Saturday, April 23, 2016 / Early Morning
Today's Horoscope (Virgo): You've come a long way, but the journey isn't over yet. In a lot of ways, it's only just begun.

Applejack kicks us all out of bed before sunrise. "Wake up, y'all," she says gruffly.

"GAH! Dammit, AJ, what the hell?" Rainbow cries as she crawls out of her tent, rubbing her backside.

"Applejack? Whatever is the matter?" Rarity asks.

Applejack sits down on a rock and folds her arms, staring at all of us as we stagger out into the pre-dawn darkness.

"Ah couldn't git a wink o' sleep all night," Applejack says. "After all that shit yesterday, Ah jes' couldn't. An' Ah ain't gonna have mah whole birthday ruined by bein' so pent up over this mess Ah can't have fun, an' Ah damn sure ain't gonna have mah family down in th' dumps on account of me not havin' a good time today. So y'all are gonna tell me everything, right now, an' ya best do it quick afore Granny calls us in fer breakfast."

We all sit down and start explaining everything: Zodiac, Personas, the Shadows, Sunset Shimmer, Fluttershy's betrayal and subsequent redemption. By the time we're finished, the sun has risen and the sky is a light, rosy pink. The chickens are wandering around, clucking and pecking.

Once we're finished, Applejack sits silently, frowning as she works it all out. Finally, she stands up and dusts herself off. "Okay," she says simply. "Good t' know." Without another word, she heads up to the house.

We all look at each other.

"She's...she's still really upset with us, isn't she?" Twilight says.

"Give her time," Rainbow says. "AJ's stubborn as a mule. She'll...she'll cool down."

She doesn't look sure at all...

We all head up to the house for breakfast.

Saturday, April 23, 2016 / Daytime

Even on Applejack's birthday, there's still chores to do, and we all pitch in and do our share. We offer to do her chores too, but she flatly refuses; with a weary smile, she says that being on the farm to do her chores is her idea of a good birthday.

I guess everybody has their own thing...

Granny Smith and Pinkie Pie work together to make a massive birthday lunch, and Pinkie bakes a pineapple upside-down cake. When she brings the cake out after lunch, Applejack raises an eyebrow at her.

"You know pineapples ain't apples," she says.

"Yeah, I know," Pinkie says, sticking out her tongue. "I just thought we could all use a little change of pace." Everyone laughs.

Applejack chuckles. "Ah'm jes' messin' with ya," she says. "Truth be told, Ah like pineapple upside-down cake. Only had it once or twice."

"Ah ain't had pineapple cake since yer Papa was in diapers!" Granny Smith says, licking her lips.

"Ah ain't sure Ah ever had it," Big Macintosh says thoughtfully.

The cake is excellent, and everyone compliments Pinkie on it. After the cake, Applejack opens her presents. Everyone got her something nice, be it new clothes, or a new book, or new boots...

Applejack smiles at everyone as she opens her last present, a big silver apple-shaped belt buckle with rhinestones. "Thanks, y'all," she says. "Y'all didn't need t' go an' do all this fer me."

"Of course we did," Twilight says. "We're your friends."

Saturday, April 23, 2016 / Evening

After helping with the chores and after another one of Granny Smith's huge, amazing country suppers, we all head back to the tents to turn in for the night.

Applejack follows us outside. "So, uhh...hey y'all," she says.

We all stop what we're doing and turn to look at her.

Applejack kicks at the ground with the toe of her boot. "So, this whole fightin' monsters mess..." She sighs. "Hell, Ah'm in." She looks around at us. "Ah'm still mighty sore at y'all fer sneakin' around an' lyin' all this time, but..." She shakes her head. "Ah git it now. An'...an' Ah wanna start over with y'all. Ah want us all t' be friends again, like...like we was afore things got all...y'know." She looks in the direction of the moon, which hangs low in the dusky sky.

"But most of all, Ah...Ah need somethin' t' fight," she says. "Ah need t' be able t' do somethin' with my own two hands that Ah know makes a difference. Ah can't save mah Papa. Ah can't bring back Mama. Ah can't..." She bows her head and clenches her fists. "Ah can't make mah own kin's problems go away, no matter how strong Ah am." She looks up at us, tears in her green eyes. "But...but this...this is one problem Ah can git mah hands on. Somethin' Ah can rip apart, punch, kick, beat th' crap out of. Somethin' where Ah can see right off th' bat whether or not Ah'm makin' any difference at all." She looks away, tilting her hat down over her eyes. "So...so Ah'm in. Jes'...jes' let me know whut Ah need t' do an' when."

With that, Applejack turns and heads back up to the house.

Even though Applejack has joined the party, I can't help but feel that it might take a while to earn back her trust...

We all stare morosely at each other.

"Well...that was cheerful," Rainbow mutters.

Twilight sighs. "Give her time, Rainbow Dash. Applejack's going through...a lot."

"Who isn't?" I mutter.

"So...what do we do now?" Pinkie asks.

"We keep doing what we've been doing," I say. "We fight. No matter what Sunset Shimmer throws at us, we fight. And we win. And...and sooner or later, she'll slip up, and we'll be there. And we'll be ready." I look around at my friends, who have stood beside me through not only battle, but through everything I've been through this year. The friends who I've stood by when their own lives have fallen apart around them. "I'm not giving up, because I have something to fight for. Something to protect."

Twilight smiles and takes my hand. "So do I," she says.

Pinkie throws her arms around our shoulders. "Me too."

"In it to win it!" Rainbow says cheerfully.

I'm not losing anyone or anything else important to me, Sonata adds.

"I've got a score to settle with Sunset Shimmer," Fluttershy says. "And...and I want to...want to put all this behind me once and for all so I can move on with my life." She looks at us. "So I can have friends and...and not feel haunted by everything I've done."

We all link hands. "Then it's settled," I say. "No matter what happens, we stand together."

We stand for a long time, listening to the night sounds of the farm, taking comfort in our solidarity, before putting out the lanterns and going to bed.

Author's Notes:

Social Link Status:

0. FOOL (Zodiac Investigation Team): MAX! (Rank UP!)
I. MAGICIAN (Twilight Sparkle): MAX!
II. PRIESTESS (Fluttershy): rank 4
III. EMPRESS (Rarity): rank 5
IV. EMPEROR (Coach Shining Armor): MAX!
V. HIEROPHANT (Vice-Principal Luna): rank 8
VI. LOVERS (Nurse Cadance): MAX!
VII. CHARIOT (Rainbow Dash): MAX!
VIII. JUSTICE (Principal Celestia): MAX!
IX. HERMIT (Coco Pommel): MAX!
X. FORTUNE (Apple Bloom): rank 6
XI. STRENGTH (Applejack): rank 6
XII. HANGED MAN (Octavia Melody): rank 9
XIII. DEATH (Sonata Dusk): rank 7
XIV. TEMPERANCE (Sweetie Belle): rank 5
XV. DEVIL (Juan the Janitor): rank 8
XVI. TOWER (Chrysalis): rank 7
XVII. STAR (Pinkie Pie): MAX!
XVIII. MOON (Trixie Lulamoon): MAX!
XIX. SUN (Vinyl Scratch): MAX!
XXI. THE WORLD (Family): rank 1

---

It's Cadance's Analysis Time!

[STRENGTH] PERSEPHONE
Str: Slash, Strike, Pierce
Wk: Fire
SKILLS:
Heat Wave Matarukaja
Gigantic Fist Regenerate 2
Marakukaja Invigorate 2
Masukukaja Recarmdra

[JUSTICE] AMATERASU
Str: Slash, Pierce
Abs: Fire
Rpl: Light
Wk: Dark
SKILLS:
Sunrise Maragidyne
Salvation Fire Amp
Blade of Fury Victory Cry
Endure Dark Angelic Grace

* Sunrise: Heavy Light damage + Debilitate / all enemies

[DEATH] MATADOR
Wk: Fire, Light
Rpl: Dark
SKILLS:
Sukukaja Poison Skewer
Mudoon Dodge Fire
Blade of Fury Dodge Strike
Provoke Survive Light

---

The Zodiac Investigation Team Social Link has reached its maximum level!

Flash Sentry has mastered the Zodiac Investigation Team Link!

The power to create Personas of the Fool Arcana has reached its maximum!

Flash Sentry has forged a bond that cannot be broken!

Flash Sentry can now summon Son Gokuu, the Legendary Super Saiyajin!