“Tell ya what, Ah’ll ask Dash about what it takes tomorrow.”
“Really? Thanks! That’s great!”
“Now let’s get these dishes done. Ah got a lot to talk to Mac about tonight.”
After the sisters finished the dinner cleanup, Applejack came back out from the kitchen to find Macintosh with maps and ledgers already spread out on the table. “Thanks, Mac. Ah guess I’ve been holdin’ things up all day.”
The stallion shook his head. “You’ve had a lot to deal with, and that’s a fact. Plenty of time to talk about what we need to do.”
Applejack sat down next to her brother. “Ah guess if there’s anything to be grateful for it’s that this happened at the beginnin’ of summer. Next spring is gonna be the hardest part, I reckon.”
“How so?”
“Ah... can’t hear the trees anymore, Mac. Mebbe a little, but not like before. Ah hope they can still hear me a little too, but that may be wishin’. The spring planting, Ah don’t know how well it’s gonna work for me.”
“Gotcha. So you need to do more of the physical stuff while I sweet talk the sprouts. Makes sense.” Big Mac pondered for a moment, then added, “You know the way pegasi haul wagons through the air? That would be a mighty big help with this.”
“By gosh, Mac, you’re right! Ah’ll ask Dash about it tomorrow.”
“Now summer, that’s more keeping an eye on things, and what with you bein’ able to see all sides of the problem with your superior pegasus vision, I figure we ought to do OK there.”
“Oh, yeah, I remember Dash sayin’ something about pegasus eyes.” She looked at her brother. “So how come you know about that?”
Macintosh grinned. “It’s called ‘paying attention in school’, sis.”
“They talked about that in school?”
“And so my point is made.”
Applejack chuckled. “Ah guess that you musta already given this some thought, since you already know so much about pegasi.”
“It might have crossed my mind.”
“Big Mac, have I told you lately how lucky Ah am to have you for a brother?”
“It’s understood, AJ. Now lets figure out our schedules.”
***
“Flying with a wagon? Yeah, I can see how you’d want to do a lot of that.”
“So can you give me a lesson on that before we get to the weather stuff?”
“Ah, sure, but, um,” Rainbow Dash grinned sheepishly as she replied with a hoof behind her head, “I can do that, but I’m not that good at it. Not my style, you know? Even Fluttershy was better at it. Tell you what, though, after I get you started with it we can talk to ol’ Crate. I know he’ll help you out, nopony in Ponyville is better at air hauling than he is.”
“Ah surely would appreciate it. After Ah finish today’s tree inspection, we can use the light cart for mah first lesson, OK?”
“Fine, but I’d still like to start teaching you about clouds before evening.”
“It’s a deal.”
***
A smile lit up the white unicorn’s face as her friend came through the spa’s front door. “Fluttershy, darling! How are you today?”
Fluttershy smiled at Rarity. “I’m doing well.” As she joined her friend in the entry room, she turned to the receptionist and added, “I’d like the full earth pony treatment, please,” before looking back at Rarity and adding “but I really need some hoof care today.”
As the two ponies were led into the spa’s interior, Rarity took the opportunity to examine the yellow pony’s hooves. “My, but they do look a bit chipped. Whatever have you been doing?”
“Well, so many critters live in trees, and up in the hills, so I have to climb to get to them.”
“Of course, I should have known. What about using a ladder?” the unicorn replied as they settled into the baths and began to soak.
“That’s fine for near the cottage, but carrying ladders everywhere is more trouble than learning to climb was.”
“Well, I can see that. Perhaps you should ask Applejack for some tips on using a rope?”
“Oh, that’s a wonderful idea! Well, after she’s a bit more, ah, settled in?”
Rarity nodded, though with cucumber slices over their eyes neither mare was able to see it. “When I saw her yesterday, she did look a bit unsettled.”
Fluttershy sighed. “It hasn’t been easy for her, I’m sure.”
“Is it so different, having your own wings? I was able to use the ones from Twilight’s spell right away.”
“I think the difference is that the spell added wings to what you are. What happened to us was an exchange; she’s a pegasus now, just like I’m an earth pony.”
“I’m not sure I follow you, darling.”
“You don’t? Earth ponies work the land, pegasi work the sky. Everypony knows that.”
Rarity began to answer, then paused as Fluttershy’s words sank in. “Wait. Are you saying that Applejack isn’t a farmer any more?”
“Oh, no, I don’t think it’s that bad. I mean, I was able to take care of animals and tend my garden before. But it’s not going to be easy for her.” Fluttershy thought for a moment. “Suppose that you became an earth pony. You would still be able to design, but making the dresses would be a lot harder, right?”
“I should say! Not that I couldn’t, mind you, but so many things would be more difficult. No offense.”
“None taken. Anyway, it’s not as direct, but that’s the situation that Applejack is in. I’m sure she’ll work it out, but I shouldn’t add anything else for her to worry about just yet.”
“No, I suppose not. And thank you, Fluttershy.”
“Oh, you’re quite welcome, but for what?”
“Your splendid analogy. It was quite enlightening.” Rarity paused, then continued in a lighter tone, “And speaking of insight, have you read about sashes being the new fashion accessory trend from Manehattan? I’d like your opinion.”
***
The new pegasus listened attentively to the experienced one. She’d finally exchanged her hat for an old pair of Rainbow’s goggles, having grown weary of having it blown into her eyes or off her head, or getting it caught in the branches of a tree.
Dash gestured, her hooves indicating the collection of clouds high over the forest. “Now there’s a bunch of big words that they use in the regular classes, but all you really need to know about clouds is size, density, wetness, and darkness.”
“Ah got ya,” Applejack replied. “Kinda like soil, then.”
“Sure, that works. Except dark means lightning, so you want to stay sharp about that part. Head for that big fluffy one there, and I’ll show you some cloud wrangling.”
Applejack followed her teacher toward the cloud in question, gingerly landing on top of it. “This is the hardest part to get used to. It spooked me the whole time we was at the Young Flyers Competition, havin’ clouds feel like somethin’ solid-like.”
“Huh. That’s so obvious when you say it, and I never thought about that part. I guess we should start by just letting you play around with some clouds, get a feel for it, take your time.”
Applejack chuckled. “Ah never in mah life thought I’d hear those words outta Rainbow Dash.”
Dash grinned. “Is that so? Blame Tank. Owning a tortoise is a great way to learn patience.”
Applejack smiled back. “If you say so, sugarcube.”
***
“Good evening, Twilight!”
The unicorn being addressed looked up from her book. “Evening, Rarity. What brings you by the library?”
“I’d like to request your expertise for something I had in mind concerning Applejack.”
Twilight’s face fell. “I’m sorry, but there’s nothing I can do for her.”
Rarity laughed lightly. “Au contraire, mon ami. I’m confident that there is.”
The other unicorn shook her head. “Not even the Princesses have the magic to change it.”
“Oh, you misunderstand me, dear. It’s not your magical expertise I’m calling upon.”
a My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic fanfic by Alerhys
Part Nine
“Welcome to the Carousel Boutique! Oh, Applejack, it’s good to see you!” Rarity smiled, seeing AJ with her hat in her mouth. “Did you want me to add a chin strap to your hat?”
The farm pony set the item in question down on one of the boutique’s tables. “Truth ta tell, I was hopin’ to have you clean it up, mebbe replace the linin’. But no addin’ anything fancy!”
“Understood, dear. But don’t you have a difficult time keeping it on while flying? I would think you could use something to aid with that.”
The orange pegasus shuffled a hoof. “Truth ta tell, Ah was thinkin’ that this hat, it’s just not suited for me anymore. It was our daddy’s, and Ah’ve worn it proudly ever since Ah got my cutie mark, but what with all that’s happened, Ah figger it’s time to think about passin’ it along. Ah’m thinkin’ Ah’ll offer it to Apple Bloom once she gets her mark, and if she don’t want it, well, maybe some day Mac or AB will have a foal that will.” She stopped and opened her wings, thoughtfully. “Or ya never know, maybe when the time comes Ah’ll have an earth pony, or even a unicorn; you looked right smart in this hat.”
“I was covered in mud when I wore that hat!”
Applejack chuckled. “You still made it look good.”
Rarity shook her head ruefully. “Well, thank you, and rest assured that I shall perform a faithful reconditioning of your father’s hat.”
“Ah’m much obliged. Nowadays these are more mah style,” AJ replied, indicating the goggles around her neck. “These do keep the wind and leaves outta mah eyes and such well enough; if Ah could keep ‘em from foggin’ up when Ah work Ah’d be just fine with them.”
Getting no response from her friend, Applejack looked up to see the fashionista lost in thought. “Rarity?”
A grin split the unicorn’s muzzle. “Applejack, darling, would you mind holding your head still and closing your eyes for a minute?”
“This ain’t gonna end up involve any modeling, is it?”
“That would be entirely up to you. I simply have an interesting project in mind that I would appreciate your assistance with, if I might prevail on you to let me take a few measurements of your head.”
“Ah can tell ya got yer heart set on whatever this is, so go ahead.”
“You won’t regret it.” Rarity replied, as she levitated her measuring tape and a notepad over and began making detailed measurements of Applejack’s head.
***
School had just let out for the summer, and the fillies and colts were scattering to drop off their books at home and celebrate a summer of sweet freedom. At the edge of the farm, Applejack lay on a small cloud, waiting for the dust trail she knew would be coming up the road. It wasn’t long before her vigil was rewarded by the sight of an orange filly buzzing along on a blue scooter, and she launched herself down to the orchard side of the spot where she knew Scootaloo had the habit of jumping the fence.
Sure enough, the smaller pegasus launched herself up the side of the road, doing a flip as she soared over the fence and touching down in a four wheel landing. It was then that she spotted AJ watching her, and she spun sideways to a stop under the trees, not sure how her stunt had been taken. “Uh, hi there, Applejack.”
“Scootaloo, just the filly Ah wanted to talk to.”
“Who, me?”
“None other. I dunno if Apple Bloom has said anything to ya, but she’s been pesterin’ me for a ride in th’ sky. Well, I dunno about bein’ able to fly right with a filly on mah back, but Ah have been practicin’ with the cart, and Ah figger that I can manage that no problem. On tha’ other hoof, that means there’s room for all three of ya, and Ah know Apple Bloom would want me to offer a ride to her friends too, so Ah wanted to run it past you.”
Scootaloo looked puzzled. “Huh? I mean, sure, great, but why ask me?”
“Well, you bein’ the Cutie Mark Crusader in charge of transportation an’ all, it didn’t seem right not to.”
There was a pause as Scoots took in what Applejack had said, then a smile lit up her whole face. “Well then, on behalf of the Cutie Mark Crusaders I accept.”
“Great! Saddle up and we can go tell the others.”
The filly started to climb back on her scooter, then paused, looked back at Applejack, ran over, gave the older pegasus a quick hug, and ran back, hopping on and buzzing off as AJ took to the air with a smile.
***
Applejack and Rainbow Dash were hovering over Sweet Apple Acres’ south orchard.
“Okay, there are four clouds here. Which do you use to deliver the rain you need?”
AJ considered her options. “None of ‘em have ‘zactly what Ah need, but if Ah combine that one,” she replied, pointing, “and that one, it should be just about perfect.”
“Got it in one! Go to it, then.” The cyan pegasus watched as her friend carefully pushed the two clouds together, positioned them over the apple trees, and began to bounce lightly on top until the rain began.
Applejack flew to one side to inspect her work. “Looks about right, you reckon?”
Rainbow nodded. “You pass. I’ll go put in the paperwork at the Weather Office.”
“Ah pass? Ya mean that’s it?”
“You’ve got all the basics down and you can handle the routine stuff. If you aren’t sure, get me or one of the other regulars to help”, Dash chuckled, adding “I guess there’s more in common between weather work and farm work than I ever knew.”
“You and me both, sugarcube. Kinda funny how it worked out.”
The other pegasus nodded again. “Yeah, I guess it is. You and Fluttershy are both doing really well for it only being, like, a week since this all started.”
“All the help we’re gettin’ from our friends, how could we not? Ah knew nopony could show me how ta be a pegasus better than you.”
Dash grinned. “Was there ever any doubt? Anyhow, I’ve got to get to the Weather Office and you want to get back to work. I’ll see you later.” and Rainbow sped off back towards town.
Applejack watched her go, circled once around her rain cloud to inspect her work, and flew back toward the barn, smiling. “Ah think we’re all doin’ pretty well for ourselves these days.”
***
Market Day again, though this time Applejack was a buyer rather than a seller. Flying over the square, she spotted Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy walking along chatting, and dropped down to join them. “Howdy, girls!”
“Yes, it’s good to see you, um, up and around,” added Fluttershy.
“The same to you! Ah’ve been kinda occupied, Ah admit, but Ah intend to relax a bit today, do a bit of shoppin’, mebbe get mahself a treat.”
“Well you’re always welcome by me, isn’t that right Fluttershy?”
There was a twinkle in the yellow pony’s eye. “Oh, yes.”
Still bouncing, Pinkie added “I went to see if Rarity or Twilight wanted to come out with us today, but they’re up to their horns in work, all ‘sorry Pinkie but I have so many projects to take care of, have a good time’ as if I ever had anything else, and Dashie is buried in her new book, so I guess it’s party of three today.”
Applejack smiled as she fell into step beside Fluttershy. “S’pose we should get to it, then.”
Pinkie continued to chatter happily as the trio walked among the market stalls and surrounding shops. “So are you having fun with Dashie learning about clouds and stuff? It looks like a lot of fun but not as much as if the clouds were cotton candy but that would be bad for the trees so never mind and speaking of trees Fluttershy and I have been having fun practicing tree climbing and I got to meet lots of birds and did you know that hawks don’t generally like muffins?”
Fluttershy giggled. “Well, they did appreciate the thought.”
Applejack chuckled as she looked around at the varied displays. “Say, Fluttershy? Where do ya get the feather oil ya showed me at yer place? I know ya gave me what ya didn’t need any more, but I want ta keep gettin’ it when Ah run out, that stuff works a treat.”
“Oh, that’s not from the market, I get that at the spa, it’s their exclusive formula.”
“Do tell? Guess Ah’ll have ta ask about it next time we all do a spa day, then.”
Glancing over at where Pinkie had gone to negotiate candy prices and swap funny voices with Bon Bon, Fluttershy cleared her throat. “Um, speaking of the spa? Last time I was there with Rarity we were talking and she had a good idea. Do you have the time to show me how to use a rope? Now that I’m doing so much climbing it would be a great help.”
“Well, sure, sugarcube! If you got the time, we can pick you up a couple of good lassoin’ ropes and I can give you yer first lesson before suppertime.”
“If you don’t mind, that would be wonderful! Maybe I can even learn to use my tail like you do?”
The orange pony glanced at the appendages in question. “Huh. Haven’t even thought ta check if that still works for me, truth ta tell. Ah bet you’ll do fine, just the same.”
Fluttershy nodded and lashed her tail in response. “I promise to do my very best!”
***
Applejack landed outside the barn with empty cart in tow, having dropped off the supplies Apple Bloom needed to repair the east fence. Stowing the cart back in the barn, she emerged from the building and headed back to the house to check on the day’s mail when she spotted Twilight Sparkle waiting on the porch. Fluttering over, she greeted her friend. “Well, howdy, Twilight! What kin Ah do for ya today?”
“Well, actually, I have something for you,” the purple unicorn replied. “I thought... well really, Rarity suggested it, but she said that Fluttershy gave her the idea, and she wanted me to put it together, and it sounded like a good project.”
“Uh huh. And this good idea that Fluttershy gave Rarity to give you was...?”
“May I show you at the table? It’ll be easier that way.”
“Oh, of course, where are mah manners? Come on in.” AJ led her friend inside and over to the big table. “Here ya go.”
“Thank you.” Twilight’s horn glowed, and she levitated a slim volume from her saddlebag and set it on the table.
“A book?”
“Not exactly. Um, I know that you know everything worth knowing about apple farming, but Fluttershy thought that you might benefit from the experience of, well, other pegasi who have tended plants. She gave me some notes, and Rarity suggested that I could research the subject, and I put this together.”
Applejack’s mouth opened, her first instinct to object to the very concept of anypony being able to teach her anything about farming, but before she could begin her retort her eyes met Twilight’s. In her friend’s gaze she caught the uncertainty that the unicorn was trying to hide behind a friendly smile and realized that it was just that reaction that Twilight was bracing for. Sudden inspiration struck; leaning over, she pulled the other pony into a hug instead. “Aww, you gals, that’s so sweet of y’all.”
Twilight was startled, but not enough to stop her from hugging back. “You’re welcome.”
The hug gave Applejack time to collect her thoughts. “Ah expect you all figured it the same way Ah did; no matter how well Ah know the job to be done, Ah’ve got a different tool kit than Ah used to.” She sighed, “Ah know Ah can’t farm like an earth pony; Ah learned that the first day back. Dash has pulled off a downright miracle this past week makin’ a pegasus outta me, but that’s not really about workin’ with the trees. So, anything you found out, Ah’d be glad to take a look at it.”
Twilight nodded, opening up the scrapbook. “Even in these modern times, there aren’t a lot of pegasi who take an interest in plants, but I did manage to find some references. Fluttershy was quite helpful, of course, having both pegasus and earth pony perspectives, and I also talked to Juicy Fruit - have you met her? - about working her vineyard in the local hills. I even discovered that there’s a pegasus in Cloudsdale who has managed to grow tomatoes.”
“In Cloudsdale? How in tarnation did they manage that?” Applejack exclaimed, scooting around to look at Twilight’s notes.
“He prepared a bed using construction-grade cloud mixed with, ah, locally produced fertilizer. Hydroponics, it’s called. It’s really just a hobby, he readily admits, but intriguing nonetheless.”
“Ah must say. Did you include his address in those notes, by any chance? Ah think Ah might want to send this fella a letter, mebbe take a trip up ta see what he’s done.”
“No, but my reference source was an article in the Cloudsdale Courier, so I’m sure if you wrote them they’d be happy to put you in touch with him.”
“Think Ah’ll just do that, then.” Applejack paged through the collection of cut-and-pasted articles and notes transcribed in Twilight’s neat hornwriting. “Like you say, not a lot of pegasi tendin’ plants, so Ah guess whatever we can learn from each other, we outta.” She looked at her friend with a big smile. “This is a mighty fine thing y’all did for me here, sugarcube.”
The purple librarian smiled back. “Well, I’m glad you like it. Oh! And if you want to start corresponding with these other pegasi, I’d be happy to help you all put together a newsletter! I can make copies for the library and any other ponies that might be interested.”
AJ’s ears swiveled and her wings popped open as she was caught up in the unicorn’s enthusiasm. “A newsletter? By golly, that’s a great idea! Lettin’ them know that th’ others are out there, share our stories an’ all.”
Twilight nodded. “I’ll put together all the addresses I can find, then. One advantage of being town librarian is that I have contacts at the newspapers in all the nearby cities, and they’re always ready to help out on projects like this.”
The farm pony’s reply was interrupted by a rattle by the front door. “Oh, speakin’ of, mail’s here!” Excusing herself, she went to the mailbox, returning with a letter.
“Expecting something important?”
“Kinda, yeah.” Applejack tore the letter open and began reading, a grin growing on her face as she did. She looked up at Twilight. “Looks like I got me some plans for Summer Sun.”
“Plans? You’re not having the usual family get-together?”
“Not exactly.”
***
Fluttershy looked down from her perch high in the old elm tree. She had helped the cardinal family move their nest to a more secure spot, but now it was time to descend. She slid down the trunk to a branch thick enough to hold her, and without pause whipped her tail around it, swinging down to perch on a lower branch. Repeating the process several more times, she worked her way down to the lowest fork of the tree, greeting other bird and squirrel friends on the way. Bringing out a rope attached to her saddle harness, she tossed it over the thickest branch, taking it in hoof and lowering herself to the ground.
As she coiled her rope and replaced it on her saddle, she looked back up at the cardinal’s nesting site, her eyes following the path she had taken up and down the tree. For just a moment, she giggled with delight, doing a little dance of joy in place, before cantering off to the next of her animal friends who needed help.
***
Applejack walked into the Carousel Boutique inquisitively. “Rarity? Sweetie Belle said ya had mah order ready?”
The fashionista, alerted by the chiming of the door’s bell, brightened at once. “Indeed I do, dear, as well as something extra I think you’ll appreciate.” She stepped away from the sewing table and indicated the nearby mirror. “Would you mind coming over and closing your eyes just a moment?”
“Seems ta me that’s what ya told me last week. Why all the mystery?”
Rarity tossed her head and affected nonchalance. “Oh, just something that I whipped up that I’d like your opinion on.”
“Wouldn’t happen ta be the big project that’s taken up all yer time since then, from what Sweetie Belle tells Apple Bloom?”
“Well! Those little gossips have no sense of propriety.” The reply was stern, but the smile and twinkle in the unicorn’s blue eyes left no doubt that it was an act. “I hope she didn’t spoil the surprise. I do love my dramatic reveals.”
“Not ta worry, they just called it ‘the project’.”
“Well, then! If you please?”
Applejack chuckled and walked over to the mirror, then closed her eyes. “Sure, there ya go.” After a moment, she felt something settle onto her face, around her eyes, and a strap secure behind her head.
“There you go, darling.”
The pegasus opened her eyes. “Whatcha got here, some kinda new... goggles?” The reflection in the mirror showed her eyes covered in a clear, curved shape that was neither the usual flight goggles nor normal safety goggles, but something in between. They were bordered in a red that matched her cutie mark, with a strap of the same color. The effect was striking. “Woah. That looks sharp.”
Rarity beamed. “I must admit the effect was just what I was aiming for. I’m so happy you approve!”
Applejack raised a hoof and tapped the goggles. “This isn’t tha usual glass.”
“Not at all! It’s clear sapphire, optically perfect and quite shatterproof. You’ll find that it has a small enchantment to prevent fogging up, and to shield your eyes from excessive glare.”
Behind the goggles, Applejack’s eyes widened. “All of that? In a week?”
“But of course! I was lucky enough to have a suitable gem on hoof to shape, and dear Twilight to help me look up the spells - though I assure you that all the hornwork is my own.”
The orange pony looked at her reflection more closely. “This is... it’s... mah gosh, Rarity, this must be worth a fortune.”
“Well, you may consider it an early birthday present.”
“But...”
“No buts, Applejack. Those are made to your precise measurements, so you might as well accept them in good grace.”
Applejack’s jaw worked for a moment. “Dang it, ah cain’t even claim that Ah got somethin’ in mah eyes now.” She pushed up the goggles long enough to wipe those eyes. “Ah’m losin’ track of how many times Ah’ve said that Ah’ll never be able to repay somepony in the last two weeks.”
“Well, if anypony asks you where you got that fabulous eyewear, you will be sure to tell them, won’t you dear?”
The pegasus nodded. “Dash is gonna be so jealous. Official Wonderbolts Trainee goggles or not.”
“Well, perhaps I shall be inspired for her next birthday, then. Each project in it’s proper time. Speaking of which, your original order,” and with that Rarity levitated a hat box over.
The farm pony was grateful for the distraction, checking in the hat box. “Ah don’t remember this hat havin’ a band, Rare.”
The unicorn chuckled. “That knot work is entirely traditional, AJ. Besides, it’s easily removed.”
“Ya just couldn’t resist, could ya?”
Rarity sighed. “You won’t count it as breaking my word, will you?”