Apple Bloom awoke the next morning to a quiet house. She yawned lazily and rubbed her tired golden eyes until her vision was no longer blurry. Then she got up from her bed and trotted into Applejack's room.
"Mornin', sis!" She greeted cheerfully. "What er we doin' today?"
Apple Bloom jumped onto her sister's bed to engage in a friendly game of 'Tickle me Turquoise' (a game that they had invented a while back), but found herself jumping onto an empty bed.
"That's odd," she said to herself and glanced over at Applejack's alarm clock. It was only 5:42, three minutes before her alarm typically went off. "She should be here,"
Apple Bloom trotted out of Applejack's room and into Big Mac's.
He, too, was missing.
"Granny!" Apple Bloom called out in alarm, quickly racing down the steps and into the kitchen. On a typical day, Granny Smith would be sitting by the stove and gently rocking in her creaky chair. But today wasn't a typical day. Granny Smith was gone as well.
"What the hay is goin' on?" Apple Bloom screamed, racing all throughout the house searching for her family members. "Granny? Big Mac? Applejack!"
Apple Bloom raced down towards the cellar, praying that Applejack would be there. Each step was nerve-racking as she walked down into the dark room.
Suddenly, a dark shadow started to lumber towards her.
"Applejack?" she asked, tip-hoofing forward.
"No," it responded.
"Who are ya?"
"Do you not remember? We met yesterday." The shadow continued to move closer, slowly becoming visible in the dim light of the cellar.
"Do you know where mah family is?" Apple Bloom's voice began to tremble. Something didn't feel right about this situation. She cautiously approached the stranger, trying to see his face.
"Perhaps." It answered. Apple Bloom could now see a face. A long scar ran down his left eye, his mane was in a tattered mess of red, gold, and black, his eyes were a soulless brown, and part of his left ear was missing. Apple Bloom gasped at his ragged appearance and when she caught sight of a synthetic looking unicorn horn. "You are startled by the way I look?"
"Well, I..." She stuttered. "Y-Y-Ya just look... different. I've never seen a pony with so many scars before... and a... unicorn horn...?"
"The scars are what come of wars and battles, young filly."
"Wars and battles?" repeated Apple Bloom. "What wars and battles? The only war I know 'bout was the war between Discord, Celestia, and Luna."
The stranger didn't answer.
"What about yer horn? It doesn't look... real."
"It's not," He responded, stepping into the light further. Apple Bloom gasped once more as she saw a large gash that ran down his leg, burn marks on all four hooves, and two synthetic pegasi wings. "And neither are these wings."
He then proceeded to flap the synthetic wings up and down, slowly rising into the air. Apple Bloom gaped at the spectacle and eventually had to sit down from shock.
"But... aren't you an earth pony?!"
The stranger laughed triumphantly.
"Yes! I am." He approached Apple Bloom and placed a hoof on her shoulder. He looked into her eyes and gave a knowing smile. "I can make you wings, too."
"How?" Apple Bloom stood to her hooves, gazing intensely into his eyes.
"I have that special talent." He turned to the side to show Apple Bloom his flank, an iron horseshoe emblazoned with flames. She looked skeptically at the poor excuse, but seemed to drop the subject when she remembered the absence of her family.
"You didn't answer mah question," She snapped, alarming the stranger. "Where's mah family?"
The stranger's triumphant smile turned into a scowl and he threateningly approached her, metal feathers clanking against each other with each step. Apple Bloom cowered under his shadow as he loomed above her.
"Join me in my cause, and I'll give you both wings... and your family."
Apple Bloom became enraged.
"If you've done anythin' to mah family... I'LL KILL YA!" She stood up once more to confront him and stared up at the massive stallion. He laughed at the filly and stared right back down.
"How could you, an earth pony, take on an alicorn?"
His horn started to glow. His wings were outstretched. Apple Bloom's eyes filled once again with fear. He growled under his breath as they could hear his horn's magical powers gaining strength. Apple Bloom took in a gulp of fear and then spoke.
"What's yer cause?"
"The pegasi, unicorns, and alicorns have ruled over Equestria for long enough," He began. Apple Bloom shuddered for she knew what was coming next...
"It's time we eliminate them once and for all."