On the Apple Farm

Half an hour came and went fast. Babs and Sweetie Belle approached the site of Sweet Apple Acres with a heavy heart.

For Sweetie Belle, it was like walking down memory lane. She couldn’t recount the number of times she and Scootaloo would traverse this path on their way to their clubhouse to meet with Apple Bloom. She knew the road as well as any street back in Ponyville…the old Ponyville.

While she reminisced about the old days, Babs was busy wondering how much Apple Bloom had changed. Her favorite cousin, her sister from another mother…had Apple Bloom become something so dark as to be unfamiliar to her? She was still trying to wrap her mind around what Pipsqueak had told them, wanting nothing more than to write it off as misinformation. Apple Bloom was not a murderer.

But the feeling of foreboding never left Babs as she paused on the road.

“Babs?” Sweetie Belle turned to her. “What’s up?”

“Are we really doing this? Are we really trying to help a government agent find dirt on Apple Bloom?” She looked at the ground as she spoke. Her eyes were wide in disbelief.

“We’re going to prove him wrong,” Sweetie Belle said in all confidence. “Pip is just doing his job. But that doesn’t mean he’s doing it well. There’s no telling how much bad info he got in that time.”

Sweetie Belle sounded confident, but underlying it was a hint of concern that Babs did not miss. The perceptive mare could read Sweetie Belle as if she were an open book. She was desperate, Babs knew. Sweetie Belle wanted to prove Pipsqueak as wrong as she did, only she was scared of what she might find. She was scared that maybe, just maybe, Pip would be proven right.

“Yeah,” Babs said to alleviate the tension the long silence had built. The wind was picking up and it was getting colder. Dust kicked up, forcing the mares to shield their eyes. If nothing else, they would need to find shelter soon. Darkness would be upon them and neither of them wanted to be out here in the middle of the night. Funny that as children the notion of staying over at the Apple Farm once filled them with joy. Now there was only a creeping dread with every step they took.

“Let’s keep moving.” Babs took the lead as they continued their walk. It wasn’t long before Sweet Apple Acres appeared before them. This was their first impression: “That’s strange,” Sweetie Belle said.

“It doesn’t look any different,” Babs muttered to herself. Before them stood one of the most industrious and successful farms in all of Equestria. Fields of apples as far as the eye could see with a large red barn, the biggest in the town, standing as the principle structure.

“Appearances can be deceiving,” said a now familiar voice in the hushed whisper of a conspirator. Like magic, RSS Agent Pipsqueak appeared right next to them, causing the ponies to yelp.

“Dammit, runt! Don’t you don’t that again!” Babs Seed warned.

“Sorry for the fright, Babs. Just keeping my skills sharp.” Pip removed the hood of his cloak and with a wink, drew their attention to the farm. “There’s your target. Now remember, I only need twenty minutes. Afterward, I will give you the signal. You do recall what that is, correct?”

Babs rolled her eyes. “You make a birdie call. Geez, kid. It ain’t that complicated.” Her Bucklyn accent dripping with sarcasm, Babs nudged Pip with her hoof. “Now scram. We don’t want anypony knowing you’re here.”

“I assure you they won’t. In fact,” Pip backed away as the wind picked up, “I’m not even here.” Once the dust settled, Agent Pip was gone.

“That’s a neat trick,” Sweetie Belle pointed out.

“Riot. Come on.”

They entered the grounds and proceeded through the field of apples. On either side of them, large trees loomed over them like attentive sentries. Their boughs were full of the reddest, juiciest apples that either pony had ever seen. The mere sight of them made Babs recall the sight of the patrons back at Sugar Cube Corner. Their saliva had reminded her of blood, which was the same shade of red as the apples on the trees.

“Your treehouse ain’t far from here, right Sweetie Belle?” Babs asked. In case of emergency, Pip had instructed them to wait for him at the old Cutie Mark Crusader Clubhouse.

“It isn’t,” the unicorn told her. “I just hope we don’t have to use it.”

“Same here.” Babs saw the lights on at the house. A pony was sitting on the front porch. Babs recognized the hat from here. “Hey, Applejack!” She called and waved. The orange pony stirred in her seat, which had a pair of wheels attached to them. Babs paused. “Oh!”

Seeing they had visitors, Applejack greeted them with a smile. “Well howdy, Babs! Sweetie Belle. Long time no see.” She rolled down a ramp which had been installed on the porch. “How ya’ll been?”

“AJ…what happened?” Babs asked in true shock.

“What this? Don’t ya mind none. Just a little accident.” Applejack stopped just before them.

But Sweetie Belle was near tears. “What happened, Applejack?

“Wasn’t payin’ attention one day. Pulley dropped some crates on me. Kept ma head but lost ma legs.” She folded her hooves on her lap. “Twert nothin’. Still fit as a fiddle. So what brings ya’ll back here to the Apple Farm?”

But Babs and Sweetie Belle were too transfixed by her condition to answer. To suddenly learn that the hardest working mare in all of Ponyville was handicapped was a huge surprise. That Apple Bloom didn’t write Babs, didn’t tell her about this tragedy so that she could come and see her, showed just how distant they had become.

“I’m sorry, Applejack,” Babs said after realizing she’d been staring. “I would have come sooner had I known.”

Applejack waved her off. “Ah said don’t worry about it, Babs. This won’t stop me. Ah still work the farm same as everypony else.”

Babs approached her cousin. “Still, I,” she stopped after looking at Applejack’s eyes. There was a distance in them, a great depth that made them feel cold. They were no longer the sparkling orbs of a pony who enjoyed life as much as she loved her family. She was different somehow.

“But how do you do it?” Sweetie Belle’s sudden outburst caused Babs to break out of that trance, a trance that felt like she’d been falling into a hole from which there would be no escape. “You can’t possibly buck the apple trees now that…” Sweetie Belle stopped herself.

One of AJ’s eyes went up. “Now that…what? Ah’m a cripple?” She eyed the unicorn dangerously.

Sweetie Belle shrank as if afraid. Babs looked cautiously between the two, wondering if she and Sweetie Belle would suddenly have to make a break for it.

Then Applejack started laughing. “Sweetie Belle, yer as clueless as yer big sister sometimes. Jus’ because ah ain’t buckin’ like ah used to don’t mean ah don’t help around the farm. Ah’m still an Apple and that means ah don’t give up. Ain’t that right, Babs?”

“Huh?” Babs, now in the spotlight, fumbled over her response. “Er…yeah. Sure.”

Applejack looked between the two of them. Her eyes finally settled on Sweetie Belle. “So how’s Rarity doin’ nowadays?”

“She’s okay. I mean…she’s managing.”

“Ah’ll bet. Being a big city pony now mean she don’t have time to come by an’ visit us no more.” Her tone became cold, almost sapping the warmth right out of the air. “Jus’ up an left us…all of us. Some ponies jus’ can’t hack it, ah guess.”

Babs gasped. Sweetie Belle’s cheeks puffed red as if about to burst. She glared at Applejack, all traces of awkwardness gone. “Rarity did not leave because she wanted to. She just wanted to take care of me. She didn’t run away.”

Applejack softened all of a sudden. “Awright, young one. Ah didn’t mean nothin’ by it. Ah understand takin’ care of family. Shoot, anypony that don’t look after family ain’t a pony worth associatin’ with.” She smiled kindly at Sweetie Belle. But there was no warmth in the gesture. “Yer sister was jus’ lookin’ out for ya. Ah can relate. Ah’d do anythin’ for Apple Bloom and she’d do the same for me.” Her face perked up. “Well speak of the devil.”

Her gaze shifted beyond the two ponies and they turned to find a younger, stronger version of Applejack casually strolling out of the orchards. Her red mane hadn’t changed other than being a bit longer than either of them remembered. She wore a hat similar to the one her sister did and hoisted a shovel over her shoulder. Strong, muscular legs ate up the distance between them and the closer she came the more the visitors began to realize just how big she’d gotten.

Years of back-breaking labor on the farm had chiseled Apple Bloom into a fine example of an earth pony. She stopped just in front of them, lifting her head up so that they could see her chewing a blade of grass between her teeth. “Howdy,” she said in a strong voice. “Been a while, Sweetie Belle.”

“Apple Bloom!” The unicorn rushed to embrace her childhood friend, wrapping both arms around Apple Bloom’s powerful neck. “I’ve missed you so much!”

“Likewise,” Apple Bloom said, and it seemed like she meant it. Still, Babs expected more of an outpouring of emotion. Apple Bloom seemed almost as cold as Applejack, which only worried her more.

Wiping a tear from her eyes, Sweetie Belle stood back. “I’m so sorry we haven’t kept in contact. I miss you and Scootaloo. Oh, if it wasn’t for that stupid war we’d still be together.”

“Ah know. Ah wish things had gone a different way. But it is what it is. All ah know is that we’re still friends.”

“Always!” Sweetie Belle laughed. “Wow. You’ve changed.”

“So have you.” Apple Bloom looked at Babs. “Well hi, Babs. What? No hug for yer favorite cousin?”

Babs went over to hug Apple Bloom. As they wrapped hooves around each other, Babs felt herself tense. Apple Bloom was hard, as strong as a rock. What labors she must have gone through to become so powerful? She smelled sweat and dirt on Apple Bloom’s fur and something else as well, something metallic. She was almost relieved when Apple Bloom finally let her go.

“How’s it hanging, Apple Bloom?”

“Not bad. Why don’t ya’ll come inside and we’ll catch up?” Spitting out the blade of grass, Apple Bloom walked over to Applejack, whispered something her ear, and headed towards the house. “Come on, ya’ll. Yer just in time for supper.”

“Ah’ll catch up with ya in a second,” Applejack said. “Jus’ gotta go an check on somethin’.” She rolled away before she finished that sentence, moving with more haste than Babs thought warranted. She and Sweetie Belle fell in line behind Apple Bloom who clung onto that shovel of hers like it was another leg.

“Sweetie Belle,” Babs whispered so that only she would hear. “Look.” She motioned to Apple Bloom’s flank. Her cutie mark, a large apple tree with several bright red apples, was a sight to behold, but not as captivating as the strange red streaks coming out of the apples, like lines of red juice. Babs’s memory suddenly returned to Sugarcube Corner where the red spittle came to mind. Remembering how the ponies ate made her shiver.

At the house, Apple Bloom casually placed her shovel inside the entrance to the door and waited for her friends to enter before looking out across the field. The sun was gone, casting the farm in darkness. Apple Bloom shut the door.

The house looked like something trapped in time. Everything was exactly as the Manehattan ponies remembered it, quaint, homey, warm and inviting. So why did it all feel so wrong?

“Granny Smith,” Apple Bloom called as she entered the kitchen. “We got company!”

Inside, they found the aged green mare working over a pot of stew. Sipping from a wooden spoon, Granny Smith looked up at their guests. “Well hello there, youngins. Been a while since we had visitors.”

Babs and Sweetie Belle exchanged odd looks. The farm was bustling and business was good. Surely they must have had a few ponies drop by now and then?

“How are you, Granny?” Sweetie Belle spoke as if she were a part of the family, forgoing any formalities. “You’re looking good.”

“Always have,” Granny chuckled. “Why don’t ya’ll have a seat now? Supper’s almost ready.”

“Sure thing. Babs?” Sweetie Belle sat down at the table. Babs sat in the seat adjacent to her while Apple Bloom, after putting up her hat on the rack nearby, joined them. The three mares stared at each other in a silent triangle. “So...” Sweetie Belle started. “How are things?”

“Not too bad. Farm’s doin’ awright.” Apple Bloom looked out the window. It was dark outside—not much to see. She smiled. “Heck, we’re doin’ better than awright. Did ya see the town?”

“Sure did,” Sweetie Belle admitted. “Everything looks like a barn now. Except for Sugarcube Corner.”

“What happened to Pinkie Pie?” Babs asked abruptly. “She don’t work there anymore?”

“She’s still around,” Apple Bloom, her eyes still glued to the window, said. “She works with us now. Been a big help.”

“Pinkie,” Sweetie Belle asked, “left the bakery?”

“Business wasn’t good. With nothing t’ sell, Sugercube Corner closed down. We couldn’t leave Pinkie without a home so we gave her a job on the farm.” Apple Bloom turned back to her friends. “She’s been with us ever since.”

“Where is she?” Babs asked.

“Oh, in the North Orchard somewhere. Her experience growin’ up on a rock farm has been a big help.”

Babs was a city pony. She had no experience in country life, but she was a pretty savvy to know that once the sun set, all work came to an end. With no light, it was impossible to see what you were doing, so why would Pinkie still be out on the field at this time, when the sky was pitch black? When they arrived, Apple Bloom had already been on her way home, so shouldn’t everypony? Something wasn’t right.

“She’s awright,” Apple Bloom said as if reading Bab’s mind. “In fact, Applejack went to check up on her.”

Sweetie Belle exchanged a glance with Babs. “But now that things have gotten better,” the unicorn started as she turned back to Apple Bloom, “wouldn’t she have gone back to Sugarcube Corner? The place was doing good business when we were there.”

“Things have changed around here, Sweetie Belle. Pinkie was grateful to us for givin’ her a roof over her head when she had none. The Cakes left Ponyville not long after ya did, ya see, and she had nowhere t’ go. We gave her a home, a job, so she’s repayin’ us by workin’ the farm like an Apple.”

“But the bakery,” Sweetie Belle tried to speak but was quickly cut off.

“Is doin’ jus’ fine now. Pinkie’s with us. She likes it here.” Apple Bloom looked Sweetie Belle square in the eye. “Ya know, you and Rarity could’ve stayed here too instead of up an leavin’. We’d have provided ya with shelter in exchange for some work. We’d have done the same for Scootaloo an’ all our friends. None of ya had to go. Sweet Apple Acres could’ve been yer home.”

“I didn’t want to go.” Sweetie Belle felt embarrassed, ashamed even. “I begged Rarity to stay. I never wanted to leave Ponyville.”

Apple Bloom’s next words were curt. “But ya did.”

Sweetie Belle gasped as if she’d been yelled at. She brought a hoof up to her chest where her heart was. “I’m…sorry.”

“Don’t apologize,” Babs said. She gave Apple Bloom a stern look. “Nopony knew things would be that bad after the war ended. Ponies had to make a lot of hard decisions. Rarity wanted Sweetie Belle to have a chance at an easy life. That’s why she moved them to Manehattan.”

“She’s right, Apple Bloom. I never wanted to leave. I missed you and Scootaloo so much. I cried for days.”

Babs went on. “You guys could have left too. You could have stayed with us in the city. I’d have taken care of you, Apple Bloom.”

“When Apples plant roots, we mean to stay,” Apple Bloom told her cousin flatly. “Ponyville wouldn’t exist without Sweet Apple Acres. This is our home. Now and forever. Livin’ in the big city, ya must have forgotten’ that, Babs Seed.”

“I didn’t forget where I came from.”

“Oh really?” Apple Bloom’s brow went up.

Babs stood up, her hooves on the table. “Yeah. Really.” She was clearly agitated, seemingly ready for a fight. Sweetie Belle placed a hoof on her arm to calm her down. “I came here because I was worried about you guys. I wanted to know why you stopped writing. I wanted to see if you were okay.”

The red-haired mare laughed. “We’re fine. Ain’t we, Granny?”

“Sure as apple sauce.” Granny Smith filled three bowls with soup. Carrying them over to the table, she placed the bowls with the skilled hooves of a caretaker, without a single drop. “Eat up now.”

Maybe Granny didn’t sense the tension in the air. Maybe she didn’t care. She just went about her business while the ponies got into a heated staring contest.

“Ya know what?” Apple Bloom started. “It don’t matter none. Ah don’t wanna fight. Let’s just agree to let bygones be bygones.” Picking up her spoon, she dipped it the smoking red soup that smelled of apples and cinnamon. “Ya’ll here now and that’s what matters. Here’s t’ family.” She raised her spoon and took a sip, slurping loudly. “Mmm. That’s good eatin’.”

Babs finally sat back down and sighed. This is not how she wanted to spend her time back in Ponyville. She couldn’t believe how much tension there was between them. She and Apple Bloom used to be so close. Now it was like she was talking to a complete stranger. To say Babs had forgotten her roots was like saying she’d turned her back on the Apple Clan. She’d have loved it if Apple Bloom had moved to Manehattan. Both she and Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo of course, all together with Babs. The Cutie Mark Crusaders take Manehattan! It would have been something.

But things didn’t turn out that way.

“I really missed you.” Sweetie Belle looked down at her soup. “I wish I could have done more to help you and your family. I could have sent money or something.”

“Don’t think nothin’ on it, Sweetie Belle. It weren’t yer fault. Shoot!” Apple Bloom exclaimed. “Yer here now. The Cutie Mark Crusaders are back together again.”

“Minus one.” Picking up her spoon, Sweetie Belle began poking at her soup.

“Scootaloo ain’t easy t’ get a hold of, being up there in them clouds an’ all. Those pegasi have pretty much shut themselves up tighter than a grub on pokin’ day.” Apple Bloom sipped her soup again. “But we’ll see her again. Don’t ya fret. Having ya here now is like gettin’ the family back together. Just like we got our trees back.”

“Speaking of which,” Babs began, “how did that happen? Last I heard, Sweet Apple Acres was going under.”

“It’s called earth magic, Babs. We tended to this land for generations. When we needed help, it answered. We got nothin’ but bumper crops ever since.”

“Earth magic?” Babs repeated.

“The best kind.”

“But how’d the trees grow without water?” Babs asked, genuinlly curious.

Apple Bloom paused as if to consider her response. “We found… a substitute.”

“What is it?” Babs pressed.

“Anypony tell ya that ya ask too many questions?” Apple Bloom sounded annoyed. Her eyes darkened at Babs.

“If we’re all family here, then you won’t mind sharing your secrets,” Babs countered.

“Good point.” Apple Bloom placed the spoon on the table. “Tell ya what, ah’ll show ya the secret after dinner. That sound good? Ya ain’t gonna believe it. So eat up!” She started slurping her soup again.

Babs looked at the soup. It was such a thick haze of red that she couldn’t see her own reflection. Something about the smell reminded her of something. She smelled it on Apple Bloom when they’d hugged earlier. She recalled Pip’s message not to eat anything while they were here and told Sweetie Belle as much with one stare. The unicorn picked up on it and nodded. “I ate on the train,” she said and pushed her bowl away.

“Me too.” Babs did the same thing.

Apple Bloom stopped. Her head was bowed so they couldn’t see her eyes. Slowly, she raised her head to reveal a very stoic face. “Come again?”

“We ate so we’re not hungry,” Babs clarified.

“If that’s so, then why’d ya’ll go on over to Sugercube Corner?” She smiled, showing teeth stained with red. “If ya’ll was full, ya wouldn’t need t’ be lookin’ for some grub.”

“Come now, Apple Bloom,” Granny Smith said over by the stew pot. “Maybe they just don’t like ma cookin’.”

“That ain’t it, Granny Smith. Sweetie Belle and I just filled up on food before we got here.” It was a weak argument and Babs knew it. Country pony though she was, Apple Bloom was no fool and she knew her cousin was lying to her.

“Besides,” Sweetie Belle picked it up, “We were looking for Pinkie Pie.”

“Really?” The red smile widened.

Babs and Sweetie visibly trembled.

“Ya sure ya don’t want jus a little sip?”

“We’re good…right Sweetie Belle?”

“Y-yeah?” She stammered. “Real good. Too bad too cause this sure does look yummy.” The tremble in her voice was apparent. Apple Bloom’s red smile slowly vanished as if mulling over what to do with her ungrateful guests.

“Well that’s too bad.” Apple Bloom began sipping again.

The door opened up. “We’re home,” Applejack’s voice said. She was rolled into the kitchen by Big Mac. The large red stallion glistened with sweat and a hard-day’s labor. He stopped when he noticed the guests at the table. “Hello there, Sweetie Belle. Babs.”

“Hi, cousin,” Babs said while Sweetie waved. “How’ve you been?”

“Good,” he said as he rolled AJ to the table.

“Where’s Pinkie Pie?” Sweetie Belle asked. She watched as Granny Smith placed extra bowls on the table before joining them herself.

Applejack answered. “She’s workin’ on somethin’ right now.” With that, Applejack began eating. Her brother didn’t use a spoon. He just picked up the bowl and slurped it down in one big gulp. A trickle of red liquid seeped down his chin and neck. The smell of metal assailed their nostrils.

Babs glanced around the table. These ponies, once her family, once so familiar to her, now filled her with a great unease. The way they devoured their meal, the soup just pouring out of the mouths, make her think of something voracious, something evil.

“After this, sis, ah decided to show Sweetie Belle and Babs our big secret,” Apple Bloom told Applejack.”

Applejack belched and wiped her mouth. “That’s a great idea. Pinkie will be happy to see them.” She looked at the city ponies and smiled the same bloody smile that Apple Bloom gave them. “Ya’ll gonna love it.”

Supper couldn’t have ended fast enough for the Manehattanites. When it was over, Apple Bloom put on her hat and led them to the front porch. She lit a lamp and told them to follow her. Applejack remained in the house with Granny Smith. Their only other company was Big Mac, the massive stallion bringing up the rear.

The night was dark. Luna’s Moon was shrouded behind a veil of clouds so thick that only slivers peeked through, like talon marks in the sky. Sweetie Belle and Babs Seed walked side by side, their steps heavy and their throats dry.

“So Apple Bloom,” Babs said in an attempt to make conversation. “That’s an interesting cutie mark you got there.”

“Sure is,” she told Babs. “Like the earth itself was congratulatin’ me on a job well done.” Even in the dim glow of the lantern, the bright red of her cutie mark apples was apparent. It appeared as if some terrible creature had raked Apple Bloom’s flank, drawing blood.

“So tell us about it,” Babs said, but was looking at Sweetie Belle when she did. She didn’t have to say anything to let Sweetie know what she was thinking. The Crusader clubhouse wasn’t far from here. Sweetie Belle tilted her head in its general direction. Should they make a break for it and wait for Pip there as instructed? Surely he had something on the Apples now. It had been more than twenty minutes since they last spoke. When was he going to give the bloody signal?

“It happened one mornin’,” Apple Bloom started, “ah woke up and there was ma cutie mark. Ah take it it must have been all the plantin’ ah was doin’. After the trees began sproutin’ up all over the place, ah was busier than a bumble bee in Spring makin’ sure to harvest all the new apples. Ah’m right proud of it.” Looking over her shoulder, Apple Bloom said, “Speaking of cutie marks, ah see ya’ve got yer own Sweetie Belle. Rarity must be proud.”

“Um…she sure is.” Sweetie Belle glanced once at Babs, her eyes asking her what they should do now?

“Ah bet it’s on account that ya can sing an’ all? Is that right?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Right you are.”

Observant, Apple Bloom asked, “How come there are three stars around that musical note, Sweetie Belle?”

Her question caught the unicorn off guard. “Oh…I’m not sure. At first I thought it had something to do with the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Then I remembered…we weren’t together anymore.” She finished that sentence hesitantly, a hint of sadness in her voice.

“Shoot, Sweetie Belle. We’re always gonna be together. Distance don’t keep friends apart.” After walking for some time, Apple Bloom paused in front of a large tree. Raising the lantern so as to illuminate it, the ponies looked upon a massive trunk. The boughs were clear of apples, no doubt bucked earlier, but that didn’t make the tree any less mesmerizing. It was the bark, as red as blood, appearing alit in the lantern light. “We’re like the roots of this here tree. We may spread out in different directions, but in the end we’re always gonna be connected to the same base.”

Turning around, Apple Bloom addressed her guests directly. “This here’s the first tree t’ bloom thanks to our special crop. This is where Sweet Apple Acres was reborn. Ah wanted you guys to see it firsthoof, because it’s the key t’ our good fortune.”

“Looks nice,” Babs said. “Listen, it’s getting kind of late. When are you gonna show us this new super crop that saved your farm?”

“Patience, cousin. Ah’m takin’ ya over there right now. Ah jus’ wanted ya t’ see where it all began.” Apple Bloom looked at the tree. Her gaze shifted, gradually, downward until her eyes were fixed on the base of the trunk. A smile crept along her face. “This way.”

Hesitant, the two mares began to follow. Big Mac followed silently, taking silent steps for a pony of his size. He remained passive, letting Apple Bloom do all the talking, while keeping his eyes on the Manehattan ponies.

They walked on for what felt like a mile, through the vast fields of Sweet Apple Acres, to a part of the farm that Babs and even Sweetie Belle was unfamiliar with. Out of the darkness rose a monolithic structure. Its wooden walls towered over them like ramparts. There were no windows or portals of any kind and for a moment it looked like Apple Bloom had intended to walk straight through a solid wall.

The building was at least as large as the barn by the house, though what purpose it could serve the city mares had no idea. “Here we are.” Stopping short of the wall, Apple Bloom stepped aside for a moment. “Do the honors, big brother.”

Stepping past Babs and Sweetie, Big Mac approached what was until that very moment a concealed door on the ground. Big Mac opened the latch and heaved open the door, the hinges crying out like tormented demons. The sound startled Babs and Sweetie Belle and only Apple Bloom’s hard look kept the two of them from running off at that moment. “Follow me.” Apple Bloom took the first steps into the basement, the light growing dim with each step she took.

“B-Babs?” Sweetie Belle asked in the growing gloom. “I…I don’t think…”

“I won’t let anything happen to you.” Babs took a deep breath. She whispered into Sweetie Belle’s ear. “We came here to find out what was going on. To prove the runt wrong, remember?”

Sweetie Belle’s voice was barely audible in the dark. “Babs…I’m scared.”

“Ya comin’ or not?” Apple Bloom’s voice asked from below.

Touching her friend’s shoulder, Babs could feel Sweetie trembling. “Hold on a sec, Apple Bloom,” Babs said aloud. Back to Sweetie Belle she whispered, “I can say you’re feeling sick and wanted to go back to the house. On the way, you can run to the clubhouse. Pip’s probably waiting for you. I’ll meet you there as soon as I find out what’s going on.”

But Sweetie Belle was shaking her head. “I’m not leaving you, Babs. We have to stay together.” Her hoof clenched Babs’ own, squeezing tightly. Taking a deep breath, Sweetie Belle muttered, “Be ready to fight our way out if we have to, okay?”

“You got it.” Babs clenched her friend’s hoof, drawing much needed courage. Though she may put on a tough front, Babs was as scared as Sweetie Belle. She didn’t want to be alone either.

“We’re coming down!” Babs went first, followed by Sweetie Belle. Big Mac brought up the rear. The stairs were steep, almost vertical. Black, earthen walls rose up to either side of them. It felt more like entering a tomb than a basement, an observation made more real by the musty air. Apple Bloom was waiting for them at the bottom, holding up the lantern so that they could all see.

“Watch yer step.” She turned toward a narrow tunnel which ran a shorty way into the interior. The earthy walls surrounded them on all sides. It’s like the tunnel and stairs were built into the earth itself and not out of artificial substances like wood or stone. Upon leaving the tunnel, the troupe found itself inside a large room that was square in shape, the lantern light able to tell them that much by how it climbed the corners in right angles. The roof was fifteen feet above their heads and from it protruded what appeared to be tree roots.

At the center of the room was a table with a bowl of apples in them. Apple Bloom placed the lantern on the table and walked across to the other side. She sat down. “Welcome.”

Babs and Sweetie looked at each other, to Big Mac—who was standing sentry-like by the corridor—and back to Apple Bloom.

“W-Where are we?” Sweetie Belle asked nervously.

“Why, where the magic happens of course!” Apple Bloom nudged the bowl their way. “Apple?”

Babs took a brave step forward. “What’s going on here, Apple Bloom? You’re not acting like yourself. None of you are.” Her chest heaving, for the metallic scent was all over the place here. Her head was swooning.

“Why so upset, cuz?” Apple Bloom picked up an apple and took a loud, crunchy bite out of it. “You scared?”

“I’m upset! This isn’t you!”

“Ponies change, Babs. We had to. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have survived.” Her mouth was dripping with the same red juice as before. Each bite was louder than the last, the juice dripping on the table. “Mmm. Sure ya don’t want a bite?”

“Apple Bloom!” Sweetie Belle cried and jumped next to Babs. “Is it true? Are you a murderer?”

Babs gawked at Sweetie Belle, unable to contain her surprise. “What are you doing?” She mouthed.

“What do you mean?” Apple Bloom asked her fellow Crusader.

“Are you…are you killing ponies?” Sweetie Belle hesitated. “Are you responsible for the disappearances?”

“Now where’d ya hear a crazy story like that?” Finishing the apple, the red-headed mare picked up another one. Taking a fresh bite, she chewed thoroughly. “Ah don’t kill ponies, Sweetie Belle.” Apple Bloom swallowed. “Ah grow them.”

“W-What did you say?” The unicorn stepped back, her foreleg up in the air.

“Then it’s…true?” Babs was in complete shock. It couldn’t be. Not her favorite cousin. Not Apple Bloom.

“Been doin’ it for five years now.” She smiled. “It’s the blood. The blood is what makes the trees grow. It’s how we beat the drought. It’s how we stay in business. The earth needs sustenance. It just drinks ponies now instead of water.” She offered them an apple. “Sure ya won’t change yer mind?”

“You’re crazy!” Babs yelled at her. “I can’t believe you’d do something like that!”

“Magic is as magic does, Babs. Speakin’ of which,” She leaned both her arms on the table as if stretching. Her bloody smile was wide. “Wanna see a disappearin’ trick?”

The lantern went out.

In the dark, Sweetie Belle screamed.