The Stone of Azralia
Chapter 1
Nightmares
The Morning sun rose slowly over Sweet Apple Acre farm. A large rooster had perched himself on top of the hen house and gave a loud Cock-A-doodle-Doo, which could be heard throughout the farm. An orange earth pony with a blonde mane and tail fell quickly out of bed, and landed onto the floor with a loud thud. “What the Hay!” Applejack shouted, who believed Big Mackintosh pushed her out of bed again. Applejack worked her way out of the covers and looked to the other side of the bed, but nopony was there. “Aw, horseshoes. Just another nightmare.” Applejack said to herself. It’s always the same dream: fire everywhere, Applebloom with her cutie mark, a clawed hand, and a full moon. Applejack got up off the floor and dusted herself off. Looking in the mirror she saw a rat’s nest of a mane. Grabbing the comb, Applejack brushed her mane and tail and put them in her usual ponytail. Applejack grabbed her hat and walked down stairs into the kitchen.
There was nopony else in the kitchen. Applejack stopped at the table and grabbed a fresh apple from the bowl in the middle. Eating the apple, Applejack walked outside to watch the end of sunrise, if there was a sunrise to be seen. The entire sky was full of grey clouds, Applejack thought this was odd, usually the Pegasus ponies will keep the sky clear through the morning. “Huh, maybe they want us to see the sunset tonight, I can deal with that.” Applejack thought to herself. Since watching the end of sunrise was off her to-do list. Applejack trotted off the farm and headed to Sugercube Corner. When she arrived, a light pink pony with a magenta mane and tail was bouncing happily in front of the store.
“ APPLEJACK! You’re here!” the pony said with glee and she gave Applejack a hug.
“ Yes I’m here Pinkie Pie, now can I ask why you wanted me here so early?” She asked breaking the hug with Pinkie.
“Well you’re not the only pony who I asked to come today you see in two days it is the cupcake festival here in Ponyville where I need to make about five thousand cupcakes so I asked you Rainbow Dash Rarity Fluttershy Twilight Spike Sweetie Bell Applebloom and Scootaloo to come and help me make cupcakes well you’re not actually making the cupcakes because I made them last night but I think you’re going to be frosting them as well as taste testing and making cookies…”
“Pinkie”
“Oh and of course we need decorations balloons and streamers ooh and also a piñata…”
“Pinkie”
“And party games those are important…”
“PINKIE PIE!” Applejack screamed.
“Yah?” The pink Pony asked cheerfully.
“Where making cupcakes sugercube?” Applejack asked quickly before Pinkie Pie went on another endless conversation with herself.
“Well DUH, it wouldn’t be a cupcake festival without cupcakes” Pinkie exclaimed. Before Applejack could respond, the pink mare ran up to a purple pony with a dark purple mane carrying a sleepy baby dragon on her back.
“Well Hi Pinkie Pie” Twilight Sparkle said gasping for air while Pinkie gave her an extremely tight hug, Knocking the dragon off her back. While Pinkie Pie was telling Twilight what she had planned to do today, Applejack thought about what Pinkie said and tried to make sense of it in her head.
“WAIT!” Applejack yelled “did you say my sister was helping you today too?” Pinkie stopped talking to Twilight and turned to look at Applejack.
“Yah, she, Sweetie Bell, and Scootaloo are bringing me some decorations they were making in the tree house.” Pinkie replied, and then she turned back to Twilight to tell her what her tasks for the day were. Soon the beautiful white unicorn pony arrived, and her arrival went the same way as Twilight’s, but it was only muddier. The sky was starting to release the rain that the Pegasus ponies were trying to save for tomorrow, so the five moved inside and started their preparations. Rarity and Twilight were frosting the cupcakes Pinkie was making, Spike, who had finally woken up, was testing the surprise birthday candles for Pinkie’s cupcake cake, and Applejack was filling a brightly colored piñata Applebloom, Sweetie Bell, and Scootaloo made the other day. It was a bright pink cupcake with the words “Happy Cupcake Day!” written on both sides in light blue frosting, the same light blue of Rainbow Dash’s coat, who was the Pegasus pony in charge of the weather in Ponyville. Now where is Rainbow Dash? Applejack thought to herself, she also realized that Fluttershy hasn’t shown up either. In fact, Applejack hasn’t seen a Pegasus pony all day.
Applejack continued with her work, she thought there must have been a Pegasus event up in Cloudsdale that Pinkie forgot about when she invited them to help. The Piñata was getting full with the delicious sweets Pinkie was making, when it was filled Applejack started to walk over to the kitchen where Pinkie, Twilight, and Rarity were working, when she felt extremely dizzy. Holding onto the arm of the nearest chair, Applejack closed her eyes until the dizziness passed. Then a growling noise invaded the back of Applejack’s mind, The stone shall be mine…, hearing the noise caused Applejack to have a great deal of pain coming from her head, witched caused her to yell. She heard the others running from the kitchen, but Applejack still couldn’t open her eyes, the pain was building inside her head, and I shall rule Equestria for eternity…, the voice came into her head again causing her to scream. Applejack collapsed to the floor, holding her hooves up to her head waiting for the pain to stop.
For what felt like hours, were only a few minutes. The pain slowly stopped in Applejack’s head, where she was able to open her eyes again. When she looked up she saw that her friends have gathered around her to see if she was ok. “Applejack, are you okay?” Twilight asked , “You gave us quite a scare.”
“Yah I’m fine Twi,” Applejack replied getting off from the floor, “ I’m sorry girls, but I think I’m Going to have to call it quits for the day.”
“That’s okay Applejack! We were just about done!” Pinkie said cheerfully, “and besides we all need to get some sleep to finish the work for tomorrow!” Applejack looked at Pinkie, and started to walk towards the door.
“I thank you guys for what you done, I’ll see yawl tomorrow, night”
“Night Applejack” the others said in unison. Applejack walked out of Sugercube corner, where it was pouring down rain. She trotted toward the apple orchard hoping to stay dry out of the rain. She walked up to the largest apple tree in the middle of the orchard; this was the tree where Applejack’s father first taught her how to applebuck, she came to this tree when she felt lonely, confused, or hurt. Applejack looked up at the tree gazing at its branches before she laid down beside it. “I miss you daddy” Applejack whispered looking up at the tree, just as she put her head down the pain returned. She heard growling and screaming, the pain grew worse and worse until it carried her into unconsciousness.
The darkness came over her like a wave of destruction, the next thing Applejack knew, she was in a burned up field, with ruins on either side of her. The sky looked as though it hasn’t seen sun in a thousand years. Applejack walked slowly; looking on either side of her the ruins were somewhat familiar. It wasn’t until she came across a sign the said “ SugerCube Corner” that was mostly burned, and grey from ashes. Suddenly the thought came onto her that she was where Ponyville used to be.
“No!” Applejack screamed, she started to run around shouting for anypony to be there, “Hello, Anypony here? Hello!” Applejack gasped for breath, her legs were shaking, something wasn’t right. She stood there for a long time, thinking what has happened to her home, her friends, and everypony she loved and cared for. It wasn’t until she saw a dark figure darting behind what used to be Twilight’s library. Applejack darted after it.
The figure must have seen her because it started to sprint faster. Applejack followed it into what was the Everfree forest. The forest has grown darker, and spookier. The path was nearly covered with roots and leaves. She tried to follow the figure into the heart of the woods, but she lost sight of it. Crawling through the tangled roots, she managed to find a clear spot in the path. With little visibility, she made her way through the forest. Walking for a few hours was exhausting. Applejack managed to find a hole she could sleep in and stay hidden if anything dangerous comes. When she jumped in she heard a cracking under her hooves. Brushing a couple of leaves off she realized she landed on a pony skeleton, a Pegasus pony to be exact, but this was no ordinary pony skeleton, around its neck was a necklace with a bright red lightning bolt, which was the symbol of loyalty.
Tears began to form in Applejacks eyes. She knew this pony; these were the remains of Rainbow Dash. Looking at the bones made her heart break, how did she end up like this, who did this, and why? There were so many questions running through Applejack’s head. She stayed there the whole night; until she was awaken by a roar. A roar so terrifying that even Applejack was afraid to find out what it was. It sounded close, so leaving the skeleton of Rainbow Dash, she trotted up the path way not more than a hundred yards when she saw a massive cloaked figure sitting in what appeared to be a throne made out of bones, pony bones. Applejack could not make out the face, but what she could tell that it had two horns shooting out from the sides of its head, and a bright blue light hanging around its neck. Its hands were massive; it looked like it could crush a pony in one blow, but there was a unique detail about them. On its right hand on the forth finger, it had a ring, not just any ring, but it was the crown of Princess Celestia.
Applejack was only viewing for a few seconds, until the same voice from Sugercube Corner spoke. “I destroyed all ponies centuries ago. How are you still alive?” the creature boomed, looking directly at Applejack. She only stood in fright. “I have taken over all of Equestria, and I repeat, HOW ARE YOU STILL ALIVE?” He shouted again, Applejack stood in horror, her thoughts invaded in her mind, she didn’t know what to say. “Well it doesn’t matter whether you respond to me or not, I’m going to destroy you anyway.” The creature chuckled to himself. He rose from his throne; the blue light from his neck glowed brighter, and Applejack was frozen in fear. The creature formed a glowing blue mass in his hand, and began to throw it Applejack. She braced herself for the impact but it never came. What she did feel was the burning branch falling on top her, waking her up.
Applejack jumped up. “It was only a dream” she whispered. Panting like a dog she thought it was only a dream, Rainbow Dash is alive, there is no creature, and Ponyville is, Applejack stopped thinking and looked around, she froze with terror in her eyes. What she saw was a nightmare; Ponyville was being destroyed by fire.
Chapter 2
Fire and Stone
Applejack dodged past the terrified ponies sprinting away from the burning Ponyville, as she sprinted towards the Mayor’s house, where the Mayor was seen trying to calm everypony down. Applejack was only a couple hundred yards away when one of the town homes started to collapse. As it was starting to tilt over, Applejack noticed a small newborn foal, who hadn’t learned to walk yet, was crying for its mother and was lying directly in the path of the collapsing building. She took every inch of energy to sprint over to the foal, knocking a few ponies over to make them get out of her way. Her heart was racing, she couldn’t let this little foal die right in front of her when nopony else was doing anything to save it. She reached the foal just as the building that was closest to the ground was giving away. Applejack grabbed the foal by the diaper and rushed it away 20 yards, when she dived onto the foal, protecting it from the debris that the collapsing building was shooting out. She stayed over the foal, until she knew the building was no longer a threat. Standing up, Applejack looked at the foal to make sure it was okay, and then she proceeded galloping to the mayor to find out what was going on.
“Applejack!” the Mayor screamed when she came up,”that took a remarkable amount of bravery; if we had the time I would give you the Medal of Bravery.” The Mayor paused and coughed in her forehoof from the smoke, “come inside, hurry.” Seeing that the Mayor was concerned, Applejack followed her into the house. She put the foal gently on the ground, and looked directly at the Mayor.
“Mayor, what the hay is going on? What happened? “Applejack became angry and quite concerned, she looked down and smiled at the foal who took a liking to her tail by giving it tiny little tugs here and there.
“It all started last night” the Mayor replied, “dark creatures of the night came down from the skies, and started to abduct the unicorn ponies. These creatures were dark, red eyes, sharp teeth, and claws.” The Mayor shivered while she said this. “But as the creatures started to take the unicorns away, they started to fight back. And those awful creatures started shooting balls of fire at the town.”
“WHAT?! But Mayor who took them and why? Are there any still here? Are they Dead? TELL ME” Applejack screamed at the Mayor’s face, her eyes started to tear up as she continued her story.
“Only one unicorn was not taken, she tried to protect the others by fighting off the creatures..” Her sobs were getting worse with pain, she tried to continue in a manor where Applejack could still understand her. “And, and, those creatures, those creatures, TURNED HER INTO STONE!” The Mayor could not hold her emotions any more; tears were streaming out of her eyes like waterfalls, Applejack hugged her until she wanted to break it.
“Mayor” Applejack said in a calming voice, “Where is this pony? The Pony of stone?”
“ In the park, by the fountain” the Mayor replied , who seemed to calm down a bit, “I’ll look after the foal and find it’s parents, go Brave Applejack, help us.” The Mayor picked up the foal, who now has slept through the entire conversation on Applejacks tail. Applejack saw the sign that it was time to leave.
Applejack trotted out of the house and towards the park. She wanted to make sure the pony of stone, was somepony other than what she thought. The sky has turned black as night, when it was only about 10:00 in the day. Thousands of thoughts crossed her mind, hoping that she herself could answer some questions.
When she reached the park, it was black everywhere. The trees the scorch marks, and the fountain was spurting some sort of black ooze. But the scorch marks were the deepest and the darkest by the Pony of Stone. It was obvious a fire ball had turned her into stone, but it must have had some magic qualities to it. Applejack approached the statue; she was only a few yards away when she recognized that familiar stance the pony was in. Her eyes were squinted tight, and her legs were spread far apart, and her horn was pointed directly upwards; Applejack only saw her in this stance when she was performing her most powerful spells. The Pony of Stone was Twilight Sparkle.
Applejack froze, tears were swelling up in her eyes and her legs were caving in. Slowly Applejack fell to the ground close to her friend’s hooves. “T..T…T…Twi??” Applejack said chokingly,”no…no….no..no,no,no!” Applejack yelled, getting up to the ground to hug her frozen friend. Sobbing Applejack hugged her tightly hoping to never let her go. Suddenly a splitting headache attacked Applejack, similar to the one she got at Sugercube corner.
Ha,ha,ha the dark figure said in her mind, You will thank me later… The headache left as soon as it arrived. Applejack opened her eyes and broke the hug with Twilight. She ran a few yards, with all the anger she has built up in the last two days, she screamed.
“YOU BRUTE! YOU HAY SPITTING, SON OF A MARE BRUTE!” She was kicking and screaming, hoping that thing would get the message.
“Applejack?” said a worried voice behind her. Applejack turned around only to see Big Mackintosh with some severe burns on his shoulders and flank. His harness was torn badly, he was fighting those things.
“Big Mac, you’re okay!” Applejack yelled with a bit of happiness and turned around to give her big brother a hug.
“What happened?” He asked when Applejack let go.
“Those creatures, turned Twi into…into” But she couldn’t finish what she was trying to say, she was breaking down again. Mackintosh came and hugged her again.
“It’s okay Applejack, Where going to fix this” He replied with confidence. “In fact Granny Smith wanted to see you, she needed to tell you something.” Applejack looked up at her big brother,
“well if it has to do with what’s happening, then I’ll go, if not I’ll just stay here awhile and look after my friend.” She said quietly.
“She said it has to do something with the Pegasus and the Unicorn ponies going missing.” Big Mac replied. Applejack looked up and started to walk away from Big Mac, “hey where are you going?” he asked.
“I’m going back to the farm” Applejack yelled back, “if it has to do with saving my friends and my home, I want to help in every way I can.”
It took them a while to get back to the farm, when they reached the door of the farm house, there was a note attached to it:
Meet me by your father’s Tree Aj, Bring Big Mac with you.
Applebloom is with me.
Love you! XOXOX
Granny Smith
Applejack thought this was odd, but yet again Granny Smith did a lot of odd things. So she and Bic Mackintosh walked down to their father’s tree. They saw Granny smith in a serious mood, and Applebloom looking scared. “Um, Granny, what’s going on?” Applejack asked as they approached.
“Haven’t you been looking around today?” Granny snapped “the fire, the creatures, seriously Applejack were you born yesterday?” Granny walked toward Applejack “This has to do with your father, and where you came from.” Granny said calmly. She turned around and walked up close to the tree. There was a knot in the lower part of the tree, and Granny Smith just lightly tapped it. Suddenly the roots began to move, and a hole in the ground formed showing a flight of stairs that go deeper into the earth. Applejack, Applebloom, and Big Mackintosh were shocked.
“Granny, what is this?” Applejack questioned and giving Granny Smith a look of surprise on her face.
“Come on now Applejack,” Granny Smith replied, “You didn’t possibly think your father was just a hard working farm horse did you?” looking away from Applejack, chuckling Granny Smith continued down the stairs into the dark abyss, where the three Apple children followed in curiosity.
