Part VII

After ten more minutes of walking, D and his entourage made it to the front gate at Sweet Apple Acres. D cocked his head to the side as he gazed at the great big red farm house that overlooked an enormous green orchard that sprawled out seemingly for miles. “You know, I think I’ve been here before,” he said and shook his head. “Weird,” he chuckled as he walked through the gate.

“Yeah, weird,” muttered Applejack nervously. That wasn’t exactly something would want to hear from a complete stranger that can throw a man a mile and a half away. She frowned and followed after D as he made his way up the dirt path. They soon arrived at the wooden porch and Applejack walked up to D. “Now ya’ll wait here. Imma go in an’ tell Granny we got us a visitor.”

“Sounds good to me,” said D with a smile as he set down the money chest and sat down on it with a sigh. Applejack looked at him and, for the third time today, had to fight the horrendous urge to scream in fear. An unnatural fear of a guy that she didn’t even know, a complete and total stranger that, until this morning, she had no idea even existed. She felt terrible for feeling this way, but at the same time, she felt that she was right, that there really is something wrong with this person and that he was dangerous.

“Yeah, stay right here,” said Applejack as she walked up the stairs to the porch and went inside. “Granny!” she called out. “Where are ya’?!” She stomped her boots off and walked deeper into the house. The house was the oldest in Ponyville, seeing as it was the first one built hundreds of year ago. It was decorated warmly with pictures of family and friends on almost every shelf and wall. Yellow wall paper with a variety of apples printed on it wrapped around the foyer where she was standing and continued out throughout the entire house. She turned to her left and looked through the opening that lead to the cozy living room. A green couch was in front of a red brick fireplace with a small fire already burning in it.

“Ah’m in here Applejack,” came a shaky old voice from the kitchen that was to her right. She went over to the old saloon styled doors and pushed them open. “Hello deary, how was the market today?” asked Granny Smith from the pot she was stirring on the old stove.

“The market was great, actually. Completely sold out. Ah got the chest so full of bits Ah couldn’t even lift it,” she said with a laugh.

“Is that right?” replied Granny with a smile in her voice. “Didja drag it back here?”

“No actually, I met someone this morning that really helped us out today. He carried the apples to the stand, ran some errands, and attracted a whole mess of customers.”

“Well ain’t that wonderful,” Granny said as she hobbled over to the sink. She took a plate from the stack of dirty dishes and began washing it.

“Yeah, he carried th’ chest th’ whole way here after he offered to fish the cart outta th’ swimmin’ hole. But before we got here we were stopped by a thug named ‘Quick Hand,’ er ‘Swift Foot,’ er somethin’ and threatened us fer our money, but D grabbed him an’-” she was interrupted by the sound of the plate shattering.

“D?” asked Granny Smith in an icy tone. “Lil’ D?”

“Yeah thats right. Why?” asked Applejack, but the old farmer wouldn’t respond. She just grabbed her cane and stormed past her granddaughter and went out the front door and closed it with a slam. “What in the name a’ Tartarus?” thought Applejack as she followed after Granny Smith. She reached Granny out on the porch and saw that she and D were in the middle of an intense staring match.

“Well, well, well, what in the name of all that’s holy are you doin’ here D?” asked Granny bitterly from the porch.

“Granny Smit,.” responded Little D with the same venom. “Still hobbling around I see.”

“Eeeyup,” responded the old woman. “I heard that ya’ helped out mah granddaughters quite a bit today.”

“Yessum,” he said. “I don’t think the older one likes me very much though,” he said simply. The two kept staring daggers at each other for what seemed like hours until, finally Granny Smith blinked.

“Yes!” D shouted victoriously as he punched his fists into the air. “I win again.”

“Uh-huh, ‘course ya did,” said Granny with a laugh. “Sure you wasn’t cheatin’ behind them glasses?” D gasped and put a hand to his chest.

“Are you accusing me, of cheating Granny Smith? Oh I’m so hurt,” he wailed as he put the back of his hand to his forehead dramatically. “And people say that I’m the monster.”

“Uuuuh.......what?” Applejack looked at her grandmother and then at D. “What’s goin on here?” Granny smith let out a little chuckle.

“AJ, ya’ know how Ah send you, yer brother, an’, yer sister outta th’ house one day a year?” Applejack nodded. “Well that’s when D an’ ‘is uncle come over an we play chess.”

“Thats the ‘Super important emergency’ that you’ve been throwin’ us outta the house for?” asked Applejack with a hint of annoyance. “Just so you can play some chess? I’ll have you know, Granny, that it rains buckets almost every time you kick us out.”

“Missey you hold yer tongue. Chess is a game that requires time and a lot of patience and a quiet setting, ‘specially these games. There are high stakes games that only a few people are given the grand opportunity to play,” said Granny Smith sternly.

“Ok Granny, Ah believe ya’. Ah just didn’t know you liked chess.” D let out a legitimate gasp.

“Smith,” he said dumbfoundedly. “you mean these kids don’t know?”

“Know whut?” asked Applebloom innocently.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

They went down a flight of stairs in the Apple Family Farmhouse and flicked on the lights. The fluorescent lights buzzed as they lit up a large room displaying numerous trophies, medals, and plaques. All were made of gold except for a collection of impressive looking hourglass shaped trophies at the back wall behind a thick glass display case. Large applewood shelves held the awards proudly as they stood on pool table-green carpet.

“Woah!” gaped Applebloom as she ran into the room. “Look at all these trophies. You got ‘em all for playing chess?”

“Meh, it’d be cooler if it was for something, well, cool,” muttered Scootaloo as looked at the tall walls blocked by tall applewood trophy shelves.

“Granny how long have we had this room?” asked Applejack seriously.

“You may think it’s lame right now Scootaloo, but you’ll see how vital it is a little bit later. Right Granny?” said D to the old farmer, ignoring Applejack’s question.

“Ah’ve lived in this house mah entire life an’ Ah never seen hide ‘er tale of this room.” continued Applejack as went over to a shelf and examined its contents. “How come you never told us?” Granny Smith just shrugged.

“Guess the time never seemed right. ‘Sides, it ain’t exactly something that comes into conversation very often. D’ya think Ah just sit around with yer aunts an’ uncles and just talk ‘bout things like this? ‘Heya Granny Smith, hows yer secret trophy room,’” she imitated a manly voice, to which D responded in his mock of Granny’s voice.

“‘Oh it’s doin’ just fine. How’s yours Uncle Apple Strudel? Apples apples apples,’” he finished and earned a playful swat from Granny.

“Seriously though, how long?” asked Applejack again.

“Look at all of these things,” admired Sweetie Belle, completely derailing Applejack’s desperate attempt to get information out of her grandmother. “These ones over here are beautiful.” She was in front of the case full of hourglass trophies, her face pressed up against the glass. “Oh Granny Smith, this one looks like its almost out of sand,” she said as she pointed to the last hourglass on the shelf. “I’ll flip it over for you,” she said helpfully as she reached out for the latch on the side of the case.

“Don’t touch that!” shouted Granny Smith and Little D in unison, causing Sweetie to practically jump away from the glass.

“I-I’m sorry,” she said quietly, her voice breaking.

“It’s alright Sweetie, just don’t mess around with those trophies in particular,” said Granny as she walked up to the case. “These are very special trophies that D’s uncle gives to me every year after I tan his hide at chess,” she said with a soft laugh.

“You get one a year?” asked Scootaloo. “But theres, like, a hundred of these things, you can’t be that old.” She looked over the trophy case again, this time close attention to the design. The hourglass shape appeared to be carved out of a large chunk of diamond. The glass itself sat atop a rectangular block of what looked like platinum with the design +1 carved into the front. The sand inside was red and looked a bit like blood, but at a closer examination, was tiny little apples, no larger than the granules of sand that it took the place of..

“Granny, these things must be worth a fortune,” said Applebloom. “We could sell these and make a fortune for the farm an’-”

“Not a chance, Applebloom,” said Granny sternly.

“But why? You already know you won and they look like they’d be worth a lot of money.”

“Oh Applebloom, I appreciate that yer tryin ta get money fer th’ farm, but I just simply can’t sell my trophies, ‘specially not these ones,” she said.

“Yeah, they’re kinda’ a part of her now,” said D with a grin, making Smith chuckle a little, like they were sharing an inside joke. D touched one of the little silver buttons on the side of his glasses and turned around to go back outside. “I’m gonna go out and take care of that cart now.” he said. “You girls wanna take me to it?”

“Sure D, we’ll take ya right there,” said Applebloom as she pulled away from a shelf she was examining. “Come on girls,” she called to her friends, which came over to her happily. Scootaloo took his right hand and Sweetie Belle took his left and pulled him after them as they followed Applebloom out of the trophy room. Granny Smith watched happily as they left and Applejack walked over to her.

“So you really trust this guy Granny?” she asked quietly. Granny Smith nodded.

“Absolutely. Ah know he might seem a bit weird, but he’s a real nice fella’. Ah’ve known him an’ his uncle almost all mah life,” she said.

“Wait, what?” grunted Applejack. “Granny that doesn't make any sense, yer th’ oldest person in Ponyville.”

“But not the oldest in th’ world Applejack. If I were you I’d hold off on that thought. I think our friend D will be explanin’ everything to you an’ yer friends very soon.” Applejack shook her head.

“Granny, yer not makin’ any sense,” she said sorely, but Granny just shook her head in return and began walking out of the room.

“It’s gonna be an interesting coupla’ days fer ya Aj, ya better turn in early tonight.” Applejack let out a frustrated sigh as she took off her hat and scratched her head. She was already sick of this new guy and could hardly stand it anymore. She sighed again and followed after Granny Smith.

“Ok Granny, I’ll head to bed in a few minutes. I just gotta go check on somethin’ in th’ barn,” she said as she went up the stairs and made her way out the front door. Granny Smith went to the kitchen and smiled.

“So, ya finally started yer journey huh, D? Ah just hope you don’t scare th’ girls too much.” She sighed as she looked out the little window above the sink. Her gaze went to the tallest hill on the property with two tall apple trees standing at the crest. “Celestia knows how hard this is gonna be on AJ.” She bowed her head and hummed while she cleaned the dishes.

“Yer gonna love the swimmin’ hole D,” said Applebloom as she led D to their destination. She started walking backwards to look at her follower. “Th’ waters almost always warm, an’ theres a whole bunch of shady trees around.”

“Yeah, and theres this huge hill that’s perfect for sledding in the winter,” said Scootaloo, still pulling D along.

“Not to mention how beautiful the area looks during the sunset.” said Sweetie Belle.

“It sounds wonderful girls,” D said pleasantly. “I can’t wait to see it.” Roughly five minutes later, they arrived at their destination. Applebloom was right. The area was appealing to D. Tall trees soared high into the sky. In the center of the clearing was a large pool of crystal clear water that would have looked beautiful with the sun sparkling off of it, that is, if the sun was actually out. Gray clouds completely covered the sky and the wind was starting to pick up. The girls led D to the side of the pool and pointed to the center of it.

“Can you see the cart in the water D? It’s right there.” Scootaloo pointed. He made a tsking sound.

“Yeah I see it. You girls stay out here. I’ll go and get it,” said D as he stepped into the water.

“Wait, ain't cha gonna at least take yer shoes off first?” asked Applebloom curiously.

“Nah, I’m good,” he said. The water was up to his thighs as he continued to wade through the water. “I’ll be up in five or ten minutes. You girls behave.” He kept walking deeper into the water until his head went completely under. The girls watched him through the clear water as he continued to walk down the sloping sand deeper into the water.

“He’s weird,” said Sweetie Belle simply. The others nodded in agreement. “So what do we do while we wait?” she asked. They looked around at their surroundings.

“I got an idea,” said Scootaloo as she pointed to the tallest tree in the clearing “First crusader to the top of that tree wins.” She grinned like it was the best plan ever.

“I dunno Scootaloo,” said Applebloom uneasily. “Most of those branches look kinda dead.”

“Yeah, I don’t really trust that tree,” said Sweetie Belle, making Scootaloo scoff.

“Oh come on girls. Maybe if we climb fast enough, we’ll get a cutie mark or something,” said Scootaloo hopefully.

“Ah really doubt that that’ll happen. Scootaloo and Ah’m not gonna risk mah hide to learn that mah special talent ain’t climbin’ trees.”

“Yeah. Besides, if I go up in that tree I’d risk getting my dress dirty and if I do that Rarity would kill me,” said Sweetie Belle.

“Ugh, fine,” groaned Scootaloo. “You two stay down here and I’ll go up,” she said as she turned around and sprinted for the tree. She jumped up, using her wings for a boost, grabbed the lowest branch, and swung herself up.

“Sweetie Belle?” asked Applebloom.

“Yeah?” she responded.

“Ah got a bad feelin’ about this.”

“Me too,” agreed Sweetie as they watched their friend make her way up the tree.

Roughly 6 minutes later the girls heard splashing in the water behind them. They turned and saw D casually strolling out of the surf with the cart in tow. “Hey girls,” he called cheerily as he shook his head quickly, sending droplets of water in every direction. “Looks like the storm is picking up,” he observed as he waded out of the water and onto the beach. He grabbed the cart and flipped it on it’s side and grabbed the broken wheel out of it’s bed. He looked over at the girls and frowned. “Where’s the Scootster?” he asked them.

“She’s up there, but...” Applebloom said and pointed up into the tree. D looked up and grew worried. She was too high up and it was getting really windy. He cupped his hands over his mouth and yelled to her

“Scootaloo!” D called. “Get down from there!”

“Hold on a sec!” she yelled back down. “I’m almost at the top!” She continued her climb up, ignoring the cries of the three below her. “Al....most....there...” Scootaloo saw her goal: the last branch. She gripped it, but as she started to pull herself up, bark sprayed from the branch and made a sickening snap as it broke off. Scootaloo’s eyes widened, and she went into panic mode, reaching out desperately for the tree, hoping to get her arms around it. She let out a gasp as her body began falling backwards, tumbling to the ground. Time seemed to slow down for the little girl.

“Scootaloo!” cried Applebloom and Sweetie Belle as they watched her friend fall. Suddenly, something blurred past them and flew straight for Scootaloo. The blur hit her dead on and arced back towards Sweetie Belle and Applebloom. The object flew past them and skidded to a stop a yard away. The figure stood and flexed it’s great white wings and began whispering softly.

“That was a close one, eh, Scootaloo?” it asked her.

“D?” Scootaloo asked weakly. “You-you have wings?” she asked. D stood and turned around to face Applebloom and Sweetie Belle.

“Yeah. I keep them concealed with magic, but that’s not important right now,” he said kindly as he set her down gently on the ground. He plucked a long feather out of his left wing and examined it closely. “We have to get your arm fixed up,” he said as he pointed to her right arm. All three girls stared at Scootaloo’s broken arm, the bone poking out of the skin a bit. Sweetie Bell covered her eyes and stifled a scream, Applebloom put a hand to her stomach and looked away. “Now this is going to hurt a lot Scoots, but it’ll be easier after this,” D said as took Scootaloo’s arm above the wrist and just below and jerked her hand up. She howled out in pain and a single tear fell from her eye. “Ok Scootaloo, you’re doing great, the worst is over now,” he said as he wrapped the feather around the wound. He whispered something and the feather began to glow green. Immediately, Scootaloo’s pain began to fade. The feather fell off to reveal that the wound was gone, he tan skin was all healed up and there was no sign of the old wound remaining.

“Woah,” said Scootaloo. “I can’t feel the pain at all.” She looked up at D and examined his great wings and his soft smile. “So, you can do magic too?”

“Yeah,” he confirmed quietly, making the girls look at him in awe.

“Yer a mage too? Yer just like Princess Celestia!” said Applebloom with stars in her eyes. D chuckled at that comment.

“Heh, I don’t think Celly would like it if you compared her to me, but yeah, I’m pretty special.”

“So what are you the prince of?” asked Sweetie Belle. D cocked his head to the left and smiled.

“I’ll tell you tomorrow, ok? Meanwhile, you girls don’t tell anyone about what happened tonight, especially not Twilight and her friends. I’ll tell them myself tomorrow night. You all have to promise me.” They looked liked they were about to protest but he cut them off with a raised hand. “Actually, let me rephrase that, you can’t tell anyone but Granny Smith. She’s the only one here that knows what I am,” he said. The girls all looked at each other and nodded. The Pinkie Promised in unison and smiled at D.

“Sounds good,” he said. “Now let’s get you all back to the farmhouse, I assume your friends are staying the night, Applebloom?” she nodded. “Ok, lead the way girls,” he said and with that, they all walked back to the house, the girls excited by their new friend’s abilities. D was just happy that he could actually help someone for once.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Later that same evening, two people sat in the kitchen of the old farmhouse. One was playing solitaire while the other watched the storm rage through the inky darkness. “So you showed ‘em, eh?” asked the old woman in a green sweater, making the other person chuckle lightly as he flexed his wings.

“Didn’t really have much of a choice,” he said. “It was either promise them to keep a secret, or watch a little girl fall to her death.” He smirked and went over to the side door near the sink. “It wasn’t her time anyway.”

“So,” she began. “do they know what you are?” The man shook his head.

“Nah, they have no idea just how deep this goes,” he said darkly, then let out a single laugh. “They think I’m a prince.” Ihe old woman snorted out a loud laugh, making the man frown indignantly.

“It’s not that funny,” he said. “I could totally be a prince if I wanted to.” The old woman laughed louder.

“Prince a’ Tartarus maybe,” she said. Her company sighed and put his hand on the door knob.

“Whatever,” he said. "I have a little problem I have to fix outside tonight," he said as he opened the door gently. The woman looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Whut're you gonna do, D?" she asked.

"I have a Banshee that needs to be banished," he replied and walked out of the kitchen and into the storm of the century. Terra hopped around on the counter where she sat and whistled.

"I wouldn't worry 'bout him Terra," said Granny Smith calmly as she played her game. "That boys tougher than steel and at times just as dense." The bird nodded and the old farmer nodded with a laugh. "Yer pretty smart, ya know that?" Granny Smith continued to talk with Terra, completely unaware of the three figures that slipped out the front door and followed after Little D.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Are you sure this is a good idea Scootaloo?" asked Sweetie Belle nervously as wind and rain battered her rain slicker. "The storms getting really bad." Scootaloo shushed her friend.

"Be quiet or he'll know were following him," she said with a hissed whisper. She ducked into a bush for cover as she watched D walk tall through the rain.

"But we've been walkin' fer hours," whined Applebloom. Scootaloo sighed.

"Come on A.B. Don't you wanna see what D is up to?" she asked as she pulled her friends into the shrubs with her. "Looks like he stopped. I just hope he hasn't-"

"I know you've been following me," he said coldly, making the girls freeze in spot. "Daemon." The girls peeked out of the bushes and saw D standing alone. "Stop hiding and face me."

"Who's he talkin' too Scootaloo?" asked Applebloom in a whisper.

"No one. He's just standing alone in the field," she whispered back.

"I'm surprised that you came all this way just for little old me," came a raspy voice, making the blood freeze in the veins of the three little girls. The voice echoed throughout the area. A strong gust of wind tore through the trees and began forming a miniature cyclone a yard away from Little D. The cyclone began growing taller and taking shape until a ghostly woman stood in front of D. "To what do I owe this pleasure?" she said.

“I’m here because I’ve heard tale that you have been needlessly killing people,” he said gravely. “So I’m here to banish you.” The ghost looked up at him and smiled.

“Oh but I haven't been killing them,” she said. “I’ve been setting them free, isn’t that how you justify your actions, Walker?” D sneered as his hands went to his glasses.

“What I do is necessary. You have been taking lives before it was their time and my uncle has had a major mess to clean since you started this.” He lifted his shades and the daemon snarled.

“You and those putrid eyes,” she said as she flexed her hands, making 6-inch claws erupt out of her fingertips. “I’ll have those damn things gouged out!” The ghost dashed straight at D, who never seemed to flinch. Just as the daemon was about to hit, a powerful gust of wind whipped through the trees in front of D and straight through the ghost.

The ghost stumbled forward a few feet past D, and then suddenly several hundred cuts appeared on it’s body with dark ectoplasm shooting out of every wound. “Bastard,” the ghost cursed. “Your time is coming up too you know,” it hissed. “And no one will miss you, you’ll die at the hands of your brother and loose everything you worked so hard to find.” Little D sighed deeply and simply muttered, “I know.” He turned around and walked back towards the house.

“Come along now girls. I’m sorry you had to see that,” he said softly as he snapped his fingers, making a hole in the cloud layer open up, providing a break from the rain. “Let’s go home.” The girls rushed out of the bush and clung closely to D as they left the Banshee to fade away and fall into hell.

Author's Note

BAM! Didn't see that coming now didja?