AppleAnon


                                            Cuddle Dash


                                            >It's finally happened.

                                            >No one knows how they got here, but it seems like most of the residents of Equestria just showed up overnight.

                                            >While the leaders and scientists of both worlds immediately got down to the business of building relationships and figuring out a way back, there were still thousands of ponies without anywhere to go.

                                            >When the call went out for volunteer ambassadors to help the ponies adapt to their temporary life here, you eagerly put your name up for consideration.

                                            >Your neighbors still swear they could hear your girly scream from down the block when you were selected.

                                            >You'll be boarding one pony for as long as you're able, providing meals and whatever else as necessary.

                                            >The packet you got from the relocation committee was pretty sparse, but had a few rules to follow:

                                            >- Don't cause an international incident. Or is it inter-planetary? Inter-dimensional? Whatever. Just don't screw up.

                                            >- Vegetarian diet only. This apparently comes directly from Celestia herself. It's even in bold and underlined.

                                            >No big deal, you've just finished stocking the pantry and fridge with food from the list of recommendations.

                                            >You're busy making the guest room bed when there's a knock at the door.

                                            >It's time.

                                            >You have to fight back a squee as you open the door and find Rainbow Dash standing there.

                                            >You'd seen them on TV, but nothing could prepare you for how adorable they are in person. And small. Dash stands about waist height.

                                            >She looks down at a piece of paper in her hoof.

                                            "Uh- Anon, right?"

                                            >You nod as she extends a hoof for a fist bump.

                                            "Awesome. I'm Rainbow Dash and you're a seriously lucky dude to get someone as cool as me for a roommate."

                                            >You suppress the urge to blurt out how cute she is and just barely manage to pull off an eye roll.

                                            >"Oh yeah, I'm sure. C'mon in and I'll give you the tour."

                                            >She flashes you a smirk on her way in.

                                            >You allow yourself a quiet moment of celebration once her back is to you. This is going to be awesome.


                                            >The last few weeks feel like they've flown by in an instant.

                                            >Speaking of flying - Dash in flight? Shit's ridiculous.

                                            >She's set up a practice area over the neighborhood and after breaking a few windows, has toned it down from mindblowing to merely awesome.

                                            >You've managed to keep your fangasming to yourself and you two have become fast friends.

                                            >You just celebrated Labor Day by parking your butts on the couch and playing Xbone all day.

                                            >Somehow she's still kicking your ass even with hooves.

                                            "Hah! How do ya like that, Anon! I win again, so you better get to it!"

                                            >Loser makes dinner. Again. One day you'll come out on top and we'll see who's laughing then!

                                            >Still reeling from your loss, you gather your ingredients and start cooking on autopilot.

                                            >It's Taco Tuesday. The best of all days.

                                            >Dash is already waiting at the table with the biggest shit-eating grin on her face.

                                            "Better luck next time, Anon."

                                            >You grumble and toss her plate down.

                                            >She's already halfway done by the time you sit down to soothe your damaged ego with the meaty embrace of...

                                            >You look up from your loss-induced funk as it hits you.

                                            >You made your one speciality. Steak tacos.

                                            "Holy hay, Anon! These are great! What are they?"

                                            >She's already completely demolished her plate.

                                            >"Uh... T-tacos."

                                            >Dash doesn't even stop long enough to acknowledge you before digging into the platter of extras you brought out.

                                            >They're gone in seconds.

                                            "You gonna finish that?"

                                            >"Dash wa-"

                                            >Your plate's already gone.

                                            >You are so screwed.


                                            >It's over.

                                            >It's all over.

                                            >Dash is going to get sick and then they'll find out what you've done and take her away.

                                            >She's a national hero back home too. They might even throw you in horse jail!

                                            >You start to hyperventilate before a massive belch shakes you from your visions of doom.

                                            "Damn, Anon! You gotta make those again some time!"

                                            >You can only nod weakly.

                                            "Pff, seriously? You can't still be thinking about how badly I kicked your butt!

                                            "Come on, last one to the couch is a flightless filly!"

                                            >You plop yourself down on the couch just as Dash picks out a movie to watch.

                                            >You don't even know what it is or what's going on.

                                            >The credits are rolling before you know it and Dash is asking you a question.

                                            >You nod and now there's another movie playing.

                                            >You can't help but look over at Dash every so often.

                                            >She seems okay. So far.

                                            >You don't want this to end.

                                            ---

                                            >You must've fallen asleep at some point, because the sun has come up and you're still on the couch.

                                            >Your chest feels oddly tight and there's a warm breeze on your neck.

                                            >Looking down, you find two blue hooves draped over your midsection.

                                            >A wave of relief washes over you as you realize Dash is still alive.

                                            >And apparently very snuggly while sleeping.

                                            >Trying to avoid an awkward situation, you carefully wriggle your way out of Dash's grasp.

                                            >You're just inches from freedom when Dash jerks awake.

                                            "Huh? Wuzza- woah!"

                                            >She's already hovering by the ceiling, scratching the back of her head with a hoof by the time you look up.

                                            "Uh, morning Anon."

                                            >The hoof swings back to point at you as Dash's eyes narrow.

                                            "This never happened."

                                            >You mime a zipper across your lips as Dash lands in front of you.

                                            >She looks fine.

                                            >Better than fine even. The usual cocky grin is extra cocky and she seems to be holding herself more upright than usual.

                                            "Ya know, I don't think dinner was enough. I think a loss that bad deserves breakfast duty too."

                                            >You make one of the rude hoof gestures she taught you and head to the kitchen.


                                            >Dash hovers over you on your way to the train.

                                            >She's going to spend the day with some of her friends while you're at work.

                                            >Not all of her friends got dragged to this world with her and last time she met with them she seemed kind of bummed about that.

                                            >You make a note to pick up her favorite dessert on the way home.

                                            "So that's my day. Waaay more awesome than sitting at a desk all day."

                                            >"Yeah, yeah. Not all of us get the luxury of a mandatory vacation away from all of our responsibilities."

                                            >Her expression drops and you mentally kick yourself.

                                            >"Hey, I-"

                                            "Yeah... Say, all the stuff you're doing for me is really cool and you're a pretty awesome dude."

                                            >Well hello there, Mr. Smile.

                                            "Not as awesome as me, obviously."

                                            >Oh.

                                            "But as thanks, I'll take care of dinner tonight. All on me. You better come hungry!"

                                            >You give her one of her trademark grins as you walk into the station.

                                            >"I'll be ready. Just don't burn my house down!"

                                            "You'll see! It's gonna be way better than anything you could ever dream of making!"

                                            ---

                                            >You step through the front door, rainbow sherbet in tow.

                                            >It smells like a damn steak house.

                                            >Rushing towards the kitchen you find Dash is already sitting at the dining room table.

                                            >There are empty plates and bottles of sauce stacked all around her.

                                            "Uh. Hey."

                                            >"Hi...?"

                                            "So I found all of the taco stuff that was in the freezer and made a really kickflank dinner!"

                                            >She looks down at her hooves.

                                            "But it smelled so good and I was feeling kinda crappy and I just couldn't wait!"

                                            >"Dash it's okay, I-"

                                            >She spots the sherbet and both she and it are gone before you can even blink.

                                            >You find her curled up on the couch watching hockey.

                                            >Somehow she even managed to grab a spoon.

                                            >"Do you want to talk about it?"

                                            "Just shut up and sit down."

                                            >She flops over onto your lap and presents her ears for scratching.

                                            >As you idly scratch her ears you wonder if 'all' really meant all five pounds of steak you had in the freezer.

                                            >She was totally okay last time, right?


                                            >You wake up to an intense pressure on your chest.

                                            >Looks like you two fell asleep on the couch for the second night in a row.

                                            >It's dark, but from what you can feel it seems Dash is lying across you.

                                            >You try to shift her off to the side or even get your arms free, but it's just not happening.

                                            >"What the hell?"

                                            >Further attempts are met with the same results.

                                            >This is embarrassing.

                                            >"Dash? Yo, RAINBOW DASH! WAKE UP!"

                                            >You get a groggy 'what!?' in reply.

                                            >"Move over."

                                            >As she slides back to where she started the evening, the couch tips towards her.

                                            >Damn, that back leg must've popped off again.

                                            >Finally able to breathe, you get comfortable and start to nod off.

                                            >"'night, Dash"

                                            "mmzzmnight..."

                                            ---

                                            >You begin waking up this morning much the same as you did yesterday.

                                            >Although a lot softer and warmer this time...

                                            >Opening your eyes, you expect to see those same blue hooves wrapped around you.

                                            >And they are. All the way... Wait, what?

                                            >Before you can even begin to question that, Dash yawns in your ear.

                                            "Morning, Anon! Heh, guess... we... ...what?"

                                            >You flip over in her grasp to face her.

                                            >She's huge.

                                            >You look behind you to confirm.

                                            >Yep. Huge. She stretches from one end of the now mildly broken couch to the other.

                                            "So..."

                                            >"Uh huh..."

                                            >You both stare at each other. A mutual feeling of utter confusion making itself plainly evident.

                                            >Grasping at whatever mental straws you can, the only thought that comes through is that lying on her is really comfortable.

                                            >"I'm okay with waiting a bit before we try figuring this out."

                                            >She remains silent for what feels like an eternity before giving off a little snort and squeezing you gently.

                                            "Yeah. Yeah, that sounds okay."

                                            >You both sigh as you snuggle in tighter.

                                            >Panic can wait.


                                            >A groggy sounding moan pulls you out of your little nap.

                                            >You open your eyes and find yourself face to face with Dash.

                                            >She's shrunk a bit.

                                            "Huh."

                                            >Still pretty big - about as tall as you all stretched out - but not quite the couch-crushing behemoth from this morning.

                                            >"Yeah, huh. Got any ideas?"

                                            "Nope."

                                            >Neither of you seems eager to disentangle yourselves, so you decide to press your luck a little.

                                            >"Want to talk about yesterday?"

                                            >She tries to bury her face in your chest before giving up and grumbling.

                                            "Fine."

                                            >Turns out only two of her best friends are here. Twilight and Fluttershy.

                                            >Things got a bit heated when the subject of what was being done to fix things came up.

                                            >Twilight wound up getting offended when she suggested this was caused by some ancient evil Celestia probably failed to mention.

                                            >The resulting argument drove Fluttershy to tears.

                                            >Cue the inevitable storming off and binge session.

                                            >"I'm sure you guys will patch things up. But you didn't eat or do anything else? Twilight didn't curse you or something, did she?"

                                            "Hey! Twi wouldn't do that! And no, dinner was all I ate besides breakfast."

                                            >"Sorry, I was just joking."

                                            >"And sorry again because this is probably my fault..."

                                            "Really?"

                                            >"Yeah... those taco ingredients weren't exactly vegetarian..."

                                            "What are you saying?"

                                            >"Meat. Steak. Chopped up cows. That was what I accidentally made for you and what you cleared out of the freezer yesterday."

                                            >"I should've stopped you that night, or even just told you afterwards but now you're probably all kinds of screw-"

                                            >A hoof pressed to your lips stops you from going further.

                                            "Dude. Chill. I feel great. I mean, it is kinda gross and my brain keeps trying to tell me it's wrong, but if it's supposed to be wrong it shouldn't taste so good."

                                            >The classic grin returns as she takes a look down her body.

                                            "Besides, this is a pretty neat trick to learn. And like any trick..."

                                            >That grin turns downright predatory.

                                            "...you've got to practice it."


                                            >Once you've both finally dragged yourselves off the couch, it's nearly time for lunch.

                                            >Dash decides to skip it and go flying while you call in to work and take the rest of the week off.

                                            >You figure you should work out some sort of plan before you and Dash start messing around.

                                            >Science was never your best subject, but you think you've worked out a passable series of experiments.

                                            >Working off your only theory, you head to the health food store to buy out their entire stock of protein products.

                                            >Dash is just getting out of the shower when you get back.

                                            >She's back to an almost normal normal size.

                                            >She apparently got to this size in the middle of her routine and took the opportunity to go apologize to her friends and get a full physical from the Equestrian doctors.

                                            "So I'm 100% healthy and we've got no interruptions for the rest of the week!"

                                            >She eyes the supplies you just bought.

                                            "Let's do this!"

                                            >To keep up your scientific façade, you take down Dash's measurements and weight.

                                            >Dash starts off with a case of protein shakes.

                                            "Blech! Why couldn't we use steak again?"

                                            >"Because I'd go bankrupt by tomorrow and these have more protein. Suck it up, you wimp."

                                            >Dash glares at you and slams back the last few bottles.

                                            "So... now we wait?"

                                            >"I guess so. You were asleep the last time this happened."

                                            >She sits down on the scale and stares at the dial.

                                            "Nothing's happening yet."

                                            >"Probably going to take more than a few min-"

                                            >The dial starts to creep upwards.

                                            >Man, nothing waits for long with this mare around.

                                            >The dial picks up speed as the first outward signs of her growth become visible.

                                            >Before you know it, her eyes are staring into yours.

                                            >Then you're level with her muzzle.

                                            >Neck.

                                            >Chest.

                                            >Two hooves launch from her sides and pull you into a hug.

                                            >The feeling of her coat slowly brushing upwards against you is incredible.

                                            >You lean into the embrace and listen as her heartbeat becomes louder and louder.

                                            >This is so much better than getting thrown in horse jail.


                                            >She's nearly to the ceiling when she picks you up and gives you a nuzzle.

                                            "Oh Anon, this is so awesome. You're the best~"

                                            >You're back to being squeezed against her chest as she gently rubs your back with a hoof.

                                            >Soon enough both hooves start wandering and the quiet little noises she's been making become a lot less innocent.

                                            >You open your mouth to slow things down a bit but are cut off as a pair of lips almost completely envelop your face in a kiss.

                                            >You freeze.

                                            >How far is this going?

                                            >You'd probably have trouble stopping her at her normal size. With the amount of muscle now pressed against you, you know you don't even stand a chance.

                                            >Your instincts are screaming at you to get out of this, but there's not a damn thing you can do about it.

                                            >She finally relents and gives you a chance to breathe.

                                            >"Dash, stop! This is-"

                                            >She pulls back and the lecherous expression on her face immediately drops into one of concern.

                                            >This catches you completely off guard.

                                            >You could actually end this right here.

                                            >...

                                            >But do you really want to?

                                            >Looking into those enormous worried eyes gives you the only answer you need.

                                            >You barely finish nodding towards the couch before you're scooped up.

                                            >She jumps slightly and does a mid-air roll onto the couch.

                                            >Her back flattens it completely.

                                            >With a frustrated snort, she grabs you again and gets up off of what used to be your couch.

                                            >RIP Rear Admiral Plaid, your service will never be forgotten.

                                            >She grabs a couple boxes from your protein stash and holds them and you against her chest as she makes her way to your bedroom.

                                            >She's much more graceful on three hooves than she has any right to be.

                                            >There's a horrible splintering noise as she pulls your door frame out of the wall while muscling her way through.

                                            >It doesn't even slow her down.

                                            >The bed protests, but holds firm as she deposits you at the head and straddles it.

                                            >The nuzzle that follows nearly buries you in the mattress.


                                            >The nuzzle session leads right back into another all-encompassing kiss.

                                            >She's so big there's no sense in even trying to return it.

                                            >You bring you arms up and rub the sides of her muzzle instead.

                                            >As time goes on, you notice you don't have to spread your arms as wide any more.

                                            >She apparently notices too.

                                            >She breaks off the kiss and gives you the most intense stare you've ever seen from her.

                                            "Feed me."

                                            >"But the plan says only one box to-!"

                                            >She shoves a box into your arms.

                                            "Do it!"

                                            >Science be damned.

                                            >Packaging litters the floor as you tear into the box as fast as you can.

                                            >Every bar and shake disappears from your hands the instant they're open.

                                            >As her tongue darts out to grab the last bar, you briefly worry about whether or not your bed will survive this.

                                            >Heck, as she starts inching back upwards again you don't even know if your house is going to survive this.

                                            >Her lips meet your face again as she quickly surpasses her previous record.

                                            >The kiss gets more and more needy before she snaps her head up while biting her lip.

                                            >Bracing her hooves against the wall above you, she gives a push that sends your bed to the middle of the room.

                                            >You don't even have time to ask what's going on before she's gotten up and is crawling over top of you.

                                            >You wind up somewhere beneath her stomach.

                                            >You feel her back legs shifting around and a moan vibrates through the body all around you.

                                            >The muffled sounds of wood cracking give you a pretty good idea of what's happening to your bed post.

                                            >She's tall enough now that there's only a tiny portion of her weight against you.

                                            >You're determined to fully exploit this new development as you wriggle your arms free and get them in front of you.

                                            >You bring your hands up and start rubbing the expanse of belly above you.

                                            >Your world is nothing but heat, noise and soft fur brushing around you as she continues to grind against your bed.

                                            >A beat of her massive wings briefly pulls her away from you as she lets out a deafening scream.


                                            >Dash lands with a tremendous thud.

                                            >Her barrel presses you into the mattress with each heavy breath.

                                            >The pressure lessens slightly.

                                            >She reaches underneath with a hoof and gingerly fishes you out.

                                            >A gentle push from a back leg sends your bed off to the side.

                                            >She leans against a wall and slowly shimmies her way onto her back.

                                            >You can finally get a good look at her.

                                            >It's amazing just how big she's gotten.

                                            >Her head occupies the space your bed started out the evening in.

                                            >The tips of her back hooves lay atop the dresser on the other side of the room.

                                            >There's no way she'd be able to stand up to her full height without going through your roof.

                                            >Eyes half-lidded, she gives you a sweet little smile before placing a kiss on your torso.

                                            >Those big magenta eyes slide shut as she squeezes you to her chest like some kind of undersized teddy bear.

                                            >Her breathing slows and the rest of her body goes limp.

                                            >But her grip on you remains strong.

                                            >Guess you're not going anywhere for a while.

                                            ---

                                            >It's been a while.

                                            >You're not tired at all.

                                            >You also desperately wish your hands were free... for reasons.

                                            >The heartbeat behind you is so strong now you can feel as much as hear it.

                                            >There are worse places in world to be, you guess.

                                            ---

                                            >At some point you gave in to your cozy surroundings and fell asleep.

                                            >You have no idea how long it's been, but you feel like Dash should've started shrinking by now.

                                            >Her grip's loosened enough to allow you to crawl out and slide down her side.

                                            >It's just after 6am according to the clock sitting in a puddle of drool on the floor.

                                            >Surveying the blue behemoth before you confirms that she hasn't shrunk an inch.

                                            >Panic starts to set in.

                                            >If one box made her x big for y long and two made her z big, just solve for- oh forget it.

                                            >Math and Science both beat up on you in school.

                                            >Your visions of anthropomorphic equations stealing your lunch money are cut off by Dash's stomach growling.

                                            >How the heck are you going to feed her at this size?


                                            >Despite the occasional stomach growls, Dash stays fast asleep.

                                            >This gives you plenty of time for some good 'ol panicked pacing.

                                            >You're about to start your fiftieth lap with no solutions when there's a knock at the front door.

                                            >Maybe if you ignore it they'll go away.

                                            >No such luck. The knocking becomes more insistent and Dash starts shifting around.

                                            >You figure it's probably best to leave her asleep while you go deal with the door.

                                            >You open the door just as another round of knocks begin.

                                            >Oh shit.

                                            >"Wh-What can I do for you, your highness?"

                                            "Oh, hello! I was hoping I could talk to Rainbow Dash. She seemed really rushed the other day and I just wanted to make sure everything was okay."

                                            >Figures the princess of friendship would follow up on a friendship issue.

                                            >Stall her!

                                            >"Uh... Sorry... she just left to go flying?"

                                            >Oh yeah. Real convincing.

                                            "Ah. Well that's okay."

                                            >She turns to leave and spreads her wings.

                                            "I'll just have to go see if I can find her."

                                            >Phew. That should buy you some time.

                                            "Thanks for your h-"

                                            >The windows of your home rattle as Dash chooses the worst possible moment to snore.

                                            >Twilight stops dead in her tracks.

                                            >Another snore rips through your house.

                                            "Rainbow! Rainbow are you in there?"

                                            >The surprised yelp and crash that follow answer that question pretty quickly.

                                            >Smooth, Dash.

                                            >Twilight sidesteps around you and your broken furniture on her way to the bedroom.

                                            "There's no need to hide from me, Rainbow. I just want to talk."

                                            >Oh if only that were true.

                                            "I know we talked yesterday, but I really wanted to say you... were..."

                                            "Uh... heeey, Twi."

                                            "...what."

                                            >Looks like you get to add a broken princess to your crimes against Equestria rap sheet.


                                            "Twi, it was just an accident! Really!"

                                            >Twilight stares for just a bit longer before snapping out of it with a smile.

                                            "Well, at least your size now matches your ego."

                                            >"Zing!"

                                            >You can feel Dash's glare through the wall as Twilight turns to you with an eyebrow raised.

                                            "So... tell me about this 'accident'..."

                                            >Oh boy. Here we go.

                                            >You and Twilight take a seat next to Dash.

                                            >You gradually snuggle your way into the wall of blue behind you as story time goes on.

                                            >This earns you an odd look from Twilight. Is that jealousy?

                                            >Just as you're glossing over the details of last night, you feel Dash finally start to shrink.

                                            "Well! Sounds like you two have had an interesting couple of days!

                                            "And this is certainly something I'd like to study..."

                                            >She fixes you with a glare.

                                            "...with properly conducted experiments."

                                            >Turns out making a mockery of science is a good way to earn Twilight's ire.

                                            >Before you can repent, she turns back to Dash.

                                            "Now, while I can see that you're shrinking and that you seem to be perfectly healthy...

                                            "I'm going to have to bring Celestia over for a second opinion. There must be a good reason for restrictions she put in place."

                                            >While you can't help but agree with wanting to make sure Dash is really okay, you also don't see that meeting going well.

                                            >Twilight schedules your doom for noon tomorrow.

                                            >With Twilight's help, the contents of your kitchen are carried outside before a very woozy looking Dash is teleported out to join them.

                                            "Ugh. I will never get used to that."

                                            >Dash takes a look up at the overcast skies before turning to Twilight.

                                            "Hey Twi, before you go, can you cast your cloudwalk spell on Anon?"

                                            >She chuckles and shakes her head before slinging the spell your way.

                                            "Just try not to blow his mind too much. I still need you both to tell Celestia your story."

                                            "No guarantees! I can't help being awesome."

                                            >Dash digs in for lunch as Twilight leaves.

                                            >As she finishes off what was supposed to last you a week, she uncovers a very familiar box.


                                            >This is a bad idea.

                                            "Hey Anon, look what Twilight brought out!"

                                            >"I don't think that's a good idea. I mean Cel-"

                                            >Annnd she's already a few packages in. Shit.

                                            "Don't be such a wimp, Anon! I'll probably be back to normal by tomorrow."

                                            >You want to counter with how long this last round took, but part of you really wants to see what's going to happen.

                                            >Dash finishes off the box with a cute little belch.

                                            >This is going to be nuts, that's three times what she ate the last time.

                                            >She does a quick stretch routine before turning to you with a grin.

                                            "Get ready!"

                                            >You barely have time to react before you're snatched up by a hoof and held against her with your back to her chest.

                                            >A single flap of her massive wings is all it takes to get you above your house.

                                            >You catch a glimpse of your patio furniture being blown into the neighbors' pool before you're in the clouds.

                                            >The cool mist is in strange contrast to the warm body all around you.

                                            >She punches though the top into a bright sunny day and keeps going.

                                            >The top of a mountain range more than a hundred miles from your house just barely peeks over the cloudy horizon as she levels off.

                                            >She does a few slow rolls before winding up inverted.

                                            >Although she's giving you a squeeze every so often to make sure you're still there, you can still feel the hoof holding you down getting heavier.

                                            >Dash yelps and a sharp turn and roll press you further into her chest.

                                            >She pulls out of it next to a passing commuter jet that's left bobbing around in her wake.

                                            >You're shocked as you realize that it's actually smaller than her.

                                            >You haven't felt any change, but looking down you can see that only the tip of an ever-expanding hoof is needed to hold you now.

                                            >Suddenly a huge pulse of growth knocks you free.

                                            >You barely have time to scream before she's there, catching you with both legs while in a dive.

                                            >She transfers you to cup of one gargantuan hoof before landing on the clouds.

                                            >A quick nuzzle assures you you're still alive.


                                            "Looks like you're grounded, dude. I barely felt you slip out."

                                            >After nearly falling to your death, you agree.

                                            "Doesn't mean you can't watch, though."

                                            >Dash places you on the clouds and sticks her hooves into them on either side of you.

                                            >She pulls your patch upward while sweeping more cloud underneath with her wings.

                                            >It takes her just a moment to build a sturdy column of cloud right up to her eye level.

                                            "There! Now I'll be able to find you again."

                                            >And she's off.

                                            >Once she's put some distance between you, the speed really kicks in.

                                            >All the moves she didn't dare do with you riding along are on display.

                                            >The sun starts to set just as it looks like she's wrapping up.

                                            >She suddenly disappears below the clouds.

                                            >She's barely gone a second before a massive explosion of color sends out a cloud-clearing wall of rainbow in all directions.

                                            >Just seconds before the shockwave reaches you, a blue blur parks itself directly in front of you.

                                            >You close your eyes and cover your ears as you're rocked by the force of the sound.

                                            >As it passes, you look behind to watch as it fades towards the horizon.

                                            >The sky is now clear for miles all around except for the large patch surrounding your column.

                                            >You turn back to find Dash sitting there with wings spread surveying her work.

                                            >She looks back with a smile that says she already knows the answer to the question she's about to ask.

                                            "Pretty sweet, huh?"

                                            >You're not even sure she can hear you chuckling at that.

                                            >Even from the top of the column there's still another whole half of Dash above you.

                                            >There's no way she'll be back to normal before Celestia shows up.

                                            >Your thoughts of doom are interrupted as she pulls the column tightly against her.

                                            >The column slowly disperses as she lies down and lowers you to her chest.

                                            "I don't think your bed is going to cut it tonight, Anon.

                                            "How about I show you how a pegasus does it?"

                                            >You're balancing on a cloud a thousand feet up, but you can't help but feel safer than you've ever felt before.


                                            Apple Horse saves the world

                                            >Tirek's been defeated, but having that much magic tampered with has left scars across the land.

                                            >Equestria's having its worst growing season in centuries.

                                            >Plants everywhere are wilting.

                                            >Mass famine is just months away.

                                            >You look out over the remains of your leek crop as Applejack pokes at the flopped-over remains of a stalk next to you.

                                            "Well Anon, Ah'm afraid can't help ya. It's the same dang blight that's a'fecting everypony else."

                                            >Despite your best efforts, you can't help but hang your head in utter defeat.

                                            "Now don't be like that! We'll get this fixed. We just gotta."

                                            >"I know, AJ. But I can't help but feel like I've failed everypony."

                                            "Shoot. Ah'd be a liar if Ah said Ah didn't feel the same sometimes, but mopin' 'bout it ain't gonna solve anything."

                                            "If it makes ya feel any better, Ah could hear the plants sayin' you been takin' real good care of 'em."

                                            >You give Applejack an incredulous look.

                                            >She rolls her eyes.

                                            "Ah know what you're thinkin'... everypony always gives me that look."

                                            >"Hey - I don't mean anything by it, it's just that I've never heard anypony say that the plants talk to them."

                                            "Ah know, Ah know... and it ain't so much a conversation as a feelin'. Ah've been able 'ta feel it since Ah was a filly."

                                            "Starts at my hooves an' works its way up 'til Ah can tell ex'actly what a plant wants."

                                            >She dips her head slightly and looks back over your crop.

                                            "They been real quiet since that big varmint stomped around, though. Almost like something's holdin' 'em back."

                                            >The distant sounds of a triangle being rung reach the two of you.

                                            "Aw shoot, it's that late already? Gotta run Anon, see ya at the town meetin' tomorrow."

                                            >As she's leaving she looks back and hollers one last thing over her shoulder.

                                            "Don't 'cha worry, we'll get this thing beat! Ah swear we will!"

                                            >You wave as she gallops off into the sunset; her golden orange coat seeming to glow brighter than the sun itself.


                                            >The meeting didn't go well at all.

                                            >Twilight and the other princesses admitted they have no idea what's wrong or how to fix it.

                                            >Attempts by Discord to conjure anything with nutritional value have failed.

                                            >As of tonight all food will be severely rationed.

                                            >Even with that, Twilight has calculated that food supplies will only last until winter at best.

                                            >While the townsfolk seem to quietly accept their fate, you briefly wonder how the rest of Equestria is going to take the news.

                                            >Heartbroken, you walk back towards your farm with the Apple family.

                                            >Applejack finally breaks the oppressive silence.

                                            "Ah know it looks bad, but ya can't let it get to ya! We'll make it through this, Ah know we will!"

                                            >The others look less convinced.

                                            "Come on y'all, this isn't how Apples tackle a problem."

                                            >No pony looks willing to say anything until Granny Smith finally stops and turns toward Applejack.

                                            "Ah know it ain't what we do, but sometimes ya just gotta admit when you're be-"

                                            "NO!"

                                            >Applejack yells and stomps a hoof with unimaginable force, knocking everyone down.

                                            >"Holy crap, AJ! Wha-"

                                            >Applejack has frozen in place, eyes wide and glowing white.

                                            >You watch in slow motion as she starts to keel over, landing with a cringe-worthy thud.

                                            >Big Mac jumps into action at the same time you do and without any words exchanged lays down for you to lift AJ onto his back.

                                            >Just before Big Mac sprints back towards town, you hear her mumble something very softly.

                                            "M-momma?"


                                            >Applejack is floating in a sea of white.

                                            >No up. No down. No sign of her family or Anon.

                                            "Hello?"

                                            >The void swallows her voice, not even an echo acknowledges her.

                                            >She lets out a heavy sigh and floats for what seems like hours.

                                            >Eventually, a vaguely pony-shaped blob begins to resolve itself in the distance.

                                            "M-momma?"

                                            >A soft chuckle fills the void.

                                            "Not quite, child."

                                            ---

                                            >By the time you've caught up, Big Mac has somehow managed to drag half the hospital staff with him to Twilight's.

                                            >It's chaos.

                                            >Big Mac's passed out and being tended to off in a corner.

                                            >Nurses run back and forth between what looks like a partially-demolished supply closet and a grouping of doctors.

                                            >One of the hospital guards limps by helping a bewildered janitor wheel his mop back out the door.

                                            >You decide to revise your staff estimate upwards.

                                            >How did he even-?

                                            "Anon!"

                                            >Twilights voice breaks you out of your thoughts.

                                            >She trots over with one the many doctors in tow.

                                            "Big Macintosh mentioned you were there. What happened?"

                                            >You tell her all you know.

                                            >She looks disappointed.

                                            "That's it?"

                                            >The three of you look back to where Applejack remains frozen on the floor. Eyes just as bright as when you last saw them.


                                            >Applejack tries to focus on the blob before her, but the shape and colour refuse to become more distinct.

                                            >It's almost like looking through a mirror coated in zap apple jam.

                                            >The thought of something from home snaps her back to the matter at hoof.

                                            "Who are ya, then... and where am Ah?"

                                            >She then scrunches up her face and asks the question that's been looming over her this whole time.

                                            "...am Ah dead?"

                                            >The same chuckle surrounds her.

                                            "Goodness, no! This is simply the only place I could speak with you. I've been trying to reach out to you since I was cut off from most of the life above."

                                            >Applejack turns a bit pale.

                                            "Life above? Yer not another 'o them demons from Tartarus are ya?"

                                            >That darn chuckle returns.

                                            "You're going to need to think a bit bigger than that, dear."

                                            "Just tell me, then! Ah ain't got time for yer games! Especially not while everypony is fixin' to starve to death!"

                                            >Really? Is this blob high? Knock it off with the chuckling!

                                            "That is precisely why you are here, my dear. I want you to help me help you help everypony."

                                            "As for who I am, you might say that I am what drives the feeling you get from the plants."

                                            "For I am the Earth, Applejack. And you have a very unique gift among your kind."

                                            >Applejack stares blankly for a moment, trying and failing to process what she's actually talking to.

                                            "If'n ya are what ya say ya are, what do ya need me for?"

                                            "You still have the connection I don't. With my help we should be able to strengthen that."

                                            "So what do Ah do?"

                                            "Just open yourself to me."

                                            >Applejack relaxes and clears her mind.

                                            >Everything goes white(er).

                                            ---

                                            "She's waking up!"

                                            >Applejack struggles to stand while everypony around her simultaneously asks if she's okay.

                                            "Ah'm alright... just... need to go ta bed for a bit Ah think..."

                                            >As Twilight guides her upstairs, it briefly registers with you that she appears to be the same height as the alicorn even while slumped over.


                                            >The next day dawns much like the others before it.

                                            >You look out your kitchen window at the expanse of slowly browning plant life.

                                            >With a huff you grab today's rations from the pantry and head over to Twilight's to see how Applejack is doing.

                                            >Maybe the two of you can combine what you have into something resembling a meal.

                                            >The door to the palace is open and you find Twilight in the library surrounded by books on everything from magical illnesses to botany.

                                            >"Morning, Princess!"

                                            >You try to inject a little cheer into your voice despite the sombre mood.

                                            >She doesn't seem moved by it.

                                            "You know I hate it when ponies that know me call me that."

                                            >"Yeah, yeah... good morning, Twilight. Just wanted to see how AJ was doing."

                                            >She smiles slightly.

                                            "That's better! And Applejack is still asleep. She seemed okay when I last checked on her... oh gosh, six hours ago."

                                            >She goans as she looks at a nearby clock, her stomach growling with the movement and causing her to blush.

                                            >"Another all-nighter, huh?"

                                            >You pull the bag of rations off your shoulder and hold them up.

                                            >"Thought we could combine what we have into something more interesting. Maybe the smell will get AJ out of bed, too."

                                            ---

                                            >Applejack awakes after a night of the strangest dreams she's ever had.

                                            >The smells of hayfries and oatmeal are calling her name.

                                            >She pours herself out of the bed and tries to stretch out muscles that feel as if she just bucked the entire orchard.

                                            >After a few attempts to get her hat to sit right she tosses it back down and heads downstairs.

                                            ---

                                            "Mornin' y'all."

                                            >"Hey AJ! How ar-"

                                            >You and Twilight turn towards the kitchen door.

                                            >Staring back at you is what can only be described as a wall of orange.

                                            >Twilight rushes over.

                                            >The top of her head just barely reaches Applejack's withers.

                                            "Applejack! Are you okay!?"

                                            >Applejack looks at Twilight and then back to you, her mouth opening and closing like a fish.

                                            "Ah..."

                                            >She faints.


                                            >Twilight carries Applejack to a pile of cushions in the library.

                                            >A dozen or so books whisk themselves off the shelves into a cloud of knowledge behind her.

                                            >She begins to flip through them three at a time, occasionally firing off a spell at Applejack.

                                            >Her grumbling becomes louder each time she fails to get a result.

                                            >She puts down the last book and growls.

                                            "SPIKE!"

                                            >Applejack groans.

                                            "Urgh... not so loud, Twi!"

                                            "Applejack! Are you okayohIwassoworried!Whathappenedtoyouohgoshwhyareyousobigwha-"

                                            >Applejack places the tip of an enormous hoof over Twilight's lips and raises her eyebrow.

                                            >As she removes it, Twilight looks ready to start up again.

                                            >You place a hand on Twilight's back and direct her attention over to where Spike is standing.

                                            "Right. Letters. Good. Glad to see you're back with us, Applejack."

                                            >She gives Applejack a warm smile before heading over to Spike.

                                            >"So."

                                            "Eeyup."

                                            >You both seem to find everything else more interesting than the suddenly 800lb-heavier apple farmer in the room.

                                            >After counting all the red books in sight, you try again.

                                            >"So... You're kinda big."

                                            >Applejack barely suppresses a snort.

                                            "Seem to be, sugarcube."

                                            >You both laugh.

                                            >"Any idea what caused this?"

                                            >She sighs.

                                            "Ah don't rightly know..."

                                            >She starts to sigh again before her eyes go wide.

                                            "Ah did have some awfully strange dreams las' night..."

                                            >She snorts.

                                            "But Ah'm probably jus' goin' crazy... as if the world is really alive an' comin' to me for help."

                                            "Stranger things have happened."

                                            >You both turn to the new voice to find Princess Celestia walking over with her sister and the rest of Applejack's friends.

                                            "Tell us about your dre-"

                                            "Holy hay, AJ! Have you been eating your apple fertilizer!?"

                                            >Everypony except Pinkie glares at Rainbow Dash.

                                            "How 'bout ya le-"

                                            "OMIGOSH! You're HUUUUGE! I bet you could eat a whole cake! Imgoingtogomakeonerightnowandthenwellhaveagiantpa-"

                                            >Pinkie is suddenly bouncing around inside a blue bubble.

                                            >Luna clears her throat.

                                            "Now then..."


                                            >Applejack tells the story of her supposed meeting with the earth itself.

                                            >Celestia and Luna look to each other before Celestia nods to Luna.

                                            "From what you and Twilight have told us of yesterday, I think it's safe to say what you experienced was not a dream.

                                            "Long ago, far before we came to rule over the united tribes, there were tales of a mare behind all life: Gaia.

                                            "Even eons ago, the legends were ancient and seemed highly exaggerated.

                                            "But perhaps the story of how she forged the first earth ponies wasn't as far from the truth as we originally thought..."

                                            >Luna launches in to a story of how Gaia was in need of help taming the more wild magic at her surface so her other creations could thrive.

                                            >She tells of how Gaia carved out a piece of herself and infused it with life.

                                            >...but once her creations developed their own will, she could no longer fully guide their actions or even speak to them.

                                            >...she had not failed, however. Her creations wandered across the globe, passively calming the surface magic wherever they congregated.

                                            >Twilight gasps and a quill comes to life in front of her.

                                            "We've had theories of how earth pony magic works for as long as there have been ponies, but never anything solid!

                                            "Applejack! I need you to memorize a list of questions to ask the next time you see her!"

                                            >Celestia chuckles.

                                            "Now Twilight, while important, I believe there are more pressing matters at hoof?"

                                            "Oh. Of course. Something to keep in mind though!"

                                            >Everypony laughs.


                                            >"So if earth pony magic is passive, then Applejack's ability to hear the plants means hers isn't?"

                                            "Gaia did say what Ah had was unique. Ah always did get funny looks when Ah told other earth ponies 'bout it, too."

                                            "Yeah, that's nice and all, but it doesn't say horseapples about why you're so freakin' huge!"

                                            >Celestia speaks up again.

                                            "While I might have chosen different words, Rainbow Dash is correct.

                                            "But I do have a theory. When you're up for it, lets take a walk outside."


                                            >After emptying the kitchen of its contents, the group heads outside.

                                            >Celestia starts you off in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres, telling Applejack to stop if she feels anything.

                                            >Right about the time the front gate comes into view, Applejack comes to a sudden stop.

                                            "Ah can feel something...

                                            "Stronger than it was 'round here yesterday, but still ain't as strong as it used to be."

                                            >She hops off the road and marches further into the orchard.

                                            "They're callin' out for help. Ah can't tell what they need, but I know they need help."

                                            >Celestia nods

                                            "Focus on that feeling and see if you can't make it 'louder'."

                                            >Applejack closes her eyes and starts moving her head around.

                                            >She abruptly picks a direction and mumbles something to herself.

                                            >You notice her coat looks brighter.

                                            >Probably just a trick of the late-afternoon light.

                                            "Uh, why's she glowing?"

                                            >Okay, not the light. Thanks, Dash.

                                            >You look back to Applejack, who now has her ears splayed back.

                                            >The glow intensifies.

                                            >She bites her lip and leans forward a bit.

                                            >Whatever's happening, it looks like she's really enjoying it.

                                            >You and everypony else stumble as it feels like the earth has suddenly started moving beneath you.

                                            >You can't help but feel like you're on a treadmill, but nothing is actually moving.

                                            >As the glow surrounding Applejack suddenly doubles in intensity, you realize everything is 'moving' towards her.

                                            >She lets out a little squeak as the treadmill beneath you kicks it up a notch.

                                            >You're forced to sit down before you lose your breakfast.

                                            >It looks like Applejack is both pulling away from and getting closer to you at the same time.

                                            >Even through your increasing motion sickness, you come to the only possible explanation.

                                            >She's growing.

                                            >You have but a second with that thought before you're floored by the most intense 'movement' yet.

                                            >She shoots up, legs seemingly moving of their own accord to avoid crushing anything.

                                            >You see her barrel crest the treetops before the blackness takes you.


                                            >You regain consciousness moments later.

                                            >Directly in front of where you face planted is what remains of your breakfast.

                                            >Groaning, you roll over and look up.

                                            >Everypony else had taken flight or was being held aloft in another's magic.

                                            >Thanks, guys.

                                            >Before you can thank them for their consideration and ask them what the hell they're staring at, you notice something.

                                            >The apple trees around you are green.

                                            >Better than that, they're actually flowering.

                                            >Petals rain down all around you as fruit literally pops into existence.

                                            >You begin to wonder just how hard you hit your head.

                                            "Woah nelly!"

                                            >The accent is unmistakable, but the volume and pitch shake you to your very core.

                                            >You turn around.

                                            >Orange. Everything is orange.

                                            >You tilt your head back as far as it can go.

                                            >High above on the field of orange, you can just barely see three apples that are each nearly as big as you are.

                                            >That's a damn big horse.


                                            >Applejack stands apart from the rest of her friends, trying to make the feelings from the plants - as Celestia put it - 'louder'.

                                            >With her eyes closed, she moves her head back and forth trying to locate where they feel strongest.

                                            >It doesn't seem to make any difference.

                                            >Dropping her head in defeat, she begins to turn back towards her friends before a faint glow grabs her attention.

                                            >All around, as far as she can see, the ground is almost imperceptibly glowing in strange patchy clumps.

                                            >Out of curiosity, she pictures herself giving the brightest patch near her a poke.

                                            >She's surprised when it flops over like a stalk of corn, revealing what looks like an impossibly long root stretching down into the ground where the glow is more solid.

                                            "What th' hay?"

                                            >Reaching out, she tries giving it a tug instead.

                                            >It resists at first, but slowly starts to come out of the 'ground'.

                                            >As she pulls, it seems like the root simply disappears when it gets to her.

                                            >She begins to feel oddly refreshed, the sore muscles from this morning a distant memory.

                                            >Racing Dash to White Tail sounds like a pretty good plan for the afternoon.

                                            >She pulls a little harder.

                                            >Nah, the last of the hay needs to be moved to the cow barn. Overload the cart and do it in one trip.

                                            >She pulls even harder.

                                            >After that, it's a stump-pulling challenge with Big Mac.

                                            >She gets a better grip and pulls with everything she's got.

                                            >Could've bucked that nose ring of Tirek's right into the back of his big head.

                                            >She stops just as the feeling becomes overwhelming.

                                            >All around her the glow seems brighter than before.

                                            >Looking closer she can see the very faint outlines of what look like trees.

                                            >Beyond their normal ones, they all have the same 'roots' as before. But these are tiny, dimmer and look dried up.

                                            >Concerned, she tries to lock on to the feeling from the plants again.

                                            >The response is immediate and loud, in what feels like one voice.

                                            >With the trees guiding her, she gets to work.


                                            >What the trees need is clearer than ever.

                                            >Working off the feeling from earlier, she pushes outwards, hundreds of threads of glowing light extending out from her vantage point to every tree.

                                            >The roots respond readily, expanding and growing downward.

                                            >As more trees reach the glow deep below, it begins rising to the surface.

                                            >Satisfied with her work, she finally opens her eyes.

                                            >There's nothing but green, apple-covered trees all around.

                                            >This is what she's meant to do. This is how she'll help everypony.

                                            >Wait. Those are the tops of the trees...

                                            "Woah nelly!"

                                            ---

                                            >Applejack looks like she's suffering from a sudden case of vertigo.

                                            >She shuffles a few steps over before lying down in a clearing.

                                            >You run off to join everypony else as they land in front of her.

                                            "Wowie wow wow, I bet you could eat an entire cake *factory* now."

                                            >Applejack just groans as Celestia steps forward.

                                            "I must admit I never imagined this being the result of our little experiment.

                                            "Was it as I theorized? Was your ability to 'hear' the plants aided by your size?"

                                            "Don't know ex'actly when Ah started gettin' bigger, but yeah, Ah suppose it did."

                                            "Our understanding of earth pony magic is incomplete, but one theory is that everypony has a 'reservoir' for it.

                                            "You were already an exceptional earth pony before growing and my theory was that your previous size may have been a large enough increase in your reservoir of earth magic to boost your talent.

                                            "Apparently it wasn't!"

                                            >Celestia laughs at her own little joke.

                                            >You look into Applejack's enormous emerald eyes.

                                            >"So what happens now?"

                                            "Ah know now what needs 'ta be done. Told ya we'd beat this!"