Lyrics are from “I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow”, played by the Soggy Bottom Boys.
~~~
(In constant sorrow all through his days)
She appeared on the edge of the farm with her hat pulled down low and her bags light as a baby duckling’s feather. In the distance, over the ordered rows of the orchards, she could see the steeple of the rich red barn that held her family’s livelihood within it. She paused there at the property line, pawing at the rich earth with dusty hoofs, as if unsure she should, or even could, take one step further.
As if she wasn’t sure she belonged on the farm where’d she been born and raised.
I am a man of constant sorrow
I've seen trouble all my days
I bid farewell to old Kentucky
The place where I was born and raised
But after one particularly loud grumble of her stomach, the earth pony closed her eyes and resolutely placed one hoof in front of another, slowly making her way towards the barn at the center of the property.
Each step further hurt a little more, but the mare didn’t stop. She couldn’t, not if she wanted to make it before the others awoke up. Instead she focused on the trees she was passing by, on their hearty trunks and thick branches heavy with fruit.
(The place where he was born and raised)
There was ole Bloomberg’s ma and pa, Blushing June and Blackjon. The pair of old lovers brought a smile to her face. She knew it weren’t really his ma and pa, but the thought was what counted, and it had always tickled her fancy to think of them like that.
But then it got her thinking about her own ma and pa, and that smile went out just as quickly as it had appeared, leaving her keeping her eyes fixed safely on the ground below.
For six long years I've been in trouble
No pleasure here on Earth I found
For in this world I'm bound to ramble
I have no friends to help me now
The barn door squeaked just a touch as it swung inwards, leaving her wincing at the sound and glancing nervously over at the farmhouse nearby. But there were no cries that came up, no shouts of welcome, no nothing.
It made her feel both glad and saddened.
At least this wasn’t going to be any harder than it had to be.
Still … she was going to miss her family, more than all the apples in the world.
(He has no friends to help him now)
When she stepped out of the barn again, her packs rode low on her hips, bulging and packed as they were with supplies. It’d been a right hassle getting everything squared away, and it hurt her to have to steal like this, particularly from her family.
But she wasn’t going to be a burden on them any longer and she’d send money along when she could.
If she could.
It's fare-thee-well my old true lover
I never expect to see you again
For I'm bound to ride that northern railroad
Perhaps I'll die upon this train
Ponyville was dead silent in the early light of dawn, not a single soul stirring inside their homes as she made her way through. The dew of last night glimmered on the village’s commons, while every window was shuttered against the cold of autumn’s weather.
It was a sight she’d seen often before, but she’d never really taken the time to appreciate until then. Somehow that only made it worse as she slowly made her way towards the train tracks.
(Perhaps he'll die upon this train)
Part of her wished she’d get caught. Right then and there, before the chase began. So she’d spare her friends, her family, the shock and shame of knowing what she’d done, of having to live with it as she ran and ran across Equestria.
But her ma and pa hadn’t raised no quitters, and she wasn’t about to start then, especially if there were folk out there that could use a strong back and a pair of stout bucking legs to help them through the winter months ahed.
You can bury me in some deep valley
For many years where I may lay
And you may learn to love another
While I am sleeping in my grave
As she walked onto the train tracks, she wondered if they’d let her be buried back home. She figured it wasn’t likely, particularly if she was on the run for a good long while. Maybe, when she’d slown down and the law’d begun catching up, she would make her way back home just to be caught.
But she doubted it’d happen.
After all, it weren’t like criminals got their wish often after all.
(While he is sleeping in his grave)
She’d stopped, staring straight ahead. She knew this was it. The last bend in the tracks before Ponyville, before Sweet Apples Acre, before her entire life, was left behind.
It hurt less than she thought to take that step forward, and it hurt less with each step afterwards. Least that’s what she told herself.
Maybe your friends think I'm just a stranger
My face you never will see no more
But there is one promise that is given
I'll meet you on God's golden shore
With one last glance over her shoulder, Applejack looked back with longing eyes at her home before turning her back on it forever.
(He'll meet you on God's golden shore)
---
BSB Comments:
I like that this was less focused on the forgiveness part and more on the fact that Applejack doesn't seek out forgiveness, but runs from it instead. I liked the use of the lyrics throughout, too. I think they worked well with the body of your prose instead of being cheesy. Good work today!
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Prompt #287: “A Good Promise To Break” by Rawtooth
The interior of Golden Oaks Library was a scene of utter despair, and for very good reason in Applejack’s estimation. After all, it wasn’t every day you accidentally killed one of your friends.
Hot tears were filling Applejack’s eyes, but she could still take in the various reactions of her friends. Rainbow Dash, an endless stream of ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh’s pouring from her mouth, flitted about the room in a blind panic, her eyes wild and searching, as if she could conjure up a miracle just by looking hard enough. Fluttershy huddled on the ground, wings tucked in tight, the quivering pile of pony desperately clenching her eyes shut as if she could pretend the world didn’t exist if she didn’t see it. Rarity was sobbing in complete histrionics and wailing about how they had murdered Twilight and how they surely would be exiled, or thrown in a dungeon, or thrown into an exiled dungeon and how very terrible it all was going to be.
But, despite how terrible those reactions were, despite the blame and guilt she felt eating away at her, nothing tore at Applejack’s heart quite as much as Pinkie’s reaction.
The pink pony sat perfectly still in front of the blackened char mark that was all that remained of Twilight. She sat perfectly still and stared, unblinkingly, even as the last wisps of smoke stopped curling up from the wooden floor.
“I never got to say goodbye.”
Applejack turned to her, rubbing a hoof at her own runny nose as she did.
Pinkie was still staring.
“I never got to say goodbye to her.”
Taking a shuddering breath, Applejack spoke in the most gentle of tones she could manage without her voice cracking.
“Sugarcube, none of us got to say goodbye, and –“
Applejack stopped, her words dying in her throat, as Pinkie spoke up, still in that unnatural monotone.
“I never get to say goodbye.”
Applejack didn’t say anything, knowing that this wasn’t for her own benefit, as Pinkie continued.
“I never got to say goodbye to my Granny Pie and now I’ll never get to say goodbye to Twilight.”
Applejack wanted to hold Pinkie tight to her chest, but she feared the volatile mare’s response in such a state. So instead, she just listened.
“I’m never going to smile again. Not once, not ever, Pinkie promise.”
Here, Pinkie finally did something other than stare, her eyes closing and her head drooping down so low her chin touched her chest. Applejack had to strain to Pinkie’s voice, the pony mumbling into her coat.
“I promised that when Granny Pie died and I felt so crummy and terrible and crummily terrible when I broke it and smiled again. All smiling does is make it hurt. So now I’m not going to smile no-more because Twilight is gone and there’s no point smiling anymore.”
Pinkie slumped to the ground, as if the will to live had left her, her pink coat smudging against the greasy ashes. Applejack didn’t know what to say, but when a sparkle of light from a library window caught her eye and her heart skipped a few beats, she knew exactly what to say. Leaning down close, she whispered into Pinkie’s ear.
“Maybe that’s a promise you won’t have to keep. Now up and at ‘em sugarcube, I think there’s something outside you’re going to want to see ...”
Krizak Comments!
Oh ho, this is an idea we've wanted to see explored for a while now; we've even contemplated running a prompt for it. "Elements of Harmony, you just disintegrated your best friend. What are you gonna do now!?" Poor Pinkie, still feeling such guilt from when Granny Pie passed away, and making a promise that she's certain to break again and hurt herself all over again. It's a good thing Twilight reappeared so quickly here, or who knows what might have happened?
Celestia’s dreams were plagued by black chitinous shapes and the sound of gossamer wings flittering in the dark. But it wasn’t a nightmare that bothered her.
“Oh … oh please … please don’t stop …”
The sound of the alicorn’s panting filled the bedchamber as the co-ruler of Equestria writhed in her bed, the sweaty silken sheets slowly wrapping themselves around her legs, tightening bit by bit. But that wasn’t what it felt like to Celestia.
“Yes … oh sun, yes, yes!”
Celestia’s voice hitched into a breathy moan as she arched her back, wings flaring. It grew in pitch and volume, louder and louder, until …
“At least the guards didn’t hear this time … only so many times you can pass this off as a random occurance, you silly, silly mare …”
While the common theory was that talking to oneself was a sign of insanity, Celestia had ruled long enough to recognize the therapeutic benefits of doing so. And even if it was, what pony was going to say so to her face? She gave a dry laugh at that, trying to imagine Twilight or one of the many, many nobleponies attempting to politically inform their ruler of her slipping grip on sanity. Finally, with one final telekinetic puff of a pillow, her bed was made again, neat and orderly just the way she liked it. Celestia nodded her head in satisfaction at the simple pleasure before sighing as she laid her head back down.
Celestia had awoken in a sweat many a time over her long years, mostly from fear or panic, yes, but it wasn’t entirely unknown to her to awake to the feeling of pleasure. It’d been many decades to be sure, and at times she missed the sensations and emotions, but ultimately she was satisfied without taking a lover to bed. But this, this was a different creature entirely.
And something so new, so foreign, to a pony who by all rights should have experienced all that is novel in the world, well … it worried Celestia a great deal.
It had begun a few weeks after the attack on Canterlot, after the shock had begun to fade and the city’s repairs started. It was to be the first night of restful sleep after the assault and Celestia had been looking forward to with gusto. One did not live to celebrate their millennial birthday without a certain appreciation for a good’s night sleep after all. So yes, she had been relishing the thought of laying her multi-hued mane to rest and letting Luna take charge for a while. But starting that night, and occurring every night since, Celestia had been stricken with dreams.
Now nightmares she could have dealt with. The alicorn had a lifetime of experience living with near-maddening levels of nightmares. But dreams, particularly of a decidedly sensual and perverse nature, were entirely unknown to her.
Celestia had considered going to Luna for advice, but quickly struck that thought from the record. Her younger sister was still readjusting to life, and it would have been wrong to burden her with such things. Twilight and Cadance were likewise both quickly thought of and dismissed, as she knew neither mare would have been entirely rational about the subject. After all, hearing that one’s mentor/ruler was lusting after the enemy that had just nearly toppled the kingdom was perhaps a touch too big of a revelation to bear.
Celestia sighed, closing her eyes as if she could hide from the truth of the thought. The issue was that it was the truth, wholly and fully. It made no rational sense, fit no sane logical pattern, and was altogether stark raving insanity. But it was the truth, damnable as it was.
With her eyes closed images, images of Chrysalis … no, Queen Chrysalis, came unbidden to her mind. The long shapely legs, exotic and revealing with the holes running through them, covered in shining black chitin. Those plump lips, just a touch too wide for the changeling’s face, but still entirely kissable. And the smell, heavens above, the smell, an almost acrid chemical citrus that burned one’s nose hairs in an intoxicating, heady fume. But most of all, it was Chrysalis’s personality that attracted Celestia to her.
Not once had she ever felt so dominated, so thoroughly controlled, in her entire existence. Celestia had toyed with such concepts before but they had never found much purchase with her tastes. But when the queen of the changelings had overtaken her in their duel, cocooned her… well, Celestia was just glad she had retained the strength of will not to beg for Chrysalis to take her then and there.
Giving a snort, a futile attempt to dispel the imagery and emotions racing through her mind, Celestia tried to still her mind again to go back to sleep. But as her breathing gently slipped back into the rhythmic inhale-exhale of a slumbering pony, in the back of her mind, Celestia knew she was terribly stricken with a mad, mad love.
Krizak Comments!
Okay, now this is totally insane, and yet it seems so reasonable when Celestia talks it out. I liked her rationale for talking to herself, and how she ended up admitting to herself the true issue at hand in a roundabout manner. The aspect of Chrysalis Celestia is most attracted to makes a surprising amount of sense as well. This may win the reward for strangest ship today, and we had a story with a one-sided ship of a rabbit and a pony.
You thought you killed me. You thought that with all of your magic, the most potent seen in a unicorn since ages past, that you could kill me. You thought that with all of your friendship, a bond more strongly and quickly forged than many beings dream to experience in their lifetimes, that you could kill me. You thought those things.
Foolish mortal.
It was a good try, I'll grant you that. Better than that bitch Celestia and her pathetic efforts to be sure. But I am the Nightmare, endless and deathless, and I will not perish so easily. I did not die that night, nor will I die any night, not until the last living soul has drawn their last breath and this world is as still as a tomb. Then, and only then, can I die.
So do not think this is meant as some grand sacrifice, a heroic redemption on the part of your greatest enemy, just to save your pathetic lives. No, that is a childish notion, best suited to books that are cast aside as one matures. I will not die doing this.
I will suffer though, oh yes, will I suffer. It will be long ages before I can arise again and trouble this world. And, even with my help, even with all of my terrible might, you might still die. Oh, to be certain, you will die someday, but you must ask yourself, is today that day?
You and I both know the battle turns against you, against your friends, against all of creation. The mauve tide of corruption that washes across Equestria, that oozes and seeps in a mindless haze of destruction, is not to be trifled with. It has been a threat to the world once before and was barely turned back then. Will my aid be enough?
The answer, naturally, is yes, of course. While I may mock you and yours, you are a hardy species, which is why I delight in tormenting you so. But even if you were the lowliest of the low, the most wretched things to have ever crawled across the surface of this world, I promise you, you would still be saved. For while Celestia and Luna may claim you as their own, I am the one who truly leaves her mark upon you. I am there in every half-remembered night terror and in every panic-stricken moment in the brightest sun. I am there at the first cry of a newborn and the final death rattle of the elderly. No matter what sense with which you perceive the world, I am there, a constant companion throughout life.
Time is running short young unicorn and my words must be brief. I will grant you one final boon, a parting gift of knowledge from the darkness. I will warn you, it is a question that will torment you till the end of your days ... but I think you will enjoy it, the seeker of knowledge that you are. So then Twilight Sparkle, here is the Nightmare's final riddle ...
Why did I save you?
---
BSB Comments:
How interesting. The thought that the essence that possessed Luna would turn around and save Twilight and all of Equestria is a fascinating one, and ending it with that question was a good suspenseful decision to leave the reader filled with questions and dread. Good job!
Amongst the pegasii, there are no important lessons than the ones learned flying. Unicorns and earth ponies, both ground-bound from the day they stepped hoof on this earth, could never understand the importance of these lessons. This difference, of an existence amongst the clouds from birth to grave, gave the pegasii a culture uniquely their own, with little cross cultural sharing with the other species of pony.
There were many lessons to be learned. A pegasus learned to fear obfuscation, from either a fog bank or a simple cheery white cloud. Either could be deadly if they hide a waiting predator or a set of sharp rocks to be dashed upon. Thermal updrafts and chilly downdrafts taught that just because one could view their surroundings unobstructed did not mean one was safe.
These teachings and many more were the basis of a young pegasus's education.
But the hardest lesson to learn was called simply "above and below". Generations of teachers, from every calling and walk of life, strived to distill this moral in an easily understood manner, but they all failed.
The primary problem was the simplicity of the lesson. While flying, a pony naturally found their attention drawn forward, towards the buffeting winds and towards the destination which their wings were propelling them towards. When turning, it was a simple matter glance in the direction desired and follow through. This was all well and good, a natural extension of instinct that allowed muscle reflex to keep a pony safe.
But it also left a pony blind.
In the sky, things could unseen come from above and below. Years of codifying aerial jousts and combats showed that the most dangerous attacks came in this blind spot. It was a natural failing of the pegasus mindset, a minor detriment in their lifestyle. It didn't risk lives or property, and most teachers just tiredly brushed it away as something for the theoreticians to stress over. But as the ground came hurtling up at her, Rainbow Dash realized that maybe she should have spent a little more time learning this lesson.
---
BSB Comments:
I liked the bit about the earth-bound ponies never understanding the rules and such that the pegasi grew up knowing, and how the rules were important and how they sometimes clashed with small instinctual things. The ending was done well, and I liked all you had leading up to it. Well done!
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Author’s Note: Spoilers for “Apple Family Reunion”.
~~~
Every family had a few secrets and the Apples were no different. It had always seemed wrong that such an honest, down-to-earth line of ponyfolk harbored such falsehoods, but she’d grown used to it over the years. It was her secret they unknowingly kept after all. Still, her heart warming at the familial displays of affection and greeting that surrounded her, the mare had to admit that one little lie was worth it. Pawing at the ground in excitement, she gazed around the family gathering with interest, taking in familiar faces now wrinkled by age, colts and fillies tussling in the dirt, and most importantly the smell of the most delicious pastries in Equestria.
Catching a whiff of that scent, the mare set off to nab one or two or maybe even a baker’s dozen. Chuckling at the thought, the mare made her way across the farm, greeting each pony like the distant cousin she was. Which really meant she was embraced like she was the closest family that pony had ever had and in turn she embraced them. No matter the words or accent, irrespective of gender or age, all of their warm eyes said the same thing. ‘Welcome home, my kin.’ Over all the long years that had never changed.
As the day wore on, the mare kept stumbling over names and faces. She passed it off as just being a distant off-shoot of the family and each pony had laughed at their cousin’s poor memory. That was always one of the hardest parts of fitting in with the Apples, the names. The rustic family had deeply held traditions and names were one of the most deeply rooted cornerstones they relied upon. A child might be named after a great-aunt, a long-dead ancestor or even the parent’s crop of apples they raised. Each name was deeply held and venerated, every pony able to recite at least some portion of the history invested in their name. Thankfully she had claimed her name long ago and there had only been that one awkward incident involving a mare who had looked like her and that damnable magic crown to trouble her history.
But unfortunately the day passed by quickly, as it always did to her senses. All too soon everypony was saying good-bye and wishing each other all the luck in the world. The mare passed on the edge of the farm, taking in the vista one last time, her heart swelling at the sight of everypony.
She would always love them. They were her family.
And with that, the mare trotted off into the sunset.
Krizak Comments!
Rawtooth, buddy, I think you played your cards a little too close to the chest here; maybe I'm a bit unobservant, but the only reason I realized that the mysterious mare in this story is Princess Celestia is because you tagged this story with her name. Other than that issue, this is a pretty moving piece, focusing on the rare and wondrous feelings the Apples bring out in Celestia. You crafted the various smells and tastes into words quite well; it made me with I was at the Apple Family Reunion myself.
kyronea said: That is a gross miscontruing of the facts at hand. I didn’t try super hard to get Kaitlyn and Robin together. I just sorta helped when Kaitlyn requested my assistance in how to explain to Robin she had a crush on Robin.
That's a whooooole lot of words that ultimately just add up to, "DB is so totally right."
I hope you told Kaitlyn to sing something incredibly cheesy to Robin, by the way. Preferably something from the Disney movie catalogue.
rawtoothsramblings said: Man, you guys are hardcore shippers, taking it all the way to real life!
You don't even know the half of it! Why, you should just see who we ship you with because BACKSPACE BACKSPACE BACKSPACE
Seriously, though, I was just trying to introduce two RariPie aficionados as the ship has a relatively small following. Just tryin' to look out for my fellow RariPie shippers. My intentions were pure, and my conscience is clear.
