//------------------------------// // A Rotting Apple // Story: The Sparkle Revival // by Plistry //------------------------------// Pinkie and I were in her room, with Applejack’s unconscious body on the bed. “What happened to her?” Pinkie asked with genuine worry. “Will she be alright? “She’ll be alright. Strange thing is that she just barged in inside and said help us.” I replied. “Why would she need help? Maybe with the apples? ‘Cause, you know, it’s Applebuck season?” “Impossible. She doesn’t need help in that, especially with Big Mac around.” We all stared at her for minutes when she started to regain consciousness. “Twilight…” “Applejack! Are you okay? What happened? Need pancakes?” Pinkie and I simultaneously asked, except for the latter. ---[Pinkie’s Room]--- After being given hot cocoa, Applejack requested Pinkie to give us privacy. She quickly agreed, seeing the gravity of the events. So we were both here, all alone in a room filled with pink. “So, what happened?” Silence. Then she started. “I don’t know what’s happening. That’s why ah’m here.” She tried to look brave, but she can never hide that fear in her eyes. I have never seen Applejack this shaken. “It’s Applebloom. She’s…” She started sobbing madly. I hugged her, trying to comfort my ill-fate friend. “Something’s wrong with her, Twilight. Her whole body’s covered with these letters, and she’s like...” A tear fell from her eye. “Help us, Twilight. I can’t bear to lose dear Applebloom. Please, Twilight,” she pleaded. It was my first time to see this side of Applejack. I knew her as a strong and dependable pony, now she was weak and helpless. I needed to help her in any way I can. “Okay, Applejack. I’ll do my best.” ---[Sweet Apple Acres]--- As I entered the young filly’s room, I quickly felt darkness seep through my senses. It was unnatural. “Here she is, Twilight,” Applejack said as she lead me to the filly. Big Mac and Granny Smith was on the side of the bed, waiting for anything to happen. And on that bed was Applebloom’s body. A lifeless-like body. “Can you do anything for her?” the farm pony asked desperately. “I’ll see what I can do.” I levitated a quill and a small notebook and started to analyze the subject. The first thing I noticed about the body is that it was covered in black letters unrecognizable to me. It adorned her from the top of her head to the tip of her hooves. “Interesting,” I blurted out as I tried to copy the symbols to my notebook. “The subject does seem to breath, which means she’s still there,” I further added. Applejack looked a lot less worried when I said that. Strange letters covering up the whole body, making it look lifeless. Now where have I heard that. Yes, it was that book from long ago. I remember it now. “Before I conclude my findings, I would want to check out a book on the library.” “I’m going with ya, Twilight,” Applejack insisted. “If you want to,” That look in her eyes, where have I seen it before? Eyes full of determination to save the one’s she love. “Now let’s go.” ---[Twilight’s Study]--- “Now where was that book?” I said as I levitated all of the books in the shelf of my small collection of special books. Applejack was at the back, waiting for any progress. I wanted to barf up all of those pancakes I ate, but that could wait for another time. I needed to concentrate to find that book. What book? Oh you’ll see. “Found it!” I exclaimed as I brought up a big violet book to the table. “What’s that?” Applejack asked curiously. I dusted it to reveal that there were three light violet stars at the middle. “This,” I said as I opened the first page of the book. It showed a picture of my mother, father, brother and me posing for a shot. “Is what we call a family book.” I flipped more pages of the book, making me remember the memories from before. My first test, how I earned my cutie mark, everything was there. There were also entries about my mother, father, brother, and even grandparents. They were as numerous as me. No wonder the book was big. I looked for the page where mother wrote something about Applebloom’s state. There it was, on page 168. Glued to that page was a picture of someone with the same condition of the filly. “The team has started on the research about the spells which we have been trying to stop. I will be working with Doctor Aeftrot Foshwerl with generating the spell. Princess Celestia of Equestria will find out about it soon. We must hide it from her by all means.” “What was that all about?” Applejack asked. She too was curious about this entry. “Who made this? Can he or she help us?” I checked the date. It was before I was even born. I looked at the author of the entry. It was whom I feared I would know. “Yes. I think she can help us,” I said deeply. I knew this would be hard. “Who made that entry?” I gulped. It was the moment of truth. “Who else but my mother.”