Chaos Unending

Applejack suddenly jerked awake. She was laying in her bed at home in Sweet Apple
Acres. She was alone in her dark bedroom. She checked her clock: 8:37 AM.

“Shoot,” Applejack moaned, “Ah overslept!”

The orange mare slid out of her bed, ignoring the pain in her knees. She pulled on her galoshes and put on her favorite hat.

“Ah gotta hurry,” she mumbled to herself, “R’else Ah’m gonna miss all the work!”

As Applejack began to descend the stairs, she heard several hushed voices in the kitchen. She picked up Rainbow Dash, Twilight, Apple Bloom and Big Mac. She paused just out of sight of the four ponies at the table.

“She’s been asleep for almost two weeks, Twilight,” Apple Bloom was crying quietly, “Me and Big Macintosh are really worried about her.”

“Eeyup...”

“I understand, Apple Bloom,” Twilight responded, “But there’s not much I can do for her. The doctors say she may be slipping into a coma, and all we can do is wait.”

There came a groan from Rainbow Dash.

“I am so tired of all this waiting!” She hollered, “I bet she’s not even sick! She probably just wanted to skip out on the Wrap Up!”

Applejack was furious. She stepped out of the doorway.

“Now hold on a pony pickin’ minute!” She rasped, “This is Applejack you’re talkin’ about here! Ah’ve not missed a single Wrap Up since Ah was Apple Bloom’s size!”

Four sets of eyes locked onto Applejack. Tears were forming in Apple Bloom’s eyes. Big Mac’s jaw was hanging in shock. Twilight and Rainbow Dash had looks of excited surprise.

“Ah may’ve missed the Wrap Up,” Applejack concluded, “But Ah’ll make it up to y’all.”

Applejack was tackled by her friends and siblings. All of them were crying excitedly.

“Applejack, we were so worried about you!” Rainbow Dash laughed through her tears.

“I’m so happy you’re safe, AJ,” Twilight whispered, “We’ll all rest easier now.”

Big Mac held a hoof out to help Applejack up. She pulled herself to her feet, a bit shaky.

“Now, Ah appreciate ya’ll’s sympathy,” she laughed, “But could Ah get some grub?”

The five ponies burst into laughter as the food was prepared.

“You see, Applejack,” Twilight began softly, “You didn’t miss out on the Wrap Up, because, well.....”

Rainbow Dash pulled aside the curtain, revealing a blizzard the likes of which Applejack had never seen, “Winter got worse after that day. Somehow, the Windigo have returned to Equestria, and winter has never been worse.”

“Whaddya’ll mean?” Applejack stammered, “Ya’ll mean to tell me that we’ve had two more weeks of winter?”

“Eeyup,” Big Mac blurted, “And as Ah recall, Granny Smith mentioned a winter like this once, when our family first settled this valley.”

The small group around the table turned as the door swung open. A cold gust of air blew through Applejack’s mane as Rarity, Fluttershy and the ever excitable Pinkie Pie cantered into the room.

“Applejack, darling!” Rarity gasped, pulling Applejack into a tight hug, “We were all so worried about you!”

“Oh my, yes!” Fluttershy added, wrapping her hooves around Applejack as well “I’m so excited I could just...squee!”

Pinkie Pie skipped the word and straight to the waterworks and hugs.

“Ah ‘preciate that, ya’ll,” Applejack squeaked, having the air crushed out of her body, “But to be honest, Ah ain’t gonna be fine if’n ya’ll strangle me to death.”

Her friends loosened their grip and took a seat around the table.

“So, what Ah’d like to know is when we’re suppose’ta get wrapping up winter?” Applejack asked, a hungry look in her eye.

Twilight looked towards the window.

“Well, with the return of the Windigo, travelling around outside is dangerous,” she began, “And Princess Celestia has requested that all citizens remain indoors until something can be done about them.”

“How long’ll that take?” Applejack burst out, “Ah’ve got apples to grow! After Granny Smith died, the farm is under my care.”

“It doesn’t look to be anytime soon, my dear,” Rarity whispered, placing her hoof on Applejack’s, “The farming must wait.”

Applejack put her head in her hooves, letting her favorite hat fall from her mane. If she couldn’t get farming, her farm may not be able to afford to stay in business. She quietly let a few tears roll down her cheeks, before making up her mind.

“Twilight, Ah need to talk to Spike,” Applejack stated, “Ah think its time Ah got in touch with her highness.”

Present Day, In the Ancient Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters

There was not much to be seen after the defeat of Nightmare Moon. The castle ruins were as crumbly as ever and there was undergrowth creeping across the floor, just like always. The wild animals of the Everfree Forest had turned it into just another large cave. Timberwolves and Cockatrices now roamed around, among other creatures of the night. However, on this cold winter night, something was indeed about to happen. Something that would perhaps change the events of history forever.

An azure pony, whose coat was once brilliant and radiant, now slumped through the cold palace. She wore over her back and flank a faded violet cape, now tattered and frayed around the edges. On her head she had a hat of the same design. She shivered as she lopped along in the windy stone corridors.
She had once been great. She had once been powerful. Now she was nothing. Now she was nobody. Now she was just Trixie. After she had been embarrassed by that damned Twilight Sparkle and her friends, she had had no choice but to hide. News of her cowardice would surely spread through Equestria like wildfire. So had she spent nearly two years wandering through Equestria before her path came to the Everfree Forest. She didn’t know what it was that had led her here but she knew someone or something was calling to her.
Trixie suddenly found herself in a room that was untouched by the elements. It was beautifully carpeted and had a lavish bed in one corner. As she entered the room, she felt a warmth envelop her body. She felt welcomed by some unseen force.

“Trixie may stay here tonight,” she whispered to herself, “Trixie feels safe here.”

“As should a mare of your awesome power.”

Trixie turned but saw nobody in the room with her.

“I-I must be tired,” Trixie thought, “I am only scaring myself.”

“The Great and Powerful Trixie? Afraid?” the unknown voice came again, closer this time, “That is a laughable thought.”

Trixie turned again, feeling a fear not unlike the time she had been face to face with an Ursa Minor.

“Who’s there?” she stammered, “The G-great and Powerful Trixie demands you show yourself!”

“I’m over here, my dear.”

Trixie turned to face a mirror that hadn’t been there before. She found herself face to face with a creature she didn’t recognize. He had a pony’s body, but it was much bigger. And instead of a head, more body, with two arms and finally a head on top of that. He wasn’t a pony, that was for sure.

“Who are you?” Trixie demanded, “WHAT are you?”

The shadowy figure moved into the light, revealing a very handsome face. His face wasn’t that of a pony, there was no fur on it, and had a very small nose. On his head he had two horns over his short ears.

“My name is Tirek, I am a Centaur.” he smiled, “I, like you, have been made a fool of by a group of ponies. They trapped me in this mirror so long ago. I was once the ruler of a land similar to your Equestria, before those accursed ponies banished me here.”
“You poor creature!” Trixie found herself saying, entrances by his charm, “What can Trixie do to help you, Tirek?”
The image in the mirror began to swirl, showing the faces of many of the inhabitants of Equestria that had been fought by Twilight Sparkle and her friends. There was the band of Diamond Dogs that Rarity had selfishly tricked out of their jewels. There was Gilda, the Griffin that had been run out of Ponyville, much as Trixie herself had. And there was she, the very mare Trixie worshipped and desired to follow. Nightmare Moon.

“Do you see what those six have done to our kind?” Tirek asked.

“What do you require of Trixie?”

“I need you to free them. Free Nightmare Moon. Free Discord. Help the Changelings return to Equestria.”

“What does Trixie get out of this?”

“In return, I will give you powers the likes of which you can’t even imagine.”

As a small scroll peeled off the mirror, Trixie nodded.

“Trixie accepts.”

As Applejack and her friends prepared to set out on the arduous journey to the Ponyville Library, Applejack found herself thinking of that pink pegasus from her dream. She was so familiar and yet so mysterious. Something about her smug attitude was reminiscent of someone near and dear to her heart. She shook her head and decided to worry about the task at hand.
She had a plan to get rid of the Windigos. It was risky but the gains outweighed the risk. The only way to get to the Princesses, however was through Spike. And she knew that it was gonna cost her something. Luckily for her, she knew Spike’s weak spot.
“Rarity, can Ah ask you a big ol’ favor?” Applejack asked, putting a hoof out to stop her white coated friend, “Its concernin’ the task at hand.”
“Why, Applejack,” Rarity chortled, “You know anything you need, I would be more than happy to oblige.”
“Many thanks, Rarity,” Applejack bowed her head, before dashing out the door into the snow.
“Eh...Applejack?” Rarity called after the orange mare, “What did you need me to do?”