The sun was warm and high in place, and the work was almost done. Apple Jack carried one of the last few baskets to the barn, always looking out into the distance at the castle. Not too long now, and she can go see the princess, after a month of waiting for this day.

Rainbow Dash zig zagged through the trees, brushing the branches so the apples fell out. She had agreed to help AJ so they could both meet up with the others for lunch in town. And, AJ promised a cider before they left.

“Just a few more!” The Earth Pony called out at the rustling trees, and let the basket slide off her shoulders.

“Okay!” Rainbow called back, halting in mid-air. She looked down to scan for any grounded apples, and saw a few. Dropping to the ground, the Pegasus was barely missed by a long black crystal pike. It soared through the air, hitting a tree harmlessly. The “whoosh” was enough for the Rainbow to pause, and look up, seeing nothing.

However, Apple Jack had clear view of the one responsible, for a separate spear hitting a barrel just beside herself. The unicorn glared up at the barn, spying the orange figure standing her ground. Sombra’s hooves melted away into plumes of smoke, and hurled himself up the hill with a roar.

Rainbow heard the battle cries and shot into the air, blasting away the grass and dirt beneath her. A sharp angle just above the trees sent her in a multi-colored stream at the, targeting the rib cage of the flying enemy. AJ watched the King be ripped out of the air, and saw the blue Pegasus hovering in his place.

Sharing a confident glance, the two ponies dropped to the ground in a battle-ready position.

[AJ and RD face Sombra defiantly]

The dark unicorn stood tall, unphased by the blow he took. Instead of dropping to his own pouncing stance, he strolled closer to the defense. Eyes narrowed, and leaving blackened grass in the shape of his hooves behind him, he showed his fangs in a menacing grin.

“Let’s see how you fare without the rest.”

Black tendrils erupt from the ground around the ponies, lashing in to get a hold of them. Apple Jack shot up into the air, avoiding the tangle of shadows. Rainbow snapped her wings down, breaking through the ones in front of her, aiming for the king a second time.

Sombra lit his horn, projecting a large crystal in the Pegasi’s path. She pulled up just before it, and Sombra’s eyes followed her, readying a crystal javelin. But that distracted him from the Earth Pony charging into his legs, the dense bones and developed muscle of the farm pony buckled the much larger Unicorn, making him gasp in surprise. The spear was flung off course, and AJ finished with a spin, and an adrenaline-charged buck to Sombra’s stomach.

Rainbow rounded in the sky, snatching the crystal in her teeth. She spun again, sending the spear down to the Unicorn. He rolled and sacrificed his cape; the spear pinning it into the ground.

Jumping far back, Apple Jack readied for another charge, and Rainbow sped down to slam into the Unicorn. Sombra looked from one to another, seeing them closer and closer. He surrounded himself in shadow and darkness, melting into the earth to avoid them.

“Hold up!” AJ put her hooves out, grinding to a halt.
Rainbow reared back, hitting the ground hard, but upright.

“Where’d the varmint go?”

The ponies turned back-to-back, glancing quickly from tree to fence post, there was no sign of the king.

Rainbow flapped her wings, lifting into the air. “Come on, we gotta tell Twilight.”
Apple Jack turns to follow, “I’ll go find Fluttershy and meet ya at the castle.”

One flew, the other ran, further from the farm until they passed the fence. Behind a tree, Sombra watched the two disappear into the orchard.

“Formidable, I need to hurry this along.” He grumbled in frustration.

Author's Note

the art isnt favorable personally.
i'll do better in upcoming projects.