Chapter 3: The Quest (Part 3)

Chapter 3

The Quest (Part 3)

Apple Bloom stared at the passageway, her eyes fixed at the impenetrable darkness. Maybe it really was a trap, she thought to herself. Maybe there’s a manticore waiting down there or… She stopped her wavering thought with a shake of her head. Fear and doubt wasn’t going to stop her now. If she were to truly find out the fate of her parents, there was no choice but to descend into the passageway, descend into the darkness that held the truth.

Filled with determination, she began to make her way down the flight of rocky steps. With each step she took, she again felt the air around her becoming even more dense, pressing against her, the air colder than ever before. After a few more steps, she finally found herself at the bottom in a dark room. Her eyes strained in the darkness, eventually adjusting to the miniscule amount of light present.

She observed the small room with a shallow ceiling, its cold interior filled with small rocky structures, much like the throne room. She frantically began to look around, looking behind every structure, searching every square inch, looking for any signs of her parents, however nopony was there. The room was basically empty, with the exception of a large bed-shaped rock structure that was lined with a thin, dusty pale yellow blanket, nestled in the far corner of the room, an old kerosene lamp that sat on one of the rocky shelves that hung crookedly on the jagged walls, and a few suitcases lying on the floor, piled neatly at another corner of the room. There were no passageways nor openings. Just thick, jagged, melancholic walls that encompassed the whole room.

She made her way to the luggage and began to open them, looking for any clues that would reveal her parents’ location. Inside each of them, however, were mostly old clothes and garments: an assortment of sweaters, scarves, and coats, along with other miscellaneous items.

Apple Bloom then turned her attention towards the bed. Looking carefully, she could see something lying on the floor, barely noticeable in the dark, lying at the foot of the bed. She sat on the thin blanket that lined the hard bed, feeling the bed’s icy touch through it, causing the hairs on her coat to stand.

She picked up the item, blew on it, and wiped off the dust, revealing an old navy green saddlebag. She marveled at it, admiring the hoof-stitched bag, its stitching sloppy but unique nonetheless. She unfastened the worn leather strap from the rusty buckle and opened it, and could see a few items tucked inside. She pulled out a large quill pen, its stiff red feathers filled with dust. She also found a glass container, once filled with ink, but was now bone dry, along with several pieces of parchment, slightly yellowed due to its age. She placed the items down on the bed and continued to search the bag. She reached down, and could feel two additional items tucked inside a small pocket. The first item she pulled was a dusty, faded photograph. The dust on the photo and the poorly lit room made it difficult to observe who or what was in the picture. She gently wiped the photo with her hoof, and after straining her eyes, she could make out familiar faces in the picture, standing in front of what looked like her house.

It was her parents.

They stood together side by side, along with Big Mac, Applejack, and Granny Smith. Granny looked the same with her silver white mane, green wrinkled skin, and her faded smile, however her siblings were noticeably younger. Big Mac stood mightily over Applejack, almost as tall as their father. He had one of his broad arms over her, his large hoof on her head, shooting a teasing smile at the camera as he messed with his sister’s blonde mane. Applejack, who looked a bit younger than her at the time, had her small green eyes fixed at her brother, accompanied by an adorable pouting face lined with freckles.

Standing to the left of her siblings were her parents, youthful and filled with life. Her father, albeit a broad, well-built stallion, had a kind look. He had a bright, contagious smile that caused her to smile as well. Chrysalis was right, she thought to herself. She looked exactly like him. She never realized the resemblance until now. From the coat to the mane, it was a clear cut and paste, all except for her father’s green eyes, a trait he shared with her siblings.

Her mother stood to the right of him, her shoulder pressed gently against her husband’s. She was just as beautiful as Apple Bloom remembered from the dream she had the night before. Her gold curly mane flowed down neatly across her head and over her face, but not enough to cover her teal blue eyes and warm smile that had two small dimples, one on each freckled cheek. Like her father, her mother’s smile carried a certain magic and for a moment, she could feel her spirits lifted, comforted by just the sight of her mother’s genial expression.

She was entranced with the image of her parents, almost failing to notice that they were both holding a cherry red blanket, with a sleeping baby filly that wore a red bow in her crimson mane, nestled comfortably in her parents’ arms.

It was her.

There were dozens of old photos like this back at the house, however she had never seen this one before. She stared at the old family photo smiling, observing the precious moment captured in the photograph. So they were here.

Her mind began to wander once more, as she sat there pondering about how different and how perfect her life would’ve been if they had never ventured on that mountain path. They could’ve been a part of her life, but instead, they spent their lives here, miles away from home, prisoners held deep within an isolated mountain. They were cut off from everypony, from their friends, and most importantly, their family.

They could’ve been there with her during her endless, fruitless pursuits for her cutie mark, and during the times she got into troublesome, yet memorable situations. She thought about how they would’ve reacted during the time she got cutie pox, or the time when she invaded everypony’s privacy in the school paper. She also wondered how they would’ve felt after she formed the Cutie Mark Crusaders with her friends. But above all, she wondered how they would’ve felt when she finally got her cutie mark. Would they have been joyful? Ecstatic? Amazed? Relieved? Would they have been proud of my special talent? Would they have truly been proud… of me? She wished they were there with her during all those events, during all those accomplishments and achievements. But above all, she simply wished that they were here with her, right here and right now.

She continued to sit on the bed, thinking about all of this as she looked at the picture. They were all so happy, her family standing there, frozen in time, frozen in a past that she so desperately wished she could go back to. She looked up from the photograph observing the dark, empty, lifeless room.

“Ma? Pa?” she said aloud, her voice breaking. Closing her eyes, she lifted her hoof, still tightly holding the photograph as she placed it over her heart. “Where are you?” she asked in a soft whisper.

But deep down, she knew. Although painful to admit, she knew that Chrysalis was telling the truth. But what about that feeling she had? She could’ve sworn to Celestia that she felt them, yet they weren’t here. Perhaps that feeling inside her was just curiosity after all. Perhaps Princess Luna was wrong and that feeling wasn’t love’s call at all. She didn’t know, however one thing was for certain: her parents were truly gone.

She sat there on the bed, silently sobbing to herself, her eyes stinging with tears and her breath becoming thinner. Was this whole quest just a big mistake?

She continued to sob for a brief time, but quickly remembered that there was one more item left in the bag. Wiping her tears, she reached in, and pulled out a small pink letter, covered with dust like the other items. She wiped it with her hoof to see who it was addressed to. There was no address, but rather a few words written neatly on it.

“To Our Beloved Children,” she said, reading the words aloud.

Curious, she began to open the letter, gently tearing the sealed envelope, however she quickly stopped. Maybe now’s not a good time, she thought to herself. She tucked the letter back into the saddle bag, along with the old family photograph. Slinging the saddle bag onto her back, she reluctantly made her way back to the flight of stairs. She looked up at the dim light that seeped from the opening leading back to the throne room where Chrysalis, Thorax, and the other Changelings were waiting. Taking a deep breath once more, she slowly began climbing the rocky steps.

Chrysalis, seeing her emerge from the opening, looked at her impatiently from her throne.

“Well?”

Apple Bloom looked down at the floor, tears rolling down her face. “You’re right,” she said weakly. “They’re gone.”

Thorax, still being guarded by the Changelings, stared at her in disbelief. “Apple Bloom. I’m… I’m so sorry.”

“Well, now that that’s settled,” Chrysalis began to say, “it’s time to deal with you two.”

A few other Changelings then took Apple Bloom by the hoof, and pushed her into the horde with Thorax.

Thorax immediately embraced her tightly. “I promise you,” he said firmly, “I will get you back home to your family.”

“Oh, I highly doubt that,” Chrysalis said as she chuckled from her throne. “Like your parents, you two will be spending the rest of your miserable lives here, with me!”

“No they won’t!”

Immediately, a purple beam of magic shot forth from the cavern’s entrance, hitting Chrysalis squarely in the chest.

She shrieked in pain as she flew in the air, however she quickly regained her balance and hovered in the air, glaring at the throne room’s entrance with her horn glowing.

Thorax and Apple Bloom quickly spun around and she could see three figures emerging from the dark opening.

It was Twilight, accompanied by the two Changeling guards she saw earlier. Like a hawk, the Princess of Friendship soared in the air, her horn shining brightly in the dim room as she dashed towards the queen.

The two Changeling guards broke off from one another, immediately finding themselves engaged in a heated battle against Chrysalis’ subjects.

In a quick moment, Apple Bloom could hear the sound of hoofsteps echoing from the entrance and once more, could see two more ponies emerge from the darkness.

“Applejack! Big Mac!” she called out in relief.

“Get away from our sister!” Applejack snorted, stomping her hooves. Like a bull, she charged head first with Big Mac towards the horde that surrounded Thorax and Apple Bloom.

The Changelings hissed as a few of them broke off from the group, soaring in the air towards them. Applejack, along with Big Mac, easily knocked them down, one by one, onto the rocky ground with powerful strong kicks, each hitting them squarely in the head.

Joining the fight, Thorax shot blue beams of magic into the mass of Changelings that surrounded him and Apple Bloom, knocking down a good number of them as well.

Clearing an opening, Thorax took Apple Bloom by her hoof.

“This way! Hurry!” he cried as he pulled her through the opening.

Just as she passed through, she felt a blunt force ram her shoulder.

She collapsed to the floor, sliding along its rough surface until she collided into the corner of a rocky wall.

Her body stung with pain, both on her back and more so on her shoulder. Looking up she could see a Changeling standing over her, its tongue hissing and its eyes full of rage.

She quickly sprang to her hooves, accompanied by a dull pain in her shoulder. She grimaced as the pain slowly began to travel down her right leg, however there was no time to stop now. Looking to the far corner of the room, she saw large stalagmites that towered closely together, forming a perfect area to seek shelter. She immediately sprinted towards them, biting her lip as the pain rapidly began to increase. As the rocky structures came closer into her view, she could hear the snarls of the Changeling closing in behind her. Suddenly, as if somepony had driven a nail through her shoulder, a sharp pain surged through her entire leg. She cried out, collapsing onto the floor.

“Apple Bloom!” Thorax called as he raced towards her, however he was quickly cut off and soon found himself battling more of Chrysalis’ subjects, shooting beams of magic and dodging their attacks simultaneously.

“Get away from her!”

Looking up, Apple Bloom could see her sister and her brother, charging head first at the Changeling with blinding speed. In a blink of an eye, both Apple siblings collided with the Changeling with tremendous force, causing it to wince in pain as it slammed down onto the floor unconscious.

“Apple Bloom!” exclaimed Applejack and Big Mac as they raced to their sister, who was still lying on the floor.

“Sugarcube? Are you hurt?” Applejack asked urgently as she gently nudged her little sister.

Apple Bloom, however, remained still. Her body was curled up on the floor, her head tucked under her arms and her face hidden. She couldn’t bear to see their faces, not after what she had learned.

“Apple Bloom?” Big Mac said worriedly.

“You were right Applejack,” Apple Bloom said quietly, her voice barely audible. Keeping her head tucked under her arms, she began to weep. “You were right… they’re gone… they’re truly gone… I was wrong… I was wrong…”

Applejack and Big Mac looked at each other with concern. With the help of Applejack, Big Mac carefully lifted his sister onto his back and the Apple siblings quickly dashed towards the far corner of the room, hiding behind the stalagmites that created a tall rocky wall that shielded and hid them from the ensuing battle.

“Sugarcube,” Applejack said soothingly as she gently placed Apple Bloom on the floor. She calmly began to fix her sister’s wrinkled red bow, now tainted with dust. “We-“

Apple Bloom lifted her head, and could see her sister walking away, her attention taken by something else. She continued to walk just a few feet until she stood frozen, as if in a trance, her eyes glued to something lying on the cave’s floor.

“Jackie?” Big Mac asked worriedly.

Applejack did not say anything. She continued to stand there motionless, her back against her siblings.

“Applejack? What’s wrong?” Apple Bloom called out.

“I made this,” Applejack said softly.

“Made what? What are you talkin’ about?” Apple Bloom called out, unsure if she heard her correctly over the noise.

Stooping down, she picked up the item with her mouth and turned around. Held tightly was the navy green saddlebag which, Apple Bloom figured, flew off her back when she fell to the ground.

“You? You made that?” Apple Bloom asked in surprise.

Without a word, Applejack made her way over to her siblings and gently placed the saddlebag on the floor near them.

“I made this for Ma,” she said with a smile, “back when I was just a little filly.”

She placed her hoof over it, feeling the bag’s sloppy stitching. Applejack chuckled, her eyes closed as she continued to move her hoof over it.

“It was Ma’s birthday and I didn’t have a gift. I wanted to buy her a beautifully crafted hoof-stitched bag I saw at the town market. I was saving up my allowance to buy it but I ended up not having enough.” Applejack sat down on the rocky floor and placed the saddlebag over her lap. She continued to stare at it, smiling as she reminisced its history, forgetting about the current battle that was raging on the other side of the stalagmites that hid them. It was as if she was in a dream, her memories taking her away from the present and into a distant past.

“Ma had a birthday party in the evenin’ and I desperately needed a present, so I sprinted over to Rarity’s thinkin’ that she could help make me one instead. At the time, she didn’t have her boutique and didn’t have any material. So, I quickly ran home and searched for any material I could find and guess what? I ended up finding navy green burlap bags of feed in the barn. As you might’ve guessed, Rarity was flat out horrified at the material I chose but eventually, she caved in. I told her that it was my gift and decided right then and there that I wanted to stitch it myself. I only wanted her to supervise me while I did the stitchin’.”

She chuckled again, her calloused heart beginning to soften.

The sight of her sister like this filled Apple Bloom with joy, for she had never seen her like this before.

Bright Mac also began to laugh, his deep booming laugh filling the air however he quickly stopped, worried that his laughter would be picked up by a Changeling.

“So what happened next sis?” Apple Bloom eagerly asked, just like how she would always do whenever her sister told her family stories.

“Well, let me tell you,” Applejack began with a smirk. “My hoof was sore cause I pricked it so many times with that darn needle! Poor Rarity kept correctin’ me over and over again until I could get it right. There were a few times where she would pry the needle and thread right out of my hooves, but I was persistent. I kept trying. Got to admire her patience, cause it took us the entire mornin’ and afternoon until it was finally finished. When it was finally done, I quickly bolted out of Rarity’s house and sprinted back home. I don’t think I even thanked her now that I think about it. Anyways, I managed to get back home, right in time for the party and boy! Wasn’t it a great party Big Mac?”

“Eeyup,” her brother said with a smile.

Applejack sighed, closing her eyes once more.

“It was a truly memorable evening,” she said softly. “Friends and family, all coming together singin’, dancin’, all just having a good ole time. But the highlight of that entire day was when I finally showed Ma my present. I realized, right then and there that I forgot to wrap it. I was in such a rush to get home and show her my present that it totally slipped my mind, but she didn’t care, not one bit. I’ll never forget that moment. I still remember the look on her face, that warm, magical smile as her teal blue eyes lit up, admiring my poorly stitched saddlebag. It wasn’t anything special, but to her, I could tell it was more precious than any treasure in Equestria.”

“Oh! That reminds me!” Apple Bloom exclaimed excitedly, “There’s a photograph and a letter inside!”

Applejack looked at her, puzzled. She opened the bag, reached inside, and froze. She slowly pulled out the items one by one, first the pink letter and then the photograph.

Without saying a word, Applejack stared at the pink envelope, her lips quivering and her eyes beginning to fill with tears.

“Jackie?” Big Mac asked as he walked over to her. Like her, he soon found himself at the brink of tears.

“This is our Ma’s hoofwriting,” Applejack said in shock. “And this…” she began again staring at the photograph, “This is the photograph taken just after Ma and Pa came back from the hospital. It was taken the day you were born Sugarcube.”

She turned to Apple Bloom, as did Big Mac, both still teary-eyed.

“Where did you find all of this?” Applejack asked.

She looked down, the sorrow returning to her. “I found it in a secret room… a room where Chrysalis held our parents. She-”

But before she could continue, Applejack began to open the letter, her curiosity taking hold of her. With a gentle voice, she began to read the message her parents left them:

“To our beloved children,

We cannot begin to describe how much we wish to be there with you all while reading this. We have so much to say, so much we want to tell you about why we never came back home. Words cannot begin to describe how much we are sorry, sorry to not have seen you all again with our eyes, to have not seen each of you grow into the mature ponies we know each of you turned out to be. For years, we desperately tried to escape, only to be unsuccessful. We planned, every single day since being trapped here, to come up with a plan to break out of this prison, in hopes to see your beautiful faces once more. But as Chrysalis continues to take our energy, our plans for escape have all but ceased. Our only hope now, as we sit here in this mountain, counting the days that go by, is that all three of you are together, reading this letter. Not a moment goes by where we don’t think about each of you, thinking about what all of you have seen, learned, and accomplished since we left. It warms our hearts and brings us so much joy, knowing that all of you are out there, living your lives, cherishing every moment with each other and with all your friends.

We know now that our time here in Equestria is closing and that our bodies are beginning to fade away. It pains us so much knowing that we won’t ever get the chance to see all of you again, yet there is one thing that we have that will always remain, one thing that will never fade away: our love for each of you.

It is this love which has allowed us to survive all these years, and is the reason why Chrysalis could never fully drain it from us. It is because our love for all of you is limitless, more powerful than any magic in Equestria. Although our bodies are temporary, this love we have is everlasting. No matter how far apart we may seem to be, both in time and space, we have, and always will be, with each of you. In your darkest hours, in your times of greatest need, and even when all hope seems to be lost, we will always be with you, guiding you through it all. Although you cannot see us, just know that we are in your hearts and are with you now as you read this letter. Just remember, that for every moment you live, we live also-“

Her voice began to trail off, and eventually stopped reading.

“Is that the end?” Apple Bloom asked in disbelief.

But she remained silent and continued to stare at the letter.

Big Mac’s curiosity began to build as well. “Jackie!” he said with his booming voice. “What does the rest of the letter-“

“For every moment you live, we live also”, Applejack repeated as she looked up from the letter. She then placed her hoof over her heart and closed her eyes. “Because of this,” she said to herself quietly, “We will be with all of you, always.”

“That’s it!” she exclaimed, opening her eyes suddenly. “Sugarcube! Don’t you see? They’re not gone!” She approached her sister, gently placing her hoof over her heart. “It’s just like they said! They were with us this whole time, in here!”

“In here?” Apple Bloom said, dumbfounded as she took her own hoof and placed it over her sister’s. “You mean to tell me that this feeling I had was them the whole time?”

Applejack nodded with a smile. “I’m sure of it,” she said firmly. “I too had that same feeling when I was younger. Every time it came, it filled me up, and I would immediately think about them. I thought it meant that they were coming home, but now I know they were just calling out to me.”

Her eyes suddenly grew wide as she looked down at the floor. “Oh Celestia,” she said, her voice trembling, “it’s my fault.”

Apple Bloom and Big Mac both looked at each other.

“What do you mean it’s your fault?” Apple Bloom asked softly.

“I continued to have that feeling, but I lost hope,” she began to say, still looking down, “I continued to ignore it every time I felt it. I started to get sick of it cause it only reminded me about them and how they never came home. I had no idea what that feeling was. I just kept telling myself that it was just curiosity and nothing more. Eventually, that feeling went away.”

She then looked at her sister, her eyes flooded with tears. “I… I could’ve saved them,” she said sobbingly, “if I wasn’t so stubborn and angry, I would’ve understood what it all meant. They were callin’ out to me and I just ignored them. I’m… I’m so sorry!”

Applejack collapsed to the floor, grief weighing her down like an anchor. “It’s my fault,” she cried, “It’s my fault that they’re gone!”

“Jackie,” Big Mac said soothingly, “you can’t possibly blame yourself for what happened to Ma and Pa.”

He knelt down beside her, and with his broad arms, held his distraught sister in a tight embrace. “That night was hard for all of us, especially for you, myself, and Granny. We each handled their loss our own way and we never fully recovered from it. I too gave up hope and if anythin’, I’m to blame as well.”

She looked up at her big brother, wiping away her tears with her hooves.

“But Ma and Pa wouldn’t want us to blame ourselves,” he continued with a stern voice. “If anythin’, they would want us to forgive ourselves and not feel guilty about it!”

Applejack continued to look at her brother as she lied there on the cavern’s floor, her sorrowful expression now replaced by a smile. Although not a colt of many words, he always had the right words to say whenever she felt sad.

“If anythin’,” Apple Bloom continued to say, “they would want us to stick together and most importantly, get back home safely to Granny!”

“Eeyup! That’s right!” Big Mac said enthusiastically, stomping his hoof with a proud smile on his face.

Applejack began to chuckle at her siblings as she began to slowly get back on her hooves. “You’re right. We need to get back home.”

“What do you have in mind sis?” Apple Bloom said looking around. “Our friends are still battlin’ Chrysalis and her subjects, while we’re here stuck behind this-“

Without warning, the stalagmites that sheltered them suddenly exploded in a deafening blast, the force sending shrapnel of rocks in every direction, leaving the entire throne room covered in a blanket of dust.

Still dazed by the explosion, Apple Bloom found herself lying on the floor, with her siblings lying unconscious only a few inches away from her. She looked around the room to see if she could spot either Twilight or Thorax, however she could see nothing through the haze.

“Applejack! Big Mac!” she said weakly as she shook her siblings. “Wake up! Wake up!”

“Apple Bloom?” her sister began to say quietly as she slowly regained her consciousness.

Her brother began to moan as he too began to wake. He quickly lifted his head and began to look around. “Apple Bloom! Applejack!”, he said frantically, “are you two alright?”

“Yeah, I think so,” Apple Bloom said as she slowly stood up, her leg throbbing. “Sheesh. I’m definitely gonna feel this in the mornin’!”

“We just have a few scratches by the looks of it,” Applejack said with relief, “but we seem to be alright.”

“You’ll have more than a few scratches after I’m done with you!”

Turning around towards the sound of the voice, the Apple Bloom could see a pale green light shining brightly through the cloud of dust, casting a large silhouette. With a swift flap of its wings, a large gust of air immediately cleared the room, revealing Chrysalis, her horn glowing, filled with frustration, along with Twilight, Thorax, and the Changeling guards, standing together at the far end of the room, their hooves encased with rocks that rooted them to the cave’s floor, struggling to break free, all while being closely guarded by Chrysalis’ subjects.

Twilight began to use her magic, however a strange green glow began to illuminate from her horn, causing her magic to fizzle into nothing.

Thorax tried the same, but also failed to conjure any magic.

“Don’t bother,” Chrysalis said with a chuckle as she turned to face them. “My little hex will prevent any magic you try to use!”

She then turned to the Apple siblings as she continued to hover in the air, her insect-like wings humming.

“You!” Chrysalis shrieked as she spotted Applejack. “You were one of the ponies that used the Elements of Harmony to defeat me in Canterlot!”

“And don’t forget that time when we defeated you in your nest not too long ago,” Applejack teased with a smirk.

Chrysalis glared at her, hissing. “Oh, I will never forget all the pain and torment you and your friends had inflicted upon me and my colony! And for that, you all will pay!”

Immediately, the queen began to tilt her horn towards them, a surge of green magic illuminating it.

The Apple siblings sprang to their hooves, standing together, their hooves locked with one another as they confronted the queen.

As Apple Bloom stood there between her siblings, she could feel a familiar feeling in her heart, quickly growing.

“Applejack! Big Mac!” she exclaimed, the feeling becoming stronger than ever before.

“I know,” Applejack nodded, smiling as she looked down at her. “I feel it too.”

“I… I can feel it too!” Big Mac said excitedly.

“It’s them,” Apple Bloom said, gripping her siblings hooves tighter as she kept her eyes closed, allowing that feeling to build. She could feel their parents’ presence, their warmth and their love surging through her body, replacing the stinging pain she felt from her injuries.

The queen let out a shrill laugh.

“How pathetic,” Chrysalis said amusingly, “Your parents are gone! But it looks like you all will be seeing them soon after all! I’ll make sure of that!”

An orb of green magic began to gleam from the queen’s horn, its light quickly growing.

“We need to move!” Applejack said hurriedly as she began to pull her siblings.

Apple Boom, however, remained still, her eyes still closed. “No,” she said softly, opening her eyes. “We just need to trust in love’s power,” she said as she looked fiercely at her sister. “We need to trust in our parents!”

“But Apple Bloom-“ Big Mac began to say.

“Trust me. I know we’ll be alright. We just need to stay together. Remember what our parents said. They’re with us right here right now, in our hearts.”

Her siblings turned to each other, nodding in agreement as they each took her hoof, gripping it tightly.

The Apples remained, standing together, their hooves locked, allowing the power of their parents’ love to fully take them. With each passing moment, they could feel their fears, worries, pain, and sorrow melt away, replaced by an overwhelming feeling of joy and comfort, a feeling that none of them have ever experienced before.

“You want to see them that bad?” Chrysalis began, “Fine then! Let me take you to them!”

Immediately, a powerful beam of green magic shot out from her horn, hurtling itself towards the three of them.

Twilight, Thorax, and the two Changeling guards watched in horror as Chrysalis’ magical spell traveled through the air like a lightning bolt, quickly making its way to the Apples until finally hitting its target, creating a flash of green light.

“NO!” Twilight and Thorax both cried, unable to do anything except watch the horror unfold before them.

Chrysalis again shrieked in laughter, her jubilation filling the entire throne room. She quickly turned to them, a smile of content spread across her face.

“Your friends are nothing but ashes now!” she said with a maniacal laugh, “But don’t worry, I-“

Chrysalis stopped, noticing the sudden gasp from Twilight, her eyes fixed to something behind her.

Chrysalis quickly turned and could see a pale light, illuminating the cloud of smoke where the Apple siblings were standing.

The light began to grow brighter, shining its way through, eventually lighting up the whole cavern itself.

Chrysalis, Thorax, Twilight, and the other Changelings gasped in awe, staring at a veil of sparkling light that surrounded the Apple siblings. Together they stood, smiling, their hooves still locked with each other, unharmed from Chrysalis’ attack.

“That… That’s impossible!” Chrysalis stammered, her jaw dropped open. She quickly dashed towards them, soaring through the air. “How did you all survive? No earth pony can use magic!”

“You’re right,” Applejack said firmly as she looked at the queen quickly approaching them. “It’s not magic at all. It’s something far more powerful than that.”

“It’s love,” Apple Bloom said calmly with a smile.

The three of them began to glow in the same sparkling light as the veil that surrounded them, their parents’ love surging through each of them.

Chrysalis shrieked in horror, shooting another beam of magic towards them.

“No!” she cried, “I will not be defeated again! I refuse!”

The surge of green magic sped through the air towards the siblings once more, however, was halted by the mystical veil that surrounded them.

Chrysalis continued her spell, straining as she slowly raised the power of her magic that began to chip away at the wall of light that protected them.

“It’s starting to break!” Big Mac shouted, “I don’t know if we can hold it back much longer!”

“We’ll be fine!” Apple Bloom shouted back, observing the beam of magic that was crashing into the barrier, which began to crack like glass. “Remember, we just need to trust-“

She stopped, noticing what seemed to be two transparent figures standing in front of her, their backs turned from them. One was a colt, with a crimson mane and fair colored coat, and the other was a mare, with a long gold curly mane that flowed down and rested on her peach colored coat. They both shimmered with the same light that encompassed them as they slowly began turning around, their faces meeting her and her siblings.

“It.. it can’t be…” she said, petrified at the sight of the two glimmering ponies standing in front of her. She turned and looked at her siblings. “Do.. do you-“

“I see them,” Applejack said in disbelief. “It’s… it’s really them!”

“Ma! Pa!” Big Mac cried out as he looked at his parents, tears flowing down his eyes.

Without any words, their parents smiled as they nodded their heads at their children. They slowly walked towards Apple Bloom, placing their hooves over her heart, their touch sending a warm feeling through her.

“I… We... understand,” she said with a tearful smile as she gazed upon her family, seeing them all together once more. “You’ll be with all of us… always.”

Her parents nodded their heads once more, giving their daughter a sweet kiss on her forehead as they slowly faded in a sparkling light that slowly enveloped her and her siblings.

Suddenly, the Apples began to shine brighter than ever before, feeling a surge of energy run through them and in a blink of an eye, they soon found themselves shooting their own beam of light towards Chrysalis’ magic. The two beams of energy violently collided with one another, with the Apple’s light crippling the queen's magic, pushing it back until the energy had fully engulfed her.

“NOOO!” Chrysalis cried as a wall of light pressed against her, pushing her until she had her back against the cavern’s wall.

Love’s power started to flow throughout the entire throne room, cascading through the air like a wave of light, becoming brighter and brighter to the point where it became blinding. Chrysalis’ subjects, who were still guarding Thorax, Twilight, and the guards, became swept in the surge of energy that emanated from the Apples, causing them to shriek as the light consumed them. Like their queen, the Changelings became pressed up against the jagged wall as they snarled in anger.

“What’s going on!?” Thorax called out, squinting against the bright light.

“I’m not sure!” Twilight yelled back, her eyes tightly closed. “I can’t see anything!”

A thunderous roar filled the entire throne room, the mountain itself quaking violently. After a few moments, the impenetrable light that filled the throne room began to fade, slowly retreating towards the Apple siblings.

They slowly opened their eyes, feeling the power of their parents’ love fading away.

Apple Bloom looked around the room, with Chrysalis and her subjects nowhere to be seen. She could see that the far wall, where they were forced towards, had been completely obliterated by their attack, creating a large gaping opening that led back to the outside.

“We did it,” she said with relief, feeling a steady gust of warm air blow through her that flowed from the outside.

“We sure did,” Applejack said proudly, embracing her siblings.

With the hex now gone, Twilight and Thorax began to use their magic once more, breaking the rocks that bounded them and the Changeling guards to the cavern’s floor. Once freed, they quickly sprinted to their friends, joining them in their celebratory embrace.

“Are you all alright?” Twilight asked in concern.

“Eeyup!” Big Mac said triumphantly with his deep voice, tightening his grip around his friends and family.

“Okay okay Big Mac!” squealed Applejack, gasping for air. “You can let go now!”

He obediently let go, his face blushed with embarrassment.

“I’m so proud of you,” Thorax said as he looked delicately at Apple Bloom. “Looks like you didn’t need my help after all.”

“I doubt that,” she said with a smile, “I couldn’t have made it here if it wasn’t for you Thorax.”

She again stared at the opening where the wall once stood, the wall where she last saw Chrysalis and her subjects. She slowly made her way to it, peering outside, observing the seemingly endless valley of mountains as she felt the warmth of Celestia’s bright sun shine on her.

“Don’t worry Apple Bloom,” Thorax said as he joined her, placing his hoof on her shoulder. “We’ll find her. I promise.”

Immediately after saying this, a violent quake began, shaking the entire throne room, accompanied by a loud rumble.

“It’s the mountain!” Thorax shouted, “It’s starting to crumble! We need to go, now!”

The stalactites that lined the ceiling began breaking off, falling onto the floor with a thunderous crash. Big Mac, Applejack, Twilight, and the other Changelings quickly dashed towards the opening, dodging the boulders that were falling as they made their way to where Thorax and Apple Bloom were.

Apple Bloom looked down from the opening, seeing nothing but a steep rocky cliff that led down into a bottomless ravine. “You don’t happen to have a spell that could sprout wings, do you Twilight?”

“It just so happens, I do,” she said with a smirk, “but I have a much better idea.”

“Well whatever your plan is, I hope-“ Apple Bloom stopped, noticing a large shadow beginning to loom over her. She quickly spun around and could see a large hot air balloon quickly ascending towards them.

“Hey!” Spike called out from the balloon’s basket, waving as he guided it towards the opening. “It looks like I came just in time!”

“Jump now!” shouted one of the Changeling guards, the basket only a few feet away from them.

One by one the Apples jumped safely onto the gondola, as the Changelings and Twilight took to the air, hurriedly pushing the balloon away from the collapsing mountain.

“Spike!” Twilight called, continuing to push the basket. “More altitude!”

Like a spring, the little dragon jumped, his short arms grabbing the lever, using his weight to pull it down to ignite the burners.

Immediately, the balloon began to rise, while Twilight and the Changelings continued to push the balloon away from the plume of smoke that was quickly chasing them.

“It’s catching up to us!” cried Apple Bloom.

“Come on guys!” Thorax said as he continued to push harder. “Just a little more! We’re almost clear!”

The Changelings and the alicorn continued to push the large balloon, straining their wings until they were finally a safe distance from the mountain.

Apple Bloom turned, staring at the cloud of smoke that was now a good distance away, hearing the soft rumble of the mountain as it continued to collapse. She couldn’t see the mountain, however she imagined it crumbling down, eventually reducing itself into a pile of rubble, a place so evil, it felt fitting that it was destroyed.

“It’s over now,” Applejack said softly, breaking her train of thought as she hugged her.

Twilight and Thorax sighed in relief, catching their breath as they began to fly alongside the gondola.

“Time to finally get you all back home,” Thorax said with a smile.

Twilight nodded in agreement. “Sure is! I have so much research to do once we get back! Starting with the essence of love and all of its capabilities!”

She then turned to the Apples. “What exactly happened in there?”

“It was our parents,” Apple Bloom said, placing her hoof over her heart. “They appeared just before the barrier broke.”

“Their love saved us,” Big Mac added.

Twilight, Thorax, and the Changeling guards looked at each other, confused.

“Umm… You said that your parents appeared?” Thorax asked, scratching his head.

“Yes!” Apple Bloom said excitedly.

“Apple Bloom,” Twilight said delicately, “There was nopony there. All we saw was you three.”

“Trust me Twilight,” Applejack said firmly, “It was them. We all saw them with our very own eyes. Hay, I’m the Element of Honesty after all. I think you can take my word for it.”

“I suppose it is possible,” Twilight said as she pondered. “Love is quite different than magic and I haven’t read much on the topic.”

She then let out a squeal of excitement, flapping her wings happily. “I can’t wait to conduct my own research! Wait till Starlight hears about-“

“Actually,” Applejack began to say as she looked around at her friends. “I’d really appreciate it if we kept all of this just between us?”

“Of course,” Twilight said apologetically. “None of us will share anything that happened today. You have our word.”

Thorax and the guards nodded in agreement.

Apple Bloom suddenly gasped as she frantically began looking around the gondola.

“What’s wrong Apple Bloom?” Spike asked in concern.

“Ma’s saddlebag! I forgot to-“

“You mean this?” called out one of the Changeling guards that was hovering next to them.

On his back was the navy green saddlebag. He took it off and gave it to her. “I found it on the ground. Guess it was a good thing I picked it up!”

Apple Bloom took the bag, quickly opening it. She let out a sigh of relief as soon as she saw the letter and the photograph, still safely tucked inside.

“Thank you,” she said with a smile as she looked at the two guards. “Thank you both for your help.”

She then took the photograph out from the bag, shedding a tear as she stared at the image of her family.

“I can’t wait to tell Granny,” she said softly.

“Wait,” Spike said, looking up at her, pointing at the back of the picture. “What’s that? Behind the photo?”

Apple Bloom quickly turned the picture and could see words written on the back, its blue ink faded.

“It’s Ma’s hoofwriting,” Big Mac said, looking over her shoulder. “Wait… Jackie… is that…”

Applejack looked over her shoulder as well, gazing upon the inscription written on the photograph. Immediately, she let out a gasp.

“I… I can’t believe it…”

***

Granny Smith slowly began setting the dinner table, placing the utensils, plates, and cups one by one in front of each seat, just like she would always do every night. This was a regular routine for her, however this night was different from all the others. The Apple house was silent and empty. No laughter or chatter, just the gentle clinging sound of the utensils as she laid them out. In her many years of doing this, she would always have help from her family, maybe not all of them together at once, but always, at least, one of them.

She began to think back, many moons ago, back when it was just her and her son. She remembered how she would eagerly wait for him to come through the kitchen door, waiting for him to help her set the table. She enjoyed his help, for he would always talk about his day as he gathered the plates and utensils, eagerly telling her about his exciting adventures with his friends. It continued like this for many years, but she soon found herself in the company of another mare, as she too became a part of this family routine. She initially tried to keep her distance from her at first, however, Buttercup was a persistent mare, always insisting to help prepare the dinner table, hoping to use those opportunities to get closer with her mother-in-law. After some time, she would finally give in to her persistence, allowing her to help, a decision she believed she would undoubtedly regret. Instead, it became one of the best decisions she had ever made, for it allowed her to form an unbreakable relationship with her daughter-in-law. For many nights she would listen to her, learning more about her and what kind of life she lived in that pear farm, just a few acres across from the West Orchard. She finally understood why her son had chosen this mare to spend the rest of his life with, for she was truly one of a kind. She grew to love Buttercup as her own, as she eagerly listened to her, all while preparing the dinner table. It continued like this for a few years, with her son and her daughter-in-law accompanying her as she laid out the dinner table, but again, it was not to last, for she soon found herself with not one, but three more ponies to help her: her grandchildren.

After placing out all the freshly cooked food onto the apple wood table, she took her seat at the end of the table, placing her flank onto the rickety old chair, just as she would always do every night. She stared at the empty seats that surrounded the table, the seats that once sat her entire family. She closed her eyes, shedding a small tear.

“Please,” she said in a whisper, “please bring them back safely. I can’t lose them too.”

She continued to sit there, her eyes closed, until finally, she heard familiar voices coming from outside.

Hearing the kitchen door open, she slowly opened her eyes, seeing her grandchildren standing together at the doorway.

“Granny?” said Apple Bloom as she slowly began making her way towards her.

She remained seated, her eyes fixed to her. She didn’t know what to say or what to do, not knowing whether she should shout at her for leaving, or instead, forgive her. Instead, she remained silent, her lips starting to quiver.

“I’m… I’m so sorry I left,” Apple Bloom began as she looked down a the floor. “Please don’t be mad at me... I just wanted to-“

She quickly cut her off, embracing her in a tight hug, tears pouring down her face.

“Shh,” she said as she continued to cry, “There’s no need for that. You came back home… all of you came back home to me, safe and sound, and that’s all that matters.”

She let go of her grandchild, wiping her tears away with her hooves. She then combed her granddaughter’s crimson mane back, revealing her small red eyes.

“Now tell me,” she said delicately as she looked at her grandchildren, “tell me what you all have seen.”

Apple Bloom took the saddlebag that she had been carrying off her back, and pulled out the letter.

Granny’s eyes began to widen, as Apple Bloom gave her the pink envelope.

“They left us a letter,” Applejack said as she and Big Mac made their way to her.

She opened the envelope, taking the wrinkled paper into her hooves. She began reading the letter silently to herself, reading the message her beloved son and daughter-in-law had left. With every word she read, she began to feel a peculiar feeling from within her. She couldn’t help but smile, the whole time reading it, the strange feeling leaving her with a sense of joy that she hadn’t experienced in a long time. After finishing, she slowly lifted her hoof, placing it over heart.

“It’s them,” Apple Bloom said with a smile. “It’s like they said in the letter. They’ll always be with us.”

She closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of their love flow within her.

“I feel them,” she said quietly, her cheeks flowing with tears. “It’s beautiful.”

“There’s one more thing we need to show you Granny,” Applejack said, taking something else from the bag.

She opened her eyes and gasped. “It’s been awhile since I’ve seen this here picture. Had no idea where it went. Thought it was gone forever.”

“Turn it around,” said Big Mac.

She let out a chuckle, seeing Buttercup’s writing. “Well would you look at that. Looks like your Ma kept her promise after all Applejack.”

“I know,” Applejack said as she took the photograph. “Still can’t believe it.”

“Sing it for us Applejack?” begged Apple Bloom. “Please?”

Applejack stared at the lullaby. “I’ve been waitin’ so long to sing the whole thing. Can’t believe I finally get to do it.”

She cleared her throat, as she held the lyrics her mother had written. Just like she did up in the hayloft, all those years ago, she began to sing the lullaby her mother had left for her:

“Hey there little pear blossom, don’t you cry,

You are the pear of my eye,

Through stormy days I’ll always be with you,

Yes, I will be with you till the sun breaks through,

Oh little pear blossom, how I love you,

The stars are out, and the moon is bright,

Now is time to turn out the light,

Till morning comes, till the day is new

I’ll always be there, I’ll always come through,

Oh little pear blossom, how I love you.”

Granny Smith stared at the ground, the soft melody fading from the air as her eyes filled with tears.

“That sounded beautiful sis,” Apple Bloom said as she hugged her sister.

“It was as beautiful as I remembered it,” Big Mac said happily.

“Aww shucks everypony,” Applejack said, her face blushed. “I appreciate the kind words, but believe me, Ma sang it much better.”

Granny slowly stood up from the chair, her mind deep in thought as she made her way to the staircase.

“Granny?” Apple Bloom asked worriedly. “Where you goin’?”

She stopped at the foot of the staircase, her back turned away from her grandchildren. “Just need to write a letter, that’s all. Ya’ll go ahead and eat dinner. Food is gettin’ cold. I won’t be long.”

“A letter?” Applejack asked surprisingly, “A letter to who?”

She didn’t respond, but rather, made her way up the stairs and into her bedroom, closing the door behind her. She took a seat behind her study table and shuffled through the drawers, eventually finding a blank piece of paper. Taking her quill pen, she dipped the tip into the black ink. However, just before the quill met the paper, she froze. She had never thought she would be doing this. Her mind began to race as she fearfully thought about all the possible consequences that would occur if she ended up writing and sending this letter.

In a brief instant, she remembered the lullaby Applejack sang just moments ago, the lyrics still fresh in her mind. She began to remember Buttercup’s angelic voice, hearing her sing that same song to her children all those years ago, hearing the sorrow in her beautiful voice.

Tears began to flow down her cheek once more, eventually falling onto the blank parchment that was on her desk.

Wiping them away, she dipped the quill into the ink.

“The past is the past,” she said to herself, “And it’s bout time we finally end this, once and for all.”