Applejack couldn't help but think her day took a turn for the worse as soon as the manticores arrived.
She had woken up that morning, washed up, got her hat on, bucked apples for the first few hours of the day, and then went off into town with a cart load of them to sell. An extremely average day, with beautiful weather, as usual. Just the way Applejack liked it. Even if it was a little boring, the orange farm pony wouldn't have it any other way. She had enough adventure in her life every time some threat to Equestria reared it's ugly head, which was often. But suddenly, her perfect day was interrupted by around a dozen manticores, and possibly a hydra, swarming the town. Only five years ago, such an event would have scared the mare senseless, and she would have set off at full gallop back toward Sweet Apple Acres. Now, however, she simply rolled her eyes and grabbed her lasso, which she kept fastened to the side of her cart at all times.
Rarity felt very much the same as Applejack about today. She had just completed a new clothing line for a client who was going to be paying quite handsomely, in addition to the line being one of her best. Then, out of nowhere, all these monsters start romping about, and one had the audacity to smash her lovely windows with it's dreadful scorpion tail! Not one to let her friends (or customers) get hurt, Rarity rushed out the door without a second thought.
Rainbow Dash was having the time of her life. Sure, she had been enjoying a good nap when the creatures decided to show up, but there were few things more fun than teasing monsters. Especially hydras, she found herself thinking, as she got the creature to tie three of it's heads in a knot while the fourth laughed at them. She laughed heartily herself, and then flew to the side as the remaining head remembered she was there.
Fluttershy was very nervous, but put on a brave face. After all, these were manticores, she knew how to deal with them. She had stood up to an adult dragon, manticores were nothing! She had even stopped an upset manticore from hurting her friends in the Everfree Forest! Despite these assurances, Fluttershy was still nervous. They were awfully upset about something, but what? Not to mention... well she knew the creatures that lived in the Everfree better than almost anypony, except probably Zecora, and she had never seen nor heard of this many manticores living in there!
Pinkie Pie was having fun! These silly manticores couldn't even poke her on the muzzle! She moved from side to side in a little game of tag, but the manticore was using it's tail, which was sharp. Pinkie tried to tell him that he could hurt somepony if he wasn't careful, but he just wouldn't listen, so she just let him keep at it. It was more fun this way, anyway. The stakes were higher! One wrong move, and OOPS! Suddenly somepony gets hurt. But Pinkie didn't make wrong moves. And she knew it.
Applejack finished trussing up her manticore, leaving it whimpering like a puppy in the middle of the street, and looked up just in time to see another of the beasts gently lowered into the Everfree by a blue glowing aura.
"Applejack!" a familiar voice said. The orange pony turned and gave a knowing smile to her white unicorn friend.
"Nice job there, Rarity! Never knew you could reach your magic that far!" The farmer called out.
"Neither did I, but I can assure you, it isn't as easy as it looks."
"I believe it!" Applejack yelled. The din of screaming ponies and roaring monsters was getting progressively louder, and it was hard to hear, even as the two approached each other. "Anyhow, whatcha want?"
"I simply wanted to know if you've seen Fluttershy? I'm certain she could help us out, if she were here!"
"No, I haven't, but she must be here somewhere!"
The ground abruptly shook with what sounded like giant footsteps, and the two heard hearty laughing coming from above them.
"Hahahaha!" Rainbow Dash laughed. "Did you see that?! Priceless! He was bawling like a newborn foal! Hahahaha!"
"Rainbow! We're trying to get these things to leave us alone without hurtin' 'em!" Applejack shouted up at the cyan pegasus.
"I didn't hurt him! I just scared him a little!" Rainbow Dash defended. The rodeo pony could only snort with annoyance at the antics of the winged mare. Sometimes she was just so...
"Hey, everypony! What a day, huh?" A high-pitched voice said from off to the ponies' immediate right. They all looked up, and lo and behold, there was Pinkie Pie, bouncing merrily towards them as if there wasn't a manticore trying to bite her flank off, which there was.
"I mean, really, blue skies, green grass, white fluffy clouds, and manticores to play tag with! What could be better?!"
"A lot of things," Applejack muttered as she took down the manticore chasing her friend, with some help from Rainbow Dash and Rarity.
"Alright," the farm mare continued, wiping a bead of sweat from her brow, "now the only ones who aren't here are the ones who'd be the most help."
"Hey!" the presiding pegasus objected, "I'm being way helpful!"
"Yeah, I know, Dash, but you and I both know that Twilight's got more magic than the rest of us combined, and Fluttershy's gift with animals would be really helpful 'bout now." the orange earth pony explained. Rarity nodded her head in agreement.
"I'm afraid I must agree with Applejack this time, darling. Our two other friends would be most helpful in this circumstance." Rainbow Dash looked like she planned on objecting further, but just then, a yellow pegasus with a flowing pink mane and tail galloped up to the four, skidding to a halt once she reached them.
"Oh, I'm sorry if I'm late! I ran as fast as I could, but I..." Fluttershy began to explain, but Applejack interrupted.
"No problem, sugarcube, s'long as your here now. Any idea what's got 'em so riled up?"
"Um, no, not really, but if I could go up and talk to one..."
"No problem! I trussed one up, just a bit ago. He should still be there." the farmer mentioned. They all trotted over to the manticore, who was now thrashing about on the ground, his legs held firmly by Applejack's rope.
"Oh Applejack! Look at the poor thing! You shouldn't leave animals like this!" the yellow pegasus scolded, and flew over to the thrashing creature. Applejack could only ponder her decision. There might have been a better way to take care of it, but it had been trying to eat her apples! She hadn't had the time to think of courtesy!
Fluttershy reached the struggling manticore, and gently raised a hoof to it's head, murmuring words of kindness. But, for the first time that her friends had ever seen, the creature did not seem comforted. In fact, it seemed more upset than ever, and roared directly into Fluttershy's face, sending spittle flying into the pony's lovely mane (Rarity nearly fainted). Fluttershy's eyes went wide, and she ran back to her friends as fast as her hooves would carry her, hiding behind Pinkie Pie once she reached them.
"Fluttershy? What's wrong?" Pinkie asked.
"I... I couldn't understand him! He just shouted at me, without words! I don't even know how he feels! He could be angry, or afraid, or just hungry for all I know! Why couldn't I understand him?! I can always understand!"
"Never mind. Rarity?" Applejack asked, concerned for her friend, obviously, but focusing on the task at hand. The white unicorn nodded her head, and picked up the manticore with her magic, unwinding the rope as she went. She then set the creature gently into the Everfree Forest, taking care to keep the rope where it was, suspended in midair.
"Thank ya kindly," Applejack said, as her rope was levitated around her outstretched foreleg.
"Don't mention it, darling. Hang on, listen," the unicorn answered, and so the others listened. It was quiet. There were no more screams of terror, nor roars of monsters. But what did that mean?
"Rainbow, could ya..?" Applejack didn't need to finish, as the rainbow-maned pegasus shot into the sky, and hovered overhead, turning every which way and taking in every detail. Finally, she shot back down to the ground, and explained the situation to her friends.
"There aren't any more monsters running around, and some of the ponies look kinda like they drove them off by hoof," Applejack was surprised at this. For some reason, it had never occurred to her that the other residents of Ponyville might be of any help. She'd have to watch that attitude. Rainbow Dash continued speaking, "But y'know what's really weird? I looked all over town, and I could see everypony, except for Twilight."
This piece of news surprised everypony. They all knew that Twilight would have been the first to go out and help during a crisis, but despite the obvious crisis right outside her door, she was nowhere to be seen.
"Could she be back at the castle?" Fluttershy asked.
"Oh yeah! Yeah! If Twilight's anywhere it's in her new castle!" Pinkie cried excitedly, bouncing down the street in the direction of the aforementioned building. After a moment's hesitation, the others followed.
As they approached, the ponies marveled once again at the beautiful crystal that made up the castle. It was a lovely building, but they weren't here to admire it. Pinkie Pie opened one of the large double doors, and walked inside, her friends close behind, making their way to the central chamber. Unsurprisingly, Twilight was there, standing over a podium with a thick volume on it, and several other books laying on either side of her.
"Um... Twilight?" Pinkie questioned, confused. The lavender mare did not respond. Applejack rolled her eyes and walked over to her, making sure to gently nudge one of the books that she passed.
"AH!" Twilight shrieked, flying into the air involuntarily.
"Twilight, where've you been?" the orange farm pony questioned. "Didn't ya notice what's been goin' on outside?"
"Oh! Uh..." Twilight responded, touching down. Something seemed very wrong with the alicorn. Her eyes were darting from side to side, and she was breathing hard. The sight reminded Applejack of when the cows got spooked. "N-n-no. I didn't notice anything unusual. Why? Did something happen?"
The apple farmer frowned deeply. Her friend was lying, she knew that much, but why? Why would she lie to them?
"Did something happen?" Rainbow Dash repeated. "Did something happen? Twilight, the town was just attacked by a swarm of manticores!"
"Pride." Fluttershy corrected quietly.
"I... uh... sorry. I... wasn't paying attention. You know how I can get caught up in my reading." Twilight excused with an awkward smile. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity all raised eyebrows in a that's-the-best-excuse-you've-got? face, while Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy seemed content to take her word for it. Rarity smiled gently then, walking forward.
"Yes, I suppose you can." She said to the princess. "Don't worry, we took care of those creatures without too much trouble. But, I hope you don't mind if..." the white mare's horn began to glow. "I take a look at this book."
The large book Twilight had been reading a moment ago rose into the air, much to her dismay. She leaped for the book uselessly, forgetting for that split second of panic that she had both wings and magic, either of which could retrieve the book more efficiently than jumping. Rarity took advantage of that split second to bring the book in front of her, and the other four non-alicorns gathered behind.
They were all surprised at what it contained. It was a book of...
"Prophecies?" Fluttershy voiced. Twilight looked down at the floor and nodded. Applejack raised an eyebrow at her.
"But Twilight, you don't believe in this stuff. You've told all of us that this is just a load of horse-apples. Why're you readin' up on it?"
"Well... think about it," Twilight said, seeming reluctant to defend herself. "How many supposed pony-tales have we been part of, now? We could easily be part of more, and I thought, just maybe, some of these ancient prophecies might help shed some light on the future. I passed passage after passage, and some of them sounded familiar. There was even one that said something about 'changing the heart of an ancient evil', like we did with Discord! But then..." Twilight stopped, as if she didn't really want to continue. It took some coaxing from the others to get her to speak again. "Just... read the one at the top left of page two hundred thirty-six." The ponies were somewhat befuddled by the dodgy answer, but turned their heads to the passage nonetheless.
This was what was written there.
The Prophecy of Final Death
as seen by
Starswirl the Bearded
They've come so far, and learned so much.
But now the greatest challenge comes.
They have such bravery left to display,
All for naught, as it would seem.
They'll meet new creatures, sacrifice, hurt
But then, at last, they will not fail,
The evil shall be defeated once more,
His power returned, still no match
Yet their ultimate goal, which so far they came for
Ultimately to lose, at the teeth of the small.
In this moment, their friendship strong
May still be shattered, by one loss
For who can answer the hardest question
Can friendship survive without Magic?
Everypony was silent for a long moment. At last, Rainbow Dash spoke up. "What kind of prophecy is that? It doesn't even rhyme!"
The others looked at her for a moment, and then they all laughed, some more heartily than others. Once Twilight stopped laughing, she turned to the cyan pegasus with a smile on her face.
"It's called 'free-verse', Rainbow." Her face suddenly lost all of it's merriment and she looked weary. "But did all of you catch that at the end? Friendship without Magic?"
"Yeah, sure we did sugarcube." Applejack said, still smiling. "I don't reckon to know what it means, but I sure as sugar saw it."
"Girls..." All the smiles were swept away by the gloomy tone in the pony's voice. They all turned to her seriously. "I..." Twilight continued, without mirth, "I think it means something's going to happen to me."
"Like what, sugarcube?" Applejack asked curiously. Twilight sighed.
"I don't really know. It could mean I'll disappear, lose my power, or my element. Maybe I'll be captured or..." The Princess of Friendship paused, reluctant to continue, before finally saying, "Or maybe I'll die."
"WHAT?!" the others shrieked, and they ran over to their friend, all offering words of encouragement or denial.
"Girls! Girls. I know it sounds awful, but..."
"No, Twilight." Applejack stated loudly enough that the others fell silent. Twilight was taken aback by the firmness in her friend's voice.
"What?"
"I said no. You ain't gonna die. We'd never let anythin' like that happen to ya. Never."
"But Applejack..."
"No buts. Nothin's gonna happen to ya, so long as we're around. Now, it's a real nice day, so I say we go out and have a picnic. Sound good to everypony?" She turned to look at the others, and they nodded, before turning back to Twilight.
"Sound good, Twi?" She asked. Twilight sighed, and then smiled.
"Yeah, that sounds really good."
"Alright. The meadow, just north of Ponyville, in about an hour?" the orange earth pony suggested. A collective agreement went through the others, and Applejack said, "Good. Well, we better get goin'. See ya there, Twi."
"Yep, see ya." Rainbow Dash agreed.
"Goodbye, darling." Rarity said.
"Bye." Fluttershy barely whispered.
"Bye-Bye, Twi!" Pinkie cried merrily. Twilight smiled as her friends left. Maybe the prophecy would come true. But not today. Today was a good day.
She was so preoccupied with this train of thought that she did not notice the door open and close one last time, even though Spike was still asleep upstairs, and her friends were long gone.
