Chapters One day not long after becoming an alicorn Twilight receives a note from Canterlot. But much too her surprise the note was not from Princess Celestia, but from Princess Luna. Twilight thought for a moment, "why would Princess Luna send me a note?" She shrugged off the thought and opened the letter.
Twilight read the note aloud,
"Dear Twilight,
I found this scroll that used to be in the library, but was found in the hallway between me and my sisters room. The spell written in it describes what has been happening lately with Tia. Please test out this spell and write to me when find out what this spell can do.
From your Princess of the Night
Luna.
Twilight folded up the scroll and pondered the thought for a moment. But before she could open the scroll to look at the spell Applejack came in the room.
‘’Well howdy Twilight, what chi readin.’’ Aj said waving to her as she shut the door to the library with one of her back hooves.
‘’Oh, hi Applejack, I was just reading this scroll that Luna gave me. She want's me to test out this spell, she thinks that this spell is the cause for some mishaps with Celestia.’’ Twilight said calmly as she held the scroll up with her magic.
‘’Wow, I cant believe that you are already being sent letters from Celestia, but from Luna to now. Whoowy, no wonder I never see you out and about.’’ Applejack said nearly jumping up to her in a Pinkie Pie manner..
‘’Hey Aj, I was wondering if you could help me with this spell?’’ Twilight said opening the scroll again.
‘’Well sure Twilight, What chi need.’’ Applejack said tilting her head slightly to make a kind smile.
‘’All I need you to do is stand right there. You see, This spell seems to only effect another pony In other words you can't use this spell on yourself.’’ Twilight said making some hoof gestures as she held the scroll in font of her muzzle with her magic.
Aj rolled her eyes at the classical book worm Twilight as she took off her hat and swung it onto the desk as if it was a Frisbee. Twilight looked at the scroll for what seemed like an hour, She then pulled the scroll away from her face and put on the same table that had Aj's hat. Te magic around the scroll dissipated and her horn was for a moment free of magic. But as soon as her magic stopped she started it again, As she started her magic was small and only glowed around her horn, but she kept pushing harder, and her magic became bigger. When this happened Twilight slowly lifted into the air along with Applejack. Aj was frozen as if in a trance but she could still move her eyes and watch as twilight lifted into the air seeming to not know what was happening. Applejack tried to yell at Twilight to stop but she was so concentrated on the spell that she could not hear Applejack.
Aj thought to herself, " If only Spike was here!"
She knew that Spike ran out just s she came in, but it took her a moment to remember the faint detail. Applejack closed her eyes for moment almost crying. But when she opened her eyes she saw that Twilight's wings and horn had a deep purple aura circulating around them.
She was shocked, " What the HAY, is this spell supposed to DO!" She thought as the aura became a dark purple that became hard to see through, unlike normal magical auras.
Aj closed her eyes again thinking that this spell would never stop Twilight opened her eyes, she saw Applejack on the other side of the room closing her eyes with a tear or two streaking down her fur. But, she then saw that both her and Aj were floating with a very dark nontransparent purple aura around her.But she became even more perplexed when she saw that the aura was the darkest around Applejack's sides and forehead. Seeing this nightmarish spell active she tried to deactivate her horn, but to no avail. She now found herself as still as Applejack only being able to move her eyes.
She shut her eyes and said in her mind, "this was a dream, no, a nightmare."
As she shut her eyes the auras grew darker and larger, the magic seemed almost black as both Applejack and Twilight opened their eyes in tears as they felt agonizing pain. It was as if the black aura was a bunch of knives stabbing into in their sides, wings, and horn. And just as they opened their eyes they closed, as if the two faded away. The two came tumbling to the ground as they fell through the reminisce of the dark magic. Twilight woke up in a hospital bed seeing Spike on a stool with a claw on her shoulder. Her vision was still blurred but she could see the tears in his eyes.
"Sp...ike." Twilight said weakly as she slowly blinked.
She heard a sigh of relief from Spike as she closed her eyes once more. a few more hours past, it was now the next morning when she woke up to the light of the sun peering through the slit in the closed curtains across from her bed. She then slowly turned her body to face the other way when she was greeted with agonizing pain. She sat up in her bed with a jolt and small wince. She curled her hooves around her stomach to try and stop the pain. She sat their for a minuet or two painting slightly as she was bent like a willow. She placed her left fore hoof on the bed as she regained her breath. She then slowly sat up strait and turned her head to see that her wings were completely covered in bandages and had ice bags intertwined with the gauze. She turned her head around and sighed, she opened her eyes and looked up to learn her knew surroundings. Se first looked to the front where she saw closed door off to the left of her bed. She then turned to the right to see the curtains once again with the line of light from the closed window behind. She then turned to the right to find another bed, she knew that was likely to find at least to beds in one room so she didn't think much of it. She laid back down gently, and she was sure to not hit her wings in any way. Laying on her right side now she say the bedside table, it had a glass of water and a few things from her friends no doubt.She attempted to lift up the cop with her magic, but when she did, she instantly regretted the decision. She held her hooves up to her head like she trying to cover it and curled up in the sheets instantly as the cup fell and broke on impact with the tile floor. As she layed their in the bed, she was unaware that the pony laying in the other bed woke to the sound of the glass shattering.
"What the HAY just happened!" A very slurred and rather sleepy country voice said.
Twilight uncoiled her body slightly still feeling the pounding in her head like a heart beat, she looked up slightly in between her fore hooves to see a pony with a somewhat long almost beach blond mane.
"Applejack?" Twilight said quietly as her head began to pound like a marching band.
"Who wan'ts to know..." Applejack said sleepily as she turned her head to face the other bed. Becoming slightly wide eyed she said, "Twilight... is that you?" Applejack said with a now much clearer voice.
Twilight was still in tight ball but she was able to say a muffled, "yes," before she tried to let the head ache subside.
There was a few minuets of silence and Twilight's throbbing pain subsided in her horn. But, as she looked up to see who was coming in the door she winced again because of the wings and how they were practically sat on during that whole horn ache debacle.
"Oh my, I'll clean this up right away miss Sparkle. Do you need any pain killers or water miss Twilight?" The kind earth pony mare said.
Twilight teared a little from the agonizing pain for a moment, she tried to get the strength to seak but her chocked voice could make a peep.
"Yes.." Applejack said with a nod.
"But I need confirmation from the patient miss Apple." The nurse said turning her head to face Aj.
"I know Twilight miss, She would like some pain killers and a glass of water. And if you don't mind after everything is cleaned up could you get me a glass of water as well." Applejack said with a small smile.
"Well....Ok then miss Apple." The mare said walking out of the room.
Twilight's small whimpers and sobs ceased, it took her a moment but after a few breaths she was able to sit up straight. She turned her head to meet her earth pony friend's gaze, "Thanks Aj." Twilight said kindly.
"Ah, no problem, anythin for a friend." Aj said smiling.
Twilight rubbed her head once more before she gently laid back down on the bed. She turned on her side as Aj did the same, Twilight spoke first after laying their heads on the pillows. "So, what are you doing in here?" Twilight asked gesturing with her right hoof.
"Welp, I host some sort of injury on both of sides of my stomach, and I also have a bad headache. And for some reason I have this bandage on my head. So yea, But what about you?" Aj said laying their rubbing the left side of her stomach.
"Well, for starters my wings seemed to be bruised or sprained probably, and the same thing goes for my horn." She said as Twilight did her best to point at her wings and horn.
Then the nurse came back in with a tray of two glasses of water, with a small cup holding a few pills, and a belt of tools. She set the tray on Twilight's bedside table and took out a brush and dust pan from her tool belt. As she cleaned up the glass she said, "I'm so sorry for taking so long, it's been so busy today that it's difficult to get everything organized." The nurse said quietly.
"It's quite alright, I understand." Twilight said softly before taking a pill from the cup and put it onto the closest glass of water.
"Yea, it's no problem." Aj said with a smile.
The nurse said thanks and quietly finished her job and left the two to rest.
For the next few days things were just normal and dull. Their friends and family came to see the two every couple days to check up on them. A week past and the two were released from the hospital.
The two walked together, heading towards Twilight's library home. Once they got there both their legs were sore and stiff from the constant sitting in a bed not doing much. When they rested for ruffly 2 hours in the home with some chatting here and there Twilight looked out the window to see Spike returning home.
"Spikes coming back now Aj." Twilight said as she turned back to her friend who was sitting on a pillow in the middle of the room.
"Really, I thought he was here the whole time." Applejack said as she stood up and walked towards the window.
"He was leaving when we came in, but before he left he said he was taking a trip to Rarity's. I didn't ask why though, probably to help her make another line of clothing i'm sure." She said with a little giggle.
"Yea, haha, that's probably it." Aj said chuckling.
Spike then came in the door to greet the two mares, "hi Twilight, hi Applejack." He said smiling.
"You look like you had a good time Spike." Aj said with a smile.
"Yup, I sure did, Rarity is making an extra big line for Saddle Mane and she needed my help." He said boldly.
"Uh huh, Sure Spike," Aj said rather slow.
Twilight gave Applejack a nudge on the shoulder with a grin.
"Oh, it's about mid day already! I hate to leave on such short notice but I have to get back to the farm to harvest more of those apples.'' Applejack said quickly.
"Well alright, if you absolutely must, you can go." Twilight said stuttering slightly.
"Yea, you go." Spike said as he walked upstairs.
"Thanks you two, I'll see you around." She said as she hugged Twilight and waved goodbye.
She walked outside to still find her empty apple cart still in front of the library from when she came a week earlier. A little shocked but nothing much, she hitch herself up to the wagon, but as the harnesses weight was put on her shoulders and back there came an unbearable pain, she stood for a moment trying to stay upright but the pain was so excruciating she screamed as tears ran down her face. Twilight and Spike both ran outside to see Applejack, now at this point had collapsed on to the dirt road. Twilight and Spike exchanged worried looks as they grabbed the unconscious earth pony. It took a few minuets but with the two working together they were able to unhook Aj from the wagon and get her inside.Applejack woke a few minutes later to find herself on Twilight's bed. She suddenly jolted her head upright from the seemingly sudden change, but as she did new waves of pain coursed through her whole backside. She winced at the new sensation and threw herself back on the bed.
Twilight suddenly came up the stairs and looked worried, "Applejack! I heard you scream, is something wrong?!" she said concerned.
"ugh, I'm ok, just got a little light headed I suppose." Aj said trying to sound happy, but showing clear signs of pain.
''You are in no condition to pull that wagon AJ. You need to rest some more, I'm not as bad off as you, so I can take over for you.'' Twilight said kindly.
''But I don't need your help sugarcube. I ugh, I can do this on my own.'' AJ said sitting up with a huff and held her stomach trying to seem strong.
''You can't even put the harness on without collapsing! Let alone that you'd have to drag that wagon back and drag it with apples in it! you collapsed because of all that weight, and you weren't even fully hitched to the wagon!'' Twilight said stomping her hoof on the wood floor.
''But...'' Aj said trying to revolt.
''No buts, you need help and I'm not letting you leave until you let me help you.'' She said with a very stern almost angered tone of voice.
''huff! ugh, huh, Fine.. I'll let you help me.'' she groaned as she sat up on the bed.
"Good, will leave in about a half an hour." Twilight said giving a kind smile.
"Ugh, ok, but we can't take to long." Aj said laying back on the bed.
Just then spike came up the stairs with a tray of crackers and tomato soup. "Here you go Aj." Spike said putting the tray on the bedside table.
With a grudge Aj took the soup in her hoof and took small spoon fulls at a time, blowing on them to cool the boiling substance. With a glass of water from Twilight and the bland crackers they all snacked on a few and chatted. After they all finished the meal Spike took the tray into the kitchen and Twilight helped Aj to get her outside.
"Do you think you can take it from here?" Twilight said concerned letting Aj now stand by herself.
"Yea Twi, I'm just wonderin if you can make it to the farm with the wagon?" Applejack said with a small giggle.
"I think so, I just have to maneuver the harness to make it the least painful." Twilight said slowly lifting the harness onto her back.
Gently, Twilight moved the harness onto her shoulder blades and buckled the two straps. The first one went around her neck and the second strap went just beyond her shoulders. With a few odd looks from Aj they set off for Sweet Apple Acres. About and hour later they arrived at the farm, but it didn't seem quite right. Without the bustle of Aj, Sweet Apple Acres nearly looked, abandoned. Twilight looked at the clock tower on the edge of town just to the east and could make out that it was 2 o'clock in the afternoon. This meant that Apple Bloom was still in school with the cmc. And Aj had stated that along the way that Granny Smith was out selling some of the last of the zap apple jam in town. They walked into the clearing between the barn and the house to find the only pony that was here. Big Mac was in a little clearing that as surrounded by apple trees. In the clearing was a red and white checkered blanket with a picnic basket and two sets of plates with silver ware. Twilight pondered for a moment and came to the conclusion that Big Mac was preparing a date for him and Cheerilee. As they walked closer to the barn Twilight tried to get his attention. But before she could, he went back into the orchard, to probably buck more apples. With a small shrug and a sigh she unhitched herself from the wagon and walked Applejack inside.
As Applejack laid in bed she said, ''Twilight, are you absolutely positive that you can do this on your own?''
''Of coarse AJ! I will never let one of my friends down!'' She said happily as she hugged AJ.
After the hug Aj laid down to rest and Twilight slowly closed the door behind her and set out to buck some apples.
As Twilight went outside the door of the house she walked over to the wagon that was just to the right of the doorway. Looking at it though, she thought that there night be smaller wagons that would make it easier on herself. So hitching herself back onto the wagon nice and gently and then walked over to the other side of the barn. There she found a smaller wagon and some buckets in a messy unneat pile. Twilight then unhitched herself from the wagon and began hitching up to the smaller wagon. While she was doing that she tried to use her magic to levitate the buckets into the wagon. But as she did she felt excruciating pain on her forehead, she quickly stopped her magic and stumbled. She almost hit the ground as the baskets began rolling around. One was rolling rather quickly into the clearing in front of her. Without thinking she started her magic again to stop the run away basket. But just like before the same knife stabbing pain throbbed all around could only feel her horn. Then at the same time as she tried to trot over to the basket and tripped. Now on the ground she could only feel the throbbing of her forehead and hearing a slight ringing. After a few minuets of resting on the ground she stood up slowly as her head still ached. She then looked up to see Big Mac watching. As if he didn't see it he began whistling and trotted away rather swiftly. Feeling embarrassed she remembered the injuries and with blushing cheeks she turned around to unhitch herself from the one strap one her and walked over to pick up the scattered baskets by hoof. After grabbing all the baskets she put them in the small wagon and hitched herself to the wagon once more. But, she accidentally misplaced the harness and suddenly felt crushing pain on both of her sides. Quickly she frantically unhooked herself from the wagon to releave her of the pain. She then fell back to the ground on her knees, she then panted for a few minuets trying her best to not cause any more pain. As she recovered from her second incident she stood up and turned around only to feel embarrassed once again as she looked at her bandaged wings, forgetting the second inflection from last week. So then, she ever so gently positions the harness higher up near her collar bone and finally secured all the straps on the harness and made sure that the harness wouldn't slip down onto her back. Now that everything was ready she set out into the vast apple orchard. Just as she was about walk into the wildish apple orchard she stopped to see in the corner of her vision she saw that to the right of her near the edge of the orchard she saw Big Mac coming back from the orchard with a large wagon full of apples and at least to to three buckets full of more apples on top of that. Shocked by what she saw she watched him go behind the barn with the dozens of apples she walked off into the orchard. A few minuets after setting hoof into the orchard she stopped to look around and saw that all the trees in her current area had no baskets underneath the trees, and yet the branches had plenty of apples that were ripe and ready to buck. With a little remark Twilight unhitched herself from the wagon and began unloading the baskets from the wagon. As she did this she saw Big Mac back in the orchard with the same wagon and buckets, but now they were apple free. He stopped and waved to Twilight and carried on into the jungle of apple trees. After she waved she quickly got to work and got all of the baskets full of ripe red apples. She then gently hitched herself back to the wagon and trotted back out of the orchard.
Twilight then thought to herself, ''where do I put these now?''
Twilight then remembered where Big Mac went when he had that huge wagon of apples. She then had a hunch that there was some sort of storage room behind that wall. So Twilight checked it out and found out that her hunch was right. As she began to go back into the orchard with an empty wagon She saw Big Mac again but with only one bucket of apples. She shrugged it off and headed back in but not as far in to see what he was up to.
She thought of things like, ''those apples will be for sale, or he forgot to store that bucket, etc.''
As soon as she began working again she saw Big Mac coming out of the barn and took the apples into the house. As Twilight continued setting up the buckets she pondered about what Big Mac would do.
Mostly she thought, ''maybe he was cooking apple stuff for Cheerilee as if they were going on a date except he was the cook.''
A Secret Stirring
When they got to the wagon they unloaded the buckets and sat the buckets near a few trees. Just in time Twilight remembered what happened earlier and did not cause herself more pain and embarrassment by trying to use her magic. Instead she tried to buck the apples off the tree but, you wouldn't call it a perfect buck. Instead of knocking the apples down into the buckets she caused pain to course through her wings and back. Fluttershy quickly helped Twilight stand back up after falling.
Fluttershy then asked, ''what happened Twilight.'' She said worried
Twilight said, ''Well, I tried a spell earlier this morning and both me and AJ got hurt.''
''Um, if you also got hurt then why are you taking her place? If you don't mind me asking.'' She said timidly.
''Well, I knew that she was in worse condition then I am so I decided that I would help her out so she can get better.'' Twilight said.
''That's nice of you.'' Fluttershy said.
''Thanks.'' Twilight said with a sigh.
Twilight then started to pace around a tree thinking of how she could get the apples off the tree now that she is to sore to buck.
Fluttershy then said, ''what if I could fly up and knock the apples off the branches and you make sure that the apples get in the buckets.''
Twilight then stopped pacing and high hoofed Fluttershy while saying ‘’that’s a great idea Fluttershy.’’
Together they got about a fourth of the entire apple orchard harvested when sundown came around. Then they started to head back to the barn to put the apples in the storage. As night fell Fluttershy seemed to feel uncomfortable. She was more nervous than usual and Twilight saw this.
''What's wrong Fluttershy?''
After a long pause Fluttershy finally said, ‘’I just have a clipped wing, that’s all.’’
Twilight said ok but was not positive that a clipped wing was making Fluttershy act in this way.
Missing Apple
Early that next morning just before the rooster crowed Twilight, Spike and, Owlowiscious woke to the sound of yelling and banging doors.
''HELP! APPLES GONE!'' said Granny Smith.
''MY SISTER'S GONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'' said Applebloom.
''WHERE'S MY SISTER, NOPE, NOPE, NOPE, NOPE, NNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPPPPPEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'' said Big Mac.
''QQQQQUUUUIIIIIIITTTTTTEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'' twilight said shouting.
''Now WHAT THE HAY IS GOING ON.'' Twilight shouted.
''It's just awful princess!'' Applebloom said.
''YUP!'' Big Mac said sniffling.
''What's wrong apples?'' Twilight said.
''Why are you all crying?'' Said Twilight.
''It's just awful Twi.''
''What's wrong Granny Smith?''
''It's my sis, she, she's, ahuhuhuhuhuhu!!!!!!!!!!''
''Applebloom don't cry please tell me. What's going on."
''What,'' sniffle ''what my sister is tryin to say is that Applejack is, well she's, SHE'S GONE!!!!!!!!!! ahuhuhuhu!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!''
''NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NOOO!!! This CAN'T be right... is it?'' Twilight said.
''I'm afraid to say that..'' sniffle, ''it is.'' Granny Smith said.
Finding the Apple That Fell Off the Tree
The Big Search
''OK, OK.'' sigh. Said Twilight.
Granny Smith, you go back to Sweet Apple Acres with Big Mac.
Search all over the acres. See if she's still there.
OK. Yup. Said Granny Smith and Big Mac.
Big Mac and Granny Smith left the castle to look in Sweet Apple Acres.
''What do I do now Princess?'' Applebloom said.
Please call me Twilight and I do know what you can do.
Ok Twi! What do I do?
You and the other Cutie Mark Crusaders shall search all around town and see if she is in one of the shops.
Ok Twi!
Good bye Twi.
Goodbye Applebloom.
She said as Applebloom walked out the palace. Now Twilight walked out the palace to fly around the Everfree forest to look for the missing AJ.
After a few more rounds she headed further into the never ending apple paradise. As she went further and further into the orchard she noticed less and less buckets around the trees. About ten minutes later Twilight stopped to hear a low bellow. Twilight was completely puzzled because it seemed like a low voice but the sound was almost animal like. She then quietly unhitched herself from the wagon and crept up on the creature that made this quite sound. When she finally got close enough to see the creature she heard a low voice. It was hard but Twilight was able make out this.
‘’Why am I the only one with this.’’
Twilight did not know what this was about or what made this sound but whatever it was, it sounded sad, and lonely. When she gathered enough courage to look she was shocked to find not a beast but her dear friend Fluttershy. She then instantly ran up to Fluttershy.
‘’OW Fluttershy what are you doing here there is a creature in these woods we have to get out of here.’’
‘’A creature!’’ Fluttershy said in a worried high pitch voice.
‘’Yes, I heard its low grumbles right around here.’’ Twilight said.
‘’Ow, um, that is nothing you need to worry about. That was a... dog, I was walking.’’ Fluttershy said in her timid voice.
‘’But if you were walking a dog then where is it know?’’ Twilight said confused in some disbelief.
‘’I was looking for the dog. The leash slipped out of my mouth and he ran in here.’’ Fluttershy said quickly.
‘’Well, I can help you look for the dog while I buck some apples.’’ Twilight said comforting Fluttershy.
‘’Ok, but, why are you bucking apples?’’ Fluttershy said confused.
‘’Ow, Applejack isn’t feeling the best so I am taking her place for the day.’’ Twilight said.
Fluttershy said ok and they both walked back to the wagon.
Dark Night
When it was around 7:40 P.M they reached the barn. Fluttershy was now at a frantic state and rushed to get the job done.
After everything was done Twilight asked, ''could I walk you home?''
In the blink of an eye Fluttershy yelled, ''NO!'' And flew off like a flash.
Twilight then became highly suspicious of Fluttershy’s actions. She tried to fly after her but as soon as she tried to attempt to fly her wings were unable to open due as she leapt into the air. Knife cutting pain went through her wings and back as she tripped on a root and tumbled into a tree. A few minuets she awoke and shakily rose to her hooves and dusted herself off.
After she brushed off the dust and checked her wings she said, ''good night Applejack.'' She said to AJ in the window.
AJ said good night and Twilight then began to walk to Fluttershy's cottage to make sure she was ok.
On her way she thought to herself, ''why would she fly off like that. And not even think about her lost dog. HMMM, something must be wrong, but what?''
Twilight soon arrived at Fluttershy's cottage around midnight.
She knocked on the door and said, ''Fluttershy, I was coming to see if you are alright.''
She waited a minuet but not even a quiet squeak came from the cottage. Twilight then thought that maybe she was still outside, possibly helping one of her animal friends. But, after going around the entire house all she saw were sleeping animals. Then she heard a rustle in the bushes. She jumped back in fright then slowly began to creep next to the rustling ferns. When she got close enough to look through the bush the rustling dissipated.
Twilight froze thinking, ''OW, WHAT AM I GONNA DO!! I, I, I GOT TO DO SOMTHING!''
She then calmed herself down and ever so gently peered through the bushes. As soon as she could see through the leafy bush the creature ran off in a flash. Twilight then jerked her head back and looked around like a hawk but there was nothing. Just a silent meadow that glowed in the moon light. She then cautiously walked back to the castle. Keeping her eyes and ears open for any movement.
All the while thinking, ''what was that thing. it looked a bit like Fluttershy with that light yellow coat but. It couldn't be her... could it.''
When Twilight got home Spike and Owlowiscious already tucked themselves into bed. Twilight then slowly sleepily walked to her bedroom and slept the rest of the night.
