"Applejack, slow down! I can't run as fast as you!" Twilight protested, trying to keep up with her friend.
"Ain't my fault you're a shut-in, Twi," Applejack replied as she reached the mouth of a cave at the end of the path into the mountains. "Apple Bloom's already got a good head-start on us, ah can't sacrifice any more time!"
The unicorn took a moment to catch her breath. "Well, you might not have much of a choice, Applejack. That cave's pretty dark inside."
Applejack rolled her eyes. "Fine, just don't hold me up too much," she said.
Charging her magic, Twilight's horn glowed brightly and provided some illumination for them as they entered the dark tunnels before putting her hoof to her chest and letting out a deep breath.
Rolling her eyes again but deciding to humor her friend, Applejack followed Twilight's example. "There, can we get movin'?"
"Sure, Spike and I have been through this cave plenty of times collecting gems, so it shouldn't be a problem!" Twilight replied. "Just do as I say and we'll be out in no time!"
"Great," the farmpony replied. "So, which way, first?" she asked, looking back and forth at a fork in their path.
"Turn right. It'll lead us upward. The other way's a dead end," Twilight answered. Complying, Applejack led the way, followed by Twilight as she kept their path lit.
"Hey, Applejack?" Twilight asked a few minutes later.
"Yeah, Twi?"
"When we find Apple Bloom... you're not going to punish her, are you?" the unicorn asked.
The farmpony sighed as she paused a second, then continued as they began to head further and further upwards on the sloped path. "Twi, a part'a me wants to, like really wants to for runnin' off like that. She should know better then doin' somethin' so stupid!" she explained. "But at the same time... ah ain't got the heart to. Not after everythin' that's happened... last thing ah wanna do is push her away any further then ah already have."
"Turn left," Twilight said as they reached another fork. "...What do you mean?"
"If ah weren't locked in jail last night... ah'd have probably wanted to do the same thing," Applejack replied. "Ah wasn't right in my mind at all last night... probably scared her half to death when she was already frightened enough..."
"I guess I can't blame you," Twilight replied, gesturing right and following Applejack as they kept going. "I just hope Spike is okay, too..."
"We'll find 'em, Twi," Applejack said, moving a little faster and coming face to face with a vine-covered wall leading up to higher ground.
"Well, this overgrowth's a major vined on our progress, right Applejack?" Twilight asked, prompting the farmpony to facehoof.
"Twi, this really ain't the time for puns. Especially ones that bad," Applejack muttered.
"Sorry, just trying to keep our spirits up," Twilight replied sheepishly. "I've been trying to keep myself from letting worry get to me so easily... you know how I get when that happens."
"Just get us up this 'ere wall, alright?" Applejack asked.
"Sure, right away," Twilight said, putting her hoof around Applejack and focusing. The two vanished in a flash of light and reappeared atop the vine-covered wall. "The way out should be just up ahead."
"Good, let's..." Applejack froze when she heard strange noises. "Ya hear that, Twi?" she whispered.
"What do you think it is?" Twilight whispered back.
"Dunno, let's go see," Applejack said, moving along quietly to the source, which was behind some large stalagmites just near the exit. Peering around them, she saw two ponies wearing costumes just like the ones she'd seen the other night sitting in front of a strange metal device with a glowing screen. One of them was pressing buttons on a device in their hooves while the other seemed to be quietly cheering them on.
"What are...?" Twilight wondered aloud as Applejack grit her teeth in anger.
"Ah know them. Ran into those ponies the other night when Rarity and Big Mac died. They gotta have had somethin' to do with the dragon rampagin' around, ah know it!" the farmpony snapped.
"Applejack, wait!" Twilight cried out, but was too late as her friend leaped onto the screened device, smashing it and glaring viciously at the two costumed ponies.
"Alright, you two varmints! Ah got a few questions for ya and ah got a feelin' there's gonna be a serious whuppin' involved, too!" she yelled, snorting angrily as she pawed the ground.
The two costumed ponies looked at one-another for a moment and backed away, only to be cut off by Twilight, who fired a bolt of magic at the ground and stopping them in their tracks.
"You guys brought that dragon 'round these parts, didn'cha?" Applejack asked through grit teeth as she approached. "Ya don't wanna be wheeled outta here ah suggest you two help me find my little sister! ONE..." She began counting down. "TWO..."
Before she could continue, one of the ponies reached into their cape and threw a small blue sphere at the ground, setting off an explosion of smoke and causing Twilight and Applejack to collapse to the ground, coughing uncontrollably as the sound of hooves rushing off could be heard around them.
"Oh, no... -hack- you... -cough- don't!" Applejack shouted, struggling to overcome her coughing as she dashed towards the exit of the cave and finding herself on a wide ledge, another of the giant metal pointed hat-vehicles she'd seen the other night parked on the edge.
Not wasting any time, the two costumed ponies rushed up the metal stairs into the strange vehicle and closed up the door behind them, the stairs and feet of the vehicle retracting into it as it immediately took to the air and flew off into the distance.
Letting out a scream of rage, Applejack slammed her hooves on the hard ground and bucked angrily at the air.
"Applejack?" Twilight asked, emerging from the cave.
"They got away... those ponies... whoever they are... they got away, Twilight! Ah know they're behind all this!"
"I was wondering what you meant by that, Applejack..."
"Twi," Applejack began. "Last night, ah saw 'em settin' loose these... things ah ain't ever seen before that caused the forest fire. Then when Scootaloo an' ah were lookin' for Big Mac, Rarity, an' the foals we ran into 'em an' they..." Her eyes widened when she saw something up ahead and ran towards it. "Right here, Twi!"
The unicorn approached and found Applejack standing in front of a strange metal platform surrounded by empty sockets and a box on the side that had several buttons and switches, though it looked damaged. "What is that?"
"It looks like this thing they used to... wake up this hippo they put a bunch of metal parts on. Like bringin' it to life with some kinda dark magic or somethin." Applejack explained.
"Like trees, maybe?" Twilight asked.
"Dunno, Twi. Why'dya ask?" Applejack asked, confused.
"Because a tree is walking towards us right now!" Twilight shouted in alarm, firing a blast of magic past Applejack. The farmpony turned to a creaking noise followed by a loud groan and saw of all things a tree stumbling backwards from her. Its roots were moving freely like legs, its branches flailing about and a crudely-carved face on its front had an eerie, glowing green light coming out of it.
"Ya gotta be kiddin' me!" Applejack muttered in disbelief as she jumped out of the way, barely dodging a wild swing from one of the tree's branches as it toppled over.
"Well, that wasn't so bad," she mused as the animate tree flailed its limbs about in an unsuccessful attempt to get up.
"Uh... Applejack? Why's it glowing red?" Twilight asked, noticing cracks beginning to form on its bark before violently exploding in a burst of magical energy.
"That was close," Twilight said with a sigh, lowering her barrier she'd summoned around Applejack and herself.
"Don't count yer blessings yet, Twi! We got two more of 'em!" Applejack shouted.
"Be careful, Applejack!" Twilight warned as the farmpony galloped towards their attackers and leaped in between them, delivering a crisp buck she normally reserved for apple harvesting at one, then the other and sending them both tumbling onto their backs.
"A-Applejack..." the unicorn stammered as the two trees began to glow brightly as the first one had, signifying two more explosions were on their way.
"Ah got this, Twi!" Applejack declared, bucking one and causing it to roll into the other, causing them both to roll off the side of the cliff before she turned back towards Twilight without any reaction to the two loud explosions from down below.
"Well, that takes care of that. Now to just figure out which way to go next," Twilight said, breathing out a sigh of relief as Applejack walked past her, her attention fixed on something snagged on a small bush.
"Ah think ah may have a few theories," Applejack said, showing her discovery to be a torn, filly-sized red cape before looking at a path further ahead that had several claw marks torn into it and immediately breaking into a full gallop.
Apple Bloom... your big sister's comin', she thought to herself. Just... please be alright,
~
In moments, the two ponies found themselves nearing the summit of the mountain that overlooked a vast gorge. Before them stood a large, foreboding cave.
"We've... Finally... made it," Twilight uttered between gasps as she sat down to catch her breath.
"Not quite used to this type'a exercise are ya Twi'?" Applejack asked, looking back at her friend.
"Is it... that obvious?" Twilight asked, panting heavily.
"C'mon Twi, we haven't seen my sister yet, so she's gotta be up here!" Applejack replied. "Apple Bloom! Where are ya'!?" she called out loudly, hoping her sister would answer.
"Apple... Bloom...!" Twilight called, though much weaker as she looked around, something finally catching her eye. "Hey, Applejack? What's... what's this?" she asked, noticing something laying near the mouth of the cave. Approaching and using her magic, the unicorn floated it over to look at.
"Applejack...?" Twilight asked.
"What'd ya..." Applejack froze as she immediately recognized the pink fabric floating in her friend's aura. "A-Apple Bloom's bow..." she whispered.
"Applejack, do you think...?" Twilight began.
"No. She's... she's gotta be here somewhere! Ah ain't leavin' till ah find her!" Applejack said firmly.
As if to answer her words, a deep, bone-chilling growl suddenly echoed from within the cave, causing both ponies to freeze in terror.
"Wh-what was that?" Twilight asked, forgetting about her exhaustion in panic and trembling as she and her friend looked into the dark recesses of the cave before them. Her answer came as a pair of glowing green eyes suddenly appeared within, glaring at them from the shadows. Powerful, heavy stomps that shook the very ground they stood on told them their owner was drawing closer.
Twin wisps of smoke drifted from the cavern as the creature within let out a low, menacing snarl and stepped out into the light, revealing itself to be a massive gray dragon with a crest of dark crimson scales running from the top of its head and down its back and a strange red and black gem that seemed to be embedded in its chest. The dragon craned its long neck as it narrowed its slit green eyes at the two ponies that barely reached its knee.
"I-is this the..." Twilight began.
"I can tell ya what it's about to be..." Applejack said lividly, pure hatred in her eyes as she stared down the towering beast, which responded with an ear-splitting roar that revealed one of its fangs to be missing.
"...Dead."
The dragon immediately lunged forward, snapping its huge jaws at the two ponies who barely leaped out of the way in time. Snarling, the dragon slammed its foot down with a mighty stomp, shaking the ground and causing Applejack to roll dangerously close to the edge of the cliff.
"Applejack!" Twilight quickly used her magic to grab her friend and pull her to safety. "W-wait, Applejack!" she immediately cried out as the farmpony charged straight at the dragon, leaping into the air and attempting a fierce buck.
Applejack immediately fell to the ground, feeling as though she'd just tried to buck a solid rock wall. "The hay?!" she cried out.
"Applejack, a dragon's scales are meant to withstand high temperatures, so they're really tough!" Twilight said, barely teleporting away in time to avoid a powerful sweep of the dragon's tail.
The dragon let out a roar and drew in a deep breath. "Applejack! Behind me!" Twilight shouted, her friend complying as Twilight quickly cast a barrier that narrowly saved them from being incinerated by a jet of flame. As soon as the dragon was finished, it lunged forward in an attempt to catch them in its jaws again.
"Whoa!" Applejack cried out, her and Twilight rolling out of the way and leaving the dragon with a mouth full of rock and dirt.
"Wait, I have an idea!" Twilight said, floating the dragon fang from her saddlebag. "Dragons gotta defend themselves from other dragons, so they have to be vulnerable to their own natural weapons!"
"It's worth a try!" Applejack said, taking the long fang in her teeth and rushing at the dragon while it was still trying to spit out dirt. With as much force as she could muster, Applejack leaped into the air onto the dragon's back, prompting the beast to flail angrily in an attempt to throw her off. Keeping her balance, Applejack slid down its left side right towards where she figured its heart would be and lodged the fang in, piercing its tough hide.
The dragon let out a pained cry as Applejack immediately slammed her hoof into the fang as though hammering a stake, plunging it further into the ferocious creature's body before tumbling to the ground.
"Didn't like that, did ya?" Applejack snarled, righteous fury in her eyes as she got back up. "Ah bet you're feelin' what my brother felt when you tore him apart!" she yelled, watching as the creature flailed about, attempting unsuccessfully to remove the fang from its body. The dragon let out a cry of rage as it took in a deep breath, letting out another burst of flame, though weaker than the last at them. Applejack ducked behind a boulder and the flames blew around her. "Or how about Rarity, huh? Or my sister? Did you kill her too, you monster?!"
The dragon snarled as it attempted to stand back up despite its wound, its tail lashing out and shattering the boulder apart and sending Applejack flying. As she tumbled across the ground, the dragon glared down at her and began to draw breath again. The attack never came, as it was suddenly hit in the side, right where it had been wounded by a blast of magic from Twilight.
"You killed two of my friends! I'm not letting you take anymore!" Twilight snapped, the dragon paused, looking at her for a moment in curiosity. Twilight's resolve faltered, wondering why it had not attacked her right away when it was already in danger.
Whatever curiosity it had faded, however as it let out a growl and lashed its talons at her, swatting Twilight into the cliffside. The unicorn's barrier took most of the impact, but still hit hard enough for her to cry out in pain and once more gain the dragon's notice as it looked at her once more for a moment, as though it felt something from its actions.
Why did it...? Twilight wondered. That look in its eyes, almost as if it...
Applejack seized the opportunity from the dragon taking its attention off her and leaped on her opponent again, hitting the fang lodged in its side over and over and causing it to cry out and topple onto its side in pain as blood spurt from its wound.
...knew me? Twilight's eyes widened in horror as realization came over her.
"Now to make you pay for every life you took!" Applejack shouted out, her fury and desire for revenge at its peak as she tore the fang from the dragon's body and prepared to plunge it in once more.
"Applejack! Stop!" Twilight cried out, causing her friend to pause. "It's Spike! ...T-that dragon... that dragon is Spike!" she shouted.
"Excuse me?!" Applejack asked, her eyes wide in disbelief at what the unicorn had just said.
"That look he gave me... it was like he recognized me..." Twilight explained, her tone desperate as she used her magic to pull Applejack away from the prone dragon. "I don't know what's happened to him, Applejack, but we can't do this! He's our friend!' she pleaded.
Applejack glared at her friend as she struggled against Twilight's magical pull. "Lookit him, Twilight! Lookit what he's done!" she shouted. "Even if you're right, that... THING ain't Spike no more! Would the Spike we knew have killed Rarity? Or my brother?"
"No..." Twilight hung her head, downcast as she saw the dragon's breathing grow more and more rapid. "...But... would killing him bring any of them back? Hasn't there been enough death already?" she asked.
The full weight of what she'd nearly done, how she'd felt from it all came onto Applejack's shoulders, causing her to collapse to her haunches. "N-no... A-Apple Bloom.. ah need to find her... sh-she might still be around here," she stammered, her body trembling as she looked at what she had done to the creature that now lay before her. "Apple Bloom... ah gotta find her..." finding the strength to stand, she began to back away towards the path again, noticing that Twilight had remained where she was.
"Go without me," the unicorn said softly, her eyes not leaving the fallen dragon that lay before her. "He's dying... please, just... let me stay with him while I still can..."
Applejack lowered her head. "A-alright, Twilight... I'm gonna... I'm gonna keep on lookin' for 'er..." Without another word, Applejack continued further along the path, leaving Twilight alone with the dying beast that was once her best friend.
Tears flowed from the unicorn's eyes as she struggled in vain to hold them back. The dragon's breathing began to slow, and Twilight could hold it in no more. "Oh Spike... I'm so sorry!" she sobbed, curling up next to the dragon as its scales regressed from metallic gray to a light purple. The dragon's eyes turned towards the unicorn snuggled up against it, and shed a single tear before they slowly closed with its final breath.
Neither Twilight, nor Applejack were aware the filly they had been searching for lay at the bottom of the gorge..