Twilight sent the last message via dragon fire and sat down.

“And that should do it!” Spike turned to Twilight and saw her despondent expression. “Cheer up Twilight! We contributed a lot to research today!”

“At what cost, though?...” Twilight said.

“What do you mean?” Spike asked.

“Applejack must hate me right now… I saw…something I shouldn’t have,” Twilight admitted.

“Oh, that witchcraft thing you were talking about with Granny Smith?” Spike said.

“I don’t want to lessen her trust in me any further, so let’s just say Applejack might be in trouble if anypony else found out,” Twilight said.

“Is it really bad?” Spike asked.

“No, yes… I can’t say for sure. Witchcraft is an affront to Equestrian magic, punishable by jail time for an extended period,” Twilight said.

“Wow, I guess Celestia shouldn’t know about this then,” Spike said.

“Agreed,” Twilight said, before hearing knocking noises downstairs.

“Hmm? Oh please tell me that’s not Granny Smith again.” Twilight sighed as she trotted down the halls, Spike following close behind her.

Twilight opened the door and saw nothing.

“Huh? Could have sworn I heard knocking out-” Twilight shut the door and was blindsided by Pinkie.

“AH!” Twilight and Spike cried as Pinkie hugged her.

“Gotcha!” Pinkie said.

“Pinkie!?” Twilight managed to wiggle out of her grip.

“Hiya Twilight!” Pinkie cheered.

“Pinkie? What are you doing here?” Spike asked.

“You two have questioned all of us, so I was hoping to know if you got any idea what’s going on with Applejack,” Pinkie asked.

Twilight seemed to falter at this and wondered if telling her was a good idea? But then a thought struck Twilight… Pinkie is many centuries old… then shouldn’t she know a thing or two? At least have any proof that the Apple Family was communing with dark forces or practicing dark magic?...

What should she do?...

“Twi?” Pinkie asked.

“Huh?” Twilight asked.

“You're thinking a bit too long, that means you're thinking hard about something you don't want to talk about due to a promise made to a friend, right?” Pinkie asked.

“Uuh… how’d you know?” Twilight asked.

“Call it experience,” Pinkie said.

“Well, follow me. I’ll explain in the library. Spike, you can have the rest of the day off because this may get serious.” Twilight said.

“Thanks, Twilight!” Spike said before running off to his room.

“Follow me.” Twilight led Pinkie up to the library section of the castle and opened the door, only to find Pinkie was already there, waiting for her.

Not even surprised, Twilight sat down next to her.

“So? What happened?” Pinkie asked.

“I…I can’t say. Applejack wouldn’t appreciate me doing so,” Twilight said “What I do know is that if I’m right, Applejack could be in a lot of trouble.”

“Oh, is it really that bad?” Pinkie asked.

“...it is. I don’t know what to do,” Twilight said.

“Tell me, Twilight. Do you trust Applejack?” Pinkie asked.

“Of course!... well, I don’t know anymore, I’m scared,” Twilight said.

“Then meet with her and clear the air,” Pinkie said.

“Pinkie, how can I even face her right now? She’s suspected of witchcraft! What if she’s working on a curse right now? I could wake up tomorrow without my sight! Or I could lose my magic! Or- or-” Twilight was hyperventilating at the idea, but Pinkie smacked her and looked her in the eye.

“Twilight! You need to calm down! Applejack would never do that, and the fact you’d suspect that of her is unfair to her,” Pinkie said.

“Pinkie-” Twilight tried to ask but Pinkie smacked her again.

“And that was for thinking that she’s a witch,” Pinkie said then smacked her again.

“And that was because of a third reason I haven’t thought of yet!” Pinkie sat down. “Do we need a fourth?”

“Ok! Ok! Applejack deserves the benefit of the doubt, but can you at least come with me?” Twilight asked.

“You still doubt her?” Pinkie asked.

“Nonono. I just, feel this coming conversation could use a third party,” Twilight said.

Pinkie liked the idea of parties but she had to be steadfast here.

“Sorry, Twilight. You need to face your fears. Now, I shall vanish in a very ninja-like way,” Pinkie said, and before Twilight could stop her she threw a smoke bomb and vanished.

Twilight coughed and waved the smoke out of her face.

“Well great…” Twilight sighed.

Twilight trotted to Sweet Apple Acres, worried that Applejack was still mad at her for trespassing on what could only be her coven area.

“Maybe she’s not a witch, maybe she’s… something else…” Twilight said, remembering the scratch marks in the jail cell.

“But… what then? Nevermind, I need to approach AJ and see if she’s still mad…” Twilight sighed entering Sweet Apple Acres.

Twilight trotted around and this time steered clear of any suspicious doors.

She looked around until she saw Big Mac and she flew over to him.

“Hey Big Mac, can I ask you a question?” Twilight asked.

“Eeyup?” Mac replied politely.

“I’m looking for Applejack. Do you know where she is?” Twilight asked, she noticed Big Mac narrowing his eyes.

“Any particular reason?” Big Mac asked.

“I…wanted to apologize… I assume you know why?” Twilight asked.

“Ah do. She’s in the barn with RD but don’t make AJ feel bad about nothin. Got it?” Big Mac said.

“O-ok,” Twilight trotted away nervously, traveling along the dirt path to the barn where she heard conversation inside.

Taking a deep breath, she opened the door with her magic.

“Applejack? Rainbow Dash? Are you-” Twilight paused when she saw Applejack snoring on the ground and Rainbow was sitting next to her drinking some hard cider.

“Ah, that’s the stuff. Oh, hey egghead!” Rainbow Dash said getting up.

“Hey Rainbow Dash… Uh, why is Applejack passed out?” Twilight asked.

“She was still a bit upset so I hypnotized her to fall asleep so she could nap off the stress,” Rainbow said “And a little bit because then I could raid the hard cider stash,” she admitted sheepishly.

“Ah, I do remember you saying you could do that…” Twilight paused before getting an idea.

“That’s your Egghead Has An Idea expression. What’re you planning?” Rainbow asked.

“Can I ask you a favor?” Twilight said.

“Mrrgh… what all tha racket out there about…?” Applejack grumbled as she woke up.

“Hello, Applejack,” Twilight said.

“TWI?!” Applejack sprang up. “What the hay are you doin here?”

“Can’t I visit a friend?” Twilight said.

“There… ain’t anything wrong it’s just that you…” Applejack coughed into her hoof “You trotted in where you weren’t supposed to go. That isn’t something ah can just drop so easily. What am ah supposed to tell-”

“I don’t remember any of it,” Twilight stated.

“Huh? Twilight ah appreciate your earnestness but-”

“No, Applejack. I literally can’t remember what I saw down there,” Twilight said with a smile.

“Huh? Yer not playing with me right now are ya?” Applejack said rather cautiously.

“No she isn’t!” Rainbow flipped down from the ceiling in her vampony form.

“Huh?”

“Because she had me hypnotize her to forget what she saw,” Rainbow said.

“That’s right,” Twilight said.

“Wait… so you're saying, Twilight really doesn’t remember what she found in the basement?” Applejack said.

“Nope.” Twilight shook her head. “Thanks to RD reminding me of her hypnosis ability I figured a way to keep everything tight lipped. I chose to forget what I saw so you can stop worrying.”

“Twi… ah don’t know what to say. Thank you,” Applejack said.

“Whatever it was it was probably bad but I never considered telling Celestia about it,” Twilight said.

“Ya didn’t? Ah appreciate it Twi.” Applejack gave Twilight a hug.

“You really don’t want anypony to know, do you?” Twilight asked once they had all settled down with some regular ciders.

“No… What ah am, is something that’s best left a secret,” Applejack said.

“C’mon, what’s so terrible about it?” Rainbow asked.

“Ah’ll say this much. Ah’ve hurt ponies, even killed some. That’s why you must never, and ah can’t stress it enough never enter the basement at night, or ah may accidentally add more burden to mah conscience

Both mares were silent.

“Don’t treat me like a freak. Ah really need mah friends to be on mah side fer this,” Applejack asked tearfully.

Rainbow Dash and Twilight hugged her and Applejack hugged them back.

“Don’t worry, AJ. We aren’t going anywhere,” Rainbow said.

“Yeah, we’ll help you through this,” Twilight said.

“Thank you both,” Applejack said.

Pinkie watched from a tree branch with a pair of binoculars.

“Good work, Twilight! I knew you could do it,” Pinkie said before hopping down.

“Welp viewers I hope you enjoyed this short but well-thought-out chapter, be sure to leave your ideas in the comment section and comment alot! This story needs ideas good ideas and you people are the ideal makers! So have a great day! Byyyyyyyeeee!” Pinkie said before jumping into a bush.

Author's Note

Uuuhhh.... what she said! 😅