//------------------------------// // Back Where You Belong // Story: Applejack at the Edge of the World // by MagicS //------------------------------// Applejack looked out the window of the train as Ponyville came into view. She had been asleep for a little while, nudged awake by Daylight just a few minutes ago when the unicorn mare had seen a sign showing their destination was coming up. Solar Streak was glued to the window as well—possibly the most excited of them all to see what the town was like. The familiar hills and trees opened up as the train went chugging down the tracks and the three mares could see Ponyville in all its friendly glory. Such a simple, quaint, and warm looking place, with all its small buildings and homes spread out in such a carefree manner. Applejack decided to stay quiet for now, just letting her two friends take it in. If they had any questions she would answer but she didn’t want to interrupt their first look at her home. Of course it didn’t take long before something dazzling caught Solar Streak’s eyes. “What’s that?” The yellow mare asked—pointing at Ponyville’s most notable landmark. “Hm? Oh, that’s just Twilight’s castle,” Applejack said, as if anything about that or it was normal. “Huh, guess I didn’t think about how much it stuck out compared to everything else.” “It’s made of crystal,” Daylight Gleam tilted her head. “Yeahhh… guess neither of you would’ve seen something like that before,” Applejack rubbed the back of her neck. “It’s a really nice looking town though. Where’s your farm?” Daylight asked. “You can’t see it from here, we’ll have to walk through town when the train stops. I’ll take you to the farm first so I can let my family know I’m back—then we can head back to the castle and I’ll introduce you to Twilight,” Applejack said. “I’m going to meet a Princess?” Solar Streak sounded a little nervous. “There’s nothing particularly special about being a princess,” Daylight shrugged. “Exactly,” Applejack nodded. “Twilight’s just a normal pony too, and she loves making new friends. Just treat her like you would anypony else.” “None of your friends will mind that I used to be in a cult? And that we tried to hang you?” Solar Streak asked. “Nope,” Applejack shook her head—and then frowned as she realized she really needed to talk to Starlight about that first. But that could wait for another day. “It’ll be fine—I did plenty of self-serving things in the past, but Applejack’s big on forgiveness, her friends have to be the same,” Daylight said. As the train slowed down and arrived at Ponyville station, Applejack saw that there weren’t actually that many ponies out. Despite it being a normal day the town wasn’t very active right now for some reason. She saw plenty of ponies she recognized, like Davenport, Lyra and Bon Bon, Golden Harvest, Bulk Biceps at his nuts cart, but there were still a lot of familiar faces that should be out right now that were missing. She didn’t give word to her confusion, not wanting to make Daylight and Solar concerned by anything, but she wondered where everypony was? There wasn’t even a line or many ponies gathered over by Sugarcube Corner. Applejack internally shrugged—clearly there was nothing wrong with Ponyville, she’d just have to ask Twilight what was up later. When the train came to a full and complete stop the whistle blew to announce its arrival. Applejack didn’t wait for any conductor or anything, she grabbed her two friends and pulled them off their seats, down the steps out of the train car and right onto the platform. She took a deep breath of fresh air and spread her unbroken leg out in front of her. “Welcome to Ponyville!” Solar Streak looked around, still a bit nervously, but also very delighted by what she saw. “Everything feels so… happy, and welcoming.” “At a glance I’d give it a better rating than most places I’ve been,” Daylight smiled. “Just gotta get used to the occasional monster attack but y’all don’t need to worry about that,” Applejack said. “Sure, whatever you say,” Daylight looked over at her awkwardly while Solar Streak was still enraptured by the town and especially the castle in the distance. “Well—let’s get on over to Sweet Apple Acres—come on!” Applejack smiled and beckoned them to come with her. Applejack figured she’d give them both a more detailed tour later, so she just let the two of them walk behind her and check things out themselves without explaining too much. But boy was it nice to see everywhere like Carousel Boutique, Sugarcube Corner, town hall, the spa, and everything else. When they left the interior of Ponyville behind and started making the short walk to Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack felt a great big warmth welling up in her heart. As soon as the farm appeared in the distance she had to hold back from running towards it. It sure was a sight for sore eyes. “Wow, this is a really big farm,” Solar Streak said as she looked at the farmhouse, the barn, and all the rows of apple trees. “Sure fits your image,” Daylight nodded. Applejack just smiled. “And now, welcome to Sweet Apple Acres! Where I was born and raised. And you’re lucky enough to get here on such a nice and lovely day too! Almost surprised not to see Big Mac, that’s my brother, out doing anything.” “Now that you mention it—it doesn’t look like anypony is around. Is that normal?” Daylight asked. “Uhh...” Applejack had to admit that even from here it looked like nopony was home. “Not really. But I’m sure it’s fine, let’s go.” Together the three of them passed through the open gate, under the apple sign, and started walking right up to the front porch and door of Applejack’s home. Applejack was planning on throwing the front door open and loudly announcing she was back to her family—but something on the door made her pause. A little piece of paper had been tacked onto it. Applejack frowned and peered at it, reading the notice: APPLEJACK—WE’RE IN THE BARN “How…?” Daylight Gleam tilted her head in confusion. Applejack also rubbed the side of her head but shrugged. “Well if that’s where they say they are. Sorry that this is a little, uh, weird.” “I don’t mind. I’m having a nice time just looking around,” Solar Streak said. Applejack led the two of them from there to the big barn doors—closed tight right now. And the barn itself seemed very quiet. If her family was in there then what were they doing that was so quiet? Applejack had no idea if Discord or Rainbow Dash or the whole world was playing a prank on her right now but she wanted an answer. With Daylight Gleam and Solar Streak right beside her she swiftly opened up the barn doors. “SURPRISE!” The deafening roar nearly flattened the three mares. Applejack felt her mane and tail blown back by the hurricane-force shout that came from inside her barn. Daylight Gleam and Solar Streak were hardly any better—all three mares wide-eyed and surprised so bad they nearly each had a heart attack. When Applejack’s eyes stopped spinning and her brain stopped rattling, she was able to focus on what had just happened and what in the hay was going on in the Apple Family barn. Everypony—and she really meant practically everypony she knew—was crammed in her barn and smiling at her. Apple Bloom, Granny Smith, Big Mac, Sugar Belle, Twilight, Starlight, Spike, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rarity were all front and center under a banner hanging from the ceiling reading “WELCOME BACK APPLEJACK!”. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were there too, along with a lot of other close friends and acquaintances from around Ponyville. The Flower Trio was there, so were Mr. and Mrs. Cake with the twins, Cheerilee and a number of fillies and colts Apple Bloom knew, Filthy Rich, Amethyst Star, Zecora, her students from the school, and Discord hovering around in the back with a grin on his face. “How in the, who in the, what in the?” Applejack repeatedly blinked, stupefied. Twilight Sparkle giggled and walked up to her, wrapping her in a tight hug for a moment before releasing her and looking her in the face. “Welcome back, Applejack.” She then noticed the cast around her leg. “How did that happen?! Are you alright?” “I-I’m fine, Twilight. But why—how’d you get all this together?” Applejack asked her. “Oh come on!” Rainbow Dash said, zooming on down right beside her. “After the welcome back party I got did you think we wouldn’t give you one too? Pinkie Pie was on it practically before you left!” She also glanced at Applejack’s broken leg. “Battle scar?” “Thaaaaat’s right!” Pinkie Pie hopped on over and hugged Applejack too. “Knew you were coming—and that you were bringing some new friends!” She grinned widely at Daylight and Solar Streak, who somewhat awkwardly grinned back. That was until Daylight, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Amethyst Star all caught sight of each other. Four pairs of eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. “You!” They pointed in shock. Applejack didn’t know what that was about but she had way too much on her mind already. “Uhhh… this is a pretty big welcome back party…” “It just kept getting bigger and bigger...” Twilight grinned sheepishly. “Do you need a moment?” Fluttershy asked as she walked up. “No, no, I’m okay, just really surprised,” Applejack said. “Applejack!” Apple Bloom came running over to her and hugged her as well, the rest of her family right behind her. “I’m so happy to see you again! Um… your leg okay though?” “Heh, guess I’m gonna be getting asked that a lot,” Applejack rolled her eyes and affectionately ruffled Apple Bloom’s mane. “But yeah, my leg’s okay, practically healed already.” “Looking like you got into a little trouble out there. Kept your head on straight?” Granny Smith asked her. “I did, Granny,” Applejack smiled and glanced at Big Mac. “Farm doing fine?” “Eyup,” Big Mac nodded. Twilight Sparkle looked between Applejack and the two other ponies that had come in with her. Seeing that the white unicorn was currently engaged in some sort of discussion with her friends, she raised an eyebrow at the shy yellow unicorn who was still standing behind Applejack. “So who’s your friend? Pinkie said there were others coming with you.” Applejack looked back at Solar Streak with a grin and nodded at the mare, telling her it was okay to come forward. “This here is Solar Streak, she’s a friend I met a while ago actually and then met up with again just on this trip. She doesn’t have a home of her own so… well I really figured Ponyville would be the perfect place for her.” Twilight’s eyes practically lit up hearing that. “Welcome to Ponyville! We’re happy to have you, and if you need anything just ask!” “T-Thank you,” Solar Streak nodded and blushed. “I-I’ve never met a pony like you before… I’m sorry, this is a little overwhelming.” “Don’t worry, I understand. I’ll do what I can to get you settled in,” Twilight placed a comforting hoof on Solar Streak. “You know this party really got a lot bigger real quickly,” Pinkie Pie said, popping up right next to Applejack again. “I mean—I sent letters out to most of Ponyville but then these other ponies started showing up too.” “Huh?” Applejack raised an eyebrow at her in confusion. “What do you mean?” “Wellll, it’s just that ponies started showing up earlier today before you got here, saying they knew you and wanted to see your home. They said they met you a while back and happened to find themselves in the area and remembered you said they could come by to visit any time they wanted,” Pinkie shrugged. “It just kept happening. Twilight thought it was weird but I just figured there was nothing wrong with the party getting even bigger.” Applejack was perplexed. “Pinkie—what in the hay are you talking about? What other ponies?” “Just look!” She pointed at the crowd of ponies gathered in the barn. The locals started to move out of the way and a group of others that had been hanging back stepped forward to greet Applejack. And the mare of the hour was shocked. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing. “It can’t be, what are you all doing here?” Applejack asked as her eyes darted from pony to pony, her jaw hanging open in surprise. Four ponies in particular smiled and walked up to her first—the stallion in front holding out his hoof in greeting. “It’s great to see you again, Applejack,” he said, his face full of the faint scars Applejack remembered. “Quartz! Obsidian! Marble! Bedrock!” Applejack looked between each of the Hoof of the Earth disciples. The last time she had seen them was so long ago but she wouldn’t ever be able to forget them. She eagerly took Quartz’s hoof and shook it while the others also came to give her a quick hoofshake or hug. “It’s been too long,” Obsidian said. “I-I can’t believe you’re all here right now,” Applejack had to hold her head, feeling woozy. “Why not? From what I’ve heard you offered pretty much every pony you met the gift to come and see your home if they’re ever in the area. Just seems like we all happened to be in the area at once,” another pony from the big group said as he stepped forward. “Sturdy Wheel!” Applejack grinned and gave him a hug. “How have you been?” “Good—really good, actually. My father and sister are doing fine too,” the young earth pony stallion replied. “And I think you’d be happy to hear that our towns are also doing excellently since you left,” another familiar stallion said, walking up to Applejack with a mare by his side. “Wavy and Pepper!” Applejack hugged the both of them at once. “Mr. and Mrs. Redwood now,” Pepper giggled happily. “Thanks to you.” “And so Mountain and Valley Town are doing alright?” Applejack asked. “Better than ever,” Wavy Redwood said with a smile. “Ahem,” a small voice came from behind the other ponies that had gathered to meet Applejack. They now parted down the middle to reveal a brown mare with a chestnut mane and tail and a head of lettuce Cutie Mark on her flank. Applejack’s breath caught in her throat. “Green Field...” “Hi, Applejack. It’s nice to see you again. You have a lovely farm and an even lovelier family,” Green Field smiled at her, her eyes nearly watering. “I’m...” Applejack sighed in relief and smiled warmly back at her. “I’m so happy to see that you’re doing alright too. How have things been for you since we parted ways?” Green Field grinned a little nervously but shrugged. “It’s been tough at times to be honest, but I’ve kept my chin up through it all. Not a day goes by where I’m not grateful for having met you, Applejack.” “It seems like you’ve helped way more ponies than either of us could have imagined.” “Right? Isn’t she just amazing!” Applejack’s head whipped over towards the two new voices. If she had been drinking cider she would’ve spat it out at the absurd coincidence right in front of her. “Star Blaze! Sugar Spirit! You’re here too?!” “Course we are!” The exuberant pink unicorn said, hugging Applejack tight enough to squeeze the air out of her. “We arrived last actually,” Star Blaze chuckled and pulled his wife off her. Applejack caught her breath and looked past the crowd towards the front of the barn, where for some reason Rainbow Dash was giving Daylight Gleam a noogie while the unicorn glared at her. “D-Daylight! Get over here right now!” Sugar Spirit and Star Blaze swiftly glanced over where she was yelling and their jaws dropped. “Daylight’s here?!” They said in unison. “Eeeeee! So many reunions!” Pinkie Pie shouted and blasted her party cannon in the middle of the big crowd. “Come on, everypony, let’s really get this party started!” A chorus of cheers rang out between Applejack’s friends, family, and darn near everypony from Ponyville who had been crammed into her barn. Applejack’s head was still spinning and she kind of really wanted to just sit down but she could hardly disappoint her guests. If a welcome back party was what every pony wanted then that’s what they were going to get. She found a mug of cider quickly pushed into her hooves by Pinkie Pie and a shower of confetti coming down from the ceiling. All in all—this was a pretty good thing to come back home to. After a lot of talking had been done. And dancing. And eating. Applejack was sitting back on one of the hay bales at the back of the barn, contentedly watching the rest of the party play out. Resting after a long day. It sure was good to be home, she couldn’t even describe how good it felt. Just getting to see Apple Bloom’s face, the smiles of her friends, her farm, nothing was better. Now as she watched—everypony letting her take things at her own pace whether consciously or subconsciously—she was just able to take all the life in. Daylight Gleam had a happy reunion with her two friends before running out of the barn with Amethyst Star chasing after for some reason. Solar Streak ended up talking with Twilight most of the night, she seemed a little nervous around the first Alicorn she had ever met, but she was eager to make friends at her new home. Starlight was getting pretty heavy into the cider while Spike watched her with dismay. The friends she had met on her previous journey out of Equestria were mingling with her friends from around town pretty well. It was all a pretty strange sight but that was definitely just how her life was. And she loved it. If she had to be inconvenienced every now and then for moments like this to happen? Well dang, that was just plain worth it now wasn’t it? Applejack was so caught up in just watching things go by and sipping on her cider she didn’t notice Twilight come up and sit down next to her until she spoke up. “The party wasn’t too much, was it? I figured you might have just wanted to rest—but Pinkie Pie really wanted to put on something big and then ponies from out of town who said they knew you kept showing up and-” “Twilight,” Applejack put down the cider so she could hold up her good hoof. “It’s fine. I’m having a great time.” “That’s good, but you know me, I can never stop worrying,” Twilight giggled. “Don’t I know,” Applejack chuckled. “Speaking of knowing you—I’ve got something. Was gonna bring it around tomorrow but might as well just give it to you now.” She reached into her bag and started rooting around for her gift. “Sorry in advance, I, uh, lost the bag you gave me and the journal you sent me out with. Things happened. But I hope this can make up for it.” Applejack pulled out the book and hoofed it over to Twilight with a smile. Her eyes lit up of course at the new book—a completely unfamiliar tome, practically her dream gift. “A new book? What is it?” “That’s an atlas of the entire Far West. Everything past the Citadel of Al-Karamaretel and the canyon. And I mean everything. Also, I can at least help you out when it comes to stuff on this side of the canyon too. But I think that book has pretty much exactly what you wanted to know about the lands west of Equestria,” Applejack told her. Applejack could’ve swore she saw hearts in Twilight’s eyes as she looked at the book before she hugged it tightly to her chest. “Thank you so much! This is amazing!” “Figured you’d like it,” Applejack chuckled again and rolled her eyes. “Oh I can’t wait to read it as soon as possible!” “Want to leave the party early?” “Y—No! Of course not!” Twilight blushed in embarrassment. “I-I can wait. But besides just this book I also want a fully detailed explanation of what you did and what you saw on your trip. From the mission the Cutie Map sent you on to anything else you got up. So please come by tomorrow morning so we can get started as soon as possible!” “Eugh… alright,” Applejack dragged her hoof down her face and sighed. “Why the long face, darling?” Applejack looked up to see Rarity and the rest of her friends walking towards her and Twilight. She put on a happy smile for them. “Nothing, I’m just happy to be back. It was… I did a lot of stuff out there, and I’m just happy to see you all again.” “Right up until the map sends you or one of us off again,” Rainbow Dash grinned. “Heh, yeah. But let’s hope that doesn’t happen for a long time,” Applejack leaned back and closed her eyes. “Right now I just want to be with the five of you.” She felt the others join her around the hay bales and a very tired, and very content, Applejack drifted off to sleep.