Thirty Minute Pony Stories

Applejack slowly made her way from the kitchen to the door, pausing to spare a glance at her siblings, both whom picked at their food with little effort towards eating. A sad sigh escaped the farm pony as she trotted closer to the door, from where a familiar knock echoed in the home.

Slowly she opened the door and locked eyes with the pony beyond the threshold, her green eyes wavering under the warm gaze of the pony who had come to visit. She attempted to speak, but could find no words. Would she tell their visitor to go away, to come in? Fortunately, the pony spoke first.

“Good evening Fair Applejack,” the Princess of the Night said, her usually stern face softened by the light smile she displayed with ease. “May I come in?”

She stared up at the smiling princess, knowing that deep down she truly meant it as a question, and truly wished to not impose. Her stare wavered again under the warm eyes and soft smile, and before Applejack knew it, she was moving aside to let Luna in.

“Course you can come in Princess,” her voice was quieter than it had ever been, and though her heart ached ever more, she smiled gently up at Luna. “That time o’ the week already?”

Luna chuckled lightly at the question, nodding slightly in confirmation. “Yes, though dear Edith is departed I have made my pact to stick with the Apple Clan for as long you shall allow it.” She lowered herself to her knees before the matriarch of the Apple family before regaining her full stature.

Applejack narrowed her eyes and was about to respond when a hoof cupped her face in the gentlest way.

“And before you start this whole argument again Applejack, I will remind you that I pledged this to Edith Smith in thanks of the great favor she bestowed upon me.” She smiled warmly at the farm pony, an eyebrow delicately arched. “Or do you believe yourself of a station to command your ruler?”

She tilted her stetson up and snorted before heading back to the kitchen, chuckling lightly at the small joke. “Ah may have Granny’s job now, but Ah ain’t nowhere near as forceful as she was.” She quickly set to making a bowl of vegetable stew for their guest as her siblings both said their hello’s.

It gave her a chance to think and ponder as she stirred the stew in it’s pot, heating it back up. Nice of her to drop in to check on us again. She gave it a taste, finding it to still be too cool. Suppose Granny asked her to. She spared a glance over at the simple wooden table, finding herself grinning as Apple Bloom and Big Mac started to act more lively, eating and chatting with the Lunar Princess.

“… and you wouldn’t believe the size of the cake I found her with!” She spread her hooves wide, mouth split in a grand smile as she continued her small tale. “And my dear sisters face, it was just covered in cream and cake. Between her and the pink one, I’m surprised there are any pastries left in Equestria, let alone Ponyville.” Both siblings laughed at that, the older nearly knocking over his soup as banged a hoof on the table, and the youngest giggled and choked, having had just taken a bite of her meal.

Applejack carried two bowls on a tray to the table, serving the Princess first of course before settling in to devour her hard work. “Yer sister know yer here again, Princess?” She asked kindly as even she began to dig in.

Luna’s reply was between bites, the magic covered spoon moving like lightning between the bowl and her mouth. “Oh yes, Sister knows of my pact with the Apple family, and even if this is a formal visit for her, I shall not betray my promise to dear Edith.” She levitated a jug of water and a glass for herself before quickly drinking it down.

“It also helps that Twilight Sparkle wished to spend time with Sister while she was in town, so it was quite easy to slip away.” She smiled down at the three siblings, who returned her smile with three warm ones of their own.

“Ah reckon Twi’s gonna keep talking to her for most of the evenin’” the farm pony muttered, looking over at the large basket of apples next to the counter and stove. She grinned deviously before turning back to Luna. “Ah don’t suppose you want to try baking those Zap Apple Pies tonight do you Princess?”

-TIME-

She was surprised to find her grin returned with an almost predatory look. “Why Fair Applejack, I would be delighted to bake those pies tonight.” She stood, face against Applejack’s with the slight hint of a smirk. “And don’t worry about getting the recipe, I told dear Edith of how to create the dough nearly ten years ago.” The apple flanked pony staggered back, staring up at her princess and visitor.

“After all, Fair Applejack, she was the one who brought my creation to all of Equestria, it would have been a shame to just leave her legacy at Zap Apple Jam” With that said, Luna trotted to the basket and whisked them away with her magic, her voice already filling the house in a familiar song while ingredients began to fly about the room.

“In the merry month of June, From me’ home I started,
Left the girls of Tuam, So sad and broken hearted…”

——-

Piggy Comments:

This is sad and sweet. I like the idea of Luna and Granny Smith being old friends - though it’s very sad that Granny Smith has passed, I love that Luna sticks to her word and does all she can to help the Apple family get through it, even when all she can do is be with them and try to cheer them up. Her interactions with the family are also very cute and well done. Great stuff, all up - I like it. And I especially like Applejack’s reaction to Luna being the one who taught Granny Smith to make zap apple pie.