Thirty Minute Pony Stories

“Now pay attention, Apple Bloom. Y’all wanted to hear this here story, so sidle up and Ah’ll do ma best.

“I guess it all started back in the Ever free Forest.  Yep, it’s ever’ bit as scary as yall’ve heard. That was back when Nightmare Moon was tryin’ to make a comeback, and all o’ us were dragged along by this little purple unicorn, not much more’n a schoolfilly herself. Wel, Ah say dragged, but truth is we made her take us along. Understand, it weren’t like in them fairy tales, ya see? This was real.  Twilight was ready to head into the Everfree alone and face Nightmare Moon by her lonesome. Suicide mission, if’n ya ask me. But she didn’t flinch once. This one scrawny filly was ready to go after a durn Goddess - Ah ain’t never seen anything so brave. Dumb as it gets, tryin’ to go her herself when she should’a known she had friends who’d be right there with her, but still - mighty brave. Guess that’s when it started, really. When Luna told us later that Twilight stood hoof to hoof with Nighmare, ready to duke it out until we got the Elements ready - well, that sealed it, I suppose.”

“What’re y’all smilin’ fer?”

“Ya see, she could be friendly-like too. Remember last Nightmare Night? Luna came barrelin’ in, shoutin’ like there weren’t no tomorrow, and everypony from here to Stalliongrad was cowerin’ in their boots, ever’ one of ‘em afraid it was the Third Coming of the Nightmare. What does Twilight do? Walks right up to her and takes her on a town tour! Most feared Princess in history and Twi’s all but throwin’ her a tea party. Darndest thing.”

“So she’s friendly. What’s yer point?”

“Now, to be so brave an’ open, she’s got fears like everypony. Turns out most of all she don’t wanna disappoint anypony, especially her friends and Celestia. Yep, I know, reminds y’all of the rodeo, when yours truly couldn’t face her friends after just one little failure. Twi was the same way after the whole Smarty Pants shindig. All she wanted was to keep Celestia happy and she bucked it up, same way I did. Funny, it was like lookin’ in a mirror for both of us. Scary, Ah admit, but right comfortin’ too. Say, AB, y’all ever figure out what Mac did with Twi’s doll?

“He did WHAT? Oh, great flippin’ Fujis, Ah’ll never get that image outta my head.”

“Well, them’s the basics. The story ain’t over, o’ course. Hundred other things she impressed me with. When Discord had us by the ears, it was Twi that snapped us out of it. She’s the one who spotted that bug-Queen at the big Canterlot weddin’, and to my everlastin’ shame, Ah didn’t believe her. Anytime I get called ‘reliable’, well, Ah guess I just had good role models, and sure as sugar, Twi’s one of ‘em.”

“Almost too much like me, Ah guess. That’s why I knew it’d never work out between us. Too much alike. Brave an’ friendly, aimin’ to please too much fer our own good. Yep, like lookin’ in a sweet, kindly purple mirror.  Eeeenope, jus’ aint’ gonna happen, Ah’ll bet mah hat on it.”

“Anyhoo, time fer you to get ta bed, AB. I see ya smirkin’ under yer bow, Bloom. What? What’s that there goofy-face grin fer? Yep, Ah know Hearts an’ Hooves day ain’t too far off, but don’t y’all go gettin’ any more o’ your ideas! Remember how that last ‘un turned out? Now go on, git. Bedtime, sugarcube.”

“Kid’s too smart for her own good sometimes. Reminds me of a certain librarian mare I know.”

“Wonder if AB an’ her pals have any more o’ that love poison left?”

——-

Comments by Kyronea:

A fascinating monologue from our beloved Apple pone. I like the way it’s essentially just Applejack describing everything she loves about Twilight…the Twijack ship isn’t one seen often, but it’s one I like because it’s a nice mixture of contrasts as well as similarities. They work well together while still balancing each others weaknesses. I’m not entirely comfortable with the ending though…I’m hoping Applejack isn’t stupid enough to try and actually use that love poison on Twilight. (Of course, she’s not. She’s probably just looking for it so she can prevent Bloom from using it.)