”Good day sunshine, good day sunshine, good day sunshine
I need to laugh and when the sun is out
I've got something I can laugh about
I feel good in a special way
I'm in love and it's a sunny day!“
Good Day Sunshine
-Lennon & McCartney
The Beatles

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

“Uuugh! What the hay is that? Can’t a pony get some sleep?” Twilight got up and put on her robe. Applejack stretched and yawned. “What’s that?” she asked

“I don’t know, sounds like somepony banging on the door to the balcony,” Twilight said as she made her way down the stairs. the familiar prismatic shadow jogged around the floor. She looked to the big glass doors that led out to the balcony.

“Hey Twilight, you up yet?!” hollered Rainbow Dash.

“No Dash I’m still fast asleep so talk fast or get ready to catch me…” Twilight said, smiling and squinting her eyes against the bright morning sun reflecting off all the snow. “Hang on,” she said as she shoved open the door against the snow that Rainbow Dash hadn’t kicked away.

“How’s she doing?” asked the cyan pony hovering with excitement, then she paused looking at Twilight and cocking her head.
“You know you look pretty hot with your hair all crazy like that, in a kinda cute sorta way.”

“Thanks Rainbow, would you mind writing that down so I can read it later when I'm conscious?” Twilight said rubbing her eyes.

“Who is it?” called Applejack from the bed loft

“Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh!! Before Twilight could say anything Rainbow shot up until she almost collided with the ceiling. She did three loops and landed on the bed loft. “AJAJAJA!! You’re back! She, sat down, tears in her eyes, and gave Applejack a big hug.

Applejack looked over her shoulder in panic at Twilight who was coming up the stairs. Twilight mouthed “Rainbow Dash”

“Howdy Rainbow Dash, it’s so nice to see you” Applejack said returning the hug with half-hearted pats.

Rainbow leaned back and assumed a semi-serious look and then spoke in a deep voice.

“Hello there yourself Miss Applejack. It is a pleasure to see you as well,” she said and started laughing. “AJ you look great! What’s with all this ‘it’s so nice to see you’ stuff?’”

“Rainbow?”

“Yeah, Twi, what’s up?

“I need to tell you something that might come as a little bit of a shock. Applejack has amnesia.”

“Wait, what? Like in she doesn’t remember anything?”

“Or anypony”

Rainbow Dash’s face got very serious and her chin started to tremble. Then she fell off the bed laughing and rolling on the floor.

“You have GOT to be kidding me!! How long did it take you to come up with that? That’s a good one, wait’ll I tell Pinky! Where did you get that one from - one of those trashy lovey-dovey books you read? That kind of stuff is always happening. I mean there are some really good parts in those but…" she paused and looked back at Applejack then at Twilight.

"Wait, are you serious?”

The expression on Twilight’s face was all the answer she needed. She sat back down on the edge of the bed and looked intently into her friend's big green eyes.

She asked softly, “Do you remember me?!!” A hint of panic crept into her voice, “You have to remember me!! We’re best buds, we’re like the dynamic duo, the mares without compares, the…the… oh don’t cry AJ,” Rainbow’s eyes brimmed with tears again up and the two of them hugged each other.

“Oh Rainbow Dash I wish I did, I’m so sorry, you seem like such a great pony, whoever I really am is one lucky mare to have you as her best friend,” she sniffed. “I hear you’re the fastest in all Equestria. Just think - we can get to know each other all over again.”

Twilight sat down on the edge of the bed and put her arm around Rainbow Dash who turned around to look at her.

“Will she ever get her memory back Twilight?”

“It’s been known to happen. The equestrian brain is a pretty complex thing; we really don’t understand a lot about how it works.”

“OK,” Rainbow sniffed, “so there is hope. Hope is good. You beat the bookcase and you’ll beat this amnesia too. What about her leg Twi? Is she going to have an excuse to lose to me this time?” Rainbow looked back at Applejack with a smirk. Applejack wiped the tears from her cheeks and smiled. Twilight looked at her over Rainbow’s shoulder and mouthed “you won”

“Me? Lose to you? No way! You may be fast but I can feel my legs are way stronger than yours!”

With that Rainbow lifted herself off the bed and laughing said “No way AJ? No way? Yes way! I’ll get you running before you know it! I’ll coach you from the front facing back toward you!”

Applejack glanced quickly toward Twilight who motioned for her to keep up the banter. “Not unless you can coach my butt as it leaves you in the dust!”

This was all Rainbow Dash needed to hear. She let out a whooping cheer and flew back to the bed.

“I knew you were still in there somewhere! Don’t worry- you’ll be back before you know it and sister I am so going to spank your flank!.”

“So Rainbow – what’s happening with all the snow?” asked Twilight

“All the ponies are clearing it. It stopped around midnight and they came out in force. Have a look for yourself.”

Twilight went to the window – all the roads were passable.

“I mean they’re narrow and all – a pony and a wagon couldn’t walk side by side in some parts, but everypony can pretty much get around.”

“Wow, that’s amazing!”

“Yeah, well they had to. There may be another storm the day after tomorrow and with that flu... Everypony is getting prepared,” she turned to Applejack, “I am so stoked you’re awake AJ. I know you’ll get better – just do everything Dr. Egghead-“

“Hey!” yelled Twilght

“…here tells you to do and you’ll be fine.” Rainbow Dash flew down and gave Applejack and Twilight another hug.

“Gotta jet. I’ll head out to Sweet Apple Acres and give them the good news. Should I mention the amnesia?” Rainbow asked as she lifted off the loft and began hovering.

“Just tell Big Mac. He’ll decide whether or not to tell Granny Smith and Apple Bloom.”

“Sure thing Twilight. And YOU” she said pointing a hoof at Applejack “you and me right after winter wrap up – be ready to hit the trail…” Rainbow spun around and raised up her tail slightly and hovered toward the bed, giving Applejack a clear view of her backside “…and get used to seeing this as it pulls away from you!”

Applejack took a swing to swat it but Rainbow pulled it out of the way just in time. “Too slow for my down low” the pegasus taunted, hovering close again. She shook her flank again but misjudged her distance. This time Applejack connected.

“Oww!” Rainbow yelped rubbing the red spot “Your forelegs sure haven’t gotten any weaker. That’s gonna leave a welt.”

“I’ll give it a kiss as I shoot past you by next spring!” laughed Applejack. The two other ponies started laughing.

“Good one AJ!” Rainbow said with a smile.

Twilight walked up to the edge of the bed loft and looked down to the living area below.

“Hey Dash – do me a favor – spot me? I’m going to try to fly down from here without hitting anything”

“OK Princess”

“DashEEE!”

“Sheesh! Just kidding OK go for it Twilight.”

Twilight flapped her wings and with some close calls, was able to land with relative grace.

“You’re getting better, just gotta listen to the mare with flair.”

Applejack clapped her hooves “Yee-hah pardner!”

Twilight took a bow. She and Dash then walked to the doors leading out to the balcony. “Seriously, is she going to be ok?” whispered Rainbow Dash

“I hope so Dash, she’d doing pretty well so far. Oh - she started to play the guitar. She is amazing! You have to hear her. HEY AJ?” Twilight and Rainbow Dash walked out to the center of the living area. “Can you play some music for Rainbow Dash?”

“Aw shucks Twilight, I’m embarrassed to.”

“Please? I’ll make some applesauce with cinnamon…” Twilight taunted

“Deal”

The gentle sounds of light chord strumming mixed with picking came down from the loft. Dash’s jaw slowly dropped. “Holy Hoofbeats! That’s great! How did you learn to play like that?”

“I don’t know. I just started messing around with it and it came natural.”

“I did a little reading up on it,” offered Twilight, “sometimes head injuries can open up talents and abilities that the pony never possessed before. It’s like she’s a prodigy – like with me and magic.”

“Well, it sure sounds like magic to me. Aww AJ that was just beautiful. With some lessons, I mean wow!”

“Dashie? Shouldn’t you be getting to Sweet Apple Acres?” reminded Twilight

“Twilight, shouldn’t you be getting me some applesauce with cinnamon?” reminded Applejack.

“Oh, yeah” answered the two winged ponies.

“In awhile cragadiles!” shouted Dash as she flew off the porch and towards Sweet Apple Acres.

“How about something to go with that cinnamon? Like some buckwheat pancakes with apple butter?” Twilight called up.

“Oh Twilight if you were a stallion I’d marry you right now.”

“Sorry AJ, my magic can do a lot but I don’t think I can quite do that, at least not yet anyway.” Twilight answered, trying to sound funny. There was a momentary pause.

“Apple butter huh? Well I can always make an exception…” called down Applejack.

Twilight went to work in the kitchen with a smile on her face.

--------------------

Setting her fork down on her plate, Applejack lay back against the pile of pillows behind her and closed her eyes.

“I thought you said you couldn’t cook! That was just delicious.. Did you use your magic?”

“AlI I did with it was to break the eggs and stir the batter,” said Twilight patting her stomach, “That was pretty good, if I do say so myself.”

Applejack shifted in the bed “Ohhh, mmmh” she groaned

“What’s the matter AJ? Are you OK?”

“Just kinda sore and stiff from lying here”

“Well I’ve got just the thing – would you like another rubdown?” Twilight said.

“Twilight I don’t know what to say,” Applejack looked into her eyes. Twilight was lost in deep forest green and her heart began to beat a little faster. “I was going to say something silly about marrying me but forget that. You are…I don’t know. I don't mind sayin I was a might terrified when I woke up yesterday and now I feel well, I guess I don’t know what.

You cook for me, you clean me and care for me. You give me those wonderful massages, you make me laugh and you’ve convinced me that everything is going to be OK.” Then she paused and looked down. After a moment she looked up into Twilight’s eyes. Twilight felt as though she were falling.

Applejack spoke quietly, “I wish I could do something for you... anything” The moment was so genuine, so intimate that Twilight couldn’t keep herself from blushing. She could feel herself slipping, her throat tightening. “Just…just keep getting better.” She said patting her friends hoof. “Now if you just shift that flank of yours over to your left a little you can help me get to your right haunch so I can get started.” Twilight said with a smile.

“Sure thing.”

Applejack shifted and Twilight began to work the muscles in her lower and middle legs. Slowly she worked her way up the haunches to her hips. As she did, she stopped rubbing on the inside of the thigh and focused on the outside hip. Applejack just lay there moaning with pleasure.

“It’s OK Twilight, you can rub the inside of my thigh, I trust you.” Applejack said with a smile.

But I don’t trust myself…

“Well, typically it’s a pretty classic mistake all my dates make, and then they’re never heard from again!”

“Yeah, but what a way to go!” Applejack said with a leer and a chuckle

After she finished the massage Twilight lay down next to her and they both fell asleep.

“Hey there sleepyheads, how are my girls doing?” Hearing that warm soft voice was the second best way that Twilight could think of to wake up. Her eyes tried to open but her mouth broke into a smile.

“Hey Big Mac, what are you doing here?” asked Twilight yawning.

“Well Rainbow told me that my beautiful sister Applejack was awake.”

Twilight gave Applejack a little shake. “Applejack? I think there’s somepony here to see you.”

“Hmf? What?” Applejack replied, squinting her eyes. She opened them and saw her brother.

“Woah, you must be Big Macintosh. Twilight said you were a might handsome. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Twilight, I think I like this Applejack better,” he said with a smile, “so how are you feeling?”

“Well let’s see, between the massages, the applesauce with cinnamon, the buckwheat pancakes with apple butter and all the laughing, I’d say I’m feeling great.”

Big Mac looked at Twilight with such pure affection that she blushed. “That’s no surprise," he said still looking at her, "there is no pony anywhere that I’d rather have taking care of you than Twilight Sparkle, she is one of a kind.”

“Don’t I know it,” agreed Applejack. Then she looked from one to the other, “I don’t mean to pry but are you two…?”

“No,” answered Big Mac smiling, “we’re closer than that.”

“Twilight told me about our family and our parents and all. I’m so sorry, I don’t feel anything about them but you still have my condolences. Is little Apple-?”

”Applebloom – she’ll be here in about 15 minutes. We don’t want Granny Smith out in the snow, but she was a might happy when she heard that you were OK,” said Big Mac. Did Twilight explain about hers and my friendship? I know it must seem strange but as I’m sure she told you it works for everyone. Granny Smith knows because she’s known me since I was a foal but as far as family we haven’t told Applebloom. We will when we feel the time is right.”

“And what about me? Did I know about it?”

Twilight and Big Mac just looked at each other.

“I guess I’ll take that as a no,” Applejack said looking down at the bedspread.” I thought we were best friends Twilight. Why would you keep that from me?” Applejack looked up at Twilight with a genuine look of hurt on her face. “Am I stupid? Is that it?”

“No, it’s just that as the element of honesty, it would put you in a very difficult position,” explained Big Mac, “ You would be part of the deception and it we thought that wouldn’t be fair to you. As far as being stupid, your place in the Mane Six is Twilight’s right hoof mare. She does very little without consulting you.”

“You are my rock AJ, I don’t know what I’d do if you weren’t there.”

Applejack considered this and after a few moments smiled. “There is an undeniable logic to your rationale. I suppose gratitude would be in order.”

Twilight and Big Mac looked at each other with wide eyes and slack jaws.

“I suppose in current circumstances it does make a certain amount of sense to draw me into your deception now. In a sense it’s only a deception of exclusion rather than a deliberate falsehood,” Applejack mused.

“Big Mac? Can you help me move that chair in my basement laboratory now?” Twilight asked.

“eeyup”

--------------------

“What the hay was that?!!” Twilight asked the moment they reached the basement, “Did you hear that?!”

“Eeyup”

“Stop it Mac, seriously, where did she learn to talk like that?”

“Undoubtedly from listening to you. You do express yourself rather well when you dictate to Spike. It appears that this injury may have done more than give her amnesia. The vocabulary isn’t the issue; it’s how she’s applying it, something in which she seems to have gained some skill. You know there was that period of time that she spent with our aunt and uncle in Manehattan and yes I know I ended that last sentence with a preposition so get that smug look off your face,” said Big Mac with a smile.

“And suddenly she’s playing the guitar like, like George Harristallion! She just picked it up, tuned it and began to figure out how to play it. And now she starts talking like, I don’t know…me!” said Twilight exasperated.

“Sometimes that’s how it is, the abilities just appear. I wonder what else has changed about her. Do me a favor and keep me up to date via the mail. Derpy delivers to us every day. Or you can just tell her.” said Mac

“Of course. Wow, Applejack as an ‘egghead.’ I hate that word.” muttered Twilight.

As they made their way back up to the loft they heard the sound of the guitar. Mac stopped in his tracks. “You didn’t exaggerate, that is beautiful. It’s very moving.” They stood there for a few more minutes just listening. Eventually, they entered the living area and stomped their hooves as Applejack finished playing

“Aw shucks, thanks guys. So what’s the verdict about me? After you moved the chair of course.” Applejack smirked.

“Um, I guess you figured that out, eh?” Twilight said, slightly embarrassed. “It’s just that, well, all of sudden you sound like, not exactly what I’m used to. .”

“Is that uncommon?” asked Applejack

“It is somewhat rare, but not unheard of” answered Mac.

“This is definitely going to take me awhile to get used to” said Twilight to nopony in particular.

“Just how different am I?” Applejack asked with more than a little concern in her voice. “I couldn’t play guitar, I couldn’t express myself like this. I’ve been having ideas about stories to write. I want to learn. Would you help me Twilight?”

“I don’t think there is anything in this world that I would rather do. Hey maybe you could try to teach me to play that guitar just don’t expect too much.”

They heard the front door of the library open and the sound of little hooves galloping up the stairs. “APPLEJACK!!” called out Applebloom

Applejack mouthed “Applebloom?” to Twilight who nodded in reply.

“APPLEBLOOM!” Applejack called out excitedly. The entrance to the living area up from the library was directly under the bed loft. The little filly ran into the living area and with wet hooves skidded sideways across the waxed floor, still running in place. In moments she got some forward traction and headed for the stairs to the loft.

Whether she recognized her or not, when Applejack saw the sweet little face of Applebloom,, reflecting a mixture of fear, and relief, her eyes red and rimmed with tears, there was nothing in Equestria that could keep her from taking the little filly into her arms and hugging her tightly. Applebloom began to sob, burying her face into her sister’s thick, warm coat.”I was so scared you were going to...” she managed to get out between sobs.

“No matter what happens sweetie, the bond between us can’t be broken, I will be here, don’t you cry” said Applejack, unable to hold back her tears. Big Mac had stepped forward and put his arms around them both. Twilight stood there stroking Applebloom’s mane.

-------------------------------------------

With a cup of apple juice in her hoof and a piece of cake from the bon voyage party on the plate in front of her, Applebloom was feeling much better.

“So when are you coming home AJ?” Tomorrow?”

“Well Applebloom,” answered Big Macintosh, “With the roads bad from the snow and another storm maybe tomorrow, Applejack should stay here, but don’t worry, Twilight can take care of her almost as good as you can, so she’ll be ok.”

“So maybe in a few days?

A call up from the library interrupted the answer. “Twilight are you here?” It was Dr. Stable, “I hear our patient is doing much better.”

“Come on up doctor and you can ask her yourself” Twilight called back down.

Once up in the bed loft the doctor examined the stitches in her head, attached a blood pressure monitor and inserted a thermometer in her mouth.

“So Applejack, I have to say it looks like Twilight has been taking excellent care of you, but that’s no surprise. Well let's see, your first blood pressure reading looks great, temperature normal, you should be back at the farm in no time, back to your own bed... Hmmm, that’s interesting…”

“What’s that?” asked Twilight with some concern.

“Well this second reading is a little higher than the first… Applejack do you remember anything before the accident?”

“Can’t say I do. There are some vague images but nothing concrete. They could be dreams for all I know. But then I’m not sure this here isn’t a dream, with the way Twilight has been taking care of me, it sure seems like one. I wonder if the old me was ever this happy,” she said putting her hoof on Twilight's and looking up at her with a smile.

Dr Stable performed a third BP test. “OK, that’s fine. Twilight, do you still have that anatomy book I gave you last summer?”

“It’s down in the library. Did you want to look at it?”

“Yes, I wanted to show you a little more detail of the nature of her leg fracture which will help lessen her recovery time.”

The phrase “lessen recovery time” was a code that he wanted to talk to her away from the patient. They both went down to the library leaving Big Mac and Applebloom with their sister.

Once down in the library he spoke to her.

“How are things with her? How are her spirits?”

“She’s great, we spend a lot of time laughing and talking. It’s been a lot of fun.”

“Not surprising. What I wanted to speak to you about was what I saw during her blood pressure test. Don’t worry, it’s nothing serious. I deliberately took it 3 times to see her state of mind with regard to going home. She is going through a very traumatic experience. To wake up and have no idea who you are or where you are is a terrifying ordeal. I have to say you have exceeded my expectations regarding her care. She looks great and seems to be far happier than she should be.”

“When I mentioned going home,” he continued, “her blood pressure took a sharp spike upward. It settled down when the topic returned to her being here. As you can imagine keeping her BP low and her calm is critical during this healing process. We want to avoid a hemorrhage of course and so I have to ask if you think you’ll be able to keep her here a while longer.”

“I would love to!” Twilight said with such joy that you thought she’d solved Starswirl’s final spell all over again. “There have been a couple of changes in her though. She’s developed this incredible talent for music, the guitar specifically. She took my old guitar and just started strumming it. She figured out chords and tuning. And suddenly she’s expressing herself with a far more advanced vocabulary.”

“Just like her brother, eh?” asked the doctor with a wry smile.

“You know about Big Mac?” she was incredulous.

“Twilight, as the village doctor it’s my job to care for everypony in Ponyville,” he said smiling “To do that well, I need to know about and observe all my patients. There is very little that goes on here that I don’t know about, though it’s not through talk, only observing, comparing and remembering.”

Twilight smiled at him and nodded. As she turned to go back up the stairs he put his hoof on her shoulder.

“One more question Twilight”

“Sure” she answered with a little smile

He looked at her for a moment not saying a word, only smiling very sweetly. She looked at him with puzzlement.

“How bad is it?” he asked.

From his beaming smile she knew what he was asking. You don’t deal with emergency foal deliveries and dying pony’s and not get to know the pony holding your hoof through it all.

“Is it really that obvious?” she asked with quite a bit of concern, “I thought I was doing a pretty good job of hiding it.”

“No, it’s not obvious, don’t worry.”

“It’s really really bad doctor,” Twilight said sighing, “Probably worse than that.”

“That’s what I thought. She doesn’t know, does she?” it was a statement more than a question.

“No”

“All I can tell you is this,” he said looking straight into her eyes, “There is this one very special pony I know. She is beautiful, wonderful, sweet, smart and very hard working but most of all she is incredibly lucky and has been blessed with something that others would happily die for.”

“Thank you so much doctor,” she said, her voice breaking a little, “I think that is the nicest thing that anypony has every said about me.”

“Twilight?”

“Yes?”

“I was talking about Applejack”

Unable to speak she just looked up at him and rested her head against his shoulder.