Appleoosa, one would immediately brush off this small town as your standard western style community with Cowponies left and right. Nothing of any importance besides their recent accomplishment of befriending the local buffalo tribe with the most basic of baked goods, the apple pie.

However it seems almost every creature on this planet, including both invading forces and the townsponies living there, is unaware that Appleoosa is an Agricultural Colony sitting at the edge of the borders of Northern Equestria, with its purpose being to supply the other towns and cities set up along the Northern Border, especially in time of war. All of Equus was completely ignorant of the fact that if Appleoosa were to fall to their enemies, the Northern Provinces of Trottingham, Dodge Junction and Fetlocksen (Founded by Ponies of Germane) would be unable to sustain themselves without their main supplier of food.

Even Cloudsdale, the moving Pegasus City, would be severely crippled, unable to perform proper weather duties in the northern area without the supply runs by the generous Appleoosans. But either by sheer luck or stupidity, no-one looking to take over Equestria to this day, has ever learned of this glaring weakness.

Fortunately, Sunburst being the inquisitive ghoul that he is, had learned of this flaw and had informed The Sharp-Six-Shooting-Outlaw Evil, who put his Fastest Hand Of Terror In The West into action.

*ruffled papers* they don’t pay me enough to read this crap.

*ahem* Either way The Corrupting Evil had put Appleoosa in his sights already, with the Crystal Heart’s magic added to his own he was itching to try out the new spells it offered and the new form of influence that could be added to his territory. Not to mention he had plans for this town once he had regained a physical body.

Despite what people would assume, The Nursing-A-Grumbling-Stomach Evil really liked Apples. To the point where it was an obsession, in Ark’s human life he had made it his mission to try anything apple related, Apple Pie, Apple Fritter, Apple Tart…

...can we please skip this? I don’t think it’s doing me or him any favours.

Oh good, so, The Corrupting Evil set out to deal with the town of Appleoosa, dungeon built and funds pouring in from his operations in the Frozen North, he began deliberating on what he should do.

Firstly, the town was guarded by the Buffalo Tribe to the west, led by Chief Thunderhooves, any undead minions caught in their sights would be crushed under weight of the stampeding herd.

However, to the east was the Chieftain’s Daughter, a fair and beautiful Rose known as Little Strongheart, who had gone there alone to graze and-like with most teenagers-come to terms with new and peculiar feelings. While a formidable opponent, none could withstand the Mindless Army alone. If The Nefarious Evil captured Little Strongheart, it would be no trouble to convince Daddy Dearest to surrender, allowing him to ransack the town with ease.

As for the Town itself, while the ponies will not go down without a fight, the only military strength they have is… Apple Pies… clearly not going to be a trouble for the undead even if said desserts were scolding hot. Despite this, while simply destroying their forces would be easy, doing so would be detrimental to The Big-Picture Evil’s plans, so instead the plan came to one conclusion.

To the side of the town is the Apple Orchard where all their food, and ammunition, is harvested and stored, with the Buffalo not making any attacks thanks to Strongheart being captured, the Stampeding Trail they use would be an excellent incursion point, allowing The Strategic Evil’s forces to move in and take over the Orchard, without their food and munitions, the Appleoosan ponies would quickly surrender.

*stomach grumble* okay, I’m going to go take a quick lunch-break, see you when you’ve completed one of the objectives. *door opening, followed by closing*

{Corrupting Evil POV}

Now that Sombra was in charge of the Crystal Empire, albeit under my supervision, he was content enough to allow me to bring my living compatriots to Appleoosa.

“So… what do you need us to do, Corrupting Evil?” Cadence asked still nervous as her and Shining made their way to the throne room. Immediately I noticed something missing.

“Wait… where’s Flurry?”

“Well she was tired from the trip over so we put her to bed in the guest room.”

“Guest room? I never-”

“Oh, Nightmare helped make it.”

Nightmare Moon. helping a foal to sleep comfortably… “good for her, she’s growing… now about your task...”

“Yes? We’re ready!” Shining said, going into his old Guard habit.

“I want you two to go into Appleoosa and enjoy yourselves.”

They blink, with raised eyebrows, clearly they expected more.

“... *sigh* yes, I do have a job, but I want you to relax first, clearly the ‘overtaking your empire and having you think you were about to die’ situation would be a stressful experience.” they looked at each other before looking back and nodding in understanding. “Me and Nighty will keep an eye on the foal, and I’ll contact you telepathically once I’m sure you’re calm enough not to arouse suspicion.”

“And… how will you know that?” Cadence asked.

“Since you’re my minions officially, I can use my connection to look at you and the area within your visual range at any time.” I sigh as I look upon their now red faces. “I only see what I choose to focus on, if you decide to do that I’ll bring my attention to somewhere else, I’m not a pervert.”

“Says the guy who talked about Princess Luna’s tits in casual conversation.” Shining countered.

I tried to make a comeback, but faltered and smiled a little. “Touche, but still, you have my word I won’t peep.”

They smile, knowing well like before that my word is my bond, and headed off on their little vacation.

...good.

With the couple gone I could now begin my plan, if they were here they’d kick me back to the Crystal Empire.

Or I’d see their looks of betrayal and I’d kick myself, nevertheless this was the quickest way to get Little Strongheart to Cooperate.

Plus I do have to admit I can’t wait to see the results.

Ah, Nightmare’s already in position.

As I looked over, I waited for them to make contact.

And smirked internally when Nighty got that look in her eyes from seeing the youthful and… well-toned woman… in nothing but two strips of cloth...

Wow… it’s really weird seeing these creatures attractive, but I guess it helps that this is an anthro-verse…

...maybe I should actually consider making Luna my Queen…

Oh! They’re talking, gotta focus.

“Greetings, Little Strongheart.” Nightmare began, causing the buffalo to jump, with a very satisfying *boing* following. “Mmm~, though ‘little’ might be as fitting an adjective as that chest cloth~.” she purred, admiring how the fabric was clearly strained.

“Who are you?! What do you want?!” Strongheart demanded. “That scent… you stink of death!”

“Quite astute of you, I will make sure to bathe later.” Nightmare admitted, in truth making the Final Resting Place actually able to clean my undead minions, and having a Forgotten janitorial staff were her idea, as with her vampire senses she was VERY aware of the smells her undead brethren (besides the ghosts and skeletons) and herself draw to them. Apparently despite my dark magics stopping decay, bacteria still loved to cling to the dead flesh, and there was only so much an air-freshener could do…

Anyways, it seems Strongheart took Nightmare’s comment as a taunt and charged, at which point she pulled out the bargaining chip.

A babbling alicorn filly with an illusory dagger to her throat, though Buffalo can’t exactly see through illusions. “Not so fast my dear buffalo, you wouldn’t want the last remaining piece of Shining Armor and Cadence to die, would you?” the bovine female stopped, concerned, and somewhat thankful the little foal could not understand what was going on. “That’s right, the Crystal Empire has fallen, and she is the only living pony left from there… unless you wish that to change…?”

“No! I mean… what do you want?” she kept her stance but did not push further.

“A simple prisoner exchange, you, in exchange for this little one’s freedom, you have my word that once you’re chained up that Flurry will be kept in good care and free to live with her family.”

“But you said-”

“She has an aunt in Ponyville.” Nightmare stated bluntly. “So, have we a deal?”

Strongheart was conflicted, but eventually she made her choice.

I smiled beneath my helmet as I saw Strongheart before me in chains, I floated over, taking in my little victory.

“Well, well, the chieftain’s daughter, such a beautiful specimen…”

“We have a deal, the mare said you would free the foal to live with her family.”

“And we will… Nightmare, she is officially your charge, Flurry will stay here.” I chuckled as I let the giggling Filly sit next to me on the edge of the Bed-Stone.

“WHAT?! NO! YOU MONSTER! WE HAD A DEAL!” Strongheart screamed.

“Exactly, we have a deal, and I’m honoring it, she is with her family, and she will be taken good care of, after all…” I chuckle. “Why would I hurt my God-daughter? Shining and Cadence would kill me if anything happened to this little bundle of joy.” I was internally hating that I didn’t have enough physical presence to ruffle Flurry’s mane.

I watched Strongheart’s eyes widen in epiphany as she was dragged away by Nightmare. Yelling several expletives until screaming out. “YOU TRICKED ME! YOU MOTHERBUCKER IF I GET OUT OF THIS YOU’RE GOING TO-” and the door closed behind her.

One of the Forgotten was thankfully on hand to cover the innocent foal’s ears before any bad words could be heard. I couldn’t help but find joy at seeing the foal giggling, then yawning and curling up.

“Hehehe… silly unca…” the little one said sleepily before drifting off, leaving me frozen… only one thing I could do now.

SHINING! CADENCE! I yelled through the link.

“Gah! My lord? What’s going-” Cadence asked before I cut her off in excitement.

FLURRY CALLED ME ‘UNCA’! I squeed aloud.

…

Okay looking at it, it would make sense they’d laugh at how adorable I was being about the Filly’s first words.

Then they stopped.

“WE MISSED IT?!” they both screamed aloud.

Author's Note

HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE.

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