The apple orchard stood still in the hazy afternoon fog. All along the green, green grass, the dew stuck strongly against each blade. When the clouds pressed together overhead, it created a shadow that swallowed the orchard whole, blanketing the world in shades of darkness. Sonata Dusk felt her brow dip in worry, assuming it was some sort of scheduled darkspot. Applejack told her all about the way weather ponies and how they manipulated the weather. She found herself alone and sweaty, but not in the usual way, forcing her to wipe her brow of sweat. Sonata stomped her spade into the ground and took a moment to breathe. Orchard soil was more healthy, much more rich in minerals and carbon content. So it had a healthier crumble. She had to stick the shovel in so it stuck firmly.

Where was Miss Applejack, she wondered, her back sore and arms softly sunken into the bone supporting them. It'd been three suns since the misses returned from her trip to the police station. So what was it. What strange occasion kept her away from home all that time. Sonata Dusk last heard from Jacquelyn that it would be a while. So she decided to quit planting seeds for the day and instead-

An abrupt bang and clatter came from the house. Her hands grew to trembling, clamping fists. She clutched the spade she'd sheathed into the earth not moments ago. And with it, she inherited the Earth, her legs and back firm from all their time working. From all the times she'd learned to twist her back a certain way and pull the rest of her body with. Sonata Dusk rushed toward the front door, which was open. The welcome mat and windows were shattered from brute force. The house was dead with noise, shrouded by a lack of lamplight. She noticed the many electric light sources were smashed to bits. Whoever broke in wasn't an ordinary thief. It was somepony out to hurt them. She stumbled over some steps up to the second floor, aware it would draw attention. The accident forced a yelp out her throat. Another, sharp chirp burst out her mouth. Her right knee was punctured by stray glass on the staircase. A booming, careless flurry of steps erupted from just ahead. The stomping steps took a line toward Applebloom's room. Sonata's eyes went wide and she limped forward, toward the noise.

The familiar buzz and whir of sound took her mind as she stood in the doorway, watching Applebloom bleed out. Sonata Dusk dropped her spade and limped toward the stallion holding her down. His eyes were furious and his hooves were dense like rock, holding the filly still. She couldn't even hear her screaming in pain or cursing and hissing. All she saw was the deep, rich red coating that silver knife over and over. Sonata Dusk reeled her injured leg back and swung hard. The kick struck him beneath the jawline and traumatized his airway. She felt sick to her stomach. How could he stab Adagio like that. How could he stab Adagio when she was right there alive and well.

"Sonata-! Help!" Applebloom begged, hoarse and hacking on her last few puffs of breath.

"Yes... Adagio. I'm coming, Adagio..." Sonata murmured, staring straight ahead as she found her discarded spade.

It reached over her head and stayed airborne for a minute, witness to her stomping and kicking his face. Till he could do nothing but writhe and scream, she reshaped his muzzle into a crooked, torn mess of flesh. Sonata Dusk heard the distant ring of church bells from outside, swimming in through the broken window to her right.

"Why... Why did you hurt her?!"

"Why did you hurt Adagio?!" She shrieked, slamming the spade into his neck.

He put his arms up in some last ditch effort to stop her, to beg a mourning woman for forgiveness. The cycle of murder came full circle as Sonata pressed her boots into his shoulders. He groaned and barked weakly about how she was making a mistake. About how Adagio was the spawn of evil. No, she whispered, plunging her spade halfway into his neck. The snap and crackle of vertabrae kissed her mind goodnight.

"When I bury you in the orchard," Sonata hushed, numb and tired, wobbling in her knees.

She reeled it back over her head.

"You can say hello to Hades for me."

His head hung on thin, scattered stretches and scraps of flesh. After her second strike, his mouth stopped running. That was when her heart introduced her to sound again. Sonata Dusk turned around to see Applebloom. Her chest drowned in sour, acidic pain. Where was she. Where did Adagio go. Why did she leave again. Sonata Dusk dropped her instrument and knelt over the corpse of a gargling, throat-slit Appelebloom. The filly told her she didn't want to die. So she held her hoof and kissed her forehead, telling her she'd wake up in a happier place, where everyone she missed would meet her with open arms. When Applebloom heard her words, they put a smile on her face. She thought, maybe, just maybe, this was how mommy sounded. She fell still remembering the sweet lullaby of saying goodbye.

The moment she stopped breathing was the moment Sonata Dusk fell over and collapsed. All she could feel was the blood sticking to her pants. Her collapsed form didn't catch the wailing sirens from outside the house. And it didn't feel the invisible hand stroking her mane, or the dry whisper of a voice telling her everything was okay.

Author's Note

At least they're safe now.