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Under the Starry Skies

by Wintergreen Diaries

Chapter 14: Correspondence

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Chapter 14: Correspondence

Two days of research. Forty-eight hours of wasted time. Perfect Jewel followed her son into the house and winced as the door slammed to his room.

“I’ll take it that his research isn’t going well,” Good Spirits stated calmly as his wife sank wearily into a chair at the table. Grabbing a bottle from the cabinet, he poured her a generous portion of her favorite whisky which she sipped gratefully, savoring the burn as it trickled down her throat.

“I don’t know why he doesn’t just ask the mare his questions himself. It would save him a lot of time and pain.”

“He wants to be sure, I think. If the mare doesn’t even know herself what she feels, then heading back now would only add to his confusion.”

“But working through that is part of what it takes to build a relationship.”

“I know. But he’s made up his mind, and all we can do his support him as best we can,” Spirits sighed, placing his hoof over Jewel’s and giving her an encouraging smile. Walking out to the kitchen, Silver ignored his parent’s prying eyes and poured himself a glass of wine and drained half of it with a single large swig.

“I overheard. You really think I should go back?”

“Not as you are now, no. Son, you’re angry, and you’re hurt. And you have every right to be, but fury clouds the mind. So, until you have calmed down, I think it’s best you stay here. However, I do think that you should go back to Ponyville soon. I’m sure there are a lot of ponies that miss you.”

“Heh, I was only there a week. Ponies come and go, I doubt many ponies will care, as long as I keep the booze flowing from the tavern.”

“If that’s really what you think, then don’t bother going back at all.” His father rarely had need to raise his voice, but that only made it that much more chilling when he did, and the sudden absence of warmth shocked Silver from his bitter sulk.

“I’m sorry. I won’t make excuses, I know I’m not acting right.”

“Now that’s the son I raised. Come here.” Silver allowed his parents to hold him for a time, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that he would rather have it be somepony else. As he was released, there was a flash as a tied roll of parchments appeared before him, shocking everypony in the room. “Son, I think you have mail.” Silver slowly reached down and picked up the scroll, untying the simple ribbon and beginning to read. It was four pages front and back, and the silence was tinged with expectation as his parents awaited his response. “Mom, I need the keys to the shop. I’m going to finish this, no matter what.” She nodded slowly and yielded the keys, and he set the letter down and dashed out the door, leaving the last page face up.

“Is that...”

“Our son, and his mare.”


It didn’t feel like long before opening time came for the Tavern. Applejack’s friends were already gathered outside the bar entrance waiting, and they each exchanged cheerful greetings, thrilled at Applejack’s elevated countenance. Together, they began making their way inside before Quakehoof barred Applejack’s path with his massive foreleg.

“I’m sorry, Applejack, but I’ve been instructed not to permit you entrance into the tavern.”

“What? That’s ridiculous!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

“Yeah, she has just as much of a right to be here as anypony else!” Storm pressed, glancing at the crestfallen mare.

“Calm down, everypony, it’s... it’s alright.”

“No it’s not, Applejack. Dad, why are you doing this?”

“Because this tavern belongs to Berry, and she told me I must. Trust me, Storm, I don’t like it any more than you, but that’s the way it is.”

“I think Berry must have missed my warning earlier. I was hoping not to have to repeat myself, but I’m gonna teach that mare a lesson!”

“Twilight, I think Silver will want a tavern to come back to,” Cerulean said gently, placing his hoof on her back which was already rising in temperature in accordance with her anger. “Here’s what I propose, everypony. Rainbow Dash, you and Storm, along with the rest of you, head back to Sweet Apple Acres with Applejack. Applejack, would you allow them the pleasure of sharing in your cider?”

“As long as nopony gets too wild, ah guess that’s fine with me.”

“Twilight, take Dawn and go with them. I will try to talk to Berry and get her to give Applejack a chance.” She nodded, calming herself and transferring Dawn to her back.

“No, I want to come and give that mare a piece of my mind!”

“And that’s exactly why you’re not coming, Rainbow Dash. Berry and Silver were close, and his absence has hit her harder than anypony else, save Applejack. She doesn’t need a lecture, she needs a friend.”

“Congratulations, Cerulean. I will add a point to your still dismally low score.”

“Much obliged, Miss Rarity. Now go on, and don’t let that mare sulk.” The friends receded into the distance, and Cerulean turned back to Quakehoof who was also looking on. “Things sure fall apart fast, don’t they.”

“Indeed.” With a sigh, Cerulean dragged himself inside, making his way through the tables and towards an open stool at the counter. Upon seeing Cerulean, Berry gave the room a quick scan to locate Applejack, but not finding her she approached and regarded the stallion with suspicion.

“What do you want, Cerulean? Where’re the rest of your friends?”

“I’ll take a cider, please. Gala.”

“Not until you answer the question.”

“I did. I’d like cider, and they are elsewhere, clearly.”

“Your sarcasm is nothing short of aggravating.”

“Eh, I’m sure you deal with worse.” She gave a snort and turned to fill his cup, ignoring a rather crass comment regarding her flanks that was made from one of the stallions down the way and setting it down.

“I suppose you’re right. Let me take care of things and I’ll try to find a spare moment to speak with you. Can’t say when, opening hour is pretty busy.”

“I can wait until closing, if needed.”

“It’s that important to you, is it?”

“It is.”

“All right then, come back around midnight. Something tells me it’s not going to be a conversation for just anypony to hear.” Cerulean nodded, finishing his cider and making for Sweet Apple Acres, where he found his friends occupying the barn. He allowed himself a glass or two more, but he couldn’t afford to consume too much with such things hanging over his head. He informed Twilight, and they set about making the night one enjoyable enough to keep Applejack stable. As the night drew on and the ponies grew muzzy, they began to filter out until only Twilight and Applejack remained. For reasons that were never made clear, Cerulean had taken the sleeping Dawn with him when he left, and as Twilight stretched and yawned, she stopped as Applejack’s voice called out to her.

“Twilight?”

“What is it, Applejack?”

“Can... can ah maybe spend the night at your house?”

“Of course, Applejack. Here I thought you were going to ask something that would require me to think. Come on, let’s get going. I may need help walking anyways.”


Berry Punch sat alone at the bar, sipping a glass of Fruit Rainbow Cocktail while she waited for Cerulean to arrive. A knock on the side door signaled his arrival, moving her to unlock the door and stand to the side as he entered, the slumbering foal atop his head wrapped tightly around his horn. She motioned towards a table close to the bar and watched as he eased onto the bench, keeping his head level so as to not disturb Dawn from her dreams.

“Can I get you anything?” Berry whispered.

“If it could possibly come with a straw, I could indulge another cider.” She nodded and returned, setting the cup down and returning to the other side of the table. “I don’t know how much you know about myself and Twilight. Dawn was... unexpected. Neither me or Twilight were ready for parenthood, but it came anyways. And now, I can’t imagine living life without her.”

“Having a child tends to change the way a pony’s life works.”

“I never considered myself to be a violent pony, but the mere thought of anypony trying to harm her fills me with a rage that I can’t describe.” Berry gave him a quizzical and semi-fearful look, not quite understanding his intended point. “Ruby isn’t handling her uncle’s absence well, is she.” Berry cast her eyes to the table and nodded.

“It’s been days since I’ve seen her smile. She goes to school, comes home, and then sits in the corner until she gets tired. She is asleep in Silver’s bed right now. It seems to be the only place she can find any peace.”

“Berry, I care about Applejack deeply, but I know what it’s like to want to protect your child. It’s true, I haven’t been a father very long...”

“It doesn’t take long. The change is instant.”

“I’m not going to rant and rave about you letting Applejack back in, Berry. If you’re doing this to protect your daughter, then I’m sure she’ll understand. But I also want to tell you that Applejack is trying her best to make things right. I don’t know if her voice alone will be enough to bring Silver back, but together, maybe... maybe you two could make the difference.”

“You’re asking me to work with the mare that broke my cousin’s heart and stole my child’s happiness?”

“I’m asking how far you’re willing to go to win Ruby’s happiness back.” Berry fell silent, and Cerulean gently eased himself upright and made towards the door.

“Cerulean.” He turned and looked at the mare with compassion as she spoke. “If... if you really think it will be better for Ruby, then tell Applejack she can come back tomorrow. Really, Ruby is the only one I’m focused on right now... She begged me not to let Applejack in, and it... made me so furious with her... I thought I had calmed down, but I haven’t. But, if working with her is really what it takes... then maybe Ruby can trust me on letting her in, just for a time. Hear me, Cerulean, she’s got a lot of making up to do before I call her a friend.”


Sometimes, it just wasn’t fair being a stallion. Or maybe mares had such thoughts too, but didn’t say anything. Another possibility was that Cerulean was just easily excited. Whatever the case, when he ascended the steps and noticed Applejack wrapped tightly in Twilight’s forelegs, he couldn’t help but stare.

“She has... a really long mane.”

“You know, you really need to work on your whispering, Cerulean.” The stallion cringed as Twilight lifted her head and looked at him with sleepy eyes, which soon came to full wakefulness as she noticed the soft blue glow. “Please tell me that’s not your horn.”

“It’s... the moon?”

“You lie as well as you whisper. You’re sleeping on the couch tonight.”

“Awww, I don’t get to bed with my mare?”

“Sorry, this mare has a much nicer mane.”

“Yes, yes she does.” Even in the dim light he could clearly see her half-lidded glare. “I think now would be a good time for me to make my exit.” Trying to shake the image of the two from his mind, he ascended the stairs and gently pried Dawn from his faintly glowing horn. Suddenly bereaved of something to cuddle, she latched onto his hoof as the made to leave. “Ok, just for a little bit.” Sitting beside the bed, he lay his head down and closed his eyes, smiling as he felt the rhythmic beating of the foal’s heart.

“What the hay is taking him so long?” Twilight muttered, craning her neck to look upstairs but seeing nothing. Carefully extracting herself from Applejack, she walked up the steps to find Cerulean asleep beside the bed with Dawn still firmly latched to his hoof. “You’re lucky you make such an adorable father or you’d be in real trouble,” she murmured as she gently shook him awake. “Come on, you’re going to be a wreck if you sleep here all night.”

“You’re right, I hear the couch calling my name,” he replied, slowly withdrawing his hoof and following Twilight downstairs. He flopped gratefully onto the couch and closed his eyes, cracking one open as Twilight squeezed in next to him and covered them with a blanket.

“So, how did it go?”

“Applejack is allowed back in the tavern, but Berry is still fairly upset because of how Ruby is taking it.”

“That makes sense. So what now, Cerulean?”

“For now, a certain orange earth pony needs her cuddle buddy back, loathe though I am to share.”

“Don’t worry, I’m a fair pony. You can cuddle with Storm sometime, if you like.” Cerulean made a wry face before adopting a thoughtful expression.

“Just Storm? Or is Lemon fair game too?”

“You know, if I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were...” she started before he pulled her in for a deep kiss. Taking a few moments to catch her breath and ignoring the sudden lavender aura that was, despite her best efforts, painting the room, she smiled and finished with a different ending to the statement than she had originally planned. “I’d think you were totally in love.”


Waking in another pony’s embrace was something Applejack hadn’t felt for a very long time. It was comforting, more than she thought something so simple could be, even if it wasn’t with the pony she’d have liked.

“Twilight, thank you for lettin’ me stay.”

“Huh? Oh, you’re welcome, Applejack,” Twilight replied, giving her one last squeeze before letting her go and rolling out of bed. Motherhood had forced Twilight to learn how to operate in the early morning, and within moments she was fully awake. “Cerulean talked to Berry yesterday after the tavern closed. She said you’re allowed in, but I don’t think she’s fully forgiven you yet.”

“Well, that just means ah have t’ try a little harder. But ah hardly know anythin’ about Berry, save that she has a taste fer alcohol.”

“Applejack, if you were a mother and somepony hurt your child, what would you do?”

“Ah’d buck ‘em t’ the moon, o’ course. Why?”

“Applejack, Ruby is...”

“Oh. O’ course she hates me, I ‘avent’ seen a child that sad in quite some time. That’s it!”

“Do you have a plan?”

“Ah might. All ah know is if ah can cheer Ruby up, then gettin’ through t’ Berry will be that much easier. Ah’m gonna get back to the farm an’ see if ah can catch Applebloom before she leaves fer school. Thanks again, Twilight. Ah mean it.”

“Anything for a friend.” Applejack went to tip her hat before noticing that it wasn’t there, choosing to nod instead and racing down the stairs and out the door. Twilight walked down as Cerulean stood, having been awakened by the hasty exit.

“Good to see Applejack with a fair bit of energy.”

“She’s going to need it, she has a lot of work to do.”


“Applebloom? Applebloom are ya here?”

“Is she here? Of course she’s here, this is her home after all! She’s probably still in bed, though maybe not anymore. Young fillies these days, askin’ silly questions and yelling,” Granny Smith muttered as she went back to making breakfast. Applejack had just raised her hoof to knock when her sister’s door cracked open, revealing a heavy lidded Applebloom minus her usual ribbon.

“What ‘n tarnation are ya shoutin’ about, sis? It’s barely eight in the mornin’!”

“Sorry fer wakin’ ya, Applebloom, but ah need yer help.”

“Help? You got it, sis! What do ya need me t’ do?” she exclaimed, coming awake and throwing a quick salute.

“Ruby is in yer class, right?” She nodded. “Ok, ah know she has been pretty sour lately, an’ that’s mah fault. If you can try extra hard to find somethin’, anythin’ to cheer her up, it’d go a long way in helpin’ me get Berry to work with me.”

“And then Silver comes back, right?”

“That’s the plan, sugarcube.”

“Ah’m on it, Applejack. Ah’m sure Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo will help too.”

“Whatever it takes, Applebloom. Ah’m gonna turn this thing around if it kills me.”

“Anythin’? Well, that makes things real simple, ah’ll just bring her over and give ‘er some cider!”

“Not on yer life, Applebloom. Just cause there are four blades on the fan don’t mean that it needs a filly for each. Now run along.”

“Awww, ah thought fer sure that’d work. What if ah promise t’ leave the glue at the club house?”

“Do ya really like glue that much?” Applejack laughed as they walked.

“Mebbe I do. Are we talkin’ the glitter kind, or just the plain white stuff?”

“That’s enough o’ that. Do you know where ah can find Bic Macintosh?”

“You just pulled me outta bed, how would ah know?” Applebloom retorted, staring at her sister with confusion.

“Yer right. Good luck, Applebloom, and thanks!” Applejack called over her shoulder before running out the door and into the fields. After calling out a few times she heard a faint response, and made her way through the trees towards her brother who broke into a grin when she approached.

“You look a lot better than ya did yesterday. Glad t’ see you well, Applejack.”

“Big Macintosh, what do you know about Berry?”

“Not a whole lot, why?”

“I want to get her a present, somethin’ she will really appreciate. It ain’t much, but ah don’t know what else ah can try.”

“Sorry, Applejack. Ah really can’t help you there. Why don’t you just ask her what you can do?”

“Ah wanted it t’ be a surprise, but ah guess ah don’t have a choice. See ya later, brother.”


Should Silver ever return, Berry decided she was going to give him a sound thrashing for leaving his materials and experiments home. The different vials were marked not with regular language but various alchemical symbols that she hadn’t figured out how to decipher, and likely never would. While meaning to imbibe the hangover cure, she had in reality taken the double hangover, a punishment reserved only for continually problematic customers. So when she opened the door to find Applejack at her doorstep, she was anything by amiable.

“What the hay do you want? Ugh, my head.”

“Berry, you ok?” Applejack questioned, bracing herself to catch the swaying mare should her legs give out.

“Does it look like I’m ok? Just leave me alone, let me suffer in peace.”

“No such luck, sugarcube. Ah came t’ make amends, and I intend t’ do whatever it takes.” Berry was about to respond when her stomach decided that the morning’s light breakfast was a touch heavier than it would allow, and Applejack stepped aside as she vomited on the doorstep.

“Well, for starters, how about cleaning that up?” Berry laughed weakly, not the slightest bit concerned with the expulsion of her stomach’s contents. She turned and staggered to the kitchen to wash out her mouth, and was surprised to find Applejack dutifully sweeping up the mess as best she could, removing the partially digested meal and tossing it in the trash outside. “I wasn’t being serious.”

“Maybe not, but ah was. Ah want Silver t’ come back, an’ even if he doesn’t, ah’m not going to let things stay the way they are now.”

“Well, then I’ll be serious with you. There’s no way you can...” Her voice trailed off and she fell silent, deep in thought. “I’ll tell you what. I’m going to offer you a challenge, and if you win, then maybe I will think about forgiving you.”

“Anythin’ you throw at me, ah’ll win. Ah have to. Now, what is it?”

“Come to the tavern tonight at nine. We’ll see how far your determination will get you.”

“Yeehaw, ah’m gonna give that challenge the what for!” she exclaimed, eliciting a groan from Berry as she covered her face with a pillow.

“In the name of Celestia, will you keep your voice down?”

“Sorry, Berry. Ah’ll leave you be. Is there anythin’ I can get you before I go?” Berry simply groaned and waved her away, choosing to wallow in peace rather than be seen in such a pitiful state.

“Silver, you sure can make some cruel inventions,” she muttered, whimpering as the migraine intensified. “I wouldn’t wish this on anypony. Well, maybe just the one.”


A shadow passing overhead bid Applejack raise her eyes to the sky, where she beheld the resident mailmare making her way towards the Apple family residence.

“Hey, Ditzy, down here!” Applejack called out, waving as the pegasus turned around and flew to meet her, narrowly avoiding a tree on the way down.

“Hey there, Applejack! I got a letter for you, now let’s see... where did I... ah, here you go!”

“Uh, Ditzy Doo? Ah don’t recall mah name bein’ Donut Joe.”

“Huh? Oops, my bad! Let me just... ah, here’s the one.” Applejack’s heart rate accelerated as she read Silver’s name on the return address. “Well, have a good day, Applejack!” She nodded as Ditzy took off, slowly opening the envelope and reading with trembling hooves. The words served only to bolster her willpower, steeling her resolve and calming her nerves.

“Applejack,

I don’t know what to say. I don’t even know how to respond. Your letter only served to confuse me further, as it is very clear you are just as confounded by your emotions as I am by mine. But I’m working on a way to fix all of that. If you want me to come back to Ponyville, I will, but only on one condition. You need to find a way to prove to me that you’ve made amends with Berry and her daughter. I’ve known them a long time, and I wager they are anything but happy with you. Do this for me, and I may just come back.

Silver Moonshine”

Next Chapter: Petition and Punishment Estimated time remaining: 5 Hours, 12 Minutes
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