//------------------------------// // Horseshoe Bay // Story: Applejack Country Returns // by Shazam 25 //------------------------------// Once the Princesses teleported them to Ponyville, they could see that all the Ponies were walking around confused. They had guessed due to being controlled, they had no memory of what happened to them. They walk back to Twilight's house and gave her the pills that she needs to help with her headache. "Ok, I'm feeling a bit better, so can somepony tell me what going on?" Twilight said as she sat down. Celestia and Luna fill Twilight up on what happened as Applejack and Apple Bloom started to think to themselves. Once Twilight was filled up on what was going on, she was surprised. So these Wendigos are going around making Ponies steal apples?" She asks to make sure. "Yes, Twilight, and I'm afraid all your friends are under their control until they are defeated like you were." Luna answer. Twilight stood up, headache feeling tons better, and said, "Well my head feels better and I now know to be careful around these Wendigos. So let go Applejack." "Sorry Twi, but you're staying here." Applejack said stopping her. "What?! Why?" Twilight asks, shocked. "Do you remember what happen when we ran into the one controlling you? What could happen if you came under their control again? It's better for me to just go." Applejack explains. "Not without me!" Apple Bloom said, jumping on her back. "Apple Bloom?" Applejack asks with a raised eyebrow. "You must let her go with you, Applejack," Celestia told her. "We didn't give her that backpack if we thought she couldn't help," Luna added. "Besides, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo are also under their control, so it's not just your friends, but my friends as well." Apple Bloom added in her reason for going. "Alright, you can come." Applejack smile. "Thanks to you defeating one of the Wendigos, we can sense another at Horseshoe Bay," Luna said. "It's well known for being near the ocean and having music that can be relaxing from time to time," Celestia explained. "Sounds like you been there before," Twilight said. "No, but we have heard of it," Luna said. "Well, no time to wait around, we better catch the next train to Horseshoe Bay." Applejack said with Apple Bloom nodding. Before they head out the door, there was a knock on it. Twilight sign, she knew that Ponies would start coming to her house to figure out what was happening. Her headache was almost all gone but she wasn't ready to tell them what was going on. "It open." She said. The door opens and to their surprise, Granny Smith walks in. Many ponies were just outside trying to get in, but Big Mac was blocking the way the best he could. "Granny Smith? What are you doing here?" Applejack asks. Instead of answering, Granny Smith lift a walking stick she was carrying and whack Applejack's head a few times. "Ow, ow. Granny Smith, what was that?" Applejack asks after she stops. "For running off earlier. You made your poor grandmother worry sick!" Granny Smith answers and whacks her head again. She was stopped when Twilight use her magic to pull the stick away from her. "Granny Smith, please, I know you were worried, but you don't what Applejack to have a headache before she and Apple Bloom are going to be traveling across Equestria." She said. "What? Why?" Granny Smith asks. "Our friends are in trouble and we got to go find them, the Princesses can fill you up on what going on." Applejack said. "Yeah, we got to get to Horseshoe Bay." Apple Bloom added. Applejack ran up to Big Mac and said, "Pardon me, Big Macintosh, I got to catch the next train." "Ok, be careful Applejack." He said, letting his sisters by. In no time, they caught the next train to Horseshoe Bay and were on their way to an adventure they will never forget. The Train pull up to Horseshoe Bay Station and the ponies that were heading their what off the train, ready to soak up some sun and relax, too bad that the Wendigos had taken over. There were only two ponies that weren't there for sun and fun. Applejack jumps off the train and slams her front hooves on the ground before standing on her back legs while waving her front. "HEYAW!" She shouted. Apple Bloom peeks around her sister and asks, "Applejack what was that all about?" "Don't know really. I just felt like doing it." Applejack answered, not knowing why she did that. Ponies around them look at them strangely because when Applejack hit the ground with her front hooves everything shook and they thought it was some kind of earthquake. Applejack and Apple Bloom ignore them and ran straight for the beach. Once there Applejack notices that the beach was quiet, too quiet. She could hear some soft music playing as if it was telling her to relax. She knew she couldn't and started to run forward. A few Wendigos appear and try to stop them. Thanks to Applejack's roll attack and Apple Bloom pulling out barrels from her backpack, they had no trouble getting past them. They soon reach a huge yellow switch sticking out of the ground and a nearby sign. They walk up and read it. "To the Apples that find this switch, I have made these switches to unlock many things, some will make shortcuts appears or will help you reach things you normally can't. Please keep an eye out for them. You also must have really strong front hooves to push this down if you're going to pass here, I wish you luck. Apple Bud." "Apple Bud build this thing?" Applejack asks as she turns to the switch. "I guess so, he must have built it during his time." Apple Bloom said. Applejack jump on the switch and saw the Apple family logo, which was an apple, on it. Applejack remembers that Princess Celestia have made her front hooves stronger and started to pound on the switch. As the switch was pushed into the ground, a new island started to rise up from the water. Once the island was up and the switch was down, a barrel with an arrow on it appear and point to the island. They were both confused before seeing a piece of paper on the ground. Applejack picks it up and reads it. "Nice work! The barrel you see above the switch is called a cannon barrel. They are everywhere, some are even hidden. If you find one just jump in it and it will shoot you to where it aiming at, there are different kinds of these barrels, Arrow barrels will shoot you in the diction you what to go and they can be used to take different paths. You can use also use these barrels several times. Skull and Cross Barrels are different, like the Arrow Barrels, they can shoot you when you need to go and you can choose which path you can take. But unlike the Arrow Barrels, you can only use this one once. Finally Exploding Barrels, these barrels will shoot you out as soon as you enter them and can only be used once. I'm sure that they could be a great help. Apple Bud." Applejack look at the barrel in the air and then at her sister. They both shrug and jump in the barrel. The barrel shot them towards the island and they could see some dark clouds rolling in. "Is there a storm coming?" Apple Bloom asks Applejack. "I think so. We better find some cover." Applejack said before spotting a barrel in the air. This one was different than the rest and another piece of paper blew right into Apple Bloom's face. She pulls it off and reads it. "Hey, Apples! If you are part of the Apple family, anyways, what you see before you is something I made called a Rocket Barrel! when you hope inside this barrel, you'll be able to ride it Use it to cross this big area of the sea. Have fun, Apple Seed!" Applejack took the letter and read it herself then look at the barrel. "Well, we might as well try it, hopefully, we can get across before the storm blows in." Applejack said. Apple Blooms nods in agreement and they jump in the barrel. For a second nothing happen, then the bottom of the barrel started to spit out some flames before it started to move and Applejack and Apple Bloom jump out and grab onto the side. Applejack learns by pushing herself on the barrel she lowers it to the ground or in this case the sea and if she pulls back, it raises to the sky. As they flew, they saw the dark clouds come closer and a ship started to ride in next to them. Applejack kept her eyes ahead and Apple Bloom acts by watching what the ship was doing. Applejack, it's filled with Wendigos and they're firing at us!" Apple Bloom warns her. Applejack turn to see the Wendigos ready some cannons and started to fire. Luckily, she moves the rocket barrel out of the way making the shoots miss them. She kept out it with Apple Bloom warning her about incoming shoots. She was now thinking maybe having Apple Bloom wasn't a bad idea. She still can be an annoying back seat driver, but she was helping this time. After firing so many shoots, they lost count after the ten shots, the Wendigos clear the deck before a huge cannon appear. Apple Bloom's eyes widen as Applejack act by moving around so they didn't get a clear shot of them. After a while, the Wendigos fire an anchor and miss them, but doing so case the anchor to grab onto something underwater, and the ship was torn apart. Applejack and Apple Bloom flew for a little bit longer before they hear the sound of fuel running out. Apple Bloom carefully climbs down and saw that the flames were puffing out smoke. She climbs back up and looks at her sister. Applejack didn't have to ask and started to look to if there was anything for them to land on. Luckily for them, there was a seaside cliff nearby and she steer the barrel over to it. The Rocket Barrel fell short but Applejack jump off and land on the cliff. She turns to hear that barrel explode as it disappears into the water. "Wow! It was a fun ride." Apple Bloom said. "Minus the times we have been shot at," Applejack added. They look up into the sky and saw all the dark clouds covering it. Some high wind blew past them and Applejack had grabbed her hat so she didn't lose it. "We might want to get going." Apple Bloom said knowing it could only get worse in a storm. "Yeah, let's get a move on." Applejack said and started to look for cover. Applejack ran across the seaside cliff looking for something to take cover in while Apple Bloom place a hoof on her hat so Applejack can keep it. It soon started raining and Apple push herself to get out of the rain. It wasn't long before she started climbing down from the cliff and stop to see some water crush into the rocky road. She walk out and saw that a tidal wave was heading right at them! "AHHHH!!!!" The Apples sister scream and duck back as the tidal wave rush into the road once more. "I take back what I thought earlier, it just got worse." Apple Bloom said. "We can't stay here that for sure.", Applejack said, "Looks like we got to run across after the tidal wave hits and find new cover." They watch as one Tidal Wave hit then count until the next one hit. "30 seconds in between each one. We better move faster than a rabbit in a carrot patch." Applejack said as she waited for the next wave to hit. Once it did, she ran as fast as she could taking cover behind some tall rocks that stood up against the tidal wave. She kept running and taking cover until she reach a cave. Both Apples were soaked and shook themselves to get some of the water off. Applejack took off her hat and twist it to get the water out. Apple Bloom did the same to her bow. They sat in the cave for a bit listening to the dripping and the tidal crash into the side of the cave. "There's one thing that bugging me, Applejack." Apple Bloom spoke out loud. "What that Apple Bloom?" Applejack said, trying to start a fire to get them warm up. "Where did this storm come from? I mean, during the whole way here, I didn't see any Pegasi." Apple Bloom told her. "That's a good point.", Applejack said as she got the fire started, "I'm thinking these Wendigos have a way of controlling the weather their own way." Apple Bloom nods and sat by the fire. She was starting to get tired and Applejack noticed. "Get some sleep, Apple Bloom, I'll keep watch." She said. Apple Bloom try to say she wasn't tired but a yawn beat her to the punch. Applejack smiled and saw Apple Bloom give up and lay down. Applejack sat by the fire feeling the water dry off her. She was thinking about the Wendigos. Why do they need apples and for what? They ain't eating them. So what are they for? She shook her head and turn to see that Apple Bloom was fast asleep. She smiles and looks up at the cave. Once we find all of our friends, We are taking these Wendigos down. Applejack thought as she listen to the storm outside. After a few minutes, it became quiet. Applejack then notices sunlight from the back of the cave and saw the storm has passed. She walk up to Apple Bloom and shook her awake. "Five more minutes, mom." Apple Bloom said sleepily. Applejack could help but laugh softly at her words. She shook Apple Bloom again and then whisper in her ear. "Apple Bloom honey, Mommy got your favorite breakfast ready, Hay Pancakes." She said, waiting for Apple Bloom to snap awake. Which she did and said, "HAY PANCAKES?! WHERE?! WHERE?!" She stopped to see Applejack on the ground, laughing her flank off as Apple Bloom placed two and two together and learn what her sister had just done. "Not funny, Applejack." She said angrily. "Yes, it was! You even call me mom!" Applejack laughs again. "I was sleepy, I didn't mean it. Besides, I was just dreaming about her and dad." Apple Bloom said before going quiet. Applejack stop laughing and saw that her sister was close to tears. Applejack got up and hug her sisters with tears started to form in her eyes too. "I know, Apple Bloom, I miss them too." She said. The two Apples were quiet for a few seconds before getting themselves together and getting ready to head back out. They walk out of the cave and back to the beach. They walk forward a little and soon spotted two ponies and a dragon laying on the sand. "Scootaloo!, Sweetie Belle!, Spike!" Apple Bloom calls out to them. In no time they were by their sides and shook them awake. "Apple Bloom? What are you doing here?" Scootaloo asks. "I think the more important question is, where are we?" Spike asked as he stood up. "Y'all in Horseshoe Bay. Me and Apple Bloom are going around Equestria looking for everypony that was taking." Applejack told him. "Wow! Rarity loves this place, but what going on? One minute we were on our way to see Apple Bloom and then some strange white ponies appear then nothing until now." Sweetie Belle said, first surprise about the place before recalling what happened to her and Scootaloo. "Those white ponies you saw are called Wendigos. They have placed all ponies under some kind of spell and it looks like you three were affected by it." Apple Bloom explains. Just as soon as she said that the Wendigos started to float down and sat down as if a show was about to start. Applejack and Apple Bloom knew what was going to happen and stood in front of the three. Soon three new Wendigos appear and look like they were carrying some Maracas. They soon play their maracas and Applejack and Apple Bloom turns to see that Spike, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle were affected by it. They jump back knowing that they would have to fight. Applejack didn't want to because they were young and were afraid of hurting them. Apple Bloom didn't want to because they were her friends. Once Wendigos posse them and the Apple stood ready, knowing they have no choice but to fight. Spike and Scootaloo jump up to a high platform as Sweetie Belle aims her horn at them and fires small magic beams. Applejack quickly jumps out of the way and land on her head knocking her into the sand. Scootaloo drop down and surprise the two that she was flying. She drives right at them and they jump over. Apple Bloom her coming again and warn Applejack, who jumps once more. Scootaloo stop and was having trouble staying in the air. Applejack jumps on her and knocks her into the sand face first. Spike then down and started to blow his fire at them and Applejack jumped back. Apple Bloom knew that they had to get over Spike's fire and reach into her backpack trying to find something. She hit something and two barrels pop out of the back and blew a little smoke. Apple Bloom wasn't sure what it was for, but she had an idea. "Applejack, run and jump!" She said. Applejack was confused but did it anyways. She jump in the air and saw that she slowly floated back to the ground and landed behind Spike. She decides not to ask and slams the ground with her front hooves and stuns Spike. She jumps on his head and pushes him into the sand. Then all three jump out of the sand and land on top of each other. Spike at the bottom, Scootaloo in the middle, and Sweetie Belle on top. They then dance their way to the Apples. Both Apple were confused about this action, but Applejack just roll into them and made all three land face first into the sand. Applejack then acts by jumping on all them of them pushing them in even more. Due to being small and younger than Twilight, the three pull themselves out of the sand and fall on top of each other. The three Wendigos appear out of them, dazed, not used to using smaller creatures to fight. "Now to teach them a lesson." Apple Bloom said and started to walk up to them, but was stopped by Applejack. "Let me, Apple Bloom. Ya, check on your friends." She said and started to run up to them. Applejack jumps in the air and pulls back one of her hooves. "This is for Apple Bloom's friends!" Applejack said then proceed to beat down the three Wendigos. After a bunch of punches, Applejack threw one last punch that send them flying. She lands back on the sand and turns to see that Spike, Scootaloo, and Sweetie had woken up and saw what she did. Their mouths were open wide before they grab the side of their head. "Ouch, I got a headache," Spike said rubbing his head. "Ditto." Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle agree. "Sorry, y'all. But me and Applejack had to fight you." Apple Bloom said. "And you're not alone, We had to do the same thing to Twilight as well," Applejack added. "You save Twilight?" Spike asks. "Yes, but I got a feeling we ain't done yet." Apple Bloom said turning to her sister who nods back. "Spike, you think you can take a note?" Applejack said. In time, Spike pulls out a piece of paper and a quill from nowhere. His head still hurt, but he was willy to write a letter. "All you need to say is that me and Apple Bloom have saved you and Apple Bloom's friends and we're waiting for you at Horseshoe Bay." Applejack told him. Spike nods and wrote down what Applejack told him. "You also might want to ask Twilight if she can bring her pill for headaches. You might need them." Apple Bloom added. Spike nods, knowing that they need them. "Anything else?" He asks. "Yeah, tell them that we are going to check the ruins over there." Applejack said, pointing behind them. Everypony turns to indeed see some ruins close by and wonders where they came from. "Hey, maybe we can get our cutie marks there?" Sweetie Belle pipe up. "Yeah! We might find something that no pony else has. Ready to go Apple Bloom?" Scootaloo agrees and asks Apple Bloom. "Sorry, but I'm not cutie mark crusading this time, and you two need to go home." Apple Bloom said. She really wanted to go crusading with her friends, but this was not the time for that. She walks over to Applejack and jumps on her back. "Besides, We got a feeling that Rarity and Rainbow Dash might still be in trouble." Apple Bloom added. "What? I hope Rarity is ok." Sweetie said forgetting about looking for her cutie mark. "I know Rainbow can handle herself," Scootaloo said, picturing Rainbow fighting off the new threat. "These Wendigos are nothing to joke about, Scootaloo. They have stolen all the apples in Equestria and they have a magic that can force any pony to do their commands. Me and Apple Bloom are unaffected by it." Applejack warns her. Spike had sent the letter during the talk and walks up to them. "Wendigos? Don't you mean Windigos?" He ask. "No Spike, these ain't the Windigos that help find Equestria. These are Wendigos, ones that stole apples 10,000 years ago." Apple Bloom corrects him. "And doing the same thing today," Applejack added. "So want now?" Sweetie asks, not sure what to do. "From what I can tell, the beach is a safe place to stay for now. There's a cave over there that you can hide in, in case the Wendigos return." Applejack said, pointing up to the cave. "Ok, You two be careful," Spike said. "Don't worry, we got this." Apple Bloom said and they both ran off. "Come on you two, for now, let's trust them," Spike said. "Ok," Sweetie said and started to follow Spike. "It no fair that Apple Bloom goes on an adventure and we don't," Scootaloo complains. "Even if we could, what could stop us if we become under the control of the Wendigos again?" Sweetie asks. Scootaloo didn't answer. They enter the cave and waited for the Princesses and Twilight to come.