Lord of the Horseshoes: The Friendship of the Shoe

Chapters

Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Prologue and Chapter 1

Chapter 2

“Granny Smith!!” cried Applebuck as he opened the door, looking around the cottage when he felt something under his hoof.

Looking down, he picked up a Horseshoe that looked of solid gold. He heard the crackle of a fire, and looked to see Twilight sitting before the lit fireplace.

“She’s gone…” he stated sadly. He walked over to her. “She talked fer so long `bout leavin’, but… ah din’t think she’d really do it. Twilight?”

Twilight looked at the Horseshoe in Applebuck’s hoof.

“She’s gone to stay with the Alicorns. She’s left you the cottage.”

Using her magic, Twilight lifted an envelope and the horseshoe from Applebuck’s hoof, placing it inside and sealing it with wax.

“As well as everything in it. The horseshoe is yours now.”

She moved it to Applebuck, who took it.

“Put it somewhere hidden, I must go.”

“What? Where’re ya goin’?!”

“There are things I have to look into,” Twilight answered, taking her cloak.

“What things?”

“Questions, questions in need of answers.”

“Ya just got here!” Applebuck protested as Twilight moved for the door. “I don’t unda’stand!”

Twilight stopped and looked back to him.

“Neither do I.”

Then she moved to him until their faces were but inches apart, her hoof resting reassuringly on his shoulder.

“Keep it secret. Keep it safe.”

And with a billow of her cloak, Twilight disappeared into the night.

Somewhere, in the forbidden lands of Tartarus, the morbid air surrounding a dark fortress was shattered by agonizing howls. Amidst the snarling whimpers and squabbling growls, only two words could be heard.

“Ponyville! Apple!!”

At the edge of Tartarus, twin doors opened, unleashing nine terrors into Equestria.

Twilight’s search for the answers she sought led her to the grand library of Canterlot, the royal capitol of Candor. Just before she’d entered the city however, she’d been disturbed to sense and see evil stirring in the nearby lands of Tartarus, cut off from the rest of Equestria by impassable dark peaks.

In the library, Twilight spent countless hours, searching tome after tome, manuscript after manuscript, until…

‘The year 3434 of the Second Age. Here follows the account of Blueblood, High King of Candor… and the finding of the Horseshoe of Power: “It has come to me, the One Shoe. It shall be an heirloom of my kingdom. All those who follow in my bloodline shall be bound to its fate, for I will risk no harm to the Shoe. It is precious to me… though I buy it with great pain. The markings upon the rim begin to fade. The writing, which at first was as clear as red flame, has all but disappeared, hiding a secret that naught but fire can bring to light.”’

Somewhere not far from Ponyville, an earth pony stallion was by his door, chopping wood for the cold night when his dog started barking his head off. Looking towards his front yard’s fence, he was shaken to see what was obviously a unicorn, but never had he seen one so black, wearing armored horseshoes that made it look as it had three clawed toes while its ankles looked to be bleeding, wearing a heavy ragged cloak darker than pitch, an metal mask concealed the unicorn’s face, its horn stuck out, looking chipped and cracked yet fiendishly sharp. And through the mask, the stallion saw eyes a soulless yellow.

It whispered, in a voice as dry as death, “Ponyville… Apple…”

“Th-there are none of the Apples here, they’re in P-Ponyville, at Sweet Apple Acres,” the stallion stuttered, backing towards his door, pushing his dog inside.

The dark unicorn hissed, the stallion pointing with his hoof, “That way!”

And he closed the door behind him as the black runner tore after the road, in search of whoever was unfortunate to carry what it sought.

That night, Applebuck was coming to his grandmother’s cottage. In his mind it still belonged to his grandmother, because he missed her. However he was unaware that already it was occupied. He entered to find papers blowing in the evening breeze which flowed in from an open window he did not remember opening. He looked around, alert for any sign of an intruder when a hoof grabbed his shoulder and he turned to see…

“Twilight?!”

It was Twilight, but she looked haggard, her mane disheveled, a look of fright in her eyes.

“Is it secret? Is it safe?!”

Applebuck went to the chest and dug through the paper and objects until he found the envelope.

“Here!”

Twilight snatched it from his hoof with her magic, and threw a glance at the fireplace. At once it ignited into flame and she threw the envelope into the blaze.

“What’re ya doin’?” Applebuck asked.

Then Twilight levitated a pair of metal tongs and fished out the horseshoe and held it towards Applebuck.

“Hold out your hoof, Applebuck. You’ll find it quite cool.”

She dropped it, and Applebuck almost dropped it, fearing a burn but was surprised to feel the horseshoe not burning at all.

“What can you see?” she asked, “Can you see anything?”

Applebuck moved the horseshoe between his forehooves, looking for anything foreign or irregular.

“No. Nothin’.”

For a moment, Twilight felt relief, only to have it stolen away a moment later as Applebuck said, “Hold on… There’re markings. Looks alicorn or sumpin’, ah can’t read it.”

“There are few who can…” Twilight replied in a low ominous voice. “It is the language of Tartarus, though I dare not speak it here.”

“Tartarus?” Applebuck echoed in astonishment.

“In the language we’re using now it reads, ‘One Horseshoe to rule them all, One Horseshoe to find them, One Horseshoe to bring them all, and in the Darkness bind them’.”

A minute later, Applejuck had brought out an apple-cinnamon pie and some milk for them to have while the Horseshoe laid on the table between them.

“This is the One Horseshoe, forged by King Sombra, in the fires of Mount Bleak. Taken by Blueblood from the hoof of Sombra himself.”

“Granny Smith found it in Rover’s cave…!” Applebuck realized aloud.

“Yes. For many years, the Horseshoe laid quietly in your grandmother’s keep,” Twilight explained, “prolonging her life, delaying her age. But no longer, Applebuck. Evil is stirring in Tartarus. The Horseshoe has awoken… to the sound of its master’s call.”

“But- Ah thawt Sombra kicked the bucket!” Applebuck protested. “Blueblood destroyed ‘im!

A chilly whisper emanated from the Horseshoe, disturbing Applebuck and Twilight.

“No, Applebuck,” Twilight answered. “Sombra was destroyed only in body, but his infernal spirit endures because it is bound to the Horseshoe, and the Horseshoe survived. Sombra is coming. His Changelings have multiplied. His fortress, Obsidur, is rebuilt in the land of Tartarus. Sombra needs only this Horseshoe to usher in an era of shadow, an eternal night from which the sun will never rise again. He is seeking it, his every thought is bent on it. The Horseshoe itself craves above all else to return to the hoof of its master. They are one… the Horseshoe and the Dark King.”

Applebuck was astonished and scared.

“Applebuck… he must never find it.”

“Ok!” Applebuck exclaimed, grabbing the Horseshoe as he went into the livingroom. “We hide it away, somewhere no one’ll ever find it, we never menchin’ it again! No one knows it’s here.”

Hearing no response from Twilight, Applebuck turned to see her face grim.

“Do they, Twilight?”

“There is one other who knew Granny Smith had the Horseshoe,” Twilight answered and Applebuck knew before she said it.

“I looked everywhere for that mutt, Rover… but the enemy got to him first. I don’t know how long they tortured him… but amidst the snarling screams and whimpering growls, they determined two words.”

“Ponyville… Apple…” Applebuck spoke when a look of horror spread across his face. “But that’ would lead `em here!”

Then Applebuck held out the Horseshoe to Twilight, saying, “Take it, Twilight!”

“No, Applebuck!” cried Twilight, backing away as though Applebuck was brandishing a knife to kill her.

“Ah’m givin’ it t’ you, take it!” Applebuck begged.

“Don’t tempt me, Applebuck!!” shouted Twilight with such a look in her eyes, that Applebuck shrank back in fear.

He’d never heard Twilight shout at someone in such a way. Twilight’s eyes became apologetic but they remained unyielding.

“I cannot take it, not even to safeguard it. Please understand, Applebuck… I would use this Horseshoe out of desire to do good, to help and protect …But through me, it would wield a power too dangerous and horrible to risk. It would corrupt me, transform me into a threat much like what we now face.”

“But it cain’t stay in Ponyville!”

“No. It cannot.”

“What do ah do…?”

“You must leave, and quickly!” Twilight declared, and she used her magic to call out a bag and supplies and clothes were magically packed into it as Applebuck threw on his cloak.

“Get out of Ponyville.”

“Where do ah go?”

“To the town of Hoofington, meet me there at Sugarcube Corner.”

“That’s where we’ll hide th’ Horseshoe?”

“I don’t know, Applebuck,” Twilight replied, sounding afraid. “I don’t have much answers. I must consult with the head of my order, she is wise and powerful. She’ll surely know what to do.”

She gave him a walking stick, giving more advice.

“Don’t use the Apple name, it’s no longer safe outside Ponyville. And stay off the roads.”

“Ah cin cut through country eas’ly ‘nuff,” Applebuck asserted.

“Oh, Applebuck…” Twilight said warmly as she looked at him and he returned her smile. “You are young and strong, you’ve so much life in you to explore and grow. Often youth is disregarded and age revered, and we often lose sight of what makes either matter.”

A rustle of bushes outside the window earned their attention.

“Get down,” she whispered, Applebuck ducking down while Twilight called for a fireplace poker.

She levitated it with as she moved for the window slowly until she jabbed it out, and they heard a pained grunt. Twilight’s eyes widened. Using her magic, she drug in through the window…

“Spike, curse it you knucklehead! Have you been eavesdropping?!”

“I don’t know what eaves are, Miss Twilight, but if I dropped any I’m sorry!” cried Spike, holding up his arms in fear.

“I was just rearranging Granny Smith’s pet-rock collection!”

“Rather late to be landscaping!” Twilight remarked.

“I heard voices!”

“What did you hear? Talk!”

“Nothing important, aside maybe something about a horseshoe, evil king, an endless night-”

He stopped when he saw the look on Twilight’s face confirmed he’d heard too much.

“Please, Twilight! Don’t curse me or turn me into something gross…”

“No? Perhaps not,” Twilight said, sharing a devious look with Applebuck then saying, “I’ve thought of a better use for you.”

As dawn broke, Twilight and Applebuck hurried over a field, Twilight calling, “Spike, keep up!”

Spike followed, his back burdened with a bulging packful of supplies and food. They soon came to some woods, Twilight saying, “Be careful, both of you. The enemy has many spies enslaved to his will, birds, beasts.”

To Applebuck she asked, “You have it?”

Applebuck placed his hoof on his pocket where the Horseshoe was.

“Never put it on,” Twilight warned, “or the agents of the dark king will be drawn to its power. Don’t underestimate it, Applebuck – The Horseshoe is trying to return to Sombra. It wants to be found.”

Saying their goodbyes, Twilight galloped off, vanishing into the woods.

Applebuck and Spike continued on, avoiding the roads, passing by farms, cutting through crops, climbing over hills. With naught but Granny Smith’s stories and words to continue to embolden them.

Twilight ran back to Candor however this time not to Canterlot but to a location a day’s march away from the city. To a crystal tower surrounded by forest, as words of the one she sought beckoned her.

Smog arises The Mountain Bleak, Late grows the Hour. And Twilight Shimmer rushes to Crystagard seeking my counsel.

At the entrance of the tower Twilight met an alicorn of a dark sapphire blue, her rippling mane translucent, appearing like the night sky. Behind her horn was a dark tiara-like crown, and on her hooves were silver hoofboots.

“For that is why you have come, is it not? Old friend.”

“Lady Luna,” Twilight greeted while giving a respectful bow.

They took a walk through the gardens and Twilight explained all of her discoveries.

“You are sure of all this?” Luna asked.

“Beyond all doubt,” confirmed Twilight.

“So the Horseshoe of Power is found at last.”

“Under my very nose, all this time, there in Ponyville. Even Starswirl didn’t seem to notice.”

“Your faith in your teacher, coupled with your love for the earth pony village, clouded your judgment.”

“There is still time, if we move quickly. We can still counter Sombra.”

“Time?” echoed Luna in a tone that surprised Twilight. “How much time do you think we have?”

In Luna’s study, she explained, “Sombra has regained much of his former strength, he’s yet to retake physical form but his spirit is as vibrant as ever. Concealed within his fortress, the King of Tartarus sees all. His gaze pierces cloud, shadow, earth, and flesh.”

Twilight seemed to lose some of her drive as Luna spoke, “You know of what I speak, Twilight. A pair of eyes unblinking, pupils of hate-crazed bloodlust, the whites long turned to the green of corruption, all of which wreathed in a purplish miasma.”

“The Glare of Sombra…”

“He is calling on all the evils of the lands, and soon he’ll have amassed an army powerful enough to assault Equestria.”

“…How do you know all this?” Twilight asked suspiciously.

“I have seen it.” Luna confirmed.

Luna led Twilight out of her study and down halls to a place Twilight had been to once before. They arrived to the central chamber of Crystagard, centered by a pedestal upon which was something concealed by a shroud of black silk.

“The Prevoyant is a dangerous tool, Luna.”

“Why? What do we have to fear of its use?” Luna asked, her tone lace with arrogance, as she pulled off the shroud, revealing a sphere made from a material much like obsidian aside from the sweeping lines of white.

“The Lost Seeing-Stones are not all accounted for,” Twilight admonished, taking the shroud back. “There is no telling who else could be watching!”

As she placed it back on the sphere, Twilight gasped when another vision flashed before her eyes, the same one she experienced when she’d almost touched the Horseshoe.

“The hour is later than you think,” Luna stated and Twilight watched in bewildered fright as Luna was slowly transforming.

She grew taller, her coat becoming as black as a moonless night, her mane and tail now looked to be a glittering haze that was beautiful yet forbidden, her eyes filling with madness.

“The Nine have left Tartarus.”

“The Nine?” echoed Twilight.

“They crossed the River Eden on Midsummer Night, disguised as runners in black.”

“They’ve reached Ponyville…?!” whispered Twilight in horror.

“They will find the Horsehoe,” confirmed the creature that had been Luna, “and slay the one who holds it.”

“Applebuck!” whispered Twilight as she turned to one of the doors only to see it close. She looked at the transformed Luna whose look was unscrupulous.

Twilight turned for the other doors, but one by one they slammed shut, trapping her in the central chamber. With the corrupted Luna.

“Whatever possessed you to believe a colt could defy the will of Sombra?” sneered the black mare as Twilight looked upon her with horror and disbelief.

“No one can. There can be no victory against the Power of Tartarus… We must join with him, Twilight. We must join Sombra. Consider it: Together, at Sombra’s side, we could rule over all with only one higher power to answer to. I am no longer Luna of the Night. Now and forever, I am Nightmare Moon. Be reasonable, my friend.”

“Tell me… friend…” Twilight answered. “Since when did the one who was once Luna of the Night abandon wisdom for insanity?”

At once Nightmare Moon bellowed in rage as her horn ignited with power, and Twilight was lifted off the floor and slammed against a high wall, held there, unable to move, until she dropped onto the floor. Nightmare Moon approached but did not expect Twilight to fight back, as she lifted her head and her horn sparked, throwing Nightmare Moon against a large urn, shattering it.

They shot pulses of power at each other, knocking them down or throwing them against something. Nightmare Moon twirled her head, causing Twilight to spin and lose her balance falling hard onto her back. But she focused and launched her power, sending Nightmare Moon breaking through one of the doors, and she slid a long way down the hall.

Twilight got up to confront her further when a black bolt shot from Nightmare Moon’s horn, hitting Twilight’s own, and in the reflective floor, Twilight saw black crystal like blemish appear on her horn, and she realized she’d been rendered powerless.

Twilight then felt her body become heavy, and found herself struggling just to lift her head as Nightmare Moon approached, eyes filled with fury as she hissed, “I offered you a place at my side, but it seems you are as foolish as your teacher!”

Twilight gasped as she then glared at the monster before her.

“Since you find the gall to raise your horn against me, I shall personally reeducate you in the meaning of the word ‘pain’!”

Nightmare Moon threw her head up, and Twilight was launched from the floor, and sent hurtling up the tower, screaming, helpless, anguished, as darkness took her.

Chapter 3

Spike came into an open path after cutting through a cornfield, but saw no one. He started to get anxious, calling out, “Applebuck?”

He started to rush, calling out, “Applebuck? Applebuck!”

Then around the corner of the path ahead, he saw Applebuck coming towards him. The baby dragon sighed in relief, saying, “Thought I lost you for a sec.”

“Whattya mean?” Applebuck asked.

“Something Twilight told me.”

“What’d she tell ya?”

“‘Stick with him no matter what, Spike’,” Spike answered, “and that’s exactly what I’m gonna do.”

“Spike, wer’ still in Ponyville country,” Applebuck said with a smile, “what could happen?”

And no sooner did he says so did they both get tackled.

“Applebuck?”

Applebuck looked to see...

“Scootaroll?!”

“Sweepy Beau, look!” neighed the Pegasus colt, “It’s Applebuck!”

“Hey, Applebuck, what brings you to this neighborhood?” laughed the unicorn colt.

“Get off me!” Spike snapped, pushing Sweepy Beau off and throwing a glare at Scootaroll, “And you get off him!”

Helping Applebuck up, he and Spike noticed the many veggies and flowers Sweepy and Scoot had.

“Wha’ is all this?”

“You guys are stealing from Daisy, Lily Valley, and Rose’s crop!” Spike hissed.

They heard distant barking and three voices a’shouting.

“Get out of our field!”

“You just wait till we get our hooves on you!”

“Come back here!”

“Run!” Scootaroll yelled, as he lead Applebuck and Sweepy Beau got Spike moving.

“What’re they so upset about?” Sweepy Beau asked, “It’s just a few carrots!”

“And some lettuce,” Scootaroll corrected, but he kept going, “and then there’re those three bushels of lily blooms we lifted last week! And the week before that, it was several ears of corn-”

“Yes, Scoot!” Sweepy Beau snapped. “My point is… those three are clearly overreacting!”

The four of them exited the cornfield only to go over a steep hill, yelling, “ow”-ing, stumbling, rolling, until they landed in a pile… on a road. Scootaroll looked up and saw his face not one foot away from a cowpie.

“Whoa… that was close.”

“Ugh! I think something snapped! Hope it’s not my horn…” Sweepy Beau groaned, as he got up and hanging from his horn was a carrot almost completely snapped in two.

“You two, typical!” Spike muttered angrily as he sat up, Sweepy Beau saying in mock offense, “What?! That was a detour, a shortcut.”

“To what?” Spike muttered.

“Blueberries!” Scootaroll gasped, and not far from them was a patch of blueberry bushes. The three of them pushed and pulled through each other to get at them and start picking.

Applebuck looked back and forth, seeing the road for the first time. It was an old one, covered in leaves but noticeable enough, and whether or not it hadn’t been used in a long time was irrelevant to him.

“We should get off th’ road.”

He looked ahead, seeing a swirl of leaves carry to him a frightening shriek.

“Get off th’ road!”

Hearing the urgency in Applebuck’s voice, they all obeyed and hopped over the side of the road, and hid in a pit over hung with roots from a tree. They huddled together, shushing when they heard an approaching clip-clop until it was right on top of them, and they heard a haggard breathing. Applebuck looked through the roots and saw an armored hoof, appearing to have three bloodied clawed toes. Then they heard the clacking of the heavy hooves on the overhanging roots above them, and a harsh sniffing sound.

From where they were, all four of them could see the masked face and its decrepit horn, showing it was some kind of black unicorn, when they noticed a spider on Sweepy Beau’s shoulder, a centipede slithered between their feet, more manner of creepy-crawly squirmed around them, as if this phantom equine was affecting the environment with its foul presence.

Applebuck panted in fear, trying to keep quiet, closing his eyes as he pulled out the Horseshoe form his pocket. The black unicorn perked as if sensing something. Spike quickly placed his hand on Applebuck’s other hoof, snapping Applebuck out of it and he stopped himself from placing the Horseshoe on his hoof. Sweepy Beau threw one of his bags as far as he could when the black unicorn wasn’t looking, and the sound drew it away with a scream.

At once, the four of them bolted, tearing through the forest, stopping only when they were a good distance from the road. And it was getting dark.

“What was that?!” Scootaroll asked as he collapsed.

Applebuck didn’t answer; he only looked at the Horseshoe in his hand.

Uncertain they were safe, they started sneaking, quickly bolting from tree to tree, keeping vigilance, fearing the darkness.

“Anything?” Scootaroll called to Applebuck ahead.

“Nothin’,” Applebuck replied.

“What’s going on?!”

“That Black Unicorn was looking for something,” Sweepy Beau spoke in a serious tone, “or someone… Applebuck?”

“Get down!” Spike gasped, and they ducked, looking towards a hill, and they saw the Black Unicorn, becoming harder to as night enveloped the world. Thankfully, it went the other way.

To Sweepy Beau, Applebuck said, “Ah gotta git outta Ponyville country, we hafta’ make it to Hoofington.”

Sweepy Beau nodded, declaring, “Bubblebury Ferry, follow me!”

They ran for a few miles through the dark woods, Sweepy Beau leading the way. As it seemed to get uneventful, they got less careful and paid for, as they came to a cluster of trees, and screamed to find a Black Unicorn braying ferociously. They’d been found!

“Run!”

“This way!”

“Careful!”

Luckily, they surrounded the Black Unicorn and moved to confuse him until they all tore away, running as fast as their legs could carry them. Up ahead, they saw a small house, next to a small pier set in a river. They leapt over the wooden post fence, making for the pier, where the ferry was tied.

Sweepy Beau, Scootaroll, and Spike clambered on, Sweepy shouting, “Get the rope, Spike!”

Spike and Sweepy got the ropes as Scootaroll grabbed the ferry-pole when Spike looked to see Applebuck still ashore.

“Applebuck!”

Applebuck was running, his eyes terrified, the Black Unicorn catching up.

“Run, Applebuck!” shouted Scootaroll.

“Cast off!” Applebuck shouted, so Spike pushed the ferry away from the pier as he and Sweepy both held out their arms, shouting, “Jump, Applebuck! Jump!”

Applebuck leapt, landing into their arms, and the Black Unicorn skidded to a stop, rearing, angrily braying as having come so close to lose the target. The Black Unicorn turned around and ran down the road alongside the river, followed, to everypony’s shock, by two more.

“How long till th’ nearest bridge?” Applebuck asked as he panted.

“Berrypunch Bridge, twenty miles,” Sweepy Beau answered.

It was raining by the time the four of them arrived at Hoofington. It was an enclosed town, protected by a high stone wall and fortification. The four of them wore hooded cloaks as they approached the gate. They knocked on the door set in the gate, and a window in it opened to reveal an old earth pony stallion.

“Whaddyou want?”

“We’re headed ta’ Sugarcube Corner,” Applebuck answered.

The door opened as the old stallion held a lantern to get a better look.

“Three colts and a baby dragon, eh? What brings ya to Hoofington?”

“We’d like ta’ stay at the inn, please,” Applebuck asked politely.

Seeing some fear in their eyes, the old stallion nodded, and let them through, saying, “Sorry if I scared ya, lads. It’s me job ta’ ask questions ta’ visitors after nightfall. There’s talk’a strange blokes running about, pays to keep an eye out, it does.”

Hoofington was quite different from Ponyville, which was comprised almost completely of earth ponies. Here, there were more unicorns, plenty of earth ponies, and a few pegasi. The buildings were built of stone and wood, all of which were built so close together, the roads of cobble, iron lanterns lit the place. But the ponies here were not so kind or welcoming as the ponies back home. A few stallions rudely pushed past them, a couple shouted things like “Watch where ya going!”

Thankfully, they found their destination. A tall building of white with pink inlay, a hay roof, and a sign styled to resemble sweets as it read ‘Sugarcube Corner’.

Inside, it was a little merrier than what they’d experienced outside. Mares and stallions, mostly unicorns, a few foals, were all seated at various tables or at the bar, being served confections and pastries, or tea, hot chocolate, etc.

They approached the counter where Applebuck politely called, “Excuse me?”

They were welcomed by a tall and gangly yellow earth pony stallion with a large jaw, carrot-red hair, he wore a deli hat and apron.

“Well, good evenin’ to ya, boys! Name’s Carrot Cake. If yer looking for accommodations, we have plenty of room. Just two bits a bed per night ya stay, mister…?”

“…Brad Seed,” Applebuck lied, ignoring the uncomfortable shifts of his friends behind him. “Mah name’s Brad Seed. Uh, Mr. Cake, wouldja tell Twilight Shimmer wer here? She’s a friend of ours.”

“Twilight?” echoed Carrot Cake curiously. He pondered a second before calling, “Honeybun!”

A cottoncandy-blue earth pony mare with a swirly pink mane and tail resembling frosting, wearing an apron, came over.

“This here’s the missus, Cup Cake,” Carrot Cake introduced to them, then to his wife, he said, “Honeybun, this nice young colt’s asking for a… Twilight Shimmer?”

“Oh! Twilight, such a nice mare and so talented,” Cup Cake replied then to the colts she said, “Sorry ta’ tell you, dearies, but Twilight hasn’t been here for months! I’ll go prepare your room for you.”

Cup Cake left while the four of them paid for the room with Carrot Cake and they all went to a small table to talk.

“What do we do now?” Spike whispered.

“She’ll come, guys, ah know she will!” Applebuck insisted.

“I’m gonna get a hot chocolate,” Scootaroll stated, and moved for the bar.

A bit later, Spike nudged Applebuck and pointed without looking, whispering, “That guy’s been leering at you ever since we sat down.”

Getting the idea to be discreet, Applebuck stole a glance and saw a large cloaked unicorn stallion sitting at a table in the far corner of the restaurant. He had a long white horn, his tail was streaked in several colors of blue. Something about it was familiar, but Applebuck could see it was plain as the horn on the unicorn’s face he was indeed staring at him.

Cup Cake was walking by to serve somepony else when Applebuck tapped her flank, asking, “`Scuse me, Miss Cake.”

“Yes, dearie?” she said kindly.

“That unicorn in the corner, who is he?”

“Ooh, you don’t wanna get mixed up with them, dear. He’s a polite customer but he’s a Ranger, dangerous wanderers of the wild. I don’t know his real name, but around here… he’s known as Destrier.”

She kindly poured him some tea and carried on serving everypony.

“Destrier…” Applebuck echoed, feeling the unicorn’s piercing gaze behind the shadow of his hood. Trying to keep calm, Applebuck toyed with the Horseshoe between his hooves, closing his eyes, hearing a distant whisper.

Apple…

He felt himself starting to immerse to the fog of his own mind.

…Apple

He was somehow able to know everything going on in the restaurant, every bite, every swig, every swallow, every word… every word!

“Apple?”

That time, it was not the Horseshoe, and it snapped him out of the trance as he looked to the bar, seeing Scootaroll talking with some stallions and the idiot pointed him out.

“Sure I know an Apple, right there! Applebuck!”

At once, Applebuck rushed over, grabbing Scootaroll, Destrier observing as somepony tripped Applebuck, and he fell flat on his back onto the floor, the Horseshoe flinging up into the air, Destrier stirring at the sight of it. Applebuck reached out towards it, but something unnatural happed as the Horseshoe came down. Instead of falling into his grasp, the Horseshoe seemed to move so as to fit onto Applebuck’s hoof, and at once he vanished in the blink of an eye!

Everypony saw and gasped.

The Black Unicorns sensed it!

Applebuck looked around to see everything faded in shadow. A chill blew everywhere when he heard a voice that frightened him to his very core.

You cannot hide…

He turned to face it, and to the colt’s horror, he saw a pair of eyes, the pupils radiating a hateful red, the whites long turned a poisonous green, all enwreathed in a purple miasma.

I see you… There is no life in the void… Only… death!

Applebuck scuttled away in fright, feeling what like a tableleg behind him, as he wrenched the Horseshoe off. Everything brightened, he felt warmth, he heard gossip and laughter, he sighed in relief. Only to feel somepony grab him by his shirtfront and he was pushed against a wall... by Destrier!

“You draw an unhealthy amount of attention, Young ‘Brad Seed’…”

Then Destrier marched Applebuck upstairs to the inn rooms. He pushed the colt into a room as Applebuck regained his wits.

“Whaddya want from me?”

“To be cautious,” the unicorn replied in a quiet voice. “That is no bauble you carry.”

“I-it’s just an old fam’ly heirloom,” Applebuck insisted.

“From your grandmother?” the unicorn replied, not at all fooled.

How duz he know that? Applebuck thought in alarm.

Destrier quickly snuffed out some candles with the magic of his horn, saying, “I have my ways of moving about unseen… but complete invisibility?”

He threw off his hood, revealing a long unkempt mane matching the colors of his tail, a ruggedly handsome face, cerulean eyes, if he kept himself a little cleaner he could look like a prince.

“That is a spell even I have yet to master.”

“Who are you?” Applebuck asked.

“Are you scared?” asked the white unicorn, eyes narrowed.

“Yes..”

“Not scared enough, I’ll tell you. I know the horrors seeking you.”

They heard a coming clipclops and the door flew open, Destrier yanking out a sword with his magic, as in rushed Spike, Scootaroll and Sweepy Beau, the young dragon yelling, “Release him! Or I’ll have your horn!”

The unicorn huffed as he sheathed his sword, saying, “Your heart is bold, young dragon, but it will not save you.”

Then to Applebuck, he said in a grim voice, “You can no longer await the Magician, Applebuck. They’re coming."

At the town gate, the keeper looked out the window to see who it was only for the gate to crash down on him as four Black Unicorns charged into Hoofington. They went directly for Sugarcube Corner, the Cakes huddling together in terror with their babies behind the counter, as the shadowy wraiths stole for the stairs.

In a room, they found four beds, obviously somepony sleeping in them. As silent as the cold breath of death, they each stood next to a bed, reared up… and stomped down on the beds’ occupants with murderous fury, the beds’ frames cracking beneath their armored hooves, as Destrier watched from a building across the street of Sugarcube Corner.

The Black Unicorns then reached out and tore away the blankets, finding only feathered pillows as they brayed in screaming fury that they’d been tricked and their prey gone, unaware they were so close, as they tore the room apart.

Applebuck looked to Destrier, as did his friends, as the white unicorn looked at the phantasms as they spilled back into the streets.

“What are they?”

The Ranger looked to him.

“Once they were normal Unicorns, revered Kings and Queens. Then Sombra the Deceiver offered to them nine horseshoes of power. Blinded by the emotions in their hearts, greed, honor, whatever it was for each, they took them without question. One by one, falling into darkness. They are the Kageld… Wraiths. Neither living nor dead. They ever feel and are drawn to the power of the Horseshoe. They will never stop hunting you…”

In the morn, the Ranger led the four young ones from Hoofington.

“Where’re we goin’?” Applebuck asked.

“Into the Wild,” Destrier answered.

“How do we know we can trust this guy?” Spike muttered to Applebuck.

“We have no choice, do we?” Applebuck countered.

“But where is he leading us?” Spike wanted to know.

“To Trottingham, Dragon,” Destrier answered to let them know he could hear every word. “To the house of Artemis.”

“Trottingham!” Applebuck gasped, Spike of equal bewilderment as he said, “We’re gonna see the Alicorns!”

Ebony wings spread as the Prevoyant was exploited by the fallen magician, Nightmare Moon, whispering, “The Power of Crystagard is at your command, Sombra… Lord and Master of all who live and breathe.”

Build me an army worthy of Tartarus…

In her study, Nightmare Moon looked out the window as the door opened, in walking three hideous creatures shaped like ponies but looked more like insects. They had no fur, but insect-like carapace of greenish-black, transluscent wings, and faceted pale blue eyes, fangs clicking as one of them spoke in a buzzy voice, “What orderzzz from Tartarus, milady? What doezzz the Glare command?”

“We have work to do,” Nightmare Moon stated.

Outside the tower, the trees surrounding it were being ripped and pulled down by the creatures, Changelings, buzzing, screaming, as they worked. Nightmare Moon, with a few in tow, walked among them to oversee the progress.

Atop Crystagard tower, somepony stirred. It was Twilight. Her eyes fluttered open, her head pounding as she groaned and rubbed her forehead, feeling dried blood. She tried to work a healing spell, but realized the black crystal-blemishes were still on her horn, she was still powerless! She noticed where she was and peered over the edge, seeing the desecration occurring. And it broke her heart as one by one the trees came crashing down.

“The treezzz are strong, milady. Their roots go deep.”

“Rip them all down,” ordered Nightmare Moon, coldly and uncompromising.

Twilight huddled by one of the sharp points, shivering and sad as she listened to the destruction around her, powerless to stop it, and the rains began to fall.

Travelling through the wide open pastures riddled with rocks, Destrier led the three colts an young dragon towards the ruins atop a great hill.

“This was once known as the Great Watchtower of the Wind. We shall rest here tonight.”

As the sunset, clouds gathering overhead, they settled at an outcropping that offered shelter and a perfect view to watch out. There, Destrier laid out four large daggers.

“From now on, you must all be armed. Keep these close. Stay here and keep your heads low while I take a look around.”

Applebuck rested, pulling his cloak and blanket close as the night air settled, when he heard mumbling.

“…tomatoes’ burst.”

“Could I have some eggs?”

Applebuck bolted up and saw Scootaroll, Spike, and Sweepy Beau around a fire, eating.

“What’re ya doin?!” he gasped.

“Tomatoes, eggs, and toast,” Sweepy Beau announced.

“We saved some for you, Applebuck,” Spike offered, holding out a plate.

“Puddit out, ya dumbies, puddit out!” Applebuck cried as he stamped the fire out.

“Oh tha’s nice! Ash on my tomatoes!” Scootaroll complained.

A piercing scream of a neigh rent the air, and the four of them looked out to the Weathertop slope. From the fog the saw five Black Unicorns stealing towards them from the fog below. Drawing his dagger, Applebuck yelled, “Go!”

The rest of them followed suit in drawing their daggers, and they climbed up the ruined stairs near them. They arrived at the center of Weathertop, huddling together as they looked around the ruined and weathered archways, trying to perceive through the darkness their enemies. Then they saw them. One by one, they appeared, slowly creeping towards them like spills of oil. Each of them lowered their horns, which, despite their worn appearances, were sharper than broken glass, as they slowly marched upon the four.

“Back, you devils!” Spike yelled as he lashed out his dagger.

His dagger met the horn of the nearest one in metallic clings only for the Black Unicorn to lash out with his hoof, knocking Spike aside, then doing so with Scootaroll and Sweepy Beau. Applebuck backed away, dropping his dagger, as terror slowly began to overcome his senses. Not knowing why, Applebuck pulled out the Horseshoe, earning the unanimous attention of the Black Unicorns, the one in the middle stepping forward, his wicked horn bared and poised. In fright, Applebuck put the Horseshoe on, vanishing from his friends’ sights.

In the shadows that now draped the world around him, Applebuck was blown away to see in the Black Unicorns’ places figures of white, draped in flowing white cloaks that looked as fragile as cobwebs. But then he saw their faces!

Aged and haggard, old crowns behind their horns, stringy manes blowing. They looked like they were aging but unable to die. The only thing about them black was their eyes, like lifeless voids. The one with his horn bared at him held out his forehoof, beckoning Applebuck to do the same with his hoof, slowly holding out the Horseshoe, as if his body had a will of its own.

Their hooves almost touched, the Horseshow of Power almost in the grasp of the enemy, when Applebuck mustered all his will and pulled back his hoof. The unicorn, taken aback, mercilessly bore his horn into Applebuck’s chest, and he screamed. The phantom moved again to take the Horseshoe when he looked up, Destrier leaping in, horn ablaze with fire magic.

The Black Unicorns shied away from the heat as Destrier lashed it about. Applebuck removed the Horsehoe, crying out in pain as he reappeared to the living.

“Applebuck!” gasped Spike.

Destirer dodged a stab, and rear-kicked away his attacker, then managed to set the cloak of one of the wraiths ablaze, making it run away. Another slashed at Destrier who rolled away and then lunged foreword, driving his flaming horn through the wraith’s mask, setting him too ablaze. At once the rest of them dispersed and retreated.

“Destrier!” Spike called, the unicorn coming to look at Applebuck’s wound. “Help him!”

Destrier sighed dejectedly, saying, “He’s been stabbed by the horn of a wraith. This is beyond my ability to heal.”

Applebuck cried out in pain as Destrier lifted him onto his back, “He needs Alicorn remedy.”

They hurried through the darkwoods, hearing the distant brays of the Black Unicorns.

“We’re six days from Trottingham!” Spike yelled, “He’ll never make it!”

“Be strong, Applebuck,” Destrier whispered to him.

The pristine gardens and trees that once surrounded Crystagard were gone. In their place was a barren land, riddled with ash and machine, as the Changelings took all the lumber and leaves and flora to burn for their forges. The Changelings stoked the fires, hammered metal, poured it molten, shaping weapons and shields and armor.

But despite so much life stolen, one little butterfly fluttered shyly over the desecration towards the top of the tower, as if being drawn to a cry out for help.

At the top of the tower, it saw a hoof stretched out and perched onto it. The hoof moved to the face of Twilight, who inspected the butterfly, seeing it had a blue body and pink wings. She quickly began to whisper to the butterfly, and then released it, whispering urgently, “Go!”

Below the forges, Nightmare Moon observed the Changelings digging up some unnatural form of monstrosity, which reached out at one of its liberators, thanking the changeling by crushing its windpipe. Nightmare Moon smirked wickedly as the creature rose up from the depths of the earth, naked and covered in muddy grime which could not hard the hard ugly muscles or sharp longhorns as it snorted menacingly.

“Applebuck…!” Spike whispered as he touched the colt’s forehead. Applebuck was becoming cold and pale, his eyes turning yellow, whimpering in fright and cold and pain.

“He’s freezing!”

They had made camp, Destrier keeping an eye out.

“Is he going to die?” Scootaroll asked in fear.

“Worse,” Destrier answered, “his soul is fading to the Nether. He’ll soon become like them, a wraith that brings fear wherever it goes.”

Suddenly, Applebuck gasped at the distant neighs of the Black Unicorns, as if somewhere inside him a shadow was yearning to reunite with some depraved kin.

“They’re coming!” whispered Sweepy Beau.

“Spike,” Destrier called, “Do you know of the plant Poison Joke?”

“Yeah, it’s this blue flower,” Spike confirmed.

“It won’t cure Applebuck, but its positive nature may help slow the poisoning, hurry!”

He and Spike set into the woods to seek the poison joke. Destrier found a good patch and used his magic to levitate a clump of the stuff from its roots when he felt a blade at his throat.

“What’s this? A ranger caught off guard…?” said a voice he knew too well.

As he lay in torture, through the fog of cold and hurt, Applebuck saw a light so warm as somepony stepped out of it. She was beautiful, her coat pink like a blossom, her mane violet with streaks of rose and pale gold, a horn on her forehead, but she was not just a unicorn, for wings spread at her side before refolding, she was garbed in a dress white like heaven.

“Applebuck…” she whispered warmly. Then she spoke a language he did not know, but in his heart, he understood word for word.

“My name is Cadance – I am here to help you. Here my voice… Come back to the light!”

Although it was slight, Applebuck felt some of the cold and hurt vanish.

Scootaroll and Sweepy Beau watched in astonishment as Cadance, dressed not in white but in a close-fitting gray shirt and cloak, one of her wings apparently bandaged, bent over Applebuck.

“Who is she?” Scootaroll asked.

“She’s an Alicorn!” Sweepy Beau whispered.

Destrier came with the poison joke, preparing it as he and Cadance examined the wound.

“He’s fading,” Cadance said as she moved Applebuck’s shirt to see the poisoned stab wound, Destrier placing the prepared herb onto it.

“He’s not going to last. We must get him to my father.”

Destrier picked up Applebuck as Cadance said, “I’ve been seeking you for two days. Five of the wraiths are behind you, where the other four are I know not.”

“Stay with the others,” Destrier spoke in her tongue, “I’ll send escorts from Trottingham.”

“I may not be able to fly at the moment but I am still the faster runner,” she argued, “I’ll take him.”

“It is too dangerous.”

“What’re they saying?” Scootaroll asked.

“If I cross the river, the power of my people will protect him. I do not fear them.”

Destrier gave her a hard look, then levitated Applebuck onto her back. Then he said to her, his tone laced with care, not just for Applebuck, but for her, “Cadance… Run hard, don’t look back.”

Cadance nodded, then galloped as if the wolves were at her hooves.

“What’re you doing?!” Spike yelled, “Those monsters are still out there!”

Destrier merely looked on, his heart tightened by fear and worry.

Cadance ran. All through the day and night, across vast lands, but she did not escape notice. She soon found herself tailed as wraiths appeared, one by one, pursuing her for the prize she carried, until at last all Nine pursued her in nightmarish parade. One of them ran alongside her, trying to reach Applebuck. Cadancde ushered more strength, groaning as she ran harder, determined to protect her charge.

Finally, she reached the Shingly Ford and crossed the river, passing into her father’s realm. The wraiths all stopped and reared at the riverbank, as Cadance turned to face them on the other side. Their leader made himself known as he demanded in a voice as harsh as the crack of bone, “Surrender the colt, she-corn!”

Her horn ablazing, Cadance challenged, “If you want him, come and claim him!”

The wraiths all bared their horns as they braved the sacred waters when Cadance began to chant.

“Into the Light I make my pray!

The herd that gallops forever through Day:

Summon here now their dauntless forces!

The Holy Steeds, the Prancing White Horses!”

Sensing a power greater than they, the wraiths looked upriver, hearing a roaring rush of a wave, shaped as galloping horses in the whites of the waves as they raced towards the fiends, who were too late to flee, as they were quickly washed away. As if they’d never been more than bad dreams, they were gone.

Alas, Cadance gasped as she felt Applebuck fading more. She gently laid him down, as he whimpered, his eyes unfocused on anything.

“Oh no…! Applebuck, no! Don’t give in! Not now!”

A tear went down her face, as she then hugged the little colt close, warming him as she prayed.

What grace the light gifts to me, share it with him. Let him be spared. Save him…

Prologue and Chapter 1

Lord of the Horseshoes

The Friendship of the Shoe

Prologue

The world is changed. I taste it in the water. I feel it in the earth. I smell it in the air. I see it in the fire. Much of that once was is lost. For none now live who remember it.

It began with the forging of the great horseshoes.

Three were given to the Alicorn Ponies, immortal, fair, wisest of all beings.

Five to the Pegasus Ponies, bringers of the rains and storms and winds.

Seven to the earth ponies, farmers, smiths, merchants.

And nine, nine horseshoes were given to the unicorn ponies, who, above all, for better or worse, were ruled by their hearts.

Within these horseshoes was bound the magic and will to govern each race. But they were all of them deceived, for another horseshoe was made.

In the land of Tartarus, in the fires of Mount Bleak, the dark King Sombra forged in secret a master horseshoe, to control all others. Into this shoe he poured his cruelty, his malice, and his will to dominate all life. One Horseshoe to Rule them all.

One by one, the free lands of Equestria fell to the power of the Horseshoe. But there were some who resisted.

A last alliance of unicorns, pegasai, and alicorns marched against the armies of Tartarus and on the slopes of Mount Bleak they fought for the freedom of Equestria.

Victory was near… but the power of the Horseshoe could not be undone.

It was in this moment, when all seemed lost, that Blueblood, son of the king, took up his father's broken horn.

Sombra, the enemy of the free ponies of Equestria, was defeated. The Horseshoe passed to Blueblood who had this one chance to destroy evil forever… but the hearts of unicorns are easily corrupted. And the Horseshoe of Power has a will of its own.

It betrayed Blueblood to his doom, and some things that should not have been forgotten were lost.

History became legend – Legend became myth – And for two and a half thousand years, the Horseshoe passed out of all knowledge, until one day it ensnared a new bearer.

The Horseshoe came to the Dog, Rover, who took it deep into the bowels of the mountains, and there… it consumed him. The Horseshoe brought to Rover unnatural life, and for five hundred years it poisoned his mind, and in the gloom of Rover's cave, it waited.

Darkness crept back into the forests of the world, rumor spread of a shadow in the east, whispers of a nameless fear. And the Horseshoe of Power perceived, its time had now come. It abandoned Rover, but something happened the Shoe did not intend. It was picked up by the most unlikely of ponies. Apple-Smith of the Apple Family, from Ponyville.

For the time will soon come when her family will shape the fortunes of all.

As the sun slowly ascended to its peak, a young earth pony colt, his coat a gentle yellow, his mane and tail apple-red, a lighter-red bandana snugly wrapped around his neck, and was busy carrying an apple basket, filled with the hard-worked-on spoils of his family’s orchard.

He came to a small wagon and carefully set the basket inside with a few others. He wiped the sweat from his brow when his ears perked to a distant singing. A voice he had not heard for some time.

Forgetting his chores, he ran through the orchard, across the hay field and came to a rise above a road at the outskirts of his hometown, where he saw a small wagon being pulled by a robed mare, her hood up but unable to conceal the lavender horn or her multicolored tail, as she sang:

I am prepared to do my best

It doesn’t matter what the test

For I am learned in many tricks

I just know that I’m prepared for this

The colt stood on the ridge, looking down on the unicorn mare, before declaring, “Y’all’re late!”

The unicorn mare stopped and held her hooded head up in self-importance.

“A Magician is never late, Applebuck,” she corrected, turning to look up at him, revealing her amethyst eyes as she reached up and lowered her hood, revealing her multi-colored mane, well-kept and pretty.

“Nor is she early. She arrives exactly when she intends.”

The colt, Applebuck, and the unicorn Magician held an intense gaze at each other for a few seconds, but the corners of their lips twitchingly pulled up into smiles as they both began to laugh, and Applebuck leapt down, the Magician teleporting in a flash of light to free herself from her wagon as they embraced, Applebuck neighing, “It’s wonderful ta’ see ya again, Twilight!”

When they let go, the Magician, Twilight, replied, “You didn’t think I’d miss the Apple Family Reunion, did you?”

“`Course not,” Applebuck insisted, “kin or honorary, everypony considered fam’ly’s gotta be there. Granny Smith is lookin fo’wrd ta’ seein’ ya.”

Applebuck walked alongside Twilight as she pulled her wagon so they continued on as Applebuck asked, “So what’s the word ‘round Equestria? Tell me ev’rythang!”

“Everything?” admonished Twilight in mock surprise. “You’re much too eager and curious for an earth pony, though given you’re still a colt, I guess it’s understandable.”

Applebuck just smiled as they crossed a stone bridge next to a small watermill, but Twilight conceded.

“What’s to say? Life in the wide world goes on as much is has this past Age. It has its comings and goings,” she went on as they just rolled into town, passing a brightly-painted sign emblazoned in golden letters, ‘Ponyville’.

“Yet it remains scarcely unaware of the splendor of natural bounty to be found here in Ponyville.”

Then to herself, she muttered, “Something I can’t help being thankful for.”

As they passed through town, everypony began to take notice of their visitor.

“Look!”

“It’s Twilight!”

“Welcome back!”

In town square, Twilight noticed some stallions hauling up party tents, when she asked, “How is Granny Smith? I read in my invitation that she’d have a big announcement.”

“Granny Smith’s a sweetheart,” Applebuck answered. “She’s even invited half’a Ponyville ta’ join in on th’ party.”

“Is Applejack coming as well?” Twilight asked.

“Nah, he’s needed at th’ Diamond Caves,” Appleuck replied with a hint of sadness. “He’s workin’ hard to get th’ money to help Ponyville. But in his last letter, he mentioned he got himself pr’moted!”

“A blessing in disguise then,” Twilight offered.

“Granny Smith’s up ta’ sumpin’, Twi,” Applebuck brought up.

“Oh really?” Twilight asked innocently.

“Go ‘head, ya’ll play innocent,” Applebuck huffed. “B’for yer teacher, Starswirl the Bearded, met Granny Smith, the Apple Fam’ly was well thawt of-”

“You still are,” Twilight assured.

“Yeah, but we din’t had no adventures, unexpected events…” Applebuck went on.

“If you’re talking about the dragon-incident, I assure you, Starswirl was hardly involved,” Twilight maintained. “All he did was… give your grandmother a nudge out the door.”

“Either way, Starswirl’s offish’ly been labeled a disturber a’ the peace,” Applebuck confirmed, “You too. Guilt by ‘ssociation.”

“Hmm,” Twilight responded with a smirk and raised eyebrow, when she heard, “Twilight!”

From all around, fillies and colts around Applebuck’s age were running over, laughing, calling, “Twilight! Fireworks, Twilight! Fireworks!”

They followed for a bit behind Twilight’s wagon, starting to beg as it seemed their excited pleas fell on deaf ears. But just as they began to sigh in disappointment, swirling burst of colored embers exploded from the back of Twilight’s wagon. The colts and fillies cheered and laughed, Applebuck and Twilight sharing a private smile.

They were coming up on Sweet Apple Acres, when Applebuck began to veer off, but first he said, “Twilight? I’m happy yer back.”

“As am I, sweetie,” Twilight replied, Applebuck smiling at her as he returned to his chores. “As am I.”

Twilight pulled up towards a cozy little cottage that was the furthest from Ponyville yet did not extend into Ponyville’s town limits. Twilight looked up to it, using her magic to unlatch herself from her wagon before she entered the yard. She rapped at the door with her horn and was answered with, “Enuff wit’ th’ well-wishin’s, visitin’s, or distant relations!”

“And what about students of old friends?” Twilight responded.

The door opened, revealing an earth pony mare who looked to be middle-aged, with an apple-green coat, graying blonde mane tied in a braid, as was her tail, she wore an orange shawl patterned with red apples, matching a skirt she wore over which was an apron.

She gasped as she looked upon Twilight, whispering, “Twilight?”

“Granny Smith,” Twilight replied with a smile as they both hugged each other, Granny Smith saying, “Why sugarcube! How you’ve sprouted, aint’ seen ya since y’were Applebuck’s age.”

When they let go, Twilight took a harder look at Granny Smith, saying lowly but with a friendly tone, “And you haven’t aged a day.”

“Well, come in, child,” Granny Smith welcomed, taking Twilight’s cloak. “Can ah get y’anything? Tea? Or perhaps some apple cider? Ah gotta bottle ah’ve ben savin’, it’s from the Paleopony period. Good year, ah reckon, almost as old as ah am!”

“Just tea, is fine, Granny Smith,” Twilight assured, as Granny Smith went on, suggesting various foods, when she noticed a desk covered with maps of Equestria and certain locations, a few scrolls, a writing-quill in an inkwell.

“Y’don’t mind if ah eat, do ya?” Granny Smith asked but a hammering on the door interrupted Twilight as they heard somepony outside demanding for Granny Smith, who, along with Twilight, kept quiet and still, until they finally left.

“Ah’ve gotta git away from all these rascal relatives! Always on th’ bell, never givin’ me a moment’s peace! Ah wanna see mountains again, deep valleys, Twilight! Then find a nice, quiet place ta’ finish mah book. Oh, tea!”

As Granny Smith got the pot, Twilight asked, “So you’re really going through with this plan?”

“Yep, ev’rythin’s all set,” Granny Smith confirmed, “ah got it planned out.”

“Applebuck suspects something,” Twilight informed her as Granny Smith poured the tea.

“Well a’course he suspects! He’s an Apple! Not some spoiled brat Rich or a dim-bulb Doo.”

“You are going to tell him, are you?”

“Yes! I will…”

“He loves you very much.”

“…Ah know. He’d prob’ly come wit me, if’n ah asked ‘im,” Granny Smith answered, finally sounding a little more serious as she looked out the window.

“But in his heart, ah reckon Applebuck still loves Ponyville, and Sweet Apple Acres. Th’ woods, th’ meadows, th’ babblin’ creeks. Ah’m old, Twilight.”

She turned to face the unicorn as she went on, “Ah don’ lookit, but ah’m beginnin’ ta feel it in mah heart.”

Twilight noticed Granny Smith’s right hoof was covered with a hanky, but stepped awkwardly, as Granny Smith sat down.

“Ah feel… thin, stretched out even. Like butter scraped over too much bread… Ah’m needin’ time off. A lot’a time off. Ah afeared ah won’t come back. In fact… ah don’ plan ta’.”

A burst of green and silver brightened the night sky above Ponyville, raining down as it became a shower of gold and ruby glittering embers. Everypony was in good cheer, laughing, talking, dancing, singing, Applebuck danced, Granny Smith welcoming family, relatives, family friends, etc.

At one of the tables, sat a baby purple and green dragon as he looked shyly towards another one, only she was dancing merrily with everypony though she stole a glance at him, and he instantly averted his look. Applebuck went over, saying, “Go on, Spike! Ask Barb ta’ dance!”

“Um, I think I’ll just get more apple juice,” Spike excused but he found Applebuck’s hooves on his shoulders, spinning him around as he brayed, “Oh no ya don’t!”

And he playfully pushed him into the dance at the precise moment Barb reached out for her next dance partner and caught Spike’s hand, pulling him in as he nervously tried to keep up with the music. Applebuck laughed.

Twilight launched another firework, Granny Smith told some colts and fillies of her adventures, but as everypony partied, nopony noticed two colts, one a Pegasus with an orange coat and purple short mane, the other a marble white unicorn with swirly pink and lavender colored mane and tail sneak up to Twilight’s wagon where she had all her firworks.

The Pegasus colt hopped in while the unicorn colt kept watch, seeing Twilight light a firework that burst into dazzling swarm of butterfly embers, the colts and fillies trying to catch them.

“Hurry!”

“This one?”

“No, the big one!”

They took the biggest rocket in the bunch and into a tent where they lit it. Then the unicorn colt gasped!

“You’re supposed to stick it into the ground!”

“It is in the ground!”

“Outside!”

“This was your idea!”

“No it wasn’t!”

They argued too long and the rocket launched, taking the tent with it, covering both colts’ faces in burnt gunpowder, everypony taking notice. It almost disappeared from sight before it exploded into gold and scarlet flame, everypony clapping when they saw something manifest from the flames. It looked like a bird and it was beginning to dive at them, everypony started to back off.

“Granny Smith! Watch out fer th’ phoenix!” Applebuck cried out as he hurried to his grandmother.

“Horsefeathers, there ain’t been no phoenix ‘round these parts in a hundred years!” Granny Smith protested when Applebuck tackled her down, the fiery phoenix missing everypony as they’d all ducked and covered, before it rose back up, turned into a wheel of flame hurtling back upwards into the sky. Everypony looked up and saw the wheel of flame burst into many miniature rays of flaming sunlight, and they cheered.

“That was great!” said the Pegasus colt.

“Let’s get another,” agreed the unicorn colt.

But they found themselves rising off the ground and a stern voice, “Scootaroll and Sweepy Beau.”

They peered over their shoulders and saw Twilight given them a look that made them forget to breath.

“I might have known.”

As punishment for stealing the rocket, setting it off improperly, thereby endangering everypony, as well as ruining the grand finale, Twilight forbade Scootaroll and Sweepy Beau from participating further in the party and had them washing all dishes.

Though they were able to listen as everypony called out to Granny Smith, “Speech! Speech, Granny Smith!”

As the words echoed, Granny Smith went up to a platform prepared for her, (though she’d requested a rocking chair since it was getting late and her tired) everypony clopping, cheering until it died down as Granny Smith declared, “Fillies n’ gentlecolts a’ Ponyville! T’day is th’ 111th Annual Apple Family Reunion!”

Everyone cheered again until it died down and Granny Smith continued.

“Thow ah reckon even eleventy-one years is too short a time ta’ get ta’ know such’a wonderful family, its friends and nay-bors… sharin’ mem’ries, good and bad…”

Though no one thought of it, Granny Smith reached into a pocket on her skirt and then quickly covered both her forehooves under her apron, though Twilight and Applebuck noticed.

“Ah… have things ta’ see to.”

To herself she whispered, “Ah’ve put this off fer fah too long.”

Then aloud, she said, “Ah’m sad ta’ say… mah time has come. Ah bid y’all a very fond farewell.”

Then Granny Smith met Applebuck’s eyes and whispered, “Goodbye.”

And just like that, Granny Smith vanished in the blink of an eye! At once, everypony gasped and cried in fear. Everypony started going to and fro in a mad quest to find her.

The door to Granny Smith’s cottage opened then closed, and she appeared in the way, chuckling to herself as she held a gold horseshoe, feeling rather pleased with herself, then putting it back into her pocket. Grabbing a walking stick, she walked into the living room to prepare when a voice said, “I suppose you’re feeling rather clever right now.”

“Twilight!” Granny Smith gasped, seeing the unicorn mare leaning against the top of the fireplace. “Ah, come on, sugarcube! Th’ looks on their faces-”

“There are many magic horseshoes in the world, Granny Smith,” Twilight rebuked, “and I think Starswirl would agree with me that none of them should be used lightly.”

“It was just’a bit’o fun,” insisted Granny Smith. “Oh… but yer right, ah s’pose. Yer jus’ like yer teacher.”

She grabbed a brush from fireplace’s mantelpiece, asking, “Ya will look after Applebuck?”

“Constantly, so long as I am free to,” Twilight promised.

Granny Smith sighed, taking her book and placing it on her desk.

“Applejack should be here, but he’s needed elsewhere. Well, ah leave Sweet Apple Acres t’him when he returns but this cottage, and ev’rythang init? Goes ta’ Applebuck.”

“And that horseshoe, is it staying as well?” Twilight asked with a raised tone.

“Yes, yes,” Granny Smith waved off, “it’s in an envelope on th’ mantlepiece.”

As Twilight looked, Granny Smith stuttered, “W-wait, it’s… no it’s here. Still in mah pocket.”

She pulled it out, holding it delicately in her hooves.

“Don’t that beat all? …And... what duz it matter? Why shouldn’t ah keep it?”

“I feel you should leave the shoe… Is it so hard?”

“No! …Yes.” grumbled Granny Smith, her voice uncharacteristically low and ominous. “Now that it’s down to it, ah’m reconsiderin’. It’s mahn. I found it, it came to me!”

“You needn’t be cross, Granny Smith,” assured Twilight.

“If’n ah’m cross it’s yer fault!” snapped Granny Smith harshly. She kept her orange eyes on the shoe, hungry and cold.

“It’s mahn. Mah own… Mah precious…!”

“Precious…?! It’s been called that before, but never by you,” Twilight stated in dread.

“It ain’t yor business of what ah do wit’ mah own property!” shrieked Granny Smith as she whirled around at Twilight.

“Apple Smith!” thundered Twilight, her horn blazed with magic as everything seemed to darken and a chill blew through the cottage, Granny Smith fearfully backing into a wall.

“Don’t dare accuse me a con mane who resorts to parlor tricks! I am not trying to rob you!”

Then the light came back, it was warm again, and Twilight said with a warmth of concern in her eyes and voice, “I’m trying to help you.”

At once, Granny Smith was overcome with remorse, tears threatening to flow from her cheeks, her lower lip quivering, as she sought and received a hug from Twilight. Then to her, Twilight spoke encouragingly, “All these years, you and my teacher were dearest of friends. Trust me as once you trusted him. Let it go.”

“Yer right, Twilight,” stated Granny Smith, her voice sounding herself again. “The shoe must pass to Applebuck.”

She grabbed her saddlebags stocked with provisions, her walking stick, and ambled for the door, opening it as she said, “It’s late, th’ road’s long. It is time.”

But before she could step out, Twilight said, “Granny Smith.”

She looked to the unicorn.

“The shoe is still in your pocket.”

“A’course…” Granny Smith replied as she fished it out. She stood there, the shoe in hoof, though she seemed calm as she slowly tilted her hoof, one only had to look into her eyes to see turmoil. Even so, the horseshoe fell from her hoof, landing on the floor. She quickly stepped out into the night, taking a deep breath.

“Ah’ve thought’a th’ perfect endin’ fer mah book: ‘And she lived happily ever after, to th’ end a’ her days’.”

“And I’m sure you will,” Twilight said as she took Granny Smith’s hoof warmly in her own.

“Happy trails, Twilight,” she replied warmly, and at once, Twilight saw she seemed older than she had but a mere moment ago.

“Goodbye, Granny Smith,” replied Twilight fondly. She watched Granny Smith as she walked down the road. She watched until the darkness of the night took her away into its mysterious embrace. Then to herself, she whispered, “Until next we meet.”

Twilight stepped into the doorway of the cottage, looking down on the horseshoe. A chill crept up her spine to the tip of her horn as ever so slowly did she bend down, and even slower did she reach down with her hoof. But at the first and most merest of touches did her hoof make upon the horseshoe did a horrifying flash make Twilight back away from it.

A pair of eyes, red, green, she could tell not which, wreathed in a purplish miasma.

She started a fire and warmed herself as she puzzled, Granny Smith’s words bothering her.

Mah own. Mah precious…!