Strength Beyond Strength

"Did you get a good idea of what the environment is like?"

"Yeah. Applejack, can you tell everyone what you told me when I dropped by the farm yesterday?"

"Sure thing," Applejack assured Chris, "There's a hidden wing on the farm where I hid a few bodies after one of our kerfuzzled time escapades. I didn't realize until yesterday you guys never found it."

"I remember, too," Apple Bloom said sadly, "I died during that one, didn't I?"

"I'm sorry, sugarcube. I wasn't in control of myself at the time. You know I would never hurt you if I could help it, right."

"I know..."

Applejack hugged her baby sister.

"I promise you I won't ever let anything happen to you again."

"That's not all either," Chris added, "You remember a little too, don't you Twilight?"

"Apple Bloom, you're the one who cured Applejack."

"I...I did?"

"That's right. It was the only act of justice at the end of that timeline. Even I failed to do the right thing. You saved her."

"You guys have been calling me a superhero, but look at what Apple Bloom sacrificed for Applejack. She's already more of a hero than I'll ever be."

Applejack smiled down at her sister.

"Hey, Chris; I just realized something. The other timelines are starting to become more clear."

"Hm. I wonder why."

"I can't be sure yet, but it looks they followed a chronological sequence. I asked the princess about it, and she confirmed what I was thinking. Not only was the timeline reset, but it was reset at a later date. Odds are we're not even in the same year anymore from when the timelines started branching off."

"You think it means anything?"

"Not really. It all seems to be rotational. One of us went crazy until eventually it exploded into one timeline where we all lost our minds at the same time in a massive killing spree."

"Well, there's no point in being concerned about it now. The whole focus of our training is to avoid repeating history."

"I guess you're right."

"The reason I called you all out here today is to go over survival skills. During any of the timelines, were any of you ever trained in how to find food, water, and supplies?"

"Shining Armor taught me some of what he learned in the royal guard."

"Good. I need your help showing the others how to survive on their own should another incident occur. This is called a contingency plan; a plan that takes future possibilities into account. If our original plan fails, we can use the contingency plan to reduce casualties from mounting."

"I know the four essentials; Food, Water, Shelter, and a controlled fire."

"Well done. Can you explain how to find them?"

"Fish, fruit, and vegetables are going to be the main sources of food. A lot of the plants that look edible could be poisoned though. Don't eat any unusually colored or soapy-tasting plants. Stay away from mushrooms. Don't eat plants with three leaves, shiny leaves, milky or strangely colored sap, or an almond smell. White and yellow berries are off limits too."

"Finding water is actually less tricky than food," Chris explained, "Use water filters, pots to boil it, and anti-bacterial tablets to purify it. You can find water everywhere from streams, lakes, and rivers to plant roots. Use everything from your ears to the movement patterns of the wildlife to track it down. Dig stills in the ground if necessary to build condensation from the sun."

"Shelters can be built with branches, sticks, twigs, leaves, and dirt."

"Use flint, sticks, dry rocks, lighters, and stones to light and control a fire. Everything you need to know has been written down in these memos I wrote last night; from the measurements of stills to the supplies you'll need to collect and purify water. Read them over thoroughly. Your knowledge will be put to the test in two days. Tomorrow is combat training. The day after is all about perfecting your survival capabilities."

"Understood," Twilight affirmed.

"You're all free to go. Be ready to meet back here in the morning."

Everyone nodded and went their separate ways.