Ponyvania

All four ponies stood in the main lobby looking at the force field. Rarity was getting nervous, learning new spells wasn’t her specialty.

“Alright Rarity” Twilight said “Remember, focus on a clear mind and the spell. When all is calm in your head, release the spell.”

Rarity nodded still looking at the black, misty wall in front of her. She bent her head slightly and took a deep breath. Her horn started to glow faintly, then burst with lights and sparks going everywhere. The other ponies began to back off, afraid that they might get hit. A few moments later a beam of white light shot from Rarity’s horn to the field.

The beam seemed to have no effect on it for a while, but then multiple bright, white cracks appeared on the wall for 5 seconds then disappeared into it. After a while the wall burst open and then left a giant cloud of black smoke that disappeared shortly after it was made.

“That was SO AWESOME” Rainbow Dash yelled.

“Yes well” Rarity said almost breathless “I do believe that I need to sit for a second”

“Not yet” Twilight warned “we still need to get Fluttershy”

All ponies jumped at the name.

“Then what are we sittin’ around for?” Applejack asked “let’s get to it!”

With the thought of Fluttershy in their heads, the ponies started up the stairs. At the midway point of the stairs, the directions going up shot off into two half circles, coming together to reveal another hallway going across. In the middle of the hallway in front of the stairs was a ginormous, white door with what looked like blue and gray mist coming out the sides. A small, gold plated sign said “ballroom” in silver letters next to it.

“Want to go another way?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“What do you mean?” Applejack replied.

“Well, I mean there is obviously something behind that huge thing, but why not go around or something?”

“What’s the matter scared?”

“NO! I’m just…cautious that all”

“Doesn’t matter” Pinkie interrupted.

All eyes were on pinkie. My eyes as well.

“There are more fields on both sides of the hallway, we have to go in the door. These ones you can’t break through.” Pinkie Explained. Oh great, now she can read my thoughts.

Applejack walked over to the door in front of them, then started walking right. After 5 steps she slammed her face into an invisible wall.

“What the hay is going on here?” Applejack asked confused.

“You can’t skip a boss battle silly” Pinkie Pie explained.

Everypony had been with Pinkie long enough over the years to just go along with whatever she had going on in her head, even though most of the time it never made sense to them. She really hadn’t been wrong before and questioning her methods just made you wonder about your own sanity.

“Then let’s keep going!” Rainbow Dash said trying to break the silence that swept around them.

“Hold up sugar cube” Applejack Warned while grabbing Rainbow’s tail and holding her back. “We should probably think of a plan first”

“For what? It’s not like we can’t handle anything”

Before any pony could say anything against or for the matter Rainbow flew up to the door in front of them all and slowly opened the door. When she could go through the door a cool breeze came from it that sent a chill up everypony’s spine. It was almost as if a dark shadow was looming over them, messing with each of the minds of each pony.

“Do we really have to go in there?” Rarity asked already knowing the answer.

“Come on Rarity! It could be fun!” Pinkie said jumping towards to door.

Pinkie was the first to enter the door, Applejack chased after her followed by the other two. The inside was completely dark and quiet. The only light that was there was the light coming from the door they just came from. Rarity suggested that they head back and find a torch or something that gave out light. Twilight was about to tell her to use an illumination spell, but the door closed behind her and the room around them lit up dimly.

The ballroom was like walking into a darkened version of the Canterlot one. There were giant windows that took up most of the walls around them, yet all that could be seen was darkness. If there was a ceiling, no pony would have ever found it; there was only black and mist above them. On the other side from where the group of ponies stood was an organ playing lightly. The organ was massive, almost covering the whole opposite wall, almost seemed like half of it was just for show.

In the center of the ballroom was a darkened white, flat floor. Two ponies were dancing in the middle of the floor, it almost seemed like they were ignoring the group of friends that just walked in.

“Glad you could join us” Octavia said causing all the ponies to jump a little. “We were wondering where you ran off to. Oooh and it looks like you brought a friend with you”

“What have you done with Fluttershy?!” Applejack shouted out.

“Who?” Vinyl asked with a grin. “ OH, you mean that shaking worthless thing we found trying to protect her precious bunny? She’s in the castle with a friend of Lord Dracula’s.”

“Lord who?” Rainbow asked.

“Simpletons, they don’t even know who’s causing all the chaos” Octavia said with a smile. “And they won’t be able to when we’re through with them”

The dancing ponies floated in the air and towards the organ. The organ stopped playing and all eyes were now on Octavia and Vinyl. A cello appeared by Octavia and a turntable burst from the ground in front of Vinyl.

“They look like they could use a rest” Octavia said after grabbing the cello. “Let’s give them a lullaby.”

The Group of ponies had a puzzling look on their faces, they all looked at each other, nodded, and all rushed the musical duo. They got halfway to their enemies when they all heard a calming tune that made them stop and stare at the air around them. The tune was calm and hypnotizing; a light bass line continued in the background as the cello played, a perfect combo. Almost like a switch had been flipped, the ponies dropped on the floor.

Applejack got up from her bed panting and sweating. She was in her old room, free from any burns or destruction. She got up and trotted over to a window, Sweet apple acres was there, apples just waiting to be bucked and eaten.

“Applejack!” yelled a familiar voice.

“Granny Smith?” Applejack pondered.

She walked down the stairs…stairs? That couldn’t be right, she lived downst-. Maybe she moved upstairs she decided.

“Come on lazy, sit your butt down and eat already” Granny Smith said in a very demanding voice.

“Uhh, hi Granny Smith. How are you doin tod-“Applejack started but was cut off right after.”

“Eat your food so you can go help Mac with the work load.”

Applejack saw the “meal” that was in front of her, it looked like Sweetie bell made it. She decided to skip breakfast today and just walked out to her orchard. When she walked to outside, she noticed that the sky had been unusually cloudy and dark, the pegasi must be having a storm coming…a really big one. Before she could think any more about the matter she saw Big Mac next to a couple apple trees.

“Howdy Big Mac, how are you-“Applejack started.

“Oh I’m just fine thanks, just enjoying the sunny weather and enjoying the wonderful day of working. I do believe, oh look at me I sound just like a English guy, this is so much fun!” Big Mac rambled.

Applejack had enough of this, something was definitely off. Before she had to hear what else Big Mac had to say she rushed off into the center of Ponyville. The area was dead silent and there was no sign of life anywhere. Not to mention everything seemed grayer. She started walking through the town glancing at everything. All the doors were locked and windows shut, it was a ghost town devoid of everything but the buildings.

“Applejack?!” A voice called out in the distance.

She turned around to find Twilight in the distance. The two ponies dashed to each other and hugged.

“I thought I was the only one here” Applejack said

“Well Spike’s here, but something is different about him, he hides in the corners with an evil stare and won’t listen to me.” Twilight said.

“My family back at the farm is messed up as well”

“Something is definitely wrong around here”

“Well I’m not sure what to do, I can’t find anypony else besides you and your magic’s gone so-”

“Wait, what did you say?”

“I can’t find anypony else and your magic’s gone so-“

“My magic’s not gone, why would you say-“

Both ponies opened their eyes widely and both felt a sharp pain from the back each other’s head, remembering what happened before they came here.

“This is a dream” Twilight explained.

“But how come you’re in my dream?” Applejack asked.

“Because I’m in your head, remember?”

“Oh, right. But how do we get out of here?”

“We have to do something that would wake us up”

“Like what?”

Asking that question was a really bad idea in Applejack’s mind as she found herself on top on her barn with Twilight standing next to her.

“Remind me why I’m going to die again?” Applejack asked

“You’re not going to die, this is a dream. The shock will just wake you up that’s all”

“And if this doesn’t work?”

“Then you’re going to feel a bit of pressure everywhere”

Twilight reminded Applejack of her doctor when he told her of the pressure she would be feeling from the needles.

“Well, maybe we could try something else, you know in case we-“

Before she could say anything else she felt a sharp pain on her rump as Twilight kicked it and jumped off after her yelling in the process of falling.

Applejack found herself on a cold, hard floor staring a set of white teeth. Almost subconsciously she grabbed her whip and in a spinning motion swung it, hitting a light gray mare knocking her back into a wall. Octavia fell to the floor her body lifeless, when she hit it, she burst in a cloud of black and red smoke that didn’t go away. Looking to the left of her, Applejack saw Vinyl with her mouth open and staring at her.

Vinyl and Octavia were PFF’s, inseparable, willing to whatever for each other, and now Vinyl was alone. The anger of the white mare was unknown Applejack when Vinyl rushed her, but it did not matter. A well timed swing shot Vinyl into a wall; she landed next to the cloud of Octavia’s and burst into a cloud of black and blue. The clouds connected and combined into a white and purple cloud that floated up towards the ceiling. The Cloud hit the ceiling of the ballroom and burst in a white light, destroying the darkness around Applejack. She had to close her eyes from the light; when it faded away she saw a beautiful white ballroom with columns around the area and windows showing the still dark sky outside.

“Nice job, Applejack” Twilight said.

“Twilight! It’s good to hear your voice again.”

Applejack realized that her other friends were still on the floor behind her. She walked over to Pinkie and nudged her a bit, but she didn’t wake up. Thinking for a bit she came with an idea that Twilight didn’t really like. Applejack turned around and kicked Pinkie in the stomach.

“I ONLY HAD 6 CUPCAKES!” Pinkie shouted waking up. “Oh, hey guys. What ha- oww my tummy hurts.”

Applejack walked over to Rainbow Dash and did the same thing.

“BUT I’VE BEEN TRAINING FOR YEARS YOU CAN’T TURN ME AWAY!” Rainbow Dash Yelled panting. “Uh. Oh um hey what…ow, I’m in pain”

Applejack continued on to Rarity, but instead of kicking she flipped Rarity over.

“BUT THEY ARE ON SALE!!!!!” Rarity seemed to scream out more than Rainbow and Pinkie Combined. She turned to her friends and blushed a bit. “Well they were”

When all the ponies were told what happened they were a bit shocked, when the saw the amazing new ballroom they were in they couldn’t help but feel sad for Octavia and Vinyl, two souls that weren’t meant to live their lives in darkness. At the same time they were happy because now they would be together forever.

For a moment, all was quiet, and then the organ began to shake. The shaking was slow, but after a couple seconds it was rambling around making loud sounds. It did this for a minute then stopped; the middle of the organ split in two, revealing a secret tunnel going up into another part of the castle.

“Well, are you all just going to stand there, or are we going after Fluttershy?” Rarity Asked.

All of the ponies reacted in the same way, a smile and walking step forward.

“HOLD IT” A demanding voice said behind them. “None can escape the great and powerful Trixie!”

Applejack could feel Twilight facehoof. Dealing with Trixie wasn’t ideal on Twilight’s list. They had seen Trixie before, gloating and trying to make fun of everypony. Trixie had obviously been turned into a vampire due to her sharp teeth and black hat/cape combo, but she still had that way to gloat about everything she did.

“Applejack, can you please get rid of her?” Twilight asked almost groaning.

In almost one motion Applejack jumped in front of her friends, took her whip, wrapped it around Trixie, and threw her out one of the windows. Rainbow Dash saw that the window was open and flew straight for it, ignoring her friend’s warnings. The window seemed to stop for a second and all the glass pieces gathered back to where they originally were. The Pegasus crashed straight into the glass but instead of going through it, she stopped like she hit a wall.

“Apparently only things connected to the castle can leave it.” Twilight said scanning over the window.

“Yeah…I noticed” Rainbow Dash said sarcastically.

After getting Rainbow Dash the ponies headed for the tunnel. They heard machinery in the distance.