Chapters Agapi Apostolea the (self-proclaimed Former) Alicorn of love
Twilight walks around the newly rebuilt garden of Cantalot Castle, It sure has been improved from last time, after seeing a garden bench nearby, she heads to it and takes a seat on it to rest her hooves While sitting, she noticed an odd pink flower connected to a vine. examining it the flower, it had heart shaped petals and mostly pink petals with occasional white spots, not like any flower she's seen or read about, but just in case Twilight pulled out a book to see if there's a matching description anywhere, but Yet there was nothing, not even the book about flowers had any info about it, Twilight returns her attention to the vine it stems from, The vine lead into what looked like a grotto made of trees, oddly it had seemed like it was blocked off before.
Twilight, interest began to walk toward the grotto. More flowers attached to more vines lined the trees making up walls, this place looked like it was forgotten to time, sometimes old statues stand on the sides of the path overgrown with the vines and flowers, she couldn't help but feel awed by the sight. It was as though she had found a lost place left untouched by even Celestia’s magic for so many years. Twilight gently touched one of the vines and picked at one of the flowers with her hoof. She continued to walk down the path, seeing more and more statues, now covered in moss. The sight was beautiful yet melancholy, as if the statues hadn't been tended to in so long. How could such a place go unnoticed for so long?
Eventually she ends up in a small area with small waterfalls and those vines everywhere, the flowers everywhere else, and one statue in the middle, Twilight’s eyes widened at the sight of the only statue left standing. After all the others she had seen growing over, this one stood out, completely untouched by the surrounding greenery. Twilight slowly approached it to find out exactly what kind of statue it was, it was of an alicorn with their wings open. the flowers and vines seam to start from under the statue, She began to walk around the statue, examining all of the details in the marble, The alicorn statue seemed to have a few properties, the alicorn had what looked like a bow and a few arrows, there was a whole lot of detail and yet, no error at all. The amount of care and detail was just impeccable. Every inch of the statue, from a single strand of the alicorn’s mane to every single arrow in the archery set, perfectly captured in marble, made her wonder who could have made this and why... Everything was perfectly detailed, not a single error to be seen and the flowers and vines coming from under it… this couldn’t be like when Discord or the other villains were turned into statues, could it? This was an actual statue… right?
Twilight took a step back and began to study the statue from afar, taking everything into account. From the way the bow and arrows were so realistically depicted and to the fact that the flowers and vines came up and out from underneath it and yet the marble never once cracked, broken, or deteriorated, Twilight slowly started to step away from it. The more she looked at the statue, the more worried she started to become. This had to be more than a statue… the details were just too real, and the flowers and vines had to be connected to it, right? There was only one way to know for sure…
Twilight took a deep breath, took one more look at the statue, then took a few steps back. She was going to need some distance from it for the next part. Holding her horn out, she channelled powerful magic and sent a bolt of energy directly at the statue, but to Twilight’s extreme surprise, it didn’t crack, crumble, or show even a single dent. In fact, the statue hardly even moved. The only thing to have changed was a soft pink glow that began to radiate from the statue’s body, Then small amounts of the statue started to fall off, Twilight was completely stunned when pieces of the statue suddenly fell off. It actually was starting to chip! But why hadn’t it done so before? Unless… that glow from the statue actually meant something… Twilight’s eyes widened as she watched the falling pieces reveal more and more of the white fur and feathers. Was her magic somehow freeing the statue? But what was under there in the first place? More and more fell, until the rest flew off in random directions.
Twilight was completely overwhelmed by what she had just witnessed. The statue has completely gone, revealing an alicorn with white fur and feathers now standing where the statue once was. She couldn’t do anything but stand there and stare at the new being.
"GOOD MORNING EQUESTRIA!!!"
Twilight jumped and actually fell on the ground at those loud words. She quickly got back up and looked at the Alicorn in front of her, “W-Who are you?!”
"Who am I? we'll let me tell you, In song!" They say as they start breathing in.
Twilight was stunned, before quickly realizing, “W-Wait— ”
"Who am I you may ask, who am I and what's my task, now your parents or great gran parents probably talked about me, or maybe you've seen a statue of me, but whatever you need help to stay, to a soulmate you will love all day, so let me sing to you, JUST WHAT I dooOOOO"
“Wait a minute—”
"IM AGAPI, Ill make everypony HAPPY, All I need to do is shoot you and your soulmate too, IM AGAPI, I'll make everypony HAPPY, soon you'll see I’m the greatest alicorn to beeeeeeeeee!!! Everypony deserves love, Am I right or am I right? Anyways. Who do you call when you're stuck and all alone, needing some pony to help, Call Agapi. When you want to write a letter to the love of your life but you fear is sharper then a Knife, Call Agapi. When you need a shoulder to cry on, from the one who you thought you would be spending the rest of the life on, who do you call for help that right Agapi! You would think making a song that rhymes is easy and sometimes it's really cheesy But trying to wrap your head around it can make you queasy, and now I'm running out of rhymes and running out of time as the only rhyme I can think of Is Beefy, but I say, nopony, NOPONY! should be left without love, it only breeds the worst in us if we don't have enough So DON'T you threat, DON'T you Cry, everything's going to be all right, because now I'm here, no need to fear, everything will be better so don't you fear, I'mmmmmmm... Agapi.... Agapi!!!!! AGAPI!!!! AGGGGAPPPPIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!! AND SCENE!"
Twilight couldn’t hold it in, she burst out laughing. The whole song was just absolutely ridiculous. It had to be the most egotistical song she had ever heard, sung by a pompous Alicorn who thought they were some expert at romance, “That-That was the most egotistical thing I’ve ever heard! You think you’re some kind of ‘great Alicorn’?!”
"Well, I'm not the best in the world, but I'm great at what I do!"
Twilight couldn’t help but roll her eyes at the comment. “And I suppose you’re an expert at matchmaking too?!”
"Oh yes, I'm very good, I can even see there's a very special somepony you have a crush on."
Twilight immediately froze up. This Alicorn couldn’t possibly know about that little… no, it was just a guess. But how could they possibly know? What if they could really see who she had feelings for? “Pfft. Oh really? And who would it be?”
"I don't know, I haven't seen them yet!"
Twilight almost sighed relieved, but also felt even more confused. If Agapi didn’t even know who it was, why did they bring up the fact that she had a crush on a pony at all? “You don’t even know who it is, but you know I had a crush on a pony?!”
"Well YA, Not to brag but its kinda my thing"
Twilight was feeling so many different things listening to Agapi at this point. She didn’t believe that the Alicorn in front of her really had the power to match ponies together, but she had to admit that them knowing about a secret crush was impressive, even if they didn’t know who it was yet “So… you’re seriously saying you have some sort of power to make ponies fall in love?!”
Agapi pulls out their bow "With a shot of my bow and the power of my arrows, you'll be with your soulmate now and forever"
Twilight’s eyes were now locked on the bow in Agapi’s hooves. An Alicorn who claimed to be some expert at romance had a bow that was said to make a pony fall in love. The idea sounded like something out of an overly cheesy romance book, yet here she was beholding it in front of her. She looked up at Agapi and gulped “And this… love arrow does what exactly?”
"Oh simple, these arrows home in on their targets, one arrow for you, one arrow for your soulmate"
“And the second a pony is hit with the arrow… they’ll be in love with whoever it hit?” Twilight was trying to process the information. An arrow that once it hit a pony, it made them fall in love? To her it sounded so ridiculous, but here she was talking to the Alicorn who claimed to have that power and the arrows to match.
Agapi Loads an arrow into the bow "Yes, Till death and beyond"
Twilight was still sceptical, but part of her couldn’t help but feel curious, wondering what would happen in the next few moments “So, what do you plan on doing now, exactly…?”
"Simple... Shoot you!"
“Wait, what?!”
Agapi fires the arrow
“S-STOP!! but it was too late, the arrow had already been fired and was now heading straight at her! She shut her eyes and prepared for impact, but the impact never happened. Instead, she heard a small thud, and upon opening her eyes again, she realized what had happened. The arrow was now sticking into a tree.
"Sheesh, how long have I been stuck in that statue for?"
the question the Alicorn had asked caught her attention and she was reminded why the Alicorn was even there in the first place “Oh, right… you were in that statue, for some reason… How long were you stuck in there, anyway?”
"I have no idea... Maybe a day, to a week"
The time frame the Alicorn laid out was pretty vague, but Twilight didn’t really care about that right now, she only had one real question “Okay, but how did you get stuck in the statue in the first place?”
"Well, I was Simply going to overwork myself, then Starswirl turned me to stone"
Twilight couldn’t help but roll her eyes. Of course the Alicorn was going to overdo it and end up in trouble. But what Starswirl had to do with the whole situation, that part confused her. “Wait, why did Starswirl turn you into a statue?”
"I don't know, I was simply going to go shoot all the ponies and make them fall in love with their soulmates until there were no more ponies alone. Nothing wrong with that!"
Twilight couldn’t even react for several seconds after hearing those words. The Alicorn didn’t even think anything was wrong with the fact they had plans to practically make every pony in Equestria fall in love? Even if the Alicorn was supposedly a love expert, she was still finding it hard to believe “How in the world can you possibly think there’s nothing wrong with that?! You can’t just go around shooting ponies and making them fall in love with whoever you decide in this ‘perfect’ pairing!!”
"Oh, I’m not the one who decides that, the bow dose"
“That doesn’t make it much better!” Twilight was starting to get frustrated with the Alicorn. She was egotistical, stubborn, and seemingly thought that they could do whatever they wanted when it came to love. How could ponies even believe they were some kind of expert at this? “What if you get the “perfect pair” wrong? And what if a pony doesn’t like the one you shot them with?”
"Simple, that never happens and never will, these arrows are 100% Guarantied to help with finding true love. all ponies that have been hit have been in happy marriages for the rest of their life"
Twilight crossed her hoofs, continuing to doubt what the Alicorn was saying. How could a simple arrow actually guarantee the perfect match for everyone? It was ridiculous, and yet there was no way to be one hundred percent certain that the Alicorn wasn’t telling the truth “Seriously? No pony has ever been unhappy after getting shot with one of your love arrows?”
"Well yes, If a single arrow hits a single pony nothing happens, 2 arrows need to hit 2 ponies in order to make them fall in love!"
Twilight was starting to feel confused again. It was just now being revealed that two ponies needed to be shot with the arrow for it to actually work, but there was something else that didn’t really make sense to her “Wait, if that’s the case, why were you planning on shooting every single pony in Equestria with your arrows?”
"Everypony deserves love, EVERYPONY!!!!"
Twilight’s expression was a mixture of disbelief and annoyance. The Alicorn was seriously trying to say that everypony in Equestria has a perfect match? As if every single pony in the world can find someone perfect to be with? “Okay, not every single pony in the world wants to be in a relationship! And just because you think a pony has a ‘perfect match’ doesn’t mean they’ll automatically want to be with them!”
Agapi slightly fazes out, before running past Twilight "Sorry I've got no time to listen I got Ponies that need to fall in love!!!"
“Hey, wait! Where are you going?! Get back here!”
Agapi however, flew away to spread love with his arrows.
Twilight was left there, utterly speechless once again. How in the world was this Alicorn just so casual about the idea of everypony falling in love? She couldn’t let the Alicorn just run off like that! Suddenly, another thought crossed Twilight’s mind. If the Alicorn really was flying off with the intent to make everypony in Equestria fell in love… could they potentially target her friends too? The thought of her friends falling in love was bad, but the idea that they could fall in love with the entirely wrong ponies was even worse. Twilight suddenly felt a wave of panic hit her and she quickly galloped after Agapi as fast as she could.
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Agapi Apostolea the (self-proclaimed Former) Alicorn of love
At first AJ and Rainbow were friends, then AJ took an arrow to the right hoof.
Five of the six friends; Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applejack, and Fluttershy sit together in the castle of Friendship, still tiered from helping rebuild Cantalot.
"I'm booooored! What are we supposed to do to pass the time?" Rainbow dash said, stretching her wings.
Pinkie pie, hyper as ever reply’s, "We could have a partyyyyyyy!"
Rarity rolls her eyes, shaking her head. "As much as I would love a good party, I'm dreadfully tired. Perhaps we could do something a little less energetic?"
Applejack Chimes in, "You got that right, Rarity. After all the work we did with repairin' up Cantalot, I ain't got a scrap of energy left in me."
Fluttershy Nods, "I'm with Applejack and Rarity on this one. I just want to relax and unwind after everything we've been through."
Rainbow Dash on the other hoof groans, "Seriously? You ponies are all too boring! I was hoping for something a little more thrilling."
Suddenly from outside they hear an abnormal amount of talking. The five mares exchange puzzled looks, wondering what's going on. Rainbow Dash, eager as always flies over to a nearby window for a better look. however, it was just a large number of stallions and mares sweet talking to each other.
"Looks like a bunch of love-struck idiots out there." Rainbow dash sarcastically laughs.
Applejack walks over to the window and stands next to Rainbow Dash. "What in the holy hay are they doin'? I ain't ever seen ponies act that way."
Rarity joins them by the window, looking outside as well. "I have to agree with Applejack on this one. It's definitely peculiar behaviour. I wonder what's come over them?"
Suddenly, two arrows hit Rainbow Dash's hit her flank, and Applejack’s in her right hoof.
"Oww! What the hay was that?!" yelled Rainbow Dash.
Applejack looks at the arrow that hit her hoof, frowning. "Looks like a strange kind of arrow. I ain't never seen one like this before." Applejack pulls the heart shaped tip from her hoof. "What in tarnation...? Why in Equestria does it have a heart on the tip?"
Rainbow Dash looks at the arrow that hit her too, "Ugh, looks like I got hit by one too... And mine also has a heart on the tip."
"Oh dear... Those arrows appear to be of a rather specific and unusual nature. I wonder what their purpose is?" Rarity worried.
Fluttershy glances at the arrows, "Do you think they're harmful? Or maybe they have some sort of magical effect?"
"It's probably nothing. I'm sure it's just a harmless prank or something. Ow, it kinda stings though,”-Rainbow dash try’s to shrug it off- “And when did AJ get so hot?"
The others look at Rainbow Dash, not expecting that comment.
"What in tarnation are you rambling on about, Rainbow? An' since when did you start callin' me 'hot'?" Applejack asked.
Rainbow Dash’s eyes widen once she realizes what she just said. "Whoa... I don't know why I said that. Maybe the arrow has something to do with it... No, that's stupid. I just... Wait, why is Applejack looking so cute... Uh oh."
The other ponies exchange confused glances, unsure of what to make of Rainbow Dash's unusual behaviour. Rarity chimes in "Rainbow Dash, are you feeling quite alright? You're acting rather strange."
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine.” -Rainbow dash shakes her head- “I just... I don't know. Applejack looks kind of... attractive. Wait, why am I thinking this?"
Applejack, a little worried, takes a step closer. "Rainbow... Are you sayin' you're gettin' weird thoughts about me?"
Reluctantly, Rainbow dash nods. "Yeah... I don't know what's going on with me. Every time I look at you, I get these strange feelings. It's like... Like I find you attractive or something."
The others look between the two, unsure how to respond to this.
"Oh boy! I think I know what's going on here!" Pinkie pie shouts.
Rarity looks over to pinkie. "You do? What's going on, Pinkie?"
"Well, it's just a hunch, but I think the reason Rainbow Dash is acting weird is because those arrows she got hit with are love arrows!"
Applejack frowns "Love arrows? You think them arrows are messin' with Rainbow Dash's cute lovable mind or somethin'?"
"Yep! Love arrows make ponies feel strong romantic attraction towards whoever they get hit by. It's probably causing Rainbow Dash to get all flustered around you, Applejack!" Pinkie pie loudly exclaims.
Applejacks eye’s widen, "Wait, you mean Rainbow Dash feels romantically attracted to me because of those arrows? But she's my girlfriend! Ain't no way she likes me that way!"
Did Applejack just call Rainbow dash her girlfriend?
The other ponies exchange surprised glances at Applejack's slip of the tongue, then turn their gazes back to her, Rarity being the first to talk. "Excuse me, Applejack? Did you just refer to Rainbow Dash as your... girlfriend?"
"Oh... um... I, uh..." Applejack glances at Rainbow dash who now has a sly smirk on her face.
Rainbow Dash decides to tease Applejack. "Oh, so I'm your girlfriend, huh? Nice of you to finally admit it, 'Apple Babe'."
"S-shut up, Rainbow! I didn't mean to say that!" Applejack yells, her face as red as an apple.
Rainbow dash smugly continues, "Oh come on, Applejack. You can't deny it anymore. You've already said it. You called me your 'girlfriend'. We all heard you."
Applejack decides to shut Rainbow dash up, by kissing her, Rainbow Dash is caught off guard by the unexpected kiss at first, but quickly melts into it, wrapping her hooves around Applejack. The other ponies watch in awe, their expressions a mix of surprise and amusement.
"Well, well, well. That certainly explains things, doesn't it Pinkie?" Rarity jokingly says.
Pinkie pie grins, "Told ya! Looks like Rainbow Dash and Applejack are officially a couple now!"
Fluttershy joins into the chat, "So... does this mean Rainbow Dash and Applejack are together now? Like, really together?"
Pinkie Pie cheerfully nods. "Yep! Those love arrows totally did their job. Rainbow Dash and Applejack are officially a couple!"
Rarity, noticing the intense display of affection between the two, decides to intervene before things escalate. "Ahem, ladies, perhaps it's best if you two find a private place to... um, get acquainted."
Both AJ and Rainbow stop, Rainbow dash speaking up. "Yeah, I think you're right. C'mon, Apple Babe, let's go somewhere more... private."
Applejack nods, "Lead the way, Rainbow."
And the two leave the room, holding hooves and giggling together. The other ponies exchange amused glances.
Downstairs the entrance door slammed shut as Twilight ran up the stairs.
Rarity worried asked Twilight, "Twilight, whatever is the matter?"
“There’s no time to explain! We have a crisis situation, we need to board everything up, now!” Yelled Twilight.
Pinkie Speaks up, "Board things up? But why? What's going on?"
Twilight panically answered Pinkies question “There’s an Alicorn running around town with a bow and a bunch of love arrows. They’re planning on shooting random ponies, so they fall in love together!”
The three look at each other, rarity once more speaking up, "An Alicorn with love arrows... That explains Rainbow Dash's and Applejack's strange behaviour."
Twilight looks at rarity, “Wait, what do you mean? What strange behaviour?”
Rarity confirms twilights fear, "Well, Rainbow Dash got hit with one of the arrows and started acting very... affectionate towards Applejack and referred to her as a 'girlfriend'. They've gone off somewhere, presumably to... get acquainted."
Twilight groans to herself, “Great, just great. So they’re already being affected. And they just went off somewhere? Where’d they go?”
The echo of a bed can be heard far away within the building.
Rarity flinches from hearing the bed creaking. "Well, Rainbow and Applejack said they needed a more private place. And with the way they were acting, I think we all have an idea of what they're likely doing at the moment."
Twilight’s turned pale when she hears that.
"Yeah, you could say those two are ‘studying’ each other right now." Pinkie inappropriately jokes.
Twilight gritted her teeth, “Oh, you have got to be kidding me….”
Rarity attempts to lighten the mood a bit, "Well, on the bright side, they probably won't be leaving that room any time soon. At least until they, um... Tire themselves out, if you catch my meaning."
Twilight snaped out of it. “Enough about them…. Have you seen what’s going on outside?”
The others look to each other, pinkie looks back at twilight. "You mean the ponies sweet-talking each other earlier? What about it?"
Twilight panicked and angry yelled out. “Yes, that. All of those ponies out there are being influenced by the arrows, can’t you see that? The Alicorn is running around trying to shoot every single pony and make them fall in love with each other!”
Rarity, concerned speaks up once more, "You're saying most of the ponies in this town are being affected by these love arrows? That's... disturbing, to say the least. And we have no idea who the Alicorn is?"
“Yes, most of the ponies in town, if not all of them, are being affected. And no, we don’t know who the Alicorn is… but from what I know, they call themselves Agapi.” Said Twilight
"Agapi... That's a name I don't recall hearing before. Do you have any more information about them?"
Twilight shook her head. “Unfortunately no. I know their name and that they’re on a mission to make everypony in Equestria fall in love. I know that they can move fast, and that they’re incredibly carefree about all of this. Oh, and apparently they were turned into stone by Starswirl.”
Once more pinkie pie chimes in, "Wait, they were turned to stone by one of the most powerful unicorns to ever live?! And now they're free, shooting love arrows at everypony?"
“Yes, they were apparently turned to stone by Starswirl. I don’t know why he did that, and I honestly don’t think the Alicorn does either. But what matters right now is that they are free and trying to make ponies fall in love… by the end of the day, all of the ponies in Equestria could be affected by the arrows and paired up!”
"This is most concerning. If the Alicorn isn't stopped, all of Equestria could be thrown into chaos. Not to mention the possible... intimate relationships that would result from this." Rarity troubledly adds on.
Twilight’s temper slowly started to flare up, “Exactly… Everypony in Equestria falling in love and pairing up with each other… it’s hard to imagine just how chaotic and destructive it would be. And there’s no telling exactly what kind of relationships could form if they did…”
Pinkie pie, always on the optimistic side pipes up, "Weeeeell, it could also lead to some AWESOME relationships! Imagine all the cute dating, romantic picnics, kissing, and cuddling that'll be going on! Oooooh!"
Twilight, however, did not agree. “Pinkie, be serious! We can’t just focus on the good side, we have to think about the bad that could come from this….”
But pinkie continues to look on the bright side, "Oh come on! You're being way too negative, Twilight! Think about it! Everypony in the world will be paired up in happy, loving relationships! It'll be like a massive love festival!"
“Pinkie, that’s exactly what the Alicorn is trying to do: make everypony fall in love! And yes, while the good aspects are nice to imagine, there’s no telling the kind of chaos it’ll bring! Or who ponies will end up with! It’s going far too fast! And it’s going to get really, really out of hoof if they’re not stopped!” Twilight SNAPED at pinkie.
"Oh, it can't be that bad! I bet the Alicorn knows what they're doing! I mean, they're just trying to spread love and happiness, right? That doesn't sound so bad. And think about all the romantic shenanigans it could lead to! It'd be so much fun! and besides, Isn't that also Cadance's job?" Pinkie pie points out.
Twilight takes a deep breath, trying to keep her composure. “Pinkie, yes, the Alicorn’s goal is to spread love and happiness. But they’re doing it by shooting random ponies with love arrows! And we’ve already seen what’s happened to Applejack and Rainbow Dash; they’re off alone together in a private, room because of that arrows! Cadance spreading love is different!”
Pinkie Pie giggles to herself, "Hehe, yeah, I bet they're having a LOT of fun in there right now! And why is it different when Cadance does it? It's still ponies falling in love, isn't it?"
“It’s different because Cadance spreads love in a healthy and stable way, unlike the Alicorn who’s going around shooting random ponies with arrows! Cadance would never do something like that unless she knew it was true love!” Twilight explained.
Once more, Pinkie defends her stand, "But what if these aren't just 'random ponies'? What if the Alicorn carefully chooses who they're shooting with the arrows? Like, um, what if they only shoot ponies they know will be compatible?"
Twilight frowns “I mean, that’s an interesting thought, but it’s still not the way Cadance would do it. The Alicorn is still shooting ponies with love arrows without their consents and forcing ponies to fall in love… that’s a recipe for disaster, there’s no way that’s alright!”
Pinkie jumped up and down, and up and down, "But think of the possible romances that could unfold! Like, what if Fluttershy got hit with one of the arrows and started dating Discord? That would be soooo cute! Fluttercord would be real!!"
“Oh, not you too… Pinkie, please don’t start with the shipping…” said Twilight slightly annoyed.
"Whaddya mean?! I'm just saying, there's a whole world of possible relationships that could come out of this! It's not all doom and gloom, you know! Think about all the cute cuddles and kisses that'll happen once everypony is paired up! It would be soooo perfect!" Pinkie says, Still defending her idea.
Twilight tried to get through to pinkies head, “Pinkie, I know that all of that will happen, and yes, it would be kind of cute. But you’re not thinking about the possible chaos that will unfold as a consequence…. Just imagine all of the unplanned foals that could be brought into the world all of a sudden!”
Pinkie Continues jumping up and down at a faster pace than before, "Ohmygosh... I DIDN'T EVEN THINK OF THAT!! That's so awesome! Imagine all the new ponies that could be born into this world, all because of the love arrows! It'd be like a baby boom! Can you imagine all the little foals crawling around, learning to walk, and saying their first words?! This is going to be so adorable!!"
Twilight growls, “Pinkie, be serious…! We’re talking about thousands of unplanned foals being born! Imagine the overpopulation…!”
Pinkie ignores the consequences "Overpopulation? Pfff, so what? With all of the ponies falling in love and pairing up, I'm sure there'll be plenty of ponies who want to adopt! And even then, imagine all the cute foals running around town, all playing together and having fun! It would be like a big family. You have to admit, that sounds really fun and exciting!"
Twilight looked for a way to get it through to pinkie, when a worse thought came to mind. “Pinkie… what if an arrow hits a filly?”
Pinkie goes quiet… "A filly? You mean like... a little pony, who's still really young and innocent?"
Twilight nods, “Yes, Pinkie... Like a filly who's young and innocent. What if the Alicorn hits a filly with it’s arrow? What would happen then?”
"That... Well, if a filly got hit, then they'd probably... I mean, they'd start acting the same as any other pony who got hit, right? They'd start... getting romantic feelings for ponies and stuff? But that's bad, isn't it...?" Pinkie concernedly asked.
Twilight’s expression darkened, “That’d be really bad, Pinkie. Incredibly bad. A filly having romantic feelings is bad enough… but to make them act upon it… I-I can’t even begin to imagine….”
Pinkie finally understands, and her eyes widen in horror. "Oh no.... You mean, a filly could... they could act on their feelings?! Like, they could start kissing other ponies or... doing stuff with them?! That's not right! That's too early for a little filly! They're not ready for that stuff!"
Twilight nodded once more. “Exactly, Pinkie. A filly isn’t ready for that type of thing. They’re way too young and innocent to be dealing with that kind of feeling… And it could put them in danger of being taken advantage of…”
A shiver goes up Rarity's spine when she realizes, "Oh dear... I'm not even sure what I would do if someone did that to my sister... And to think, I have no idea where she is right now. She could be anywhere, maybe even outside, playing with the other ponies... What if she's one of those who gets hit with one of those arrows?!”
Twilight attempted to comfort Rarity, “Rarity, try to stay calm… I can’t even imagine how you must be feeling right now. But getting worked up isn’t going to help anything… Your sister will be alright, I promise.”
Rarity however, still panics, "I know, I know... but I'm just so worried about her. What if she's already been hit by one of those arrows? What if she's already started falling for another pony and doing things that a young filly shouldn't be doing? Oh, I can't bear the thought of her being taken advantage of because of some love spell..."
“I know, Rarity. The thought of an innocent filly being exposed to the world of romance and affection at such a young age is… terrifying. But we can’t let it get to us. We have to stay calm and focused on what needs to be done…” Twilight told to her friend.
"You're right, I know you are... I just... I just can't help but worry a little. But you're right, we need to stay focused. And we need to do something to stop this Alicorn and their love arrows. Do you have any idea on how we can stop them?" Rarity asked.
Twilight sighed, before speaking up. “Well, first, we need to figure out more information about this Alicorn. The only thing we currently know is their name and what they’re doing. Without knowing who they are and what their motive is, it’ll be impossible to stop them.” She might not have a clue to who Agapi is, but there may be one who knows them or two ponies that vaguely know them thousands of years ago... “Hold on. There may be a way to find out more about who this Alicorn is… But it’d have to be someone who would have information dating back a thousand years. And as old as that sounds, I think I know of such ponies…”
Rarity perks up, "That sounds promising. Who are these ponies you're speaking of?"
“They’re two of the oldest ponies in Equestria. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. They may not know exactly who the Alicorn is, but there’s a chance they have records dating back a thousand years that could give us some helpful information…” Twilight Explained.
Rarity’s eyes widened to twilights response, "Princess Celestia and Princess Luna? Yes, that could work. They are quite old, so there's a good chance they would have information that could help. But how do we get in contact with them? They're not exactly easy ponies to get a hold of ever since they retired to Maretime Manor in Seaward Shoals!"
“You’re right,” -Twilight agreed- “they’re not exactly the easiest to get a hold of these days. But considering the gravity of the situation, I think it’s worth it for me to take a trip down to Seaward Shoals and try to meet up with them. It might take a bit of time, but it’s our best bet for information.”
Fluttershy, who had been quiet until now decides to join into the conversation, "Are you sure you'll be ok going all by yourself, Twilight? It's a long way to Seaward Shoals, and it's a dangerous world out there. Especially now with this Alicorn on the loose."
Twilight, comforts Fluttershy, “I appreciate your concern, Fluttershy, but I’ll be alright. I’m an alicorn myself, after all, I'll just teleport over there and listen to them, and besides, I’ve dealt with much more dangerous things in the past.”
This makes fluttershy slightly calmer, "Alright, if you're sure. Just promise to be careful, ok? I'd hate it if something happened to you while you were gone."
Rarity joins in as well, "Especially you being shot by one of those arrows!"
Twilight slightly chuckled, “Don’t worry, I’ll try my best to avoid any love arrows. And I promise I’ll be careful.”
Fluttershy, Still slightly distressed Spoke up, "Good. We’re counting on you, Twilight."
"Yeah, don’t get distracted by any cute ponies on the way to Seaward Shoals!" Pinkie Pie loudly declared.
“Don’t worry, Pinkie. I’ll keep my focus on the task at hoof. No cute ponies will distract me!” Twilight sarcastically said rolling her eyes before she bid them farewell and teleported off in a purple light.
"Well, now we just have to wait and hope she can find some useful information from the princesses." Rarity declared.
However, with less noise in the room, the echo of the bed creaking is much more noticeable, Rarity angerly yelled "Oh, for the love of Celestia, are they still going at it in there?!"
Agapi Apostolea the (self-proclaimed Former) Alicorn of love
Filling A-gap-i(n) The story
In a flash of magic, Twilight finds herself standing in the familiar and beautiful landscape of Seaward Shoals. The sky was a brilliant shade of blue and the water sparkled in the sunlight. She took a moment to take in the sight before setting hoof towards Maretime Manor. As she approached the manor, Twilight felt a mixture of excitement and nerves. Maretime Manor was the official residence of the two retired princesses, and she hadn’t visited them since they had moved in several months ago. Finally, she reached the entrance to the manor and approached the front doors. With a deep breath, she raised her hoof and knocked loudly.
After a while Celestia opened the door "Twilight? Is everything alright dear? You seem quite panicked."
Twilight slightly fell at ease, but was still quite panicked, “C-Celestia, I’m so glad you’re here. And yes, I’m a bit panicked, but it’s for a good reason. May I come in? I need to talk to you and Luna about something important.”
"Of course, come in." -Celestia opened the door wider- "I presume this is something serious?"
Twilight stepped inside “Yes, it’s quite serious. Unfortunately, there’s been a bit of a… problem recently, and I was hoping you and Luna could provide some insight into it. May I speak with you both?”
"Of course, Luna's upstairs in her bed. We were just getting ready to rest when you knocked on the door. Follow me." Nodded Celestia as they lead Twilight upstairs.
White Twilight was following Celestia, she spoke up “How have you both been enjoying your retirement so far?”
Celestia smiled, "It's been nice. We actually get the freedom of getting proper sleep, no more ruling duties. We mainly just use our time for relaxing nowadays, and occasionally going out." Celestia then opened the door into Celestia’s and Luna’s bedroom.
Celestia directed her attention to Luna, "Twilight's here, she needs to talk to us."
Luna looked up, "Ah, I see. Is everything alright Twilight, you seem concerned."
Twilight took a deep breath, "Not really, no. I’m sorry to barge in on you both like this, but there’s something we need to talk about. Something serious. It involves an Alicorn who’s recently shown up in Ponyville."
Celestia lightly froze, "Wait- Hold on. You said a new Alicorn has shown up in Ponyville?"
Twilight nodded, “Yes. This Alicorn, they call themselves ‘Agapi’, and they’re apparently on a mission to spread love everywhere they go.”
Both Celestia and Luna froze, Celestia being the first to speak up, "Agapi? That's a name I have not heard in a very, very long time…"
Twilight continued, “You seem to know that name. Do you know anything about them?”
Celestia sighed, "Yes, I do know about Agapi. In fact, me and Luna knew them personally…"
Twilight was surprised, “You personally knew Agapi…? What can you tell me about them?”
Celestia Started to explain the story, "Agapi was… A great spirit. They had a wonderful heart, and had a very sweet personality, just like a small child. Always so full of energy and excitement… Their main focus was spreading love and positivity to every creature they could. They were, well, a love spirit after all… It's just too bad a single mistake changed their entire life…"
“A mistake? What kind of mistake are we talking about here?” Asked Twilight.
Celestia continued telling the story, "Well, to put it bluntly, Agapi had a philosophy that she firmly believed in. And that was the belief that 'Everypony deserves love no matter what.' As sweet and good intentioned as it sounded, that wasn't exactly a good ideal to follow… In Agapi's eyes, everypony deserved to be loved. Even the worst of ponies, even the most horrible ponies in existence, and even those who had harmed others… In their opinion, no matter what they had done, even the worst ponies deserved to be loved, even if they didn't deserve I, Agapi truly believed, from the bottom of their heart… That even Sombra deserved love…"
Twilight’s eyes widened again at the description of Agapi’s philosophy. It was a belief that most ponies could agree was naive and dangerous in nature. She couldn't understand how Agapi could think that ponies like Sombra deserved love. Especially the version of him before his redemption "Wait, Sombra? They really thought he deserved love after all the pain and suffering he caused?"
Celestia nodded, "Yes, yes they did. Agapi's philosophy was that everypony deserved love. No exceptions. They didn't care about the sins some ponies had committed, all that they cared about was spreading their form of ‘love’ to everyone they can, no matter who they are, they tried, tried so hard… They fired that second special arrow that was supposed to strike true and find Sombra’s ‘soulmate’, but… it never did. And over time, Agapi got more and more worried about it, Agapi was devastated by that. They had failed so much to find a ‘soulmate’ for Sombra. So, to try and make up for that failure, they began to… overcompensate by shooting other ponies… Agapi got more and more desperate as the days went by. They began to fire their arrows more and more often, no matter the situation or circumstances. Many ponies would be struck by their arrow, forced into feeling that special ‘true love’ without consent, even those who were already in happy relationships… Agapi's entire existence was based upon their love and desire to make sure every pony got love. But in the end, it was all just too much. Starswirl was forced to turn them into stone and keep them sealed away in His old grotto, A wall built Infront of it to prevent anypony from ever finding it, not to be freed… ever…"
Twilight was stunned to hear the full story. Her mind raced as she absorbed all of the information she had been bombarded with. She couldn’t believe the lengths Agapi went to try and spread their love philosophy. The idea that they thought ponies like Sombra deserved love, even after all the pain and suffering he caused, was unbelievable. But the way they went around forcing their own idea of love on ponies without consent was almost shocking. “That’s… that’s all really extreme… and extremely dangerous. I can understand why Starswirl thought it was best to keep them sealed away. I… I can’t believe I’ve set Agapi free… and now they’re going around spreading their kind of ‘love’. Is there anything we can do to stop them?”
Celestia Froze, “Wait- hold on, you let Agapi out?!? Why in Equestria and beyond would you think that’s a good idea?!? There’s a reason Starswirl sealed them away!!”
Twilight looked down, “I… I didn’t know any of this information until now. I thought Agapi was just a harmless Alicorn who wanted to make ponies fall in love… but now I realize how bad I messed up. I’m sorry…”
Celestia calmed down and sighed, “It’s… it’s alright. You were unaware of what Agapi is truly like, and you didn’t mean to let them out. I can’t blame you for that…”
“Thank you, I appreciate that… but I still feel bad. And now I’m worried about what Agapi might do now that they’re free. How do we stop them?” Asked Twilight.
Celestia started to think, “Hmm… let’s see… they’re an Alicorn… they still have their special arrows… they’re still very much obsessed with spreading “love”, and… they probably haven’t changed in the slightest…”
Twilight nods and starts to think as well, when an idea pops into her head, “They… still think Sombra deserves love, right?”
Celestia nodded, “Yes… yes, they still believe, from the bottom of their heart, that Sombra deserves love… They still think it’s their destiny to find him a 'soulmate'…”
Twilight gulped as she heard Celestia’s response. The thought of Agapi still believing in that dangerous ideal was troubling. She didn’t understand how an Alicorn could be so naive and obsessed. However, with a clever idea and a plan, Twilight continued to speak. “So… what if they run into Sombra again? Or someone that they think is Sombra?”
Celestia thought for a second, “Hmm… that may be a loophole we can exploit… if Agapi saw a pony that they think is Sombra, they might use their arrow to try and make them fall in “love”, thus giving us some form of advantage over them, and an opportunity to lock them away again”
Twilight nodded and replied to Celestia, "Exactly. If we can use their own obsession against them, we might be able to stop them for good… but who are we gonna get to disguise themselves as Sombra?"
Celestia Ponders, “Hmm… whoever we get to disguise themselves as Sombra will need to be able to convincingly pull off the role… and that’s not even mentioning that they would likely need to use some form of illusion or magic to keep up an appearance like that… who do we even have that could do that?”
"Well... we could maybe ask Starlight if she knows somepony. Or maybe Trixie... or... maybe... maybe I could do it." Twilight unthinkingly said.
Both Celestia and Luna paused at that last statement, looking at Twilight with a concerned expression.
“Wait- what? You’re considering taking this upon yourself?” Celestia spoke up.
Twilight was taken aback, regardless she pushed on and nodded, "Yes, I think I could do it. I have a lot of experience with magic and illusions, and with some practice, I think I could disguise myself as Sombra convincingly enough to fool Agapi…"
“Are you sure? Yes, you have a lot of experience with illusion magic, but this is a literal insane Alicorn we’re talking about. They’re unpredictable, and it’s very risky considering you could get hit by one of their arrows by accident…” Celestia asked Twilight.
Twilight reinsured Celestia, "Yes, I know it's risky… but I'm willing to take that chance. I'm the one who freed Agapi, so I feel like it's my responsibility to stop them. And I'm confident I can pull it off."
Celestia, lets out a small, reluctant sigh, “I’m still not sure about this… it’s still very dangerous… But I know that I’m not going to be able to convince you out of it, especially when you put the blame on yourself for freeing Agapi in the first place…”
"I understand your concern,” -Twilight nodded- “but I really think this is something I should do. And yes, I do feel responsible for freeing Agapi, so I have to take some responsibility for fixing that mistake. I'll be careful, I promise."
Celestia pauses, before nodding. “Very well. I know that there’s no convincing you out of this. Just… be careful. One wrong move could lead to disaster. Agapi is unpredictable, and who knows what will happen if they find out the pony before them is not actually Sombra.”
Twilight nods, she appreciated Celestia's concern, but she was ready to face the challenge. "I will be careful, I promise. I know the risks, but I'm willing to take them. And Agapi won't know that I'm not the real Sombra because I'll make sure my illusion is perfect. If all goes well, this will work." -Twilight turns to Celestia and Luna- "Don't worry, I'll be alright. And I'll make sure to stop Agapi before they can cause any more harm. You can count on me."
And with that, Twilight teleports in a flash of magic, teleporting away to put her plan into action.
Celestia Lets out yet another small sigh, “She can be so stubborn sometimes. Even if I told her no, she would have just gone through with it either way. I do hope that she’ll actually be alright though…”
Luna speaks up, “Oh, you know she’s strong enough to handle herself, though. She’s been in countless dangerous situations before; I doubt that this will be any different.”
Author's Note
This Chapter is just a shorter one to explain Agapi's history and were MOST of this AU changes things.
Agapi Apostolea the (self-proclaimed Former) Alicorn of love
Meanwhile at the Castle of friendship
Author's Note
This take's place at the same time and a bit after "Filling A-gap-i(n) The story"
Meanwhile at the Castle of friendship
"Oh, for the love of Celestia, are they still going at it in there?!" Rarity said, the echo’s of the bed creaking getting louder.
Pinkie Pie, perks ups and speaks, "Yeah, they're still going at it! And from the sound of it, they're having sooo much fun! I wonder what they’re doing in there?"
Rarity groans at pinkie, "Pinkie, please, I don't want to think about it right now. I'm still worried about my sister outside, and those two aren't helping matters."
But pinkie pie continued, "Aww, come on! It’s not all bad, Rarity! At least Rainbow Dash and Applejack are really happy right now. They're probably having the best time of their lives in there! And when they leave, they’ll be all happy and relaxed and giddy!"
At this point, it would be better out there then in here rarity thinks to herself, "You know what, I think I need to get some fresh air. Being in this room, listening to what’s going on in there, is starting to get unbearable."
Pinkie Jumps up, "Oh, can I come with?! I'm bored out of my mind just sitting here!"
Rarity hesitates at first, but soon agrees to it, “Alright, Pinkie, you can come, but remember, we're trying to avoid any encounters with that Alicorn. And I'm not sure what seeing a bunch of ponies all loved up on each other will do to you.”
Pinkie chuckles "Don’t worry, Rarity! I’ll be fine! And if this Alicorn happens to hit me with one of their arrows, then I’ll be more than happy to start lovin’ on everypony I see!"
Rarity shakes her head. "That's exactly what I'm worried about… but just stay close to me, alright?"
Pinkie Pie skips around Rarity faster than a beam of light, "You got it, Rarity! Don’t worry, I’ll stick by you like glue! This'll be soooooo much fun!"
As Rarity and Pinkie step outside, they are immediately met with the sight of several ponies around them, openly showing off their affections for each other. Couples holding hooves, cuddling, and kissing each other, not a care in the world.
Rarity’s eyes widen, appalled by this "By Celestia... I knew it was bad, but I didn’t expect it to be this bad... this is just... I don’t even know what to say. I just hope Sweetie belle isn't caught up in this!"
Pinkie, on the other hoof, was very amused and excited by all the couples, looking like she's practically about to explode. "Ohmygosh, ohmygosh, ohmygosh, this is soooooo AWESOME!!! Look at all these lovey-dovey ponies! It's like a big, massive love festival out here!"
Rarity glances at pinkie, "Don’t get too carried away, Pinkie. We’re here to avoid any romantic shenanigans, remember? And we need to be on the lookout for my sister."
"Are you kidding me?” Pinkie replied, “This is awesome!!! Just look at how happy and in love they are! They're like the ultimate example of true love and passion! I want what they have!"
At that moment, an arrow was heading towards Pinkie.
"Pinkie! Look out!" Rarity yells as she grabs Pinkie and pulls her out of the way, just in time to avoid being hit by the arrow.
"Whoa! What the-where did that come from?! And how did you see it before I did?" Pinkie asked.
Rarity sighed, "I saw it just in time and reacted. But that doesn't matter now, we need to get out of here before that Alicorn shoots another one of their arrows!"
Disappointed, Pinkie looks down, "Aw man... I didn't get hit. I was totally hoping the arrow would hit me so I could start lovin' on everypony I see!"
Rarity rolled her eyes, "Pinkie, you do realize that being hit by one of those arrows is not a good thing, right? Those things are dangerous. You could lose control of yourself and start acting in ways you normally wouldn't. You could lose your free will and become nothing more than a mindless puppet to the Alicorn's spell."
Pinkie, unfazed, continues. “I know, I know, but it still sounds like sooooo much fun! Imagine all the cuddling and kissing you could do if you were hit by one of those arrows!”
"Think about how happy your life will become once you get hit and live with your soulmate!" Agapi Interrupts.
Pinkie’s eyes light up, "Ooh, that does sound pretty amazing. Being hit by one of those arrows would be pretty great if it meant living happily ever after with my true love!"
Rarity rolled her eyes and yelled out, "Pinkie, you’re being ridiculous. You can’t just go around getting yourself hit by love arrows in the hopes of finding your true love. It’s dangerous, and it’s not guaranteed to work out the way you think it will. You need to snap out of it!"
Agapi reinforced pinkie pie, “Oh, don't worry, these arrows are 200% guaranteed to make you happy with your soulmate!!! all you need to do is be shot, and let my arrow home in on your soulmate!”
Pinkie steps closer to Agapi, "Yes, please! Hit me with one of your arrows! I want to find my true love and be happy forever!"
"Alright!" Agapi said aiming their bow.
Pinkie stands up straight waiting to be hit, Rarity attempts to stop her "Pinkie, no! This is insane! You don't know what you're doing!"
However, she was too late as Agapi lets go of the arrow, shooting it, the arrow shoots through the air and connects with Pinkie, hitting her directly. Agapi Shoots another arrow that flies off.
"Pinkie, what have you done...!" Rarity Yelled out.
A few moments pass, and suddenly, starts walking in a straight line.
"No, no, no... no no no no no. This can't be happening..." Rarity panicked.
Agapi is slightly confused by pinkie, "Odd, that doesn't usually happen."
Rarity turns to Agapi, "What do you mean, it 'doesn't usually happen'?! What have you done to Pinkie?! She’s like a mindless drone now!"
"Well hay, maybe her exactment went 1 over 255 and looped back to 0?" Agapi joked.
Rarity Snaped at Agapi "What...? That doesn’t even make any sense! What do you mean, her excitement went over 255 and looped back to zero??"
Agapi sighs, attempts to explain, "Y-You see, it's a joke, spells that can effect objects can only have 255 objects effected or else it will just effect 0 objects"
"Oh... I see. Well, regardless, you need to undo whatever you did to Pinkie! Bring her back to normal!" Rarity angerly said to Agapi.
Agapi reinsures rarity, "Oh don't worry, she'll be back to normal when she 'reenacts the birds and the bees' "
Rarity realizes "What...! Wait, you mean, you're telling me that Pinkie will act completely normal once... once... she... and..." her face goes as red as a ruby with embarrassment.
Agapi smiled to himself, "Another pony happy with my job!"
Rarity angerly looks at Agapi “I... I... I can’t believe this... Pinkie is... and somepony... and they’re- did you... did you just say ‘job’?”
Agapi smiled, "Yes, I am the Alicorn of love after all! everypony deserves love!"
Rarity was slightly concerned, "So... so, you’re saying that you... went around Ponyville, shooting arrows at as many ponies as you can, just so they can find their true love and be happy... just because ‘everypony deserves love’?"
Agapi smiled wider, "Yes, after all there's no pony that dose my job better!"
Rarity tries to process this, "This... this is unbelievable... you honestly believe that you’re doing a good thing, don’t you?"
Agapi tilts their head, "I am, Everypony deserves love!"
Rarity gets upset with Agapi, "But... love isn't something that can be force! You can't just shoot ponies with your love arrows and assume that everything will suddenly be rainbows and sunshine! Love is supposed to be a natural thing that ponies discover on their own, when they find their soul mate! You can't just shove it down ponies’ throats! That’s not how love works!”
However, Agapi heard nothing Rarity had said, "Nopony dose a better job than me."
Rarity groans, "Oh, you’re impossible! You just don’t get it, do you? This 'Job' of yours is insane, and it's causing nothing but chaos and... and... and... lust!"
Agape talks to rarity in a childish voice, "awww what's wrong, mad you don't have a soulmate?"
Rarity is caught off guard, then angerly yells at Agapi, "How... How dare you assume that I don't have a soul mate! I... I’ll have you know that I am capable of finding love all on my own, without being shot by any of your stupid love arrows!"
"Oh, you can still find true love, you just don't have a soulmate" Agapi says, looking back at rarity.
Rarity frowns at Agapi’s response, "And what’s that supposed to mean? What’s the difference between having a ‘true love’ and having a ‘soulmate’? They’re the same thing, aren’t they?"
Agapi replies, "They are close and commonly mixed up, your true love is somepony you fall in love with who will make you happy in life, your soulmate is somepony your destined to fall for and have a happy life with."
Rarity tries to process what Agapi said, "I see... so what you’re saying is, ponies can have a ‘true love’ without being destined to have a ‘soulmate’?"
"Yep!" replied Agapi, nodding their head.
Rarity sighs as she thinks about the Alicorn’s response, she wonders if she actually has a ‘soulmate’ “And... and how do you know if you have a ‘soulmate’ or not? Do some ponies not have them at all?"
Rarity’s heart sinks. The thought that she might not have a ‘soulmate’ is somewhat disheartening. "I... I see... so there’s no guarantee that every pony has a ‘soulmate’?"
Rarity’s mind fills with hundreds of questions, "So... what... what happens if pony without a ‘soulmate’ still tried to find their ‘true love’? Would they... would they just fail? Would they never have a chance of finding love?"
Agapi looks up into the air, "Some might find love, others might not."
Rarity starts feeling a mixture of sadness and resignation. "And... how do you know all this? How do you know which ponies have a ‘soulmate’ and which don’t? And... and how can you tell which ponies are destined to find true love and which ones aren’t?"
"Simple," -Agapi looks at their bow- "My bow shows me who has a soulmate and who doesn’t."
arity looks at Agapi’s bow with a mix of curiosity and trepidation. "Really? That... that bow is able to show you who has a ‘soulmate’ and who doesn’t? How is that even possible...?"
"I don't know, I wasn't the one who made it..." Agapi said, sliding their hoofs across the bow.
Rarity is intrigued and confused by agapi’s response, "Wait... so someone else made the bow? Do you know who? Do you know why? And... and how does it know who has a ‘soulmate’ and who doesn’t? Is it magic or-"
Agapi cuts her off, "Thats a story for another day, maybe you should go back to wherever you boarded yourself up, I'm pretty sure a filly was waiting for you there" Agapi turns away and flies off.
Rarity watches as Agapi flew away, still puzzled, she sighed and moved on, "I... I guess it doesn't matter... the important thing right now is to make sure Sweetie Belle is alright." She said before walking back to the Castle of friendship.
Rarity sighs in relief as she sees Sweetie Belle through the window. She was afraid of what she would find, but it looked like her sister was okay. She approaches the door and gently knocks. Fluttershy opening the door.
"Rarity! You're back! Are you okay? I was so worried about you." Fluttershy concernedly asked.
Rarity reinsured Fluttershy, "I'm fine, really. Just a bit shaken up, that's all. How's Sweetie Belle? Is she alright?"
Fluttershy nods, "Yes, she's okay. She's just in the other room, she's a bit... out of it, though."
Rarity became concerned, "What do you mean, ‘out of it’? What’s happened to her? Is she hurt? Is she sick?"
Fluttershy shock her head, “No, she's not hurt or sick. It's just that... something happened while you were gone. I’ll show you.”
Fluttershy leads Rarity into the next room, where Sweetie Belle is sitting in a chair, looking completely spaced out. She’s staring at nothing in particular, her eyes wide and her face expressionless. Applejack and Rainbow dash were also nearby after having finished their 'privet time'.
Rarity’s heart sinks as she sees her sister in this state. She immediately rushes over to her side. "Sweetie... Sweetie Belle? Can you hear me? Are you all right? Sweetie...?"
Sweetie Belle however didn’t respond to Rarity’s words. She just continued staring straight ahead, her eyes vacant and unfocused. Rarity can’t help but feel a pang of worry as she sees her sister like this. She turns to look at Fluttershy. "What... what happened to her? Why is she like this?"
Fluttershy sighs, “While you were out, Sweetie belle kinda walked in on Applejack and Rainbow dash...”
Rarity’s eyes widen, “Wait, what...? Sweetie Belle walked in on them... while they were...? Oh, gracious, no wonder she’s spacing out like this..."
Rainbow Dash guilty stepped forward, "Yeah, we uh... kind of… forgot to lock the door. We didn’t realize that anypony would be coming in…"
Applejack also steps forwards, “Yeah, we were just kind of caught up in the moment... and next thing we knew, Sweetie Belle was there...”
Rarity groans at the two of them, “Oh, for the love of- really? You two were caught up in the moment, and you forgot to lock the door? And now poor Sweetie Belle had to see you two going at it with each other? No wonder she’s sitting there all spaced out!”
Fluttershy tries to stop a fight between the three, "I know it was an accident, and that you weren’t trying to expose Sweetie Belle to something like that. But the fact is, she did see it, and it clearly had a big effect on her."
Rarity takes deep breaths trying to cool herself down, this fails, “I know it was an accident, but that doesn’t change the fact that Sweetie Belle is now traumatized. Look at her! She’s practically catatonic!”
Applejack spoke up, "I... I'm really sorry, Rarity. We didn't mean to cause any harm, we just... got carried away. We never intended for Sweetie Belle to see us like that.”
Rarity sighs, “I know you didn’t mean it, but that doesn’t change the fact that my sister is now traumatized. I just… I can’t even imagine what she’s going through right now. Seeing something like... like that when you’re so young can have a profound effect on a pony...”
Fluttershy steps forward, trying to comfort Rarity, "I know it’s hard to see her like this, Rarity. But I think that given time, Sweetie Belle will recover. It just might take a little while for her to process what she saw."
Rarity nods, "I know... I know it’ll take time for her to recover. But I just... I hate seeing her like this. And I can’t help but feel angry at Applejack and Rainbow for not being more careful."
"I know we screwed up, Rarity.” Replied Applejack, “And I’m really sorry. We should’ve locked the door, or at least kept an eye on our surroundings. It was a stupid mistake, and I’m sorry that it had such a big effect on Sweetie Belle."
Rarity tried to take deep breaths to calm herself down, "I know you’re sorry, Applejack. I’m just... I’m just worried about Sweetie Belle. I don’t know how long it’ll take for her to recover from this. She’s just so young, and I don’t want her to carry this with her for the rest of her life..."
Twilight walked in, having overheard some of the conversation after returning, "What happened? What traumatized Sweetie Belle?"
Rarity turned to Twilight, "Twilight, thank goodness you're here. I was hoping you would have some insight into what's going on with Sweetie Belle. As for what happened... well, it seems that Applejack and Rainbow Dash forgot to lock the door while they were... having their ‘alone time’ together. And unfortunately, Sweetie Belle walked in on them.”
Twilight eyes widen in shock, "Oh, my goodness... that’s awful. Poor Sweetie Belle... I can only imagine how shaken up she is right now."
Rarity Nods, "Exactly. She's sitting over there, completely zoned out. It's like she's in her own world. I've never seen her like this before... and it's all Applejack and Rainbow Dash's fault!"
Applejack tries to speak up in their defence. “Hey, it was an accident, darlin’. We didn’t mean for Sweetie Belle to walk in on us.”
Twilight frowned, "Rarity, I know you're upset, but it was an accident. Applejack and Rainbow Dash didn't intend for Sweetie Belle to see them in that state. I think we should be more concerned about how to help Sweetie Belle recover from this traumatic experience."
Rarity sighed, "You’re right, Twilight. I know it was an accident, and that Applejack and Rainbow didn’t mean for this to happen. But I can’t help feeling frustrated. Poor Sweetie Belle saw something no pony as young as her should see. And it’s not going to be easy for her to recover from this..."
Twilight knew that as much as she wanted to help Sweetie Belle, there was something far more important at stake. Agapi was still out there, shooting ponies with their love arrows. "I know we’re all worried about Sweetie Belle, and I want to help her too. But right now, we need to focus on stopping Agapi before they can do any more damage."
Rarity was shocked, "Wait, what...? You want to focus on stopping Agapi? But what about Sweetie Belle? We can’t just leave her like this. She needs our help and attention right now!"
Twilight tried to defend her statement, "No, no, I understand that, Rarity. But Agapi is causing more harm than just what Sweetie Belle experienced. They’ve already shot Rainbow Dash and Applejack with their arrows, and who knows what else they might do if we don’t stop them. We need to make sure that no one else gets hurt, and the only way to do that is to deal with Agapi first."
Rarity became conflicted, "I understand what you’re saying, Twilight. But what about Sweetie Belle? We need to make sure she’ll be okay before we go off battling some powerful Alicorn. After all, she’s my little sister, and I can’t just abandon her when she needs me most."
Twilight knew how worried Rarity was and tried to balance both of the concerns Rarity might have, "Of course, Rarity. I know how much you care about Sweetie Belle, and I don’t want to abandon her either. But we also need to prioritize the safety of all ponies in Ponyville. We can’t let Agapi continue shooting ponies with their love arrows."
Rarity sighs, knowing Twilight is right, "Very well. I suppose you’re right. We should focus on stopping Agapi first. But what do you suggest we do about Sweetie Belle?"
"For now, we should make sure she’s in a safe and comfortable environment." -Twilight turns to Fluttershy- "Fluttershy, do you think you can keep an eye on her in your cottage? She needs some time to process what she saw, and being around you might help her feel calmer."
Fluttershy Nods, "Yes, of course. I'll take good care of her. My cottage should be a safe and comfortable place for her to recover."
Twilight was relieved, "Thank you, Fluttershy. I know you’ll do an excellent job of taking care of her. And as soon as we’ve dealt with Agapi, we can focus on helping Sweetie Belle recover from this."
Fluttershy nods again, "I’ll make sure she’s well cared for. You can count on me."
Twilight gratefully smiled, "Thank you, Fluttershy. We should head off now and start devising a plan to stop Agapi. We can’t allow them to keep shooting ponies with their arrows."
Rarity nods, "Yes, you're right. We need to stop Agapi before they can do any more damage. But what's the plan? We don't know anything about them or where they could be hiding. Do you have any ideas, Twilight?"
Twilight ponders, "Well, I don’t know much about Agapi either. They’re incredibly unpredictable and fast. But I think the best course of action would be to find a way to slow them down and corner them. That way, we can either take away their weapon or stop them from shooting any more ponies."
Applejack chimes in, "Maybe we can use some kind of trap? Something to catch Agapi off guard and immobilize them long enough to get the bow away from them?"
Twilight pondered, "That’s not a bad idea, Applejack. If we can use some form of a trap, we might be able to catch them off guard. We just need to come up with something that can hold them still long enough for us to take their bow." Suddenly, a realization hit Twilight. "Actually... I might have an idea… Are you all ready to hear my idea? It might be a little bit crazy, but I think it could work…"
The other’s look at Twilight, Applejack tuning in, “Of course! We’re all ears, Twilight. Let’s hear this crazy plan of yours.”
Twilight took a deep breath, "Alright then. Are you all ready for this? My plan… is to disguise myself as Sombra."
The others are taken a back, fluttershy being the first to ask a question, “Disguise yourself as… Sombra? But… how would that help us catch Agapi?”
Twilight, understanding the other’s confusion, explained, "Allow me to explain. I’ve been thinking about Agapi’s obsession with 'finding Sombra’s soul mate'. When I was talking to Celestia and Luna, they mentioned that Agapi became even more obsessive and desperate to find someone compatible with Sombra… I thought, if I could disguise myself as him, I could use their obsession to our advantage and lead them into a trap."
Rainbow Dash questions Twilight, "So… you want to use yourself as bait to get Agapi to fall into a trap? I mean… it’s a crazy plan, but it might just work. But how exactly are you gonna disguise yourself as Sombra?"
Twilight explained more of the plan, "I’ll be using illusions and magic to disguise myself as Sombra. With my experience, I should be able to create a convincing disguise that’ll fool Agapi into thinking I’m him. But I’ll need your help with the trap part of the plan…"
Rarity chimes in, "Well, I suppose your disguise makes sense… If you can pull it off convincingly, that is. But how exactly are we supposed to help you with the trap part of the plan? What did you have in mind?"
Twilight smirks, "I’ve had some ideas for traps. I was thinking of setting up an illusion to make it seem like I’m alone and unguarded. Then, when Agapi takes the bait and goes for me, that’s when you all will strike and spring the trap. You’ll be able to surround them and take their bow away from them."
Applejack grins, "I like it! Using your disguise as bait to lure in Agapi, and then we'll spring the trap and take their damn bow away. Count me in!"
Rainbow dash Pumps her hoof, "Hell, yeah! I’m in too. It’s a crazy plan, but it just might work. And even if Agapi doesn’t fall for it, at least we’ll look badass while doing it."
Rarity sighs, "I have to admit, it’s quite the audacious plan… but it’s also the best plan we’ve got right now. And if it can bring an end to Agapi’s rampage, then I’m willing to join in on it as well."
At that moment, Twilight realized pinkie wasn't there. "Wait a minute… where’s Pinkie Pie?"
Rarity hoofpalms, "Goodness, I forgot to tell you all… Pinkie Pie’s also been affected by Agapi’s arrows, just like Applejack and Rainbow Dash…"
Twilight was shocked, "What?! Pinkie Pie was shot too? And you didn’t tell us until now ?"
Rarity continues, "I’m sorry! I meant to tell you all, I really did… but I’ve just been so worried about Sweetie Belle, I forgot to mention it… Sorry…"
Twilight sighed, "It’s alright, Rarity. I understand why you forgot. But this changes things... We need to find Pinkie and make sure she’s okay, too. Do you have any idea where she is?"
Rarity shook her head, "No, I’m not sure where she is… she kind of just ran off after Agapi shot her."
Twilight nodded, "Alright, we don’t know where Pinkie is at the moment, but we have to assume she’s out there somewhere. We’ll have to keep an eye out for her and make sure she’s safe. In the meantime, let’s stick with the plan for now. I’ll focus on my disguise while you all start setting up the trap and preparing for an ambush."
Applejack nods, "Sounds like a plan. We’ll start setting up the trap and prep for when you lure those damn arrow-shooters into it. And we’ll keep an eye out for Pinkie while we’re at it."
Gratefully, Twilight nodded, "Thank you, all of you. I’ll do my best to create the most convincing disguise I can, and you focus on setting up the trap and keeping an eye out for Pinkie Pie. With any luck, we’ll be able to catch Agapi off-guard and bring an end to this madness."
They all nod, rainbow dash speaking up, "We’re counting on you, Twilight! Make sure that disguise is as convincing as can be!"
Twilight smiled, "Don’t worry, I won’t let you down. I’ll make sure that this disguise is so convincing that Agapi won’t even know what hit her. And when the time is right, I’ll lure them right into your trap. Alright then. Let’s get to work. You all start setting up the trap, and I’ll get started on my disguise. We’ll meet back up once we’re done and ready." Twilight turned and made her way into her library to start work on her disguise.
The others nod, each of them heading off to complete their respective tasks. Applejack and Rainbow Dash go off to look for a good location to set up the trap while Rarity starts gathering any additional supplies they may need. Fluttershy stays behind to keep watch on Sweetie Belle and make sure she doesn’t leave the cottage.
Agapi Apostolea the (self-proclaimed Former) Alicorn of love
Twilight was using her knowledge of magic and illusions to create a near-perfect disguise. She studied every little detail she could find of Sombra, from his facial features to his mannerisms, trying to make her disguise as authentic as possible. It wasn’t easy, but she was determined to get it right. It had to be flawless. She focused her magic on her own features, slowly shifting and altering them to match those of Sombra, a dark mane, sharp fangs, and deep red eyes. She practiced mimicking his movements and stance to make the disguise even more believable. And finally, after a long time of working and practicing, Twilight was satisfied with the results of her disguise.
She took a glance at herself in the mirror, admiring the detail she had put into her appearance. She was as close to the real Sombra as she could possibly get, a sense of pride and confidence washing over her. She knew her friends would be impressed with her transformation. But more importantly, she knew that this disguise would fool Agapi and lead her right into the trap. With a final look, she sighed and prepared to leave the library. She stepped out of the library room before leaving the castle, feeling a bit of stiffness from the unfamiliarity of her new form. She shook it off, making her way over to where she knew her friends would be setting up the trap.
Meanwhile, finish setting up the trap. It’s a strong and reliable trap that should be able to ensnare Agapi and their arrows. Applejack and Rainbow Dash take a moment to admire their work.
Applejack spoke up first, "Not bad if I do say so myself!"
Rainbow dash replied, "Yeah, I think we did a pretty good job. Agapi won’t know what hit ‘em when they fall into this trap."
Rarity nods, feeling reassured by the Traps strength. "Yes, I have to agree. We’ve done a good job. I just hope Twilight’s disguise is as convincing as she hopes it’ll be…"
Then they hear heavy hoof steps from behind them and turn around to see who is approaching them. The three gasped, It was Twilight, well you couldn't tell since they looked like the old sombra now.
Applejack spoke up first, "Well, I’ll be damned. That’s quite the disguise, Twilight. You almost look completely like Sombra!"
Rainbow Dash also tuning in, "Yeah, you look just like the bastard himself! I could barely tell it was you! Nice job!"
Rarity was also in awe as she spoke, "My word, I have to admit, it’s quite impressive… You look almost exactly like Sombra."
Twilight smiled, and spoke like Sombra, "Thank you, girls. I spent a lot of time and effort into making this disguise as accurate as possible. I wanted to make sure that Agapi wouldn’t even realize it's me at first glance."
The others nod, Applejack speaking up, "Well, I’d say you definitely succeeded in that regard. You look almost indistinguishable from the real Sombra. Even the voice is spot on!"
Twilight smiled, "Yes, I used a little bit of magic to modify my voice too. I wanted to make sure that there was no way Agapi could tell the difference between me and Sombra."
Rainbow Dash added in, "Damn, you really went all out for this disguise, didn’t you? I mean, not only did you change your look, but you even modified your voice? That’s some next-level dedication!"
And Rarity continued, "Indeed, it’s quite impressive how dedicated you are to the role. I’m sure Agapi won’t suspect a thing when you approach them. We just have to hope that they actually take the bait…"
Twilight nodded with a hint of worry, "You're right, Rarity. We can only hope that Agapi takes the bait. I’ve tried my best to make this disguise as convincing as possible, but there’s still a chance that something could go wrong. It’s all up to their belief now, and whether they truly think they've found Sombra. In any case, let’s focus on the task at hand. Is the trap ready?"
Applejack nodded, "Yep, the trap is all set up and ready to go. We scouted out a good location, and everything’s in place. We’re just waiting for you to lead Agapi into it now."
Twilight with a mix of determination and nervousness, nodded, "Alright, then. I'll head out there and lure Agapi into the trap. Wish me luck, girls." And with one final glance at her friends, she turned and headed in the direction she knew Agapi would likely be.
It took a while, but she soon makes her way to Cantalot, a lot of ponies would be looking at her if it wasn't for the fact that their all effected by the arrows and very soon, she made it to the Castle. She hoped her disguise would hold up under any scrutiny as she made her way in, after a bit of following the arrows stuck in the wall, she soon finds Agapi trying on a crown, before taking it off and putting it down, Then, trying her best to mimic Sombra’s arrogant tone, she finally spoke up. "Well, well, well... what do we have here?"
Agapi looked behind them, “Sombra?”
Twilight continued to mimic Sombra's voice, trying to sound as arrogant and menacing as possible. "Yes, it is I. I have returned to claim what is mine."
"Oh no you don't!" Agapi yelled as they flew into the air and swooped down at Twilight.
Twilight rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding a direct hit. Recovering quickly, she tried to play along to keep up her disguise. "Ha! You think you can stop me, you fool?"
Agapi frowns, "Aww come on, just a little hug?" and then leaps at Twilight.
Twilight dodged and backed off quickly. "Ha! A hug, you say? Do you think I’m some pitiful weakling who craves affection?"
"Aww, your just mad you don't feel loved, don't worry, soon you'll be with your soulmate!" Agapi said smiling.
Twilight continued to keep her disguise up, "Love? Soulmates? I have no need for such trivialities. I am beyond such mortal concepts."
"Oh, and there you go being egotistic again maybe you should-" Agapi leaped at Twilight trying to catch her off guard.
Twilight managed to roll out of the way at the last second. "Ha! You’ll have to do better than that, fool! Your pitiful attempts to catch me are futile." she knew it was time to act and lead Agapi to the trap. She had to keep the Alicorn distracted and focused on her. So, in her best Sombra impression, she continued taunted them. "You’re wasting your time. Your attempts to stop me will only bring about your own downfall."
"Hayyyy, stop dodging, it will make it harder to catch you!" yelled Agapi, swooping down but missing.
"You think I’m afraid of a measly Alicorn like yourself? I have no intention of allowing you to catch me, foolish pony." Said Twilight, still luring Agapi.
"And I have no intention of allowing you to escape without finding your soulmate!" Yelled Agapi swooping down once more.
Twilight dodged the swoop, feeling the wind from Agapi's wings brush past her. She was getting closer to the trap now, and she had to keep Agapi distracted a few moments longer. "Your obsession with love and soulmates is pathetic. You are wasting your time attempting to find one for me!"
"I know I might waste ponies time, But If it means I can make them happy when they find their love, that's enough to put a smile on my face!" announced Agapi.
Twilight felt a pang of guilt hearing Agapi's words. They genuinely believed they were doing the right thing, no matter how misguided it was. For a brief moment, she considered breaking character before quickly pushing that thought aside. "Your ignorance truly knows no bounds. Love and happiness are fleeting emotions, meaningless in the grand scheme of things."
Twilight reaches the trap, her back against the wall. Meanwhile Agapi stepped closer. "There's nowhere to run now Sombra, you need help, and help has arrived!"
Twilight knew the trap was here, she had to keep up the act just a little longer. "You... You think I need help? Ha! I need no help, especially from the likes of you!"
"It’s over Sombra, I diagnose you with loneliness," – Agapi grabs their bow off their back and lodes it with an arrow- "And the cure is-" -Suddenly, Agapi stopped- "W-w-wait a second... you’re not Sombra!"
Twilight allowed herself a slight smirk as she saw Agapi finally realized the truth. She took a step towards them. "That’s right, I am not Sombra. And I’ve been waiting here to lead you into this trap all along."
Three of her friends come out of hiding and throw a net over Agapi, the plan had worked. They had successfully captured the dangerous Alicorn.
"What the-!" Agapi yelled in shock.
Twilight stepped forward, dropping the Sombra act now that Agapi was contained. Her expression turned serious as she looked at the Alicorn tangled in the net. "That’s right. We set a trap, and you fell right into it. You’re not going anywhere now."
Applejack grind, "Looks like our trap worked like a charm! You’re not going anywhere, Agapi. You’re caught like a fly in a web. Ha!"
Rainbow Dash smirked, "You really thought you were gonna get the drop on us with your little fancy schmancy bow, didn’t you? Ha! Looks like we got the jump on you instead."
And Rarity chuckled, "Well, well, well. It looks like the tables have turned now, hasn’t it? You came here thinking you’d catch us off guard, but instead, you’ve gotten yourself all tangled up in our little trap."
Twilight stepped closer, "That’s right. You underestimated us, but now you’re not going anywhere. Your reign of shooting ponies and forcing ‘love’ upon them is over."
Agapi smiled. "Well, I'll at least get to make two more ponies happy..." Suddenly a love arrow hit's Twilight, another one flying off.
Twilight stumbled back, feeling an immediate and intense infatuation overcome her. But she still had enough time to grab Agapi’s bow, and with lightning-fast reflexes, she snatched Agapi's bow from her grasp, holding it tightly in her own hooves and breaks it.
"You won’t be firing any more love arrows now, that’s for sure." Twilight announced to Agapi.
However, Applejack, Rainbow dash and Rarity were concerned.
Applejack yelled to Twilight, "Twilight!"
"Are you alright?" Rainbow dash said to check up on Twilight.
Twilight shook her head, "I… I’m fine, I think. The love arrow hit me but, I managed to destroy the bow. No more love arrows can be fired."
Rarity worriedly approached Twilight, "Are you sure you’re alright, darling? We saw you get hit… Is the love arrow affecting you?"
Twilight took a deep breath, "I’ll manage, I think. The feelings are... intense, but I can handle them. It’s nothing I can’t deal with."
Applejack was concerned, "I dunno, Twilight. You sure you’re okay? Love arrows are powerful stuff… I don’t want you to be affected by the feelings it gives you…"
Twilight could tell her friends were worried about her, and she understood their concern. The love arrow’s effect was strong, and it was affecting her more than she was letting on. "I’ll admit, the feelings are a bit overwhelming... but I can control myself. I have to. We need to figure out what to do with Agapi and how to fix this mess."
Twilight looked down at Agapi, observing their seemingly defeated behaviour, they were just laying down on the ground, simply curled up in a ball. Seeing the Alicorn in such a state made her feel a mixture of pity and unease. "I don’t get it. They were so determined and obsessed before. What changed?"
"Yeah, I was wondering the same thing. They were all lovey-dovey and obsessed one moment, and now they’re just lying there like a sad puppy." Applejack said.
Rainbow Dash stepped a little closer, "I mean, I don’t get it. They were all gung-ho about making everyone ‘fall in love,’ but now they’re just… deflated. It’s kinda disappointing."
"Yes, it’s quite perplexing. They seemed so confident and fixated on their mission before, but now they're merely lying there and looking rather… pitiful." Rarity tuned in.
Twilight slightly tilted her head, "It’s almost as if without the ability to shoot their arrows, they’ve lost their purpose. Maybe their obsession with ‘love’ was tied so closely to their identity that losing the ability to spread it has thrown them into this state of despair. It’s… sort of sad, in a way. They truly believed they were helping ponies, even if their methods were completely misguided. But now... they have nothing." Twilight hesitated, torn between her sense of justice and her empathetic nature. Part of her wanted to ensure Agapi faced the consequences of their actions, but the other part couldn’t help but feel for them and want to help in some small way. "What should we do with them? We can’t just leave them here like this, but I’m not sure if they’re a danger to themselves or others anymore…"
Applejack nods, "Well, we can’t just leave ‘em here all mopey and sad like that. That’s not right. But you’re right, Twilight. We can’t just let ‘em go either. We’d have to keep an eye on ‘em to make sure they don’t get into any more trouble..."
Twilight nodded, "You’re right, Applejack. We can’t be 100% sure that they won’t attempt to cause problems again, especially if they do come out of this state. But we can’t just abandon them either. So, for now, perhaps they should come back to the castle with us. I can keep an eye on them, and hopefully, they’ll recover from this eventually."
Rarity agreed, "That sounds like the best plan we’ve got for now. It’ll give us the chance to keep an eye on Agapi and make sure they don’t do anything foolish while also keeping them safe and giving them a chance to recover from this whole ordeal."
Twilight nodded, relieved that everyone seemed to agree. She didn’t feel comfortable leaving Agapi in their current state, but she knew they couldn’t fully trust them either. "Alright, it’s settled then. We’ll bring Agapi back to the castle with us and keep them under observation. Hopefully, they’ll come out of this funk soon and we can figure out what to do from there." -Twilight looked back over at Agapi, still lying in the same defeated position. The sight tugged at her heartstrings a bit, but she reminded herself of the potential danger the Alicorn could pose.-"Come on, let’s get them up and moving. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, could you help me with them?"
Rarity, Applejack and Rainbow Dash nod.
"Sure thing, I gotcha." Applejack said first.
"Yep, no problem." Followed Rainbow Dash.
And finally, Rarity "Of course, darling."
The three go over to Agapi and lift them up, preparing to escort them back to the castle.
Twilight joined her friends in picking up Agapi, lifting them carefully and supporting their weight. The Alicorn was surprisingly light for someone of their size, either from a lack of food or simply a side effect of their current state. Regardless, the effort of moving them was light, albeit a bit cumbersome. "Alright, let’s get moving. We should get them back to the castle as quickly as possible."
The walk back to the castle was a relatively silent one, the occasional sound of hoofsteps against the ground being the only background noise, every now and then, she would glance at Agapi. The Alicorn was unnaturally quiet. The only indication that they were conscious was the slow, faint rise and fall of their chest with each breath. She couldn’t help but wonder what was going through Agapi’s mind in their current state. Their once strong and determined demeanour had completely vanished, replaced by this sad, almost broken figure. It was a striking contrast to the Alicorn she had first met in Canterlot, confident and self-assured, preaching about the power of ‘true loving.’ Now, they were being carried like a defeated puppy, a far cry from their former self. The closer they got to the castle, the more questions and concerns swirled through Twilight’s mind. How long would Agapi be in this state? Would they ever return to normal? And most importantly, what should they do with them once they reached the castle? Twilight pushed these thoughts to the back of her mind for now, focusing on the task at hoof.
Twilight noticed the eerily empty castle courtyard, with no sign of the royal guards in sight. Given the chaos Agapi had caused earlier, it wasn’t a surprise that the guards were likely preoccupied elsewhere. She shared a glance with her friends, and they all silently acknowledged their temporary lack of protection. Nevertheless, they continued moving towards the castle’s main entrance, carefully carrying Agapi along with them. as they neared the entrance, Twilight used her magic to push open the massive doors, her horn flaring with a faint glow. The doors creaked open, revealing the dimly lit foyer on the other side.
Twilight and her friends carried Agapi into the castle, their hoofsteps echoing faintly on the marbled floor. The Alicorn continued to show no resistance, seemingly indifferent to their surroundings. They were still in that same, depressed, curled-up state, unmoving and unresponsive to any outside stimuli, the group entered the main hallway, the silence of the castle seeming even more intense with the lack of other ponies around. Twilight led them to the nearest empty chamber, and once inside, they gently laid Agapi down on the carpeted floor.
"Well, here we are. Now what?" Applejack asked.
Twilight paused for a moment, taking in a deep breath before speaking, "For now, I'll keep an eye on them. We still don’t know how long they’ll be in this state, not to mention how unpredictable they can get."
"You sure you’ll be able to handle them if they get aggressive?" Rainbow Dash acceptably asked.
Not wanting her friends to worry, Twilight confidently nodded, "I’ll be fine. I’ve handled a lot of situations before. And besides, they’re still in such a low state, I doubt they have the energy to act aggressively anyway."
Once more, Applejack nods, "If you say so, Twilight. Just be careful, alright? We don’t know what the love arrow could do to ya still."
Twilight softly chuckled, "I'll be careful, Applejack. I know you're all worried, but I won't let the spell affect my judgement or cloud my mind. I've got it under control."
Rarity smiles, "We trust you, darling. We know you’ll handle it well. Just be sure to let us know if anything happens or if you need any help, alright?"
Twilight smiled, "Thank you, Rarity. I'll definitely let you all know if I need any help. But for now, I think I'm going to focus on keeping watch over Agapi and monitoring their condition."
Applejack cousinly nods, "Alright, but don’t hesitate to call for us if things get hairy. We’ll be just down the hall if you need anything." After what Applejack said, her, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash head out, leaving Twilight alone with Agapi.
Twilight was alone with Agapi now, the Alicorn still lying motionless on the carpet. She took another deep breath, steeling herself for the task ahead. "Alright, Agapi. It's just you and me now... Let's see how this goes..." She approached Agapi slowly, observing them carefully. The Alicorn seemed completely detached from their surroundings, their expression a mixture of sadness and emptiness. As Twilight drew nearer, she knelt down beside them, "Agapi. Can you hear me?"
Agapi stayed curled up in a ball, their wings covering their face.
Twilight sighed softly, "Come now, Agapi, I know you can hear me. Please, just talk to me. I want to help you."
Agapi slightly cover themselves with their wings more.
Twilight knew she couldn’t force the Alicorn to speak, but she also didn't want to give up. "Please, Agapi. You don’t need to hide from me. I’m not here to harm you. I just want to know what’s going on inside that head of yours."
Yet, Agapi doesn't respond, only giving off a small whimper.
Twilight considered the situation carefully, realizing that getting any sort of response from Agapi was going to be a challenge. She thought for a moment, then decided to try a different approach. "Agapi, can you at least listen to me? I’m going to ask you some questions, and I’d like you to consider answering them, even if you’re not ready to talk yet. can you tell me a little bit about your past? Who were your parents, what were they like?"
Agapi whimpered, "I don't... know"
Twilight was at first caught off guard, "You don’t know? You’ve never met your parents at all?"
"No, I never did..." Agapi whimpered under their wings.
Twilight was puzzled, but continued, "What do you mean you never did? Were you orphaned at a young age?"
"Yes, I was..." Agapi continued to whimper.
"I see... And if I may ask, how old were you when you lost your parents?" Twilight curiosity asked.
"I never lost them...I never even met them." Agapi once more whimpered.
Twilight tried to wrap her mind around the implication of their statement. "What do you mean you never met them? Were you… abandoned at birth?"
Agapi stayed silent, only a whimpering a little louder than before.
Twilight’s heart ached further; she couldn’t help but feel sympathy for the Alicorn’s situation. "I’m sorry if this is difficult for you to talk about. But please, tell me more. If you were abandoned at birth, who raised you? Who took care of you?"
Agapi stuttered, "T-the orphanage."
the Alicorn's difficult upbringing was sinking in, and it tugged at Twilights heartstrings. "The orphanage… I see. So, you were taken care of in an orphanage. But can you tell me more about your life there? How was it for you?"
Agapi whimpered and studdled, "It w-was alright... food, water, a small amount of education, but the other orphans commonly made fun of me..."
Twilight’s heart sank deeper as Agapi revealed the harsh reality of their life, she couldn’t deny that it made her upset. "I’m sorry to hear the other orphans made fun of you. That must have been difficult to deal with. Why did they make fun of you, if I may ask?"
Agapi looks over at Twilight, tears running down their eyes, "Look at me! I'm a Stallion with the snout of a mare!"
"So… they made fun of you because of your unusual appearance? Because you have the snout of a mare?" Twilight asked.
Agapi lays back down on the carpet, "Y-y-yes..."
Twilight let out a soft sigh "I see… that must have been a very difficult thing to deal with. Growing up with a unique appearance can be tough, especially when others use it to tease and belittle you." -Twilight paused as she thought of the next question- "Agapi, can you tell me how you left the orphanage? Did somepony eventually adopt you?"
Agapi slightly looked up. "When I became an alicorn, I just... left... packed the small number of things I had and left."
Twilight intensely listened to Agapi, "I see… so once you became an Alicorn, you decided to leave the orphanage behind. Did you go anywhere specific afterwards, or did you simply wander?"
"I wandered the world, helping those who were alone find love, sure my methods were questionable, but they worked" Agapi explained.
Twilight’s expression turned somewhat pensive as Agapi explained their mission to help others find love. While their intentions sounded noble, her inner voice warned her that the methods they mentioned raised a few red flags. “I see… so you used your magic to help others find love. But you mentioned your methods were ‘questionable.’ What do you mean by that?"
Agapi looks to the side taping their hoofs, "Well... before I had my bow, I kinda broke into homes, locate and read their diaries, then use that info to bring them to their true love"
Twilight’s eyes widened at Agapi’s admission. "I see… you broke into homes and read their diaries to find out about their loves and then tried to bring them together. That’s definitely… ‘questionable’ indeed. Did any of your victims ever catch you in the act?"
Agapi nervously tapped his hoofs faster, "Well... there was a phase when I was trying to get Celestia a boyfriend... did not work out well."
Twilight couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle. "I can imagine that didn’t go too well. But how did it not work out, exactly? What happened when you were trying to find a match for Celestia?"
"I became the equivalent of a chicken dinner for a few weeks" Agapi nervously giggled.
Twilight struggled to hold back a laugh, "Y-you became a 'chicken dinner' for a few weeks… You’re telling me that Celestia didn’t exactly appreciate you trying to find her a boyfriend?"
Agapi nervously "Yaaa, I couldn't go out for a few weeks."
Twilight let out a small chuckle before continuing, "Well, I can see why you wouldn’t want to go out during that time. But I have to ask, what made you decide to start using a bow and arrow instead of invading ponies’ homes and reading their diaries?"
Agapi breathed in and started to explain, "Well, occasionally Star Swirl would test out new spells, one of which being a magical mirror that allows travel to other universes. Sometimes Celestia would assist him but time to time I would assist Star Swirl instead. Then one day the universe we went to a universe that was quite like our own, but for one a lot pinker."
"So, you’ve visited other universes before… that’s intriguing. But you mentioned that one of the universes was similar to ours, but everything was pink. What was it like there?" Twilight asked.
"Quite lovely, there was love everywhere you would look, and if not love, something styled like love, like the Star Swirl of that universe, even though he wasn't lovey-dovey, he still had heart pattens across his hat and robe."
Twilight’s curiosity piqued further. The idea of a universe filled with love, or at least something resembling love, sounded idyllic. She couldn’t help but ask more questions. "That sounds interesting. So everything was love-themed in that universe, even to the point of Star Swirl having heart patterns on his hat and robe. What about the ponies? Were they all madly in love with each other?"
Agapi nodded, "Yes, to the point where you cannot go outside without seeing... well you can probably guess."
Twilight slightly chuckled once more, “I see… That does sound like quite the sight. I can only imagine the… ‘activities’ going on in that universe. But how did this experience lead you to start using a bow and arrow?”
Agapi responded, "Well, time to time I would return without Star swirl's permission, then one day I asked the Star swirl of that universe to make me something to spread love, he soon made me my bow and arrows."
Twilight listened intently as Agapi explained how they obtained their bow and arrows. The idea that the alternative universe’s version of Star Swirl had helped create such a powerful tool piqued her interest. “So you went to that universe a few times, and eventually asked that universe’s version of Star Swirl to create something to spread love… and he made you a bow and arrows. Interesting. But how did you learn to use them?”
Agapi shrugged, "I don't know, it just came naturally."
Twilight lifted an eyebrow, "It just came naturally, you say? You never had to practice or receive any guidance on how to use these arrows?”
Agapi shook their head, "No, I just felt a connection, I just... could... I helped so many ponies find love..."
Twilight’s expression softened slightly as she heard the evident emotion behind Agapi’s words. The fact that they had helped so many ponies find love through their connection with the bow and arrows was admittedly touching. She allowed a pause for a moment before continuing with her line of questioning. “I see… so you felt a connection to these arrows and just knew how to use them. You helped many ponies find love through them. I can certainly see the appeal of that. But I have to ask… how do your arrows make ponies fall in love, exactly?”
Agapi slightly smiled, "Well simple, it homes in on two ponies, the effects start when both hit their targets"
Agapi tilts his head, "No need to ask me, your about to see for yourself"
Twilight’s expression turned puzzled, and the hint of a smirk graced her face. She hadn’t quite expected such a direct reply from Agapi, and the mystery of what she was about to experience was intriguing and slightly unnerving. “Oh… am I about to see it for myself, you say? What does that mean…?”
Suddenly, Twilight couldn't think as straight, her only thought was about Flash sentry as her heart sped up. "Looks like the second arrow finally hit. so, who's the special pony?" Agapi taunted.
Twilight’s expression had turned slightly dazed as her thoughts fixated on Flash Sentry. Her heart rate had increased noticeably, and she could feel a strange sensation in her chest. Agapi’s question snapped her back to the present moment, and she shook her head slightly, as if trying to clear her thoughts. “W-what… what did you do…? My thoughts are racing, and my heart is beating so fast… and I can only think about Flash Sentry…”
Agapi walks over to the window and opens it. "You know where to go, so, go there"
Twilight’s mind was a whirlwind of emotions, her thoughts and heart racing, fixated on Flash Sentry. “I… I have to go… I have to see Flash Sentry…” she walked towards the window, as if a force was guiding her towards the stallion who had captured her thoughts.
Twilight stepped through the window and into the open air, the wind rustling through her mane as she took flight. Her heart pounded loudly in her chest, as if yearning for the company of the stallion dominating her thoughts. Every beat of her wings brought her closer to Flash Sentry, her mind and body acting in perfect sync, as if possessed by an overwhelming urge to reach him.
Meanwhile, Agapi opens the door and prances out with the pieces of his bow.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! What do you think you’re doing?" Applejack intervenes.
"Simple, back to my grotto!" Agapi enthusiastically said.
Applejack did not like this idea, "Whoa there, hold the phone, pal. You’re not going anywhere. We’ve got you under watch, remember?"
"Under watch, by who?" Agapi asked knowing that the pony watching him had left.
"Twilight. Who else? She’s the one keeping an eye on you, remember?" Applejack asked.
"Oh her? She left." Agapi told Applejack.
Applejack was both surprised and confused at that statement. "What do you mean ‘she left’?"
"Simple, she opened a window, jumped out of it and flew off to find somepony named Flash Sentry!" Explained Agapi with a small smile.
The three look at each other, Applejack speaking up, "Wait, what did you just say? She did what?!"
"Anyways, good day!" Agapi said as he pranced past them and left the castle.
He was home free… then Rainbow Dash zoomed in, "Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold up, hot shot. You’re not just gonna run off like that!"
Agapi mischievously smiles “HAY LOOK, YOU CAN SEE YOUR GIRLFRIENDS FLANK!" He yells pointing to AJ.
Rainbow Dash immediately looks over to where Agapi's hoof is pointing, her eyes widening as she sees Applejack’s flank. She blushes a bit before realizing that she got tricked into looking.
Rainbow Dash looks back at where Agapi was standing, realizing that they had gotten away. Applejack and Rarity look at Rainbow’s blushing face and raise their eyebrows. Applejack decided to taunt her girlfriend "Really, Dash? You actually fell for the ‘Hey look over there’ trick?"
Rainbow dash grumbled, "Hey, I wasn’t expecting them to point at your flank! It caught me off guard, okay?"
Applejack smirked and continued, "Pfft, you're such a simp, Rainbow Dash. Can't resist looking at a nice flank, can ya?"
Rainbow Dash tried to defend herself, "What?! No, I'm not! I mean, uh.... Shut up, Applejack!"
Rarity smirks, noticing the effects of the love arrows on the two. "Oh my~ I see that the love arrows are still having quite the effect on you both, aren't they?"
Rainbow looks away and grumbles, embarrassed that Rarity noticed. Applejack blushes and looks away as well, feeling a bit flustered. "Yeah, yeah, whatever... They kinda still are, okay?"
In the way things are going. it's basically over, Agapi has lost, yet still roams free and hit a lot of ponies, but their bow is broken, so they can't shoot anymore. so their harmless. they can just rest easy; they may as well go home... or in reality AJ and Rainbow do to the barn for 'fun' while Rarity picks Sweetie belle up from Fluttershy.
Applejack and Rainbow Dash trot back to the farmhouse, still feeling the effects of the love spell, while Rarity heads over to Fluttershy's cottage to pick up Sweetie Belle. Twilight continued going to the crystal empire for Flash Sentry. And Agapi went back to his grotto, watering his many, many Flowers…
Also, Spike (who was not mentioned thought the entire story), was returning back home from the dragon lands… Unknowingly for him, he would find Ponyvill in a state.. not a bad one… just a state.
Author's Note
While this is the "Last chapter" of the main story. There will be an epilog soon.
Agapi Apostolea the (self-proclaimed Former) Alicorn of love
Epilogue: A few weeks later
A few weeks pass from that day, now Twilight and her friends are back at the castle after what happened...
"It's hard to believe it's been a few weeks since the incident with Agapi, isn't it? Time flies." said Rarity.
Rainbow dash nodded, "Yeah, it feels like just yesterday we were dealing with that pesky little love arrow shooter. I still can't believe I fell for that 'looking at flank' trick."
Applejack chuckled, "Pfft, I still can't get over the look on your face when you realized you got played, Dash. Priceless."
Twilight chuckled softly, “It has been a few weeks, hasn't it? And Rainbow Dash, you definitely got played hard. I bet your reaction was pretty funny." -Twilight turned to Applejack- “And don't be too hard on Rainbow, Applejack. It wasn't entirely her fault. Agapi's arrows had a powerful effect on us all.”
Applejack grins and shrugs. "Fair enough. I guess even I was feeling the effects a bit. But come on, you have to admit, Rainbow's face was priceless, and cute~"
Rainbow Dash grumbled to herself, still embarrassed about getting played. "Oh, shut up, Applejack. It's not like yours wasn't just as cute~"
Applejack chuckles, as she continues to tease her girlfriend, "Pfft, come on, Rainbow. You know I can't resist messing with you. Your blushing face is just too adorable~"
"Oh, shut it. Like you weren't blushing too!" Rainbow dash says, playfully smacks Applejack.
"Oh, you wanna go there, huh? Pfft, please, you were blushing way more than me. I bet you couldn't take your eyes off me that whole time~" Applejack smirks.
Rainbow Dash attempts to keep her composer but ends up blushing more. "Oh, really? Well, you weren't any better. Don't act like you didn't enjoy having me ogling at your lovely flank~"
Applejack leans in closer, a mischievous grin on her face. "Oh, you definitely enjoyed looking, don't deny it. You couldn't keep your eyes off my lovely flank, and you know it~"
Rainbow Dash smirks, leaning in closer, "And what if I did? It's not my fault your flank is so damn irresistible. Why shouldn't I enjoy the view?"
Applejack huskily flirted, "Oh, I'm glad you think so highly of my flank. Maybe you should take a better look. Get a closer inspection, up close and personal~"
Twilight, weirded out at this point, intervened. “Okay, okay, enough with the suggestive banter, you two. We're supposed to be talking about what happened with Agapi, not ogling each other's flanks.”
After the two snaped out of it, Applejack cleared her throat, "R-right, right. Sorry, Twilight. We got a little off track there. What were we talking about again?"
Twilight replied, "We were talking about how it's been a few weeks since the incident with Agapi, and we've been reflecting on how her arrows affected us. In particular, the effect they had on our relationships and how it caused some unexpected behaviour."
Rainbow Dash nodded, "Yeah, I guess you're right. Those arrows really did a number on us. They messed with not just our minds, but our feelings as well. It definitely created some interesting situations between us."
Twilight continued. "You're right, Rainbow. The arrows had a profound effect on all of us, playing with our emotions and causing us to behave unpredictably. It was quite a chaotic time for all of us."
Applejack chimes in, "It's weird to think that those stupid little love arrows can have such a big impact on us. I mean, they made us do things we never would've done otherwise. It was like being caught in some twisted game, where our actions weren't really our own. The only two of us that weren't hit were Rarity and Fluttershy"
Rarity nodded, "Indeed, darling. Even I was taken aback by the effects those arrows had on all of us, especially you two. I'm glad I managed to avoid getting hit by them."
The thought of what happened to Applejack and Rainbow dash sent a shiver down Twilights spine, "It's hard to believe the power those little arrows held over us. It was like we lost control of ourselves. And you're right, Applejack, we all behaved differently and did things we wouldn't normally do. You and Rainbow Dash were particularly affected, Rarity and Fluttershy were lucky to avoid getting hit." As the conversation continued, Twilight's thoughts strayed to Agapi. She had caught glimpses of the strange bow-wielding pony in Ponyville and Cantalot, helping out in various ways. It seemed that even after the madness caused by her arrows, Agapi still had a habit of assisting others. Twilight couldn't help but let a small smile grace her face at the thought. With Agapi's bow broken, the immediate threat was certainly diminished. And she had to admit, the idea of Agapi giving out dating tips was almost laughable. "You know, I've been seeing Agapi around Ponyville and Cantalot lately. he still seems to be helping out, even though his bow is broken. It's almost like he can't help but lend a hoof to those in need.”
Applejack’s eyebrow raises, "Seriously? You've been seeing Agapi around? And they're still helping out too? I gotta admit, I never would've thought Agapi would still be around after everything that happened. I wonder what their deal is."
Twilight nodded, "Yes, I've spotted him here and there, helping out with various tasks and what not. It's quite surprising, considering how his arrows caused such chaos in our lives. But it does make me wonder about his intentions now that his bow is broken."
Agapi at his grotto placed a few shards of glass onto the statue base.
Rainbow dash spoke up, "Yeah, it's really weird. You'd think they would've vanished after their arrows caused so much trouble, but instead, they're sticking around and helping out. What's even more surprising is that they do it without their bow."
Agapi leaned an empty mirror frame against a wall.
Twilight shrugged, “I know, it is quite strange. You would think that after causing so much commotion, he would have retreated into hiding or simply left. But instead, he’s still here, assisting others. And without his bow, no less. What could he be up to?”
Agapi placed down some ink and paper on the statue base and picks up one of the bigger glass shards.
Applejack shook her head, "I have no clue, honestly. It doesn't make much sense. Why would Agapi stay in Ponyville and help out even after their bow is busted? Unless..."
Agapi put a few of the pieces of glass to the mirror frame. Before accidentally picking up a pamphlet for speed dating, quickly putting it down and picking up more glass.
Twilight raises an eyebrow, "Unless what, Applejack?"
Applejack gathered her thoughts, "Unless they still feel guilty about what happened. Maybe they're trying to make up for it somehow. Or... maybe there's something else going on. I don't know for sure, but either way, it's definitely a bit suspicious."
Agapi slowly built the mirror up one by one, the glass reflecting some of Agapi as he placed more pieces.
Twilight slowly nodded, "You may be right, Applejack. It's possible that Agapi is trying to atone for past wrongs. But we should also keep in mind that there could be a more hidden motive at play. We shouldn't rule anything out just yet."
Rainbow dash chimed in, "Yeah, I agree. We shouldn't let our guard down too much. Agapi may be helping out now, but we still don't know what their true intentions are. Just because they don't have their bow anymore, doesn't mean they're completely harmless."
Soon Agapi had finished the mirror, it was cracked, but maybe it was enough.
Twilight once more, nodded. “You’re right, Rainbow. We shouldn’t assume that Agapi isn’t a potential threat just because they don’t have their bow. We should stay vigilant and keep an eye out for any suspicious behaviour.”
Rarity nods, "Indeed, it's better to be safe than sorry. We have no idea what Agapi is truly capable of without their bow, and it's possible that they could still pose a threat to us even without their arrows."
Twilight turned to Rarity, "You’re right, Rarity. Even if Agapi's bow is broken, they could still have some hidden capabilities or tricks that we're not aware of. We can't let our guard down just because they’re acting helpful for now. It seems like we're all in agreement that Agapi can't be underestimated. Whether they're trying to atone for their past actions or have some other hidden motive, they could still pose a threat. So, we need to keep an eye out for any suspicious behavior and be prepared in case anything happens.”
Applejack seriously nodded, "Right. We need to stay alert and keep an eye on Agapi closely. I don't trust them one bit. Even if they're trying to help, we can't forget what they've done. We can't let them cause any more chaos or hurt anypony."
Agapi picked up the paper, the ink and one of his feathers. “Let’s see if I remember the spell now.” He starts writing down a spell used by Starswirl.
"Alright, I think we've talked enough about Agapi for now. Let's take a break and relax a bit."
Announced Twilight.
Rarity lets out a sigh of relief, "Yes, let's. Talking about Agapi and all her drama is quite exhausting. I could use a nice bit of relaxation."
Applejack grins one last time, "Agreed. We've already spent more than enough time discussing Agapi. Let's take a moment to unwind and enjoy ourselves."
Author's Note
Yes, this is the end... yes it leaves on a cliffhanger, and yes Agapi Will return in another story.
