How long has it been since those terrible events, how long since the Shatter Storm? How long since the once beautiful and vibrant land of Equestria was reduced to ruin? Broken, divided, the land and its people scattered to the winds, to be snatched up by the cruel and wicked. So many pieces left for one or another monstrosity to claim, and survivors to either become cruel, or be crushed. The years have not been kind, not to any one of us.

We left very near the start, so coming back after everything was a shock. Near as I can figure, the Crystal Empire still stands, and it’s said to be the only safe haven left. Maybe I’ll go and see who all managed to get through the storm.

Canterlot is gone, again a sleeping volcano. Everyfree has spread so far now, moving like a plague. Ponyville… this was the hardest to see after so long, the place I’d spent so long in. It hurt to see it and the scattered unfortunate citizens nothing but skeletons. Carved and picked clean by scavengers, now abandoned for all to see the hints of what was the happy little town. I suppose the fact I was there when Sweet Apple Acres fell, I had time to adjust to that loss. Now, all that pain and hurt has returned at the sight of a town that, in my foalish mind, I hoped survived. Buildings, ponies, animals, all littering the ground. Scars and marks of all the horrors, visually echo to sting at the imagination.

So barren, empty, lifeless, with only the creeping plants and bitter winds moving through here. Shadows, even they seem more vicious now. I’m used to this, as we adventured through the dark on our hunt for revenge, facing the cruelest realms beyond Equestria, I never imagined returning would only mirror what is out there. I can only find solace that my dear sister did not live to see this, though I miss her so, I can’t imagine she could bare this sight. I’m not too sure how I can.

My Little Pony: Stormbreaker

Record 1: Reunion

A figure darted in and out of the ruins of an old town long left to its decay and rot, not lingering long enough to be noticed, not making much of a sound to be heard. As their shadow passed over the ground, the distinctive shape of a western hat was the only hint to who was now exploring the remains of Ponyville. Between the aggressive plants, and the roaming demonic creatures, there was no safety here in staying in place too long, and certainly not in calling attention. They only chanced this for the possibilities in the long dead shops, to refresh exhausted supplies and provisions. They needed to fill their saddle bags as much as they could, if they were to reach the North.
After an exhaustive searching, they found little more than long expired products, or things simple of no use. Any survivors, scavengers, or monsters likely cleaned the good stuff out long before the mysterious pony ever came. So they would leave, as silently and swiftly as they had come. Only the empty eyes of skeletons taking any sight of any one ever being there.
Despite their efforts to be hidden, this long lost pony was being watched by another who was even better at hiding themselves. In an old cloak that covered all but the single striped leg adorned with bangles, the other watched to figure who was this mystery pony and the risk they may pose or be in.

Outside, in a place that seemed safest, the adventurer and seer would meet at the former’s camp. Making her slow, cautious approach to disarm any chance to be read as a threat, the seer made herself known. The adventurer had taken to the defensive, likely being long since they had ever been set upon by any but enemies. They saw the stripes and bangles that carried a positive memory, they did not lower their guard, but lifted her hat to see the Zebra better.

The Seer lowered her hood, showing the purple mane, and proud alicorn stemming from an otherwise zebra looking brow. She looked upon the other with just the same amount of surprise to realize just who had been darting through Ponyville. No pony of the town could mistake Applejack’s hat, but the wearer was not her. A yellow coat and fiery red mane, maybe not as bright as it was in her youth, but it was clear to be no other than-

Getting up, the adventurer was near to tears when her own misconception was lost. It was not Zecora before her, but “Sweetie Belle?” She had seen too much to be blinded by a reunion like this, she stayed back, wiping at the stream from her eye. “Yer a Zebra now?”

Looking stoic, a little lost in her memories, a smile broke out when hearing her old friend’s charming accent. She knew it was her, even without her training, she knew her old friends was alive and here. She could not resist her own feelings, and rushed to embrace the long lost piece of her past. She sobbed happily, and for the first time since she could remember. The ragged earth pony fought the feelings, but embraced her old friend who was fully, uncontrollably bawling on her now. It was pretty clear to her that she was Sweetie Belle. “I never thought I’d see you again!” She managed to speak through her tears.

Feeling a swell of her old self, Apple Bloom declared as proud as she would have then. “Takes more than a cataclysm ta stop a Crusader!” She laughed in a way that felt foreign, and forgotten.

Stepping back, clearing her vision, Sweetie Belle smiled at her friend, giggling in a way that she almost felt was foreign and forgotten. “It’s been so long since I even thought about Cutie Marks” She studied her friend more, starting with the flank, finding it bare like her own. Apple Bloom had lived a hard life, that was clear, but she also looked really good, all accept “Gosh, what happened to your eye?”

Absently, the yellow mare reached up to the subject, pressing the fabric over it that once served as her bow. It was better used as a patch, seeing how little cuteness was something she cared about anymore. She gave a heavy, history filled sigh. “Long story, and I’m guess’n y’all have one about yer stripes?”

“Heh, yeah. Equestria fell into some pretty hard times, and it changed us all”

“What happened?”

Sweetie Belle had not given the past too much though, almost trying to forget it all together. It took her some time to recall the details. “Fluttershy and Applejack being gone, Rainbow grounded, the others were all pretty busy trying to keep Equestria together. I felt a bit alone, as you were also gone, Scootaloo was always at Dash’s side, and Rarity saving the day… I decided to go to Zecora. She took me in, trained me in her Zebra magic. I was pretty focused on that, so I don’t know where Pinkie went, or how Rarity and Rainbow turned evil, but Rarity became Nightmare Rarity, and rules the forest. Rainbow has become ruler of all Pegasus, and most called her Rainbow Death now, because she grinds up ponies for her machines. Princess Celestia was killed, and I don’t know what happened to Luna, but Twilight and Princess Cadence had to take their place.

“I heard that Twilight was killed by King Sombra. So all we have is Princess Cadence, and Prince Shining Armor up at the Crystal Empire. Everything else is gone, as far as I’ve seen. Small pockets of survivors, but with Nightmare and Death seeking prey, not many of those last”

Sitting down, all her weight pulling her, Apple Bloom shook her head. “Landsakes, everything is gone…” She looked up at her friend, not wanting to know, but needing to hear. “What about Scootaloo?”

Turning her eyes to the sky, Sweetie sighed knowingly. “She never left Rainbow’s side, and I’m guessing she is still there in the Rainbow Factory”

Apple Bloom had noticed the sky coming back, like an ocean of blood, in the usual colors of the sky. It was almost beautiful, but the sound of things, it was unsettling. “Rainbow… factory?”

“She… uses it…” Sweetie found it hard to think about just how many had lost their lives to the clouds. “Those I said Death prey’s upon, are fed into a machine that produces some kind of magic, and she uses it to colour the sky, among other things… the clouds, the rain, anything that is made there… is ponies…”

Swallowing hard, the more she learned, the less Apple Bloom felt coming back was a good idea, but the one consolation was finding her friend. “Well, we’re still here, still alive. Although Equestria has gone to ruin, I’m glad we’re back together” She tried her best to smile as deep as she meant, but the facts she had learned dulled her enthusiasm.

“I’m glad you’re back… at least that you’re alive and well. I never thought I’d see anypony again, especially not one of my best friends” She turned, not wishing to be exposed any longer, she pulled up her hood with “Come on, Let’s go to my hut, it’s safer than just about anywhere else”

Apple Bloom gathered her gear and readied to travel, but Sweetie used a spell to instantly transport them to the simple looking hut, something very much like what Zecora had. “Thanks to my Unicorn, and Zebra magick, I can do both kinds and stuff no other of either can. Zecora taught me well, and Twilight’s old books and notes really advanced my skills. This place is protected by two kinds of wards, and nothing can break them”

“Mighty impressive” Apple Bloom complemented, as she entered the hut. Part of her was expecting to see the Zebra, but it was just the pair of ponies here.

“She died… saving me…” Sweetie revealed, going to set some tea to brew. “I know you were thinking about it” She blurted a laugh. “You were pretty good at avoiding hurting my feelings, at least I remember it. You were always so brave and strong, when I couldn’t be”

The facts about Zecora caused Bloom to look down, feeling terrible about such a loss. “Sorry about Zecora…” She gritted her teeth. “This whole thing has cost so much, and I wasn’t here for ya when y’all needed me… so much fer always being there…”

“We survived though, and are stronger for it… not that it was worth the price to grow up…” Sweetie shifted to making some soup, using her unicorn magick to gather the materials as she spoke. “Judging by how torn up your jacket it, and the roughness in your coat, it’s not much better outside of Equestria. You had your own trails”

Sitting closer to her friend, Apple Bloom recounted some of her adventures. “Where we went, it was terrible! We chased that damned Alpha all across the worst parts of the world, with the single goal of avenging our destroyed farm, and killing what killed Granny and Big Mac” Sweetie was watching her friend, as they were lost in their story. Apple Bloom’s eye was ignited by her fury and suffering. “We traveled to some pretty dangerous places, but Applejack always had my back. Then we finally caught up with that bitch, and it got Applejack” Her tone toward the end, shifted to such pain that Sweetie could feel her own heart stabbed. There was a resonating bitterness too, that was fuel to how she recalled her triumph. “I got the fucker, killed it right good. I avenged my whole family… but I had nothing out there… so I returned. I heard rumors about the ‘Shatter Storm’ as folks were call’n it, but I never knew they would so true”

“Not sure it was such a great idea to return, seeing how little of that old life is around” Sweetie said somberly. “The last pieces are just as much at risk of being claimed, I’ve observed patterns and seen signs. The forces of wickedness are growing restless”

Looking at her with that one good, strong eye, Bloom asked “The Empire?” Sweetie nodded to it. “Could these baddies really do anything now they couldn’t before?”

“They have been only getting stronger each day, and there has been 13 years for them to improve. The one saving grace is villains can’t share, or else they could have unified and taken out the Empire right away” Sweetie gave another defeated sigh. “With so few resources left, and the Princess and Prince surely weakening from constant conflict, it’s only a matter of time”

Shooting up, Apple Bloom declared “The last salvation of Equestria, the only thing that remains of our home, can’t fall!”

Unfortunately, the mixed mare could not find the same passion or hope, and she was beaten before the fight. “What can two more ponies do? If a whole empire can’t last, I doubt the efforts of a Zebracorn and Earth pony can really do much but delay the end”

Bloom was not beaten yet, not after all she had gone through. “Come on Sweets! You have the lessons of two of the greatest mares in their own magicks, you are the best that both Zecora and Twilight Sparkle could have produced. Y’all survived alone fer all them years, and learned more than I bet any other pony about the goings on around here. Y’all have some great skills. I’m not much for brag’n, least not any more, but I saw the worst of this world, and took down some of the nastiest critters around. Both of us are survivors of a cruel world, together we can make a difference, together we can stand with all those ponies, and save the last piece of Equestria… or die try’n. I fer one would rather fight for the chance to save what’s left, than rot away hiding as it dies”

“Hey,” Sweetie took some offense to what that sounded like. “All I’ve known is being on my own with Zecora since I was a filly, and then the better part of the last decade alone. I’m not hiding here, I’m staying alive”

Not being distracted by her defensiveness, Bloom pressed. “Y’all just want to live, or do y’all want to make a difference? WIll ya join me, or just keep an eye on things?”

The Zebracorn wanted to be mad, and fight against the idea, but seeing her friend with a passion she had not seen since they were fillies chasing cutie marks, she could not fight the surge of desire to follow Bloom into the mouth of Tartarus. “This is suicide… but you’re right, I can’t just sit and waste away in safety… I don’t want to grow old, if it’s all alone”

“Great! So how’d we get up to the Empire?”

“That’s the suicidal part, we’re gonna have to hoof it. Transportation doesn’t exist anymore, and the dangers are great”

Bloom wondered “What about that teleportation spell y’all used?”

The soup called her attention briefly, and Sweetie stirred it before responding. “I can go pretty far, sure, but not with another pony or supplies, definitely not both. My hut wasn’t too far from your camp, and it still took a lot to do. Going so far North will be too far alone, even using skips”

“Skips?” Bloom inquired. She was not sure what that meant here.

“It’s what I call it when I use several small jumps to reach farther, with minimal exposure. I can get almost twice as far than one jump, and though it would take less effort, it still would be far too far with so much in tow. It would go farther still, but I still would barely do better than a long jump”

Thinking about the options, Apple Bloom paced about. “What if you skip, then we hoof a bit, and skip? Just keep on, till we get there?”

“I’m afraid that might draw attention, seeing how many of the villains are drawn to magick” She looked around, although they were safe here. “Discord is always popping in and out, even if he doesn’t cause much trouble as the rest. The real dangers are Nightmare Rarity around here, King Sombra the closer we get to the Empire, and then Countess Trixie also lurks between”

“Trixie?” This came as a bit of a surprise for Bloom. “I’d figure that show off would be hiding, or dead”

Sweetie shook her head, knowing all too well the realities of the mare who might be the most dangerous and unpredictable of all. “Trixie had helped Zecora and I escape my sister way back at the start, but got herself caught in the process. I don’t know what happened, but she seemed to have gotten away herself, and when I saw her again she was a whole other being. She is right in the running for the worst of the Apex Villains”

“Pfft, still can’t be as bad as all that. Compared to Discord or Sombra”

“Potentially, she is the most dangerous” Sweetie tried to warn. “When she had saved us, she was wearing this amulet that amplified her power to be on the level of Twilight, and certainly a match to Nightmare Rarity. All this time wearing it has poisoned her, at least what Zecora had said. The longer it is on her, the more corrupt she would become, and now that it’s been years, she has changed into a magickal vampire”

Sitting back down, the load of all that too much to bare. Apple Bloom dared the question. “So who all are we deal’n with now?”

“Nightmare Rarity, Discord, King Sombra, Countess Trixie, Rainbow Death, and that about it for the Apex Villains. There are little groups and such, but nothing compared to those five. They have crushed most of those who might reach their level”

“Damn… Rarity and Dash gone bad… sure glad Applejack ain’t here to see her friends like this…” She paused, taking a moment to realize that one other might have just as much pain by this. “How are you hold’n up?”

Taking a deep breath, Sweetie replied. “It was hard at first, but I’ve come to terms. Rarity is dead, long gone. That thing out there looks like her, sounds like her at times, but it's no more than an illusion. She has stolen Rarity’s body, and is no longer my sister”

Apple Bloom was trying to get an honest read on her old friend, but the years had been long between them. She was not sure if the mare was hiding her pain behind a well trained mind, or if she meant what she said and had moved on, accepting the cruel fate of her own sister. “Yer a hell of a lot stronger than me, I don’t think I could ever handle knowing my kin was taken and being used like that. If’n that happened to Applejack… It still ain’t easy knowing she’s gone” She paused, looked down in deep thought. Bloom’s path was a bit different, seeing how she had nothing left except Applejack. It seems that Sweetie Belle lost Rarity long before she lost everything else. All this did one thing for the mare, it strengthened her resolve in going to the aid of the Empire. “This here is why we gotta go and fight with those ponies! We can’t let anyone else suffer what we had to!”

Sweetie smiled, in a way that confused her friend a little. “I missed this, missed how passionate you are. A filly who would challenge the world to prove she could do what everypony said she couldn’t. You are still that fiery little pony, only bigger, and I believe even more capable than you were then; you were very capable too” Feeling a sense of empowerment she had not known in some time, Sweetie finally agreed. “You are right, you all could almost always pull off what you set out to do. Even when you can't, we had fun and learned a lot about how we could get it right. Always ready for another challenge, and now is that next mission. I’m with you”

“Now that’s that filly I knew!” Apple Bloom smiled brightly. “That pony who would stand by me, and inspire me. Don’t’ forget how awesome y’all were. Y’all could do damn near anything when you got the hair to, one creative and talented filly, now a great mare who could hold her own against Twilight”

Blushing, harder than she would have liked, Sweetie tried to fight it with doubt. “No, no, I couldn’t keep up with her. She was a gifted Unicorn, I’m just a lucky one”

“Seriously!” Apple Bloom nearly stood again. “Y’all have been making that soup and tea with yer magick and without effort. All the mix’n, and pour’n, and everything all at once, while talk’n to me. Y’all are might powerful Unicorn now”

Still denying her own accomplishments, Sweetie said. “You did always encourage me”

“Hey, so did you… encourage me, I mean”

They froze in that moment, and together felt a happiness they had long forgotten. It was not long until they both started to just talk about random things they used to do. They were laughing, and enjoying this moment so rare in these dark times, not having to fear or be concerned.They spent the rest of the night being their old selves, waiting for tomorrow to get ready for the long journey to the Crystal Empire.

Early the next morning the two were quick to work on their plans, though most of the effort was Sweetie Belle, for she was not attuned to the nomadic life that Apple Bloom had known these past years. The Zebracorn needed to figure just what was best to take, and what could wait. The Adventurer just stayed out of the way.

They chose the time Sweetie had felt was best to go, not that any part of the day was any safer, it was more instinct that it was right.

“The hut will be fine, it will give us a last resort in case anything goes wrong” Sweetie explained to her friend, when they voiced concern over abandoning the place. For Apple Bloom, it was the custom to leave little to no trace behind. “It is well guarded here, even if I’m away”

Pulling out a map to give Bloom an idea where they were going, and just how far, it was the first time she saw how bad things were. They were just south of what was Ponyville, and the “Evergreed” forest, as Sweetie dubbed it now. The wicked, dense line of unnatural growth nearly divided Equestria in half like a belt. The map showed some of the other popular or claimed territories of the Apex Villains, and the path proposed would do best to be as far as possible without adding too much time.

“We can’t avoid the forest” Sweetie explained, almost needlessly. “To go around would add too many days on an already long trek, and the longer we stay in the open, the greater risk of attack by one of the A.V.s. Luckily,” She had a sliver of hope for this dangerous journey. “I have learned some tricks that should at least avoid Nightmare Rarity, though they don’t work much for the other. We can worry about that once we are past her claim”

“How do y’all know they won’t come to find us in the forest?” Bloom wondered.

Explaining a bit of the history, Sweetie said. “The A.V. avoid one another, for the most part. Not long after the Shatter Storm ended, and the dust was settling, the Villains fought for their places. Each found claims of their own, and it was fine for them. Then one or both got greedy, and Nightmare Rarity and President Dash, as she was then, went to war. They were evenly matched, between Demon and Ariel Flock, but others took advantage. The villains learned that they couldn’t fight without being exposed. So they now keep their tentative peace”

“I guess we got that go’n fer us,” Bloom did not seem absolutely convinced, but she trusted her friend’s judgement. “Y’all said Discord is a wild card, and Sombra roams the North. If we can get past Nightmare, what will we do against them?”

“Discord is a mystery, yes, he has no set pattern and no territory. Sombra is strictly in the North, and once we’re that close we should be able to just pass by him without too much worry. He and his Umbra don’t go too far, moving just in the snows of the North”

Hoisting up her saddle bag, Apple Bloom was ready to move and impressed. “Y’all sure know yer stuff, I bet Zecora and Twilight would be proud to see what you’ve become”

Hiding her blush, and adjusting her own bags, Sweetie modestly said “Naw, I just picked up a thing or two…”

Leaving the hut behind, the pair set out to make their way into the territory of one of the Apex Villains. Luckily the journey was quiet, avoiding Ponyville with its dangers, and making right for the forest. When they reached the edge, Sweetie cast a spell, putting a charm on the pair. It used the same blend of magicks that had protected her home for these many years, that even in the heart of Nightmare Rarity’s dominion, would keep them practically unseen.

It was hard to tell time in the overgrowth or twisted, gnarled and corrupted trees, but when I felt late enough into their journey, they settled a camp for a time to give both a chance to rest. They agreed upon turns to sleep, Sweetie going first, allowing them to keep alert at all times and also get much needed rest.

“Nightmare Rarity has the same powers as Nightmare Moon, so just keep an eye on me as I sleep. If I look to be having a nightmare, wake me fast. When it’s your turn, I’ll watch you too. She shouldn’t get a chance to do anything, but it’s always best to be cautious” Sweetie advised as she settled in.

“Alright, but y’all got an advantage on me” Bloom remarked, hiding a smirk and confusing her friend until the hoof pointed to the covered eye. “I just got the one eye to work with” She laughed lightly, helping her friend ease into sleep. Sweetie drifted off, feeling safer with her best friend keeping a visual.

It felt like hours had gone by, much longer than she felt she should have slept. She was about to wake to be mad at Bloom for giving her too much time to rest, but when she was up there was no sign of the mare. Looking around, there seemed to be no troubles or signs of danger, yet there also lacked any reason for her friend to be gone.

“Sweetie Belle~” A singsong voice drifted to her, one that was of someone long dead to the mare. Sweetie grew defensive. “Oh dear sister, you’ve returned to me”

Looking around frantically, Sweetie could not find the source. “I didn’t, and I will never! You killed my sister, and I won’t fall for your tricks!” She challenged.

Appearing finally, in the form of that white mare with the well kept mane and tail, Rarity was not fair from her little sister. “Oh, but it is simply untrue. See? I’m right her, my silly little sister”

“No! I know your games, and I gave up on getting my sister back, so this illusion will not serve you. Where is my friend?!” The Zebracorn was truly unshaken by the ruse, and stood her ground.

Moving closer, passing through a few shadows, until one masked her change into the purple-tinted, black, tall mare, with a form much the same, yet twisted into something completely different than before. A sneer she wore, as she looked down upon the pony. “Always so rebellious and defiant,” She then gave a scoff. “And such a poor fashion sense. Stripes, really?” She waved a hood, and unveiled the sleeping form of Apple Bloom. “Trust is such a foal’s delusion, do you not know what a poor plan it is to ‘keep watch’ as others sleep is? Always fails”

Sweetie Belle shook her head, still not tricked by these games. “So, I’m dreaming, and that means you have no power over me now that I know!”

Laughing, Nightmare Rarity grinned. “You read too much into your fictions, bitch” Her horn shot out like a spear, nearly catching the other mare. “Get my point? No? Let me drive it home!” She continued to use her horn like before, not quite reaching Sweetie.

“Zecora trained me to protect myself in dreams, you won’t touch me” Sweetie responded, avoiding the attacks unto the wicked mare stopped.

Still laughing at her, Nightmare Rarity scrapped her horn on the trees and stones as she trotted past them, making an awful sound as she did. “I like to personalize my kills, and I thought long and hard on yours” She paused, and her horn flared. “Oh Sweetie Belle, you got your Cutie Mark, and it looks really killer” She began to laugh again.

Sweetie looked to see her flank, and the picture of a mouth that was now there, then it started to move, biting at her. “This isn’t real!” She focused hard, trying to get rid of the illusion.

“What a pain in the ass!” Nightmare Rarity quipped. “Take it from your big sister, growing up bites”

“NO!!!” Sweetie Belle shot up from where she had been sleeping, nearly crashing into Apple Bloom, who wore a concerned look.

“Thank the princesses” The Earth pony exclaimed. “I’ve been trying to wake you up for the last few minutes” She looked her friend over, who was nearly in tears. “Y’all ok?”

Sweetie clung to her friend, letting go of all her resolve. “I-I under…estimated her power here… She managed to weaken me enough to cast her magick on m” She learned back, looking at her sore flank, finding it red and bruised.

“Y’all were swatting at it” Apple Bloom explained. “I wasn’t sure what to do”

“In the nightmare, she gave me a cutie mark that was a mouth, that tried to eat me…” She curled up. “I don’t know if I can take this, it’s hardly a whole day in and I’m already falling apart…”

Hugging her, Apple Bloom luckily had confidence for two. “Y’all can do this, I promise she or no pony will hurt you. Together we’ll beat this stupid forest and anything that dares to attack us”

Sweetie Belle looked into her friend’s eye, and swore she saw something in it glowing.

“What?” The mare asked, noticing how her friend was looking at her.

“The way you were talking, I swore I saw something in your eye… like… no…”

“What? Something bad?” Apple Bloom was now concerned for herself.

Shaking her head, Sweetie could not believe it was possible. “No, not bad, just… I don’t know”

“Ah! There you are” The voice of Nightmare Rarity caused them both to stand at the ready. “Using your twisted, mixed magick tricks might work to elude me out there, but this is MY forest!” The wicked mare moved closer, an army of eyes behind her.

Apple Bloom was quick to action, standing between former sisters. “Back off! Y’all ain’t getting near her again!”

“Aw, how cute. I just might cry at this display of love and friendship” A single tear of blood trailed down her cheek as she laughed. “You cannot hope to stand against my power, you little brat. Now move, big sister has some words for her little, troublesome sister”

“NO!” A pulse shook from the mare. “I’ll stop you, no matter what!” Something was flaring in the mare, enough to make the villain take a step back.

“I-impossible!” Nightmare Rarity growled. “How could you possess an Element, and moreover, how’s it reacting without the others?” She thought back to when her own was turned into a useless bauble, causing more anger in her to boil.

Apple Bloom did not care for the why, and did not really understand the how, but she took advantage of this new power and focused on it. With a bright flash, Nightmare was forced to retreat against the radiant glow of a power greater than the being.

“Enjoy this minor victory, bitch, but I will return! I will have the Elements” Disappearing into the shadows, the magick also faded.

Confused, and feeling their safety was won for the moment, Apple Bloom turned to her friend. “What just happened?” She could no longer feel the magick, but somehow knew it was still there.

Sweetie Belle searched everything she knew, and concluded on one course. “Somehow, Applejack must have transferred the connection to her Element of Harmony to you,” She gave her best response. “I don’t know how, and like Nightmare Rarity, I don’t know why it was working without the other five”

“We’ll figure it out later, at least Nightmare Rarity can’t get us now”

Not so sure, Sweetie Belle did not want to rest on this event, not without further understanding of how it came to be, and until they could summon it with certainty again. Without knowing the trigger, there was no way to know how to restore it, or if it would come again. “Yeah…” She finally said, half hearted, and not wanting to put all her faith in this mystery, but not also give away that it could not be again called, if the villains were paying attention.

Once the excitement had settled, Apple Bloom took her turn, truly needing it after that. Sweetie was on high alert for any sign that the wicked mare would make another move, but the rest of the night was quiet. When morning, as best they could figure, came, the pair set off again without much trouble.

The next couple of days went by easily enough, although not peacefully as the longer it seemed to be for Nightmare Rarity’s next move, the more anxious the pair became. Rest was ever harder to find, and that last night in the forest was hardest of all.

When their shifts ended her for the last time, neither felt truly rested, and the Zebracorn warned that this would be the greater danger. “My spells and potions do not work well on Discord, and I’ve never faced Sombra. The worst of it, I have to keep my magick on a minimum, in case I attract Countess Trixie”

Stepping forward, Apple Bloom declared “I guess that means I’ll take lead then” She moved with confidence and purpose. “Me and Applejack dealt with all kinds of things without magick, I’ll keep us safe” She looked back with a smile that assured the other.

Despite all her own growing up, Sweetie was marveling at Apple Bloom as she was now. It was no secret that the filly had been impatient, ready, and immature at times. That was all back then. This mare, was focused, calm, and dutiful. Sweetie Belle found it hard to see her old friend anymore. She had been shaped by her time away, and was more the image of what Sweetie remembered Applejack being like. She was sure that if the mare was here, she would be so proud of what her sister was becoming. There was one thing that remained though, something that was wonderfully still there. Her smile, the one that had always bucked back all of Sweetie Belle's doubts and fears. No pony could melt her troubles away, like Apple Bloom.

“We should get moving” Apple Bloom said, after one last check to make sure their gear was set for moving.

Silently, Sweetie nodded and the pair wondered on into the open, barren field. There were spots of vegetation, overgrown and wild; there were also large areas of just death and waste. The sun climbed higher, yet very little here seemed to reach the land, making the wild gust of wind worse against their unguarded bodies.

“Funny,” Apple Bloom broke the long silence, nearly causing the other to jump. “All the years that we had the Princesses and Pegasus control’n everything, now it’s all going on its own”

“Zecora did say something about that, how the world didn’t really need our intervention, that the special magick some ponies had only enhanced and aided in something that just happened one way or another. The princesses and anything ponies did enriched and produced much stronger results, but nature did fine on its own too” Sweetie slipped into another of her moments, distracting herself of their troubles. “Apple trees grow fine on their own, but without the aid of ponies, they overpopulate, or produce just normal apples. Fertilizers and pollination by ponies helped make even better trees. This all kind of proves that. Yes, it works on it own, but it is not as healthy and lush as it was when Ponies thrived here. Some forgot that, but we were all part of a cycle of life, symbionic”

Smiling away, noting being seen by Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom commented. “Y’all sure learned a lot from Zecora, I bet she was so proud to have a student like you”

Sweetie blushed a bit, and was fortunately saved having to say anything back, when Bloom moved to another topic. “What happened to Princess Celestia and Luna?”

“I only know rumors really” She replied. “Like I said, Celestia was killed, but I don’t know who or what. Then Luna was even weirder. It seemed she just disappeared, yet both still seemed to be around. Zecora could sense them, but never knew just what had happened. The next thing we knew, Equestria was talking about the rule of Cadence and Twilight”

“Strange how the two of them could be gone, like how does anything kill Princess Celestia?” She looked back to her friend. “And Luna also? That all seems way too weird. Maybe Princess Cadence will have an idea”

Much of the journey remained uneventful and quiet, save their random conversations, and it was only making the pair feel less safe. They were wondering just why none of the villains had shown themselves, or if they just were so lucky they were distracted with other things than worry about two wanderers. Sweetie was feeling that it might be due to the fact that Apple Bloom held the Element of Honesty, yet Discord still seemed the type not to be concerned by such a little matter, in fact he would be there to challenge it, if for no other reason than to satiate boredom. In the end, they were glad they had made such a good time, and fortune.

When they were finally in reach of the Crystal Empire, merely a few hours out, the found the first signs of trouble since they left the forest. Far ahead the sounds of battle echoed across the land, drifting on the wild arctic winds, that seem to be whipped up with the fury of the clash. The pair raced to find the defenders of Equestria last stronghold gain against some monstrous looking creatures, and in their ranks stood the unmistakable form of King Sombra.

Apple Bloom did not wait for her invitation to come, and charged right into the battle, leaving Sweetie Belle to linger in surprise. The yellow mare pulled out a rope and skillfully lassoed her first target, sending the creature into a group of its own kind. This sudden attack from an unexpected angle threw the Umbra into confusion, and as King Sombra regrouped his forced, the defenders took advantage of the chaos. Apple Bloom did not slow, and was repeating her trick, or bucking back foes who tried to get too close. She was displaying just why she had survived the wilds beyond, holding her own against the hoards with any potential allies far off on the other side of the battle field.

Recovering from the stunning sight, Sweetie Belle could not leave her friend to fight alone. She charged in, using her potions to varying results. Some produced wild vines that grew to crush Umbra, others became sticky traps, more still exploded like bombs, and each proving to be as effective as she had hoped.

This new attack had broken the organization, and King Sombra was forced into a retreat, as his lines crumbled behind them. As the field emptied, the defenders gave chase for a good distance. The two mares rejoined, and a tall, white stallion approached them. He was dressed like a warrior, only with the decorations and adornments that told he was not just another soldier. “Prince Shining Armor” Sweetie Belle was first to bow, and Bloom following soon after.

“You two fought well, and impressively” He gave them quick praise, yet more was in his tone. “Though these times leave me still cautious against two suddenly appearing in our times of need, and from nowhere but enemy territories. Forgive me if I do not just welcome you, in spite of your aid, I must not be unconditional in allowing you access to our home. I am grateful, if you are genuine, so do not mistake caution for disgratitude. I must keep the Crystal Empire safe first, so all things are approached with care. It would not have stood so long, if I was we were so foalish”

“We understand your majesty” Sweetie took lead in the talks. “It has been many years, and I don’t know if you remember us from when we were fillies” He looked them over, the stripes and hat seeming familiar, but the colours and bodies did not all go together in his distant memories of two he did not meet that often. “Allow me to introduce ourselves: this is Applejack’s sister, Apple Bloom, and I am Sweetie Belle, sister to Rarity”

He looked them both over more, struggling with these identities. “She does seem to match what I recall, but for you I think I would remember a zebra… unicorn?”

“I’ve taken to Zebracorn, and I was trained under Zecora, when she blessed me as one of her own. She trained me, and I became what you see before you now. Separately we were trained and raised by our mentors, I Zecora, and she Applejack, until very recently. We were reunited, and decided that we needed to lend ourselves to the fight here”

Apple Bloom could not hold back any more. “We want to put an end to all this mess!” She was showing that fire that Sweetie was used too, but Shining was not so familiar. He was still moved by her passion. “We’all lost too much cause of the Shatter Storm, and we won’t let the Crystal Empire fall like the rest of Equestria. We’ll take back our homes, but we need to join together first”

“Pretty bold words” He smirked. “But just who are you trying to convince?”

She turned toward where Sombra had fled, now the defenders were coming from. “I want all those blasted villains to hear me! This dark age is gonna end!” Apple Bloom turned back, and calmed herself. “Sorry, meh blood still boiling, all pumped up from a scrap I ain’t got to have in a good while. Not quite satisfied with knock’n some heads”

The prince laughed. “Well, that sounds more like the Apple Bloom I had heard about from my sister, and you did knock some heads out there. Sombra sure didn’t expect either of you to deliver such a blow to his forces” He was still cautious, but with a contingency of guards, the prince lead the pair to meet before Princess Cadence.

Record 01: Reunion

End

Author's Note

Once again, we return to a broken world of Equestria, what remains of it. Apex Villains nearly have complete control, and the last strong hold might be near its fall. What can these two long lost ponies do to keep hope alive?