Chapters I must admit, seeing my sister be really tiny, or Rarity look like a rug is really funny. But them blaming Zercora just ain’t right. Spike sure ain’t helping matters any, what with his making fun of everypony. It seemed like Twilight was the only one that had some sense left, but now she’s gone all raving mad as well.
If it wasn’t for me going out and trying to be kind, none of this would have happened to begin with! And they’re still blaming Zecora for what was my fault, and the cause of those blue flowers!
If nopony else is gonna be an adult, then I guess I have to step up to the plate. Strange that the youngest is the one acting the most mature. But I’m a big pony now, I can make my own decisions! So that’s what I’ll do.
I turn around, and slip out of the library without attracting any attention. I trot through the town to the Everfree’s entrance.
Luckily, most ponies ain’t out at this early time. So I can just get through the town without worrying about somepony stopping me and alerting my sister and her friends. I can’t believe their being so... what was the word Ms Cheerilee thought us? Racist, that’s it! I can’t believe they’re being so racist towards Zecora! They better apologize to her when they get their heads on right.
I arrive at the Everfree’s enternce, and have some second thoughts. This place does look awfully scary. I know the Everfree’s legends, about how I shouldn’t go in. Maybe I should try to talk to them again, maybe they’ll actually listen. No, get a hold of yourself Apple Bloom! I’m a big pony now, some stupid forest ain’t gonna scare me!
I trot into the forest, before hearing a high pitched voice, “Stop right there! Turn around right now, missy!”
I turn around, and see my sister there. I smile, “No.”
She shouts at me, “No?! You can't ignore a direct order from your big sister!”
I pick her up, and place her on a leaf, “Hehehe. Sorry Applejack, but I'm the big sister now.”
I turn around, and trot further into the forest, barely hearing her high pitched voice shout again, “Apple Bloom, you come back here right this instant! I'm gonna tell Big McIntosh on you! Aw, pony feathers!”
I giggle slightly, and continue to trot forward. I don’t know what they’re talking about, this place don’t see too bad. Flowers along the paths, oak trees, animals playing with each other. I don’t see how they could find this scary.
Sure, it might be a bit dark, but that doesn’t matter. The night is darker than the day, that don’t mean it’s scary. Maybe it’s the Manticores that they fear, but they don’t come out at day. Yeah, Timberwolves are bad, but they seem to be ignoring me.
In fact, it’s quite beautiful out here. I can see why Miss Zecora would live out here, quiet and wild. Only sound I can hear is my own hooves, birds tweeting, and bushes shaking in the wind. Wait, is that another pair of hooves?
I stop in place, only to feel something be forced over my mouth. I breathe in to try and scream, but end up breathing in a lot of the rag over my mouth. I feel... tired, very tired.
The pony holding the rag lowers me to the ground as I breathe more of it in, “Shh, shh, shh.”
I can barely see the outline of a pony, “Sleepy...”
The pony says again, “Go ahead and sleep, you’ll wake up in a safer place.”
I decide the pony is telling the truth, and drift off to sleep.
—(Applejack)—
I start to pull on the mane of the no-good zebra, “Where’s my sister!?”
The zebra looks around as her hut is destroyed, “I don’t know of any sister out here, pony folk. All other than me is the bugs and the oak.”
I start to pull harder, “Where’s my Apple Bloom?!”
She picks me up off of her mane, and places me down, “Is she the nice pony the other day? I believe you took her along your way.”
I shout out, trying to intimidate her even with my hampered size, “She came out here to help you, now where is she!?”
The zebra looks genuinely confused, “No pony came out to help me. Maybe she is still in the Everfree?”
I look right into her eyes, “You ain’t lying.”
She rolls her eyes, “No shit. That was sarcasm, if you couldn’t understand it.”
I fall onto my flank, “Oh Celestia, where’s my sister. She shouldn’t have come out here.”
Zecora picks her pot up, “Maybe have a note sent by your unicorn. Although, we first have to fix her horn.”
—(Twilight Sparkle, two hours later)—
I furiously write a letter after getting my horn fixed. Normally, I would send a Friendship Report, but this is far from normal.
’Dear Princess Celestia,
I write this note now that my horn has been fixed by the zebra, Zecora. Normally, I would send a note detailing all about how we shouldn’t have judged a book by its cover with her, but that’s not what this is about.
About two and a half hours ago, Apple Bloom headed into the Everfree to find and help Zecora. Nopony was with her, she was completely alone, and she has not come back out. I fear that she may be lost, or even worse. I plead for you to come down and help us in our search for Apple Bloom. Please, arrive post haste. We can not take any chances of her getting injured out there, or worse.
Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle.
I furl up the note, and gallop to Spike, “Spike, send this letter!”
He shrugs, and blows his green fire on it, “Alright, don’t see why a Friendship Report is so urgent.”
I shake my head, “No, it’s not that. Apple Bloom has gone missing in the Everfree.”
—(Apple Bloom)—
I awake, only to find myself in a run down building. I’m restrained to a table, and faced towards a magical orb.
A face appears on it, wearing a type of mask, “Hello, Apple Bloom. You are going to play a game. No, not Monopony or Tag, my types of games. You will be put through multiple tests in the near future, and your choices will decide life or death for other ponies. Chose wisely, Apple Bloom. Welcome to the Theater of The Damned. Break a leg, probably somepony else’s.”
The orb explodes, and my restraints open. I fall to the floor.
I scramble up onto my hooves, and look at my surroundings. Dirty, rusty, and stained metal room. Just looking at this room makes me want to lock up my jaw. I don’t know what’s going on, but there’s only one way to go.
I open a door, and head into the next room. Immediately, the lights shut off, and the door slams shut behind me. The only light source left is another orb in the middle of the room. The pony in the weird mask speaks once more, “Good, you pushed forward, walking forward. Tell you what, let’s start you off with a familiar game, one you know quite a lot.”
I start to think maybe this is all a big prank, “What game is that?”
The pony responds, “One of my personal favorites. Ring Around The Rosey.” Some lights start to flick on, and I see the rest of the room. In the middle, a pony is strung up by a noose, “Except this time, it’s a ring around Roseluck’s neck. I’m sure you’ve seen her in your town, the flower pony. After this orb destroys itself, you will have sixty seconds to untie the noose, or she will be dropped to a sudden stop. So, will you save the innocent flower mare? Well, innocent being subjective.”
I listen to the ponies words intently, “What do you mean by that?”
The pony takes a huge breath in, “Roseluck here, caused a pony to die. She watched a pony die, and didn’t even speak up at the murderer’s trial. Standing off to the side and merely watching, too scared to move. Her words poisoned and lies to keep a murderer free, all so she wouldn’t have to worry about anything. She has been gagged, so her words won’t poison your ears. Her noose, tied especially tight, to show how her lies twisted themselves together. So, Apple Bloom, do you let her die, or do you try and save her? Break a leg, kiddo, or she’ll break her neck.”
The orb explodes, and I immediately rush to Roseluck. She don’t deserve to die here! Simply because of fear!
I rush up to her, and try and untie the rope. This loop goes through here, this loop through here. This dang thing is too tight, and I ain’t a fancy unicorn! I try and reach into the rope, but my hooves can’t pierce through it.
I can hear the ticking of a clock on the wall, counting down the seconds. I try and rip the rope in half, even biting it, but the thing is to strong!
I decide to lean back, and try and kick the pole the rope is hanging from, but only end up hurting my hooves. I see the clock on the wall reach fifteen seconds, and I decide to try one last thing.
I start to try and pull Roseluck’s hesd through the noose, pushing and pulling with all my might.
Then, a musical box starts to play.
”Ring-a-round the rosies”
I summon up a little bit more strength, and pull harder.
”A pocket full of posies,”
I pull with all the might my little Apple body can.
”Ashes! Ashes!”
I fall backwards, and forced to watch as the time runs to zero.
”We all fall down.”
I sit and watch, helplessly, as the platform below Roseluck collapses. Her face only showing one moment of surprise before the noose runs out of extra rope. She doesn’t even have time to comprehend what’s happening before she’s dead. Her body hanging there, lifeless, swinging with the momentum of the fall. I’m unable to rip my eyes from her body, my mind rushing to catch up to what’s happening.
Only when I look into her lifeless eyes do I comprehend what just happened. She just died, because I wasn’t quick enough. The rope was too thick, too tangled up and tied too tightly. Now, she is dead. Her red eyes stare into mine.
I start to scoot away as fast as I can, as if she’ll wake up and come after me. I hit up against a wall, hyperventilating. Why me, why was I chosen for this? Why give me the false hope to save her when I wouldn’t be able to? How do I get out?! Get me out!
A new orb is rolled in front of me, showing an image of Pinkie Pie in a dark room. There’s another pony next to her, a orangish stallion in a yellow shirt. Pinkie looks around, “There must be some way out of this!”
The face of the masked pony appears again, it’s deep voice saying, “Said the Joker to the Thief. But what pony is the Joker, and what pony is the Thief? Hurry along, dear, the audience eagerly awaits your arrival. Don’t worry, we won’t be playing Hangpony this time.”
I look at the orb, right into the eyes of the pony, “Why are you doing this?”
The mask smiles a tiny bit, “Why? Oh, my dear, that’d ruin the surprise. Good job trying to fire that pony, even if you failed. Now, you have some ponies to try and save.”
The orb explodes, and a door opens up. I take one last look at Roseluck’s body, before averting my gaze. I pull myself together, and walk through the open door.
—(Twilight Sparkle)—
I walk down the main path, looking for any clues. There, in the middle of the path! Signs of a struggle, an orb! I quickly shoot a magical flare into the sky, alerting everypony that I found something. Within a minute, they all rush up to me. Applejack shouting excitedly, “Did ya find her?!”
The six others, Princess Celestia included, rush up. I look around at all of them, “I believe something worse than we thought is going on. Look, signs of a struggle. Along with that orb there.”
The Princess looks at the orb, “A transmission orb, only a very powerful unicorn could craft one of these. Unicorns that powerful died off a long time ago. No offense, Twilight, but this is beyond your level. For them to simply leave them lying about like it’s nothing only speaks of their power. Doesn’t seem to be transmitting anything, however.”
Then, a face suddenly appears on the screen. Somepony wearing a strange mask, with strange red and green markings on it, almost like what a puppet would wear. The pony then begins to speak in a deep voice, “Very astute of you, Celestia. Surprising that one in your position would care about this simple endeavor.”
I already don’t like the pony on the other side, “What did you do, where’s Apple Bloom?!”
The pony let’s out a laugh, shaking my bones, “That’s for me to know, and you to figure out. Forgive me for not telling you my entire plan, unlike your previous opponents. You will find out when I give her back to you.”
Applejack gets closer, and closer to the orb, “You listen now, and you listen good you lowdown, no good varmit. I will find my Apple Bloom. If you get in the way, then your judgement day will come early. If I find my sister injured, then I will make you wish for death. If you give her back right now, then I might take mercy on your sorry hide. Mark my words, I am coming.”
The pony looks her right in the eyes, and doesn’t even flinch, “Good, you coming for me is what I want. But, it’s probably not what you want. If you come after me, ponies will die. Every hour you come after me, ponies will die. Oh, starting right now. I’m a stallion of his word.”
Princess Celestia only shakes her head, “Your mad.”
The pony snaps their gaze over to her, “Madness, as you know, is like gravity, all it takes is a little push. A lesson you are familiar with, if family history is anything to go by. One second you’re talking to your friend, your sibling, the ones you don’t treat the best but still love. Then, one little push, and they ignite the true potential within them. Next second, your standing over their corpse, and you have the knife. Or, in your case, looking at the moon with some fancy stones.”
I slowly shake my head, “You’re evil!”
The pony smirks, or, his mask smirks, “Oh, don’t pretend like everypony isn’t evil. Those ponies in your town, all hide dark secrets that make them worse than me. Don't talk like you're one of them. You're not, even if you'd like to be. To them you're just a freak, like me. They need you right now, but when they don't, they'll cast you out, like a leper. See, their morals, their ‘code’, it's a bad joke, dropped at the first sign of trouble. They're only as good as the world allows them to be. I'll show you, when the chips are down, these ‘civilized ponies’? They'll eat each other. See, I'm not a monster. I just punish those for their sins. I give a chance to the incorruptible, one to make a decision without going through corrupt royalty or judges. You are all the exceptions, the freaks, just like me.”
Princess Celestia shouts at the orb, “Who do you think you are?!”
The pony takes the orb he’s speaking through, and shows his surroundings, “I am the Director, in this Theater of the Damned!” He puts the orb down, and leans in real close to it, “Did you know there’s a party going on? A party, full of terrible, terrible, ponies. Thugs, criminals, bandits, just the worst. Now, I hear that they have a cake there. Let’s just say the flavor will explode in their mouths. Hurry along, ponies, hurry and save the evil! Tick-tock, tick-tock, all the way down! When it reaches zero...” the orb explodes.
I step back in shock, before comprehending the words said. I look over to the Princess, only to see her frozen as well, “Come on, we have to save them!”
She snaps out of it, and we start to rush back to town. She spreads her wings, and takes off. We run along the path, dodging all roots and branches on the path. I see some light ahead, and pick up the pace.
I exit out the forest, and find myself looking at one lonely house. I can see the outline of a pony in the window, who takes a bite of cake.
*BOOM!*
I’m stopped in my tracks by an earth shattering explosion. The house that was once there, gone, only a crater remains. One piece of debris flies over to me, and lands in front of me. Another orb, with the pony again, “You know what I've noticed? Nopony panics when things go ‘according to plan’. Even if the plan is horrifying. Even if, say, a house of ponies is blown up, they’ll shrug their shoulders and carry on.”
I look up, and sure enough, everypony just walks on like it’s normal. I look down at the orb one last time, “Where is she!?”
The pony simply laughs, “You have nothing, nothing, you can threaten me with. Nothing to do with all your magic. Nothing with all you magic, nothing! You, you have a choice to make. Try in vain to save dear Apple Bloom, and let ponies die, or stand back until I release her. You want your rules, your order? Laws of physics and magic, laws of life and death? See, I’m the kind of pony that breaks rules, and breaks ponies.”
I ask one last question, “Why?”
The pony sighs, “It’s always with that question, ‘why’? Can nopony be patient and wait for me to tell them? Ask, where, who, how, or anything else? No, it’s always ‘why’, why me, why am I here? See, Twilight, I am powerful, on the level of your precious little Princess. I don’t conform to your rules, I bend them until they conform to me or they break. I try, and try to break ponies, and most of the time it works. But Apple Bloom here, she’s special, she won’t break easily. So, believe me, she will return to you just fine. Either with knowledge of ‘why’ or no memory of her time there. But, come after me, more ponies die. I’m a being of his word.”
—(Apple Bloom)—
I walk through the door, hoping I will succeed this time. The room is a simple two part, on side is me, and on the other is a table. The orb rests on a table on my side of the room, “Welcome to the next game, dear Apple Bloom. ‘There must be a way out, said the Joker to the Thief’ such a great quote. One that applies to this test as well.”
I look at the ponies on the other side, and step back in shock. Sitting at the table is Pinkie Pie, and across from her is a stallion with a yellow shirt. I look at the orb, “Well, Pinkie must be the Joker!”
The pony on the orb talks, “Oh, really, why’s that?”
I look back and fourth, “Well... she’s Pinkie Pie! Element of Laughter and all!”
The pony looks right at me, “Oh, my dear, you are right. But also wrong. Do you never question what she does? Pulling objects out of her mane, having stashed across town? You didn’t think she had those there for an innocent reason, did you? Stolen goods hid away, weather in mane or behind tree. She makes her friends laugh, but I’m sure the shop keeps aren’t laughing when they discover items disappearing. Thief and liar, hiding behind her ‘Pinkie sense’ and ‘randomness’ so nopony will ever think her suspect. You think her parties are truely free? Ponies pay for those parties through unwilling donations. But because she throws a party without charge and for everypony, she is seen as good.”
The pony doesn’t have a lick of doubt or hesitation in their voice, “What about the stallion?”
The pony sighs, “The Joker, sadly drawn into this game by coincidence of positioning. Not to say he’s innocent. Cheese Sandwich, the party pony who ran from home and never returned. Left without a word, authorities thought that his parents had killed him. He didn’t come back once, not when his parents were defending themselves, not when they hanged, never. He didn’t know, he was too busy having fun and laughing as he threw parties all across the land. Both of them have done bad and never admitted to it. Both are liars. So, I decided we’re going to play an appropriate game.”
Two cups come down from the roof, and five dice for each cup as well.
The pony looks as the cups are let down on the table, “Liars Dice, a fun game for the whole family. You say what the how many dice of whatever number are there, and call one another out if they lie. Call the bet exact, and get it right, and everypony gives up a die, and those two are going to play. You, Apple Bloom, are to help them cheat. You have two orbs right there, allowing you to see in each cup. The player who runs out of dice first, becomes them. Whoever is left can leave alive. So, Apple Bloom, Joker or Thief?”
The orb explodes, and the cups on the table are shaken around. Cheese Sandwich looks over at me, his bright blue eyes shining with contained laughter, “That pony, he said whoever runs out first dies. What if we were to tie?”
Pinkie shakes her head fast enough to send her hair swinging, “No, no, nope! We can’t take the chance that he would kill us both!” She looks right at me, her emerald green eyes pleading, “Come on Apple Bloom, I’m the Element of Laughter, you gotta help me win! The world can survive without him, but not without me!”
Cheese looks at his dice, “Let us tie. We have to take the chance that we both live!”
Pinkie looks at her dice, “One two.”
Cheese looks away from his dice, “Four threes.”
I look over at Pinkie, “Call it exact!”
She simply says out, “Five ones.”
Cheese calls it, “Liar.”
The cups are lifted up, showing there are only two ones. One of Pinkie’s dice are put in the center of the table. The cups are shaken up again, and placed down.
Pinkie looks at her dice, “Four fives.”
I look over at Cheese, “Call it!”
He calls it, “Liar.”
The dice are revealed, and one of his is taken away. Thus making the score even.
Cheese looks at his dice, “Three sixes.”
Pinkie looks at hers, “Liar.”
The dice are shown, and there are two sixes. One of Pinkie’s dice are taken away and put in the center.
The dice are shaken up, and without even looking Cheese calls out, “Two twos.”
Pinkie looks him in the eye, and says, “Liar.”
The dice are revealed, showing two twos are there. Pinkie die is taken away, leaving her with two.
The cups are shaken up, and placed down.
Pinkie peeks into her’s, “Two fives.”
Cheese looks at me, and I nod, “Liar.”
The dice are revealed, showing one five. His die is taken away.
They shake up the cups again, and Cheese says, “Three sixes.”
Pinkie looks at hers, “Three fives.”
Cheese looks at me once again, and I nod, “Liar.”
The cups are reviled showing three fives. Cheese’s die is taken away, bringing them to a tie.
The cups are placed down, and Pinkie looks at hers, “One one.”
I look at Cheese, “Call it exact.”
He nods, “I think you’ve got that exactly right.”
The dice are revealed, showing one one. A die is taken from both, leaving both with one.
The dice are shaken, and Cheese looks at his, “Two sixes.”
I look over at Pinkie, “Call it exact!”
She looks at me, then at him, “Liar.”
The dice are revealed, showing two sixes. Pinkie’s last die is taken away, making her the loser.
She looks between us two, “No, no, no, I can’t die this way! I’m the Element of Laughter, I’m too important to just die!”
She looks at me one last time, her desperate emerald greens meeting my eyes. Pleading for me to do something. I shake my head, “I’m sorry.”
She screams in surprise as she is flung out of her chair. Below her, and where she lands, is a funnel type device with a whirring sound coming out. Her screams are stoped, and the noise becomes muffles with the sound of shredding.
A few seconds later, a pair of fuzzy, pink, dice land on the table, and an orb lands next to them, “Here I present it to you, liar’s dice! Almost looks like something I’d put on a carriage.”
Cheese Sandwich takes one look at them, before passing out and laying on the floor.
A door opens, and the pony speaks again, “He’ll be fine. I will make sure of it. And I’m a stallion of his word. Now, you have a new test to go to!”
—(Twilight Sparkle)—
I pour over the crime scene, and look at the census of names to determine who is doing this. The Director, must have something to do with his real name. Maybe somepony with a mark in filmmaking or stage plays. It’s been two hours since the building exploded, and the ponies inside. The Princess is working on that, leaving me to the paperwork.
If this pony thought he could get away with this murder, on top of his already grave crime of foal kidnapping, than they are an idiot. They may blow up one building, but I doubt they will do much more. It’s already been two hours, and no death.
*Knock, knock, knock!*
I open my door, only to see a mailpony standing there, “Package for one Ms Twilight Sparkle. Sign here please.”
I take the clipboard and quill, and sign my name. The mailpony pulls in a large, like a huge, crate. Barely even fitting through my door. I nod at the mailpony as they exit, “Thank you!”
They exit, muttering about the tartarus on their back. I pull the crate into the center of the room, and open it up.
I instantly gag, and almost vomit from the smell. I cough into my hoof, and cast a odor clearing spell. I walk closer to the crate, and peak inside.
Two earth ponies lie inside, heads separated from the rest of them. I jump back in shock and disgust, before seeing an orb in my table. The orb powers up, and the pony looks at me, “You continue investigating, don’t you? Here’s your reward, good job, Twilight Sparkle. Say hello to Ms and Mr Scootaloo. I’m sure this is the first time you’ve seen them, let alone heard of them. Ah, your Princess would want to keep them out of your sight, it might just shatter your innocence. See them now, paying for what they did. Their child, abandoned on the side of the street as they ran, leaving her for dead. Only her Aunt and Uncle stumbling along her managed to save her. These cowards have been enjoying their life in Las Pegasus, not even thinking about their daughter once. Paid the price for what they’ve done now. Look at them, Sparkle, look at them and remember that they are the average pony.”
I only stare, unable to understand, before asking, “Do you think what you’re doing is right? Do you think this is okay?”
The pony stares at me for a while. I can see his mask break for a single second, literally. I can see the barest hint of a frown behind the smile on his mask. Then, the mask repairs itself, and the pony shakes his head, “What I do is for the greater good. What Apple Bloom is going through, all for the greater good. I am perfectly right in what I do, there’s no other way.”
I snap at the pony, “Killing ponies is for the greater good!? What kind of sick, twisted, morals do you have to conclude that!? In what world is killing for the greater good?!”
The pony snaps back, “The real world, Sparkle! My world, the greater world around you! Not everywhere is all sunshine and rainbows, and sometimes Harmony fails! What I do only helps ponies and other creatures!”
I stomp my hoof, “Killing ponies helps ponies now!? Is that how you justify your killing?!”
The pony leans into the orb, talking calmly, “I have never killed somepony who didnt deserve it. I’m not a killer, I’m a savior. I have saved this world countless times, and you claim your better than me because you defeated one pony? Well gee, I’m sorry I wasn’t there to do everything. All the unnamed ponies I’ve defeated you haven’t even heard of. Mare of Light, Evil’s Voice, Slendermane, Ahuizotl, Sphinx, Cain, Torn Claw the Rebel, all of them defeated by my hoof and my hoof alone. Don’t make it sound like I’m evil now,”
I shake my head, “You kill ponies all so that you can seem good.”
The pony laughs a bit, “If you think I’m bad, you should’ve seen my mentor. I swear, that stallion loved seeing me scared. A love that hasn’t passed on. Now, young Apple Bloom walks through here. I suggest you stop before more ponies die, Sparkle. I don’t want to have to warn you again. The count reaches twelve because of you, I suggest you wait for Apple Bloom to play the games.”
I ask one last question, “Who are you to determine the value of life?”
The pony looks right back at me, “I could ask you the same. Are the lives of ponies worth this one child, that will be fine anyway? Look in the mirror, Sparkle. Even you have a dark side.”
With that last statement, the orb explodes.
—(Apple Bloom)—
I trot on into the next room, ready for whatever horrible challenge the pony’ll put me through this time. Like every other time, the room is dark when I enter. Orb on the table, “Alright, go ahead, what’s this time?”
The orb lights up, the pony on it as always, “This time, your small size will work in your favor. Look into the chamber.”
The lights flick on, and I look into the chamber. Inside is some earth pony, “Who’s that?”
The pony looks right at them, “Pest controller, one who enjoys his job a bit to much. Ever hear of Twittermites? Harmless species made by ponies to get rid of pests like flies. They were set lose, and ponies soon discovered they didn’t like them. So, ponies did as they do best, made nature conform to their standards. This pony here being the one hired to get rid of the insects, the only one. He did so good, and enjoyed his job so much, that all ponies that might take his position disappeared. He took particular joy in useing a specific pesticide against the innocent animals. Now, he will be on the receiving end.”
I look over at the orb, “How do I save him?”
The pony looks back at me, “Go into the vents and activate them when you reach the end. His chamber shall have a gas introduced to it until he dies, or you activate the vents. He enjoyed killing the animals with A. Now, he shall face the better version, Zyklon B. So, Apple Bloom, do you watch him suffocate as he deserves, or do you try to save him? I will wait until you make your decision to start.”
I look at the pony, “Oh, now your giving me a head start?”
The orb simply stops transmitting visually, “Choose, Apple Bloom, life or death.”
I immediately go for the vents, and pull away the cover, “It ain’t right to just kill ponies, no matter the crime. He will be sent to jail after this, and serve time. I can make sure the Princess does so.”
The orb speaks out, “Then crawl, Apple Bloom, crawl for his life. Starting the concentration of Zyklon B.”
I instantly crawl into the vent, moving forward as fast as I can. I can hear the sound of the gas being activated behind me. The stallion’s cries and coughing. Every wheezing gasp makes me speed up.
I see a switch at the end of the vent, and flip it immediately when I get to it. I make sure the sound of whirring vents hit my ears before I crawl back to the main room.
There, I see the old stallion hacking blood up. Banging against the thick glass, trying to escape. The vents are on, but he already breathed to much in. Smashing every part he can against the reinforced glass, leaving blood all over it. He jumps forward with all his might, sending the glass outwards, but not breaking it. He then collapses, and takes one last breath before stopping all movement. The room he’s in hazed with a slight blue tone.
I collapse under my own weight, and just sit there for a while. Another orb rolls out in front of me, “You tried, but his lungs were too weak. Just like the insects he killed, he could only take a faint whif before death.”
I look the pony right in the eyes, both of wich are differnt colors. One blue with red streaks, and another one brown with green streaks. I ask one simple question, “How much more do I have to go through?”
The pony looks right back into my orange eyes, “Three more. Then, we will meet, face to face.”
I nod, “Alright, open the door. Let’s get on with it.”
The ponies eyes lighten up a bit, “You are strong, my dear. Hold onto that strength, because you will need it.”
I look forward, “Let’s just get to this. I will meet you, face to face. I will listen to what you have to say. I will decide then if I should kick in your head.”
The pony nods, “That’s for you to decide.”
—(???)—
I trudge on down the path paved only by pony hooves. The apple orchard is really kicking off since I’ve last been here. Only bad thing about this is that I trip easily. Only able to catch myself and force myself along with some magic. I can’t let simple roots in the path turn me back again.
I walk out the orchard proper, and see the house resting where it belongs. Light in the window speaks of a cooker inside. I walk up the path to the door, and knock. Some shuffling comes from inside, before the top end of the door opens up. The pony inside peeks her head out, “Oh, I should’ve known you’d been coming! My senses must be getting weaker.”
I smile, “The privilege of our age, Smith. It’s been so long sense I’ve been around.”
She opens the door, “Well come on in, dear. I just made some pie for supper, but I’m sure Applejack would understand me sharing it with you. Why, I don’t think she’s seen you since, well... their deaths.”
I walk inside with her, and we sit at the table, “I’m sorry, I’ve just been so busy. All the set up, needed preparation of at least five years to make all these orbs. I remember the days where I would be able to make a hundred in an hour.”
Smith comes back with her apple pie, you haven’t lived if you haven’t tried it, “And I used to be able to clear this entire orchard with one kick. Yeah, sure, we get to sit back and enjoy the easy life as we watch our children grow, but sometimes I wish for the old days. We wern’t able to catch a break, always off fighting or farming. But, now we sit in our chairs, and just make sure our future stays safe.”
I nod, and take a slice, “Our little Bloom is a great pony. Strong in character, good morals, the most grit I’ve ever seen. I only hope she will listen when we meet.”
Smith starts to eat with me, “You aren’t doing to much to her, are you? This ain’t the old days, ponies usually ain’t as strong.”
I shake my head, “Compared to what the old coot did to me, she is having a cakewalk. Believe me when I say she would fit right in back in the old days. She’d become the Captain of the Canterlot Guard if she wanted to. Now, that position means nothing. This current Captain? I think I could beat him with a swish of my hoof, and I’m so much older than him. I think our little Bloom could beat him into the dirt if he didn’t have weapons or armor.”
She laughs, “Oh, I would pay to see that! She’s gonna have a rough future ahead of her. All those ponies we beat will be coming back in her lifetime. If she takes the responsibility, then she will have to be clever.”
I take a bite of pie, “Well, they’ll also be the other two. I hear that I’m the first to start. I hope you and Lightning get to it. Bloom is good, but she alone can’t take on everything.”
She takes another bite as well, “She’ll make a great pony. Carrying on our legacy. Until she eventually starts the cycle all over again. Hay, she might just use that Theater just like you.”
I smile, “But this visit isn’t just about business. How’s Mac doing?”
It’s then that the door opens, and in walks Applejack. She is about to say something, until she sees me at the table, “Grandpa!”
She rushes over to hug me, and I hug back, “Been a long time, Jackie. Sorry about that, but I can be here more soon.”
She starts to cry into my shoulder, “Oh, grandpa, Apple Bloom has gone missing! Some pony is killing ponies! Twilight hasn’t come out her library in an hour, and she won’t respond!”
I look her right in the eyes. My multicolored bicolored eyes meeting her green eyes. I say in a steady voice, “Bloom won’t be harmed, Jackie. We just need to wait here, I’m sure she will return. If anypony hurts her, I will kill them myself.”
If I hurt her, I will kill myself, damned be the legacy. She’ll return safe, and hopefully even safer than she is now.
—(Apple Bloom)—
I almost stifle a yawn as I go into the next room, but this one is special. Not just a two room with a chamber, but this one is connected to another full room. I see a pony tied up in rope, hanging above a pool of razor blades. I sigh, and look over at the obligatory orb, “So, what’s the story for this?”
The pony appears on the orbs as usual, “Zesty Gourmand, a food critic. Now, I have nothing against critics who do their job properly, but she is corrupted. Her words cut into the hopeful chiefs just because they aren’t the same. The words cut just like the razor blades the chiefs use later those nights. Now, she will experience the pain her remarks cause.”
I nod, “Yeah, so how do I save her?”
The pony nods over to the wall, “There’s a switch there, will stop the cord. But, I haven’t taken good care of it, let it rust because I could care less, just like she with her words. But, I have provided a crowbar to help you. You have one minute to unstick the lever before the crowbar will disappear. Starting as soon as you pick it up.”
I nod, and rush over to the crowbar. I try to lift it with my hooves, but end up fumbling it around. I finally get it in a good grip and rush over to the lever. I see the orb explode out the corner of my eye, but I’m to busy. I jam the crowbar into position, and push down on it.
I can see the crowbar start to bend under my force, but the switch starts to slowly move upwards. I see the rope outside still falling, so I increase my force.
I almost get the lever free when a single resounding noise comes from it.
*Crack!*
The lever got unstuck all right, but it isn’t attached to the wall anymore. The lever cracks from the wall, and goes flying against the room. All the while, I’m sent crashing to the floor from the backlash.
I land, facing the other room where the cord lets go entirely. The lever was the thing controlling speed, but now it’s on free fall. So, the pony ends up crashing into the pool of blades. Disappearing under the surface, the only evidence she was there is the blood on the top layer of razors.
I just sit there as another orb rolls out. The pony takes one look at me, “Well, my dear, you’ve reached the end.”
I look at the pony, actually surprised, “You said there were three more traps left. That was only one.”
I can hear a door open near me, and hear the ponies voice from two differnt locations, “I’m in a generous mood my dear. Now, pick yourself up, you look tired. I’ve just prepared tea, come enjoy it.”
I look over at the door to see the pony in the mask. Stallion, and very old, looking around the same age as Granny. His presence exudes nothing but peace. I trust him, he hasn’t harmed me yet. I get up, and follow after him as we trudge through the halls, “So, you’re going to explain all of this?”
He simply continues walking, “Yes, but over tea. I know that this experience will make you twitchy, I know that personally. Tea will calm you down, and allow you to listen better. Also, it’s been a while since you’ve drank something, you must be parched.”
We enter a room, this one clean and with a table in the center, “You seem quite nice for a murderer.”
He uses some magic to pull out my chair, and we sit at the same time, “I’m not a murderer, I only kill those who kill others. Just like your sister.”
I tilt my head, “You know about Applejack?”
He nods, before holding up an orb, “So sorry, but I have something to do first. I told Ms Sparkle not to keep investigating, ‘ponies will die’ I say. She still insists on doing so.”
—(Twilight Sparkle)—
I flip through the pages with almost reckless abandon, but careful enough so I can read it. It’s been three hours since the delivery, and it’s nearing night.
*Knock, knock, knock!*
I shout at the door, “We’re closed!”
The pony could care less, and kicks in the door. In walk two ponies carrying some type of bag between them. They place the bag on my table, and stand on either side, “What is the meaning of this!?”
The bag is opened from the inside, and I can see a mad smile coming out of it. The pony inside the bag sticks out his two hooves, each holding knives, and stabs them into his two partners. He uses the leverage from their bodies to raise himself up and out. His two friends collapse, dead, and he casually wipes the knives on their fur, “Only bad thing about knives, they’re so hard to clean! If not for these two willing volunteers to clean their own blood, I’d have rusty knives in a week.”
I stand up from my seat, shouting at the messy pony, “Who the tartarus are you?!”
The pony looks at me, the white makeup on his face splotchy and his green hair dirty. The pony licks his lips, where scars representing smiles are, “I’m what happens when things go wrong. Somepony killed, oh you better believe the murderer was inspired by me.”
I point my horn down at him, “I’m ready to fight back!”
He licks his lips again, “Oh, there’s no need for that. It’s been three hours, and only two have died.”
I back up slowly, “I am the most powerful mage in town, I could beat you! You stand no chance against my magic!”
The pony smiles, “Oh, magic? You wanna see a magic trick?” The pony takes his knife, and shoves it into the table.
I shout at him, “My table!”
The pony puts a hoof on the back of his head, and licks his lips one more time, “I’m gonna make this knife disappear.”
He pushes his own head down, onto the knife. He falls over, the hilt sticking out of his head. An orb rolls out of his pocket, and the pony appears on it, “Was it worth it, Sparkle? Letting these ponies die?”
I glare at him, “We won’t stop until Apple Bloom is safe!”
The pony reaches over, and picks up his orb, “Oh, then you can stop now.” He turns the orb around for me to see Apple Bloom sitting at a table, takeing a sip of tea, “Unharmed, safe, and about to be returned. She is about to learn the why of things. But you, Sparkle, you wasted so many lives. You don’t deserve to hear it from anypony but her mouth.”
The orb is then smashed down on the table, and the orb on my floor shatters the same.
I hear little footsteps coming down the stairs, “Hey, Twilight, what’s with all the noise?”
I turn around, “No wait!”
Spike sees the state of the room. He takes a long look at it, before spinning in his heel and marching back up, “Nope, Nope, Nope, Nope. All the nope’s from Nopeville in Nopeworld.”
—(Apple Bloom)—
I sit across from the pony, taking a calming sip of tea, “So, you said you weren't a murderer?”
He nods, “Tell me, did you look at their eyes?”
I nod, “Pinkie’s green, Roseluck’s red, Cheese’s blue, what about it?”
He shakes his head, “It would take an observant pony to realize one fact. That’s not their eye color. Pinkie has blue, Roseluck green, Cheese green.”
I think back on Pinkie and Roseluck, and realize he’s correct, “What are you saying?”
He looks right at me, “The eyes are the window to the soul, but what if there’s no soul? All these ponies I’ve ‘killed’ were illusions. Just mist made to look like a pony, and speak like one. Nopony died here. Their ‘death’ is like the death of a book character. It may seem real from a perspective, but when you realize it’s a book, you know it’s fake. This was all a test, and you passed with flying colors.”
I sit back in shock, before more pressing questions come to mind, “So, this was all an illusion. A test. Who are you, what was this a test for?”
He takes a sip of tea, “I’m somepony who you should’ve known your whole life, but didn’t. I had so much to set up, and it is horrible that this is how we meet in the end. My name, at least for the last hundred years, is Zap. Zap Apple. My dear, my granddaughter, that is who I am.”
I sit there for a bit, and digest the information, “Your my grandpa. You’re the one married to Granny. And you were away all my life to set up for this?”
Zap smiles happily, not like the mockery on his mask, “And you were every bit as brilliant as my most optimistic hopes. This, my little Bloom, could be the most important hour of your life.”
I look up right at him, “What? What was his a test for? Why put me through all that?”
He puts some sugar into his tea, “See, I’m one of three ponies in the world with a special set of skills. Your Granny being another one. Martial arts, the most powerful way to fight. We are the only ponies who know our styles. For pegasi, is the Furious Wing style. For earth, is the World Tree style. For unicorns, is the Arcane Weave style. Only one pony know each of those styles, and we need to pass on the legacy. Just as my mentor did to me, I did to you. A series of traps, but the ponies inside all did something wrong. The test was if you tried to save them, and you did. I needed to make sure my student would value all life, even if criminal. Along the way, you have me taunting you to break you, I’m terribly sorry about that by the way. You stayed strong, and stayed to your morals. So, I ask you this. Will you learn Arcane Weave?”
I take a sip of tea, “Didn’t you say that was for unicorns?”
He shrugs, “Ponies with unicorn blood, magical blood. You have a grandpa with strong magic, and now you carry that.”
I nod, “So why me and not Applejack or Big Mac?”
He smiles, “Big Mac doesn’t seem like the type of pony to use martial arts. Jackie has already had her path chosen. She was always to be the Element of Honesty, and it was either that or this. So, granddaughter, will you learn?”
’S̷͇a̯͈y͇̤͉͔͎͖̹ ̬̣͇̣̹͞n͍͇͓̰̞͜o̡̪̟͓̞,̛ͅ ṃ̯͕͍̭y̢ ̧d̞͎͔̭e͕̬̣̪͚a̼̱͚̞̱̼̬r̳͇̮͇̱̳.͓̼̰̙͞ ̛̬̞I̥͇͇̱̜̗̼ ̤̙͚̝̣̥̩c͕̯̗̝̹̝ͅa̧n̳̠̪̠̠̮ ͕o̦̤̠͇f̧̮̯̮̠f̘̣̹̕er͝ ͏̖m̫̤͎̻̳u̥̻͠c͢h̷̩̫̯̖ ̭͕͙̖̪͘m͏̱̤͇̝̬ò͇̪̞̲͙r҉͈̹̤̻͉̰ͅe̵̯̹̦̥̖̬ ͉̘s͔t͉̭̠̬͓͍̀r͍̯̳̣e̡n̞̖͖̗͇ͅg̟̲̱̜t̶̯̟̝̪h ͞t͕̼̤̪͔h̺̺a̶̫̗̺̠̯̯͓n͚̦̹̤͚̠͖͠ ̮̥̻͝t̢ḫ̘̣̞̬͞a̩̪̟̣̲t̵͚ o̹̤̙̮̖͘l͈̪̦̯̟̩d̯͓̻ͅ ̨̗̹̞p͔͔̮̣o̞̙̺̤̞̕n̢͇̙̱͔̬̺̦y̢̮̮̣͎͉.̮̣͕ͅ‘
Zap looks at me once more, and lowers his tea, “Don’t move, not a single muscle.”
The serious tone in his voice makes me obey, “What is happening?”
I can see him raise his hoof, and I hear a bang from behind me. Zap dissapears from his seat, and I can barely hear the sound of hooves behind me, “What the hell are you, and what do you want with my granddaughter?”
I turn around to see what he’s talking too, and see a thing more terrifying than anything I’ve seen in my life. A pony with black voids for eyes. Those black voids spew blood, as does the mouth. More heads sprout from it’s body, all speaking differnt languages, all speaking with the same horrible tone, ”Y̺͍̟̼͇̳͖ou̫̬ ̶̬̼̩̼̞͎̮t̻̹̹̳̗h̭̤̥i̤͓̖̳͔̩̫n͏̱̫͔k̸̳ ̬̰͔͈͖y͇̟̜͉̯̹o̵͙̺̘͍̥͍̺u̪̼̲̼̟ ̵̤͓̜̪t͇͓͠h̯̦̭͇͟r̝͕e̸̱̗̲̜a̦̭t͕̖̣e͚̣͚̼̭͉̺n̨̘̳͇ ̱̻͉͞ͅm͚̰e̱͔̫,̘̥͝ ͚̳̺̯͈͞p̺͙ọ͖͓̺͙̮̰͘n҉̝͎͎͇̹̣ͅỳ͎?̶̯̟͔̱ ̱̻͔̘͙͡I͏̱̞ ̯͓͟c̘̺̣̘͖̻̺o͍̟͖̭̹u̻͚l͏̬͍̮d ̸̞̥̜k̬̭̯̱̟̯͓i̡̱̺̜͚̜l͓̖̳͚͟l͓̮͚͕̹̠ ͉yo͈̤̗̺u̥̲̖͎̳̜ͅ ̻̬̹͕͖͜ͅw̷̲̼̱̼̤̦h̟̣̜̤e̪̘̱̬̻̭re̜̬͓̯̥͝ ͏͚̥͔yo̹̮͕̝̳̤ù̞͙̫͍̖͈ͅ ͕̲̤̳̩̼͈s҉̰̻͍̦̟͓ta̻͖̤̯͈̮̭n҉̤͓̰d̰̳̥̖̗͜.̫̘̻̳̱͙̬”
He simply picks the creature up by the neck, “I may not see as good as I used to, but I can still tell you don’t belong here. You try to corrupt my granddaughter, my Bloom? I will send you back to the void whence you came!”
The thing starts to float away, and I can see the air around it start to disappear. Like, the spot in the room starts to stop existing. The thing is eventually caught in this effect, and screams out in pain before it disappears. Grandpa stands there, watching it fade away. I eventually speak up, “What just happened?”
He finally looks back towards me, “That is the power of the Arcane Weave. There is a mechanism behind it, but you must learn the style before you learn how to do the style. I could wipe out entire armies back in my hayday. This thing throught it could harm you, I won’t allow that. You’ve seen it’s power. Now, do you want to learn it?”
I slowly nod, “Yeah. Yeah! I could be like a superhero! But, uh, how am I gonna learn it?”
He walks towards a wall, and it falls over, showing us in the middle of a forest, “I’m going back home, that’s where we will learn it. Come on, my little Bloom, Jackie is waiting for us.”
—(Zap Apple)—
We walk down the old road, watching the sun set in the distance. My joy when my dear Bloom agreed can not be expressed in mere words, but in this sunset. The orange and yellows behind our house set a backdrop of hope for the future, and a return of me to my true home. The Director shall disappear, and just be a mystery left for the entirety of history unless Bloom decides they need to know.
I smile as I see Jackie rush out of the house. She runs down the path to us, and sweeps Bloom up in a embrace, “Oh, Bloom, we were so worried. Come in, you must be starving! Maybe you can tell us what happened.”
She looks up to me, and I nod, “Go on up and eat, Bloom, I will be there eventually.”
Bloom rushes to the house, leaving me and Jackie standing there. She looks over at me, “You found her? Where was she?”
I smile, “I brought her home, and I plan to stay. The where and why can wait until another day, Jackie. A day where my Bloom can decide if she wishes to say.”
Applejack smiles happily, “You’re actually going to stay now?!”
I nod, “My work can be done from home now. We have a lot to catch up on, miss Element of Harmony. Now, we can run the farm much better, together as a family. Come on, Jackie, supper’s waiting.”
She nods, and we both walk up the path to the house. I smile contently as the magical fields of trees welcome me home once again.
—(One day later)—
I swish my hoof, and cut off the Weave from the stems of the apples on the tree. They all fall into the buckets I’ve set down, before the buckets are teleported into the wagon. It’s good, returning to this simple job. Back home with my family, as it’s supposed to be.
I hear the swishing of wings, and a thud from behind me, “Well, Zap, finally returned to your family?”
I turn around, and see Princess Celestia there, “Hello there, Celestia. Is there a reason you’re bothering me?”
She smiles slightly, her Weave aura almost giving me sunburn, “Well, you are past your prime, finally. I thought you might be looking for a student. I have a Captain of my personal guard, a very strong unicorn.”
I scoff, “Shining Armor? No offense to the lad, but he is far from a Weaver. The Sparkle family make good battle mages, but none reach the level of a Weaver. You wouldn’t understand, seeing you haven’t bothered to learn your style. Sad, actually, I would’ve loved to fight alongside a Cold Union master.”
She sneers, “Oh, as if I would lower myself to your level. Unlike you, and that bastard Starswirl, I have standards.”
I look her right in the eyes, “What did you just say about him?”
She looks right back, “He was an old bastard, just like you.”
I walk closer to her, “I’m afraid you have to leave. I knew you were low, Celestia, but I never thought you’d insult the dead.”
She shakes her head, “As if he deserves any respect. He did nothing but challenge my decisions his life.”
I get right up into her face, “Take that back. He was a greater pony than you could ever be. You are the lowest of the low.”
She doesn’t flinch, “I would think the lowest of the low would be those who abandon their family. You seem to have picked that up from your parents.”
I am about to get angry, before shaking my head, “Starswirl was the only parent I ever needed. Those two who made me were cowards, and I’m glad I never knew them. You do not dare insult my true father.”
She smiles, “Or what? You can’t do anything, old coot, I am a Princess. I will insult your father all I want, and you can’t do anything.”
I smile back, “If you don’t leave my farm, you will be forced off.”
She looks right on back, “I could make it so you don’t own this farm at all! Now, apologize.”
I remember for a bit, “We bought this farm from your father, you can’t change it at all. It has my signature right next to Granny’s and our true royal highness. You can do nothing. Now, you insulted my family. Get off my farm.”
She looks away like a whining foal, “No!”
I shake my head, “Then you shall be forced off.”
I raise my hoof, and tap into the Weave. With a sweep, I take away the spell from her tail and hair, permanently. With a thought, I start to remove her from the Weave, just like with that creature.
She screams out as she starts to dissapear, and she quickly flies up and away. I smile as I see her dissapear over the horizon.
Jackie hears this, and rushes over. She sees me there, with a smile on my face, “What just happend?”
I turn to her, “Oh, I just had to chase off a trespasser.”
She smiles, “Oh, that reminds me. If you find a blue pegasus, don’t chase her off. She’s a friend, and likes to nap in our trees.”
I nod, “I’ll make sure to say hello if I see her.”
Jackie nods one last time, before walking back to her path, whistleing a tune from long ago.
I smile as I continue to get apples down.
Shining Armor couldn’t be a Weaver, not because he’s weak. I already have my student. And she will be brilliant.
