Lord of the Horseshoes: The Friendship of the Shoe

“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.