//------------------------------//
// Chapter 8 - Options 
// Story: War of the Unfoals 
// by NPP6 
//------------------------------//

	Midnight sighed tiredly, “Applejack… There’s nothing I can do. Magical contracts like this are binding, there are only so many ways to undo them, and none of them are available to us right now. Trying to sever this contract right now would weaken all contract magic. Do you realize what you’re asking me to do? Contract magic is what keeps Tartarus sealed. Contract magic is what keeps several of our treaties in place. You’re asking me to risk the existence of Equestria.”
“So I guess that whole ‘sacrifice the world to save one pony’ thing was always just talk.”
“Save them from danger, yes. From death or harm, absolutely. From an awkward situation?”
“She is in danger!”
“The greatest threat to either of you right now is embarrassment!” Midnight blinked after that came out. “That’s it, isn’t it? This is about how embarrassed you are.” Applejack started backing away from the stallion, even as his eyes narrowed. “That’s what’s been so off tonight. You might have even convinced yourself that you’re just trying to protect her, but… Some Honesty.”
Before the stricken mare could react, Midnight turned and opened the door, walking out to rejoin the rest of the Apple family in the living room.
The cocoons had released Diamond and the colt shortly after they’d burst into the room. The pair were now lying on the couch, Applebloom and Diamond having essentially switched roles since arriving. The Apple filly was sitting around the coffee table with her brother and grandmother, speaking in hushed tones.
Midnight paused as he entered the room, but Granny Smith waved him over. He plopped down on the open side of the table. “So what’re you all talking about?”
Granny answered, “Same thing as you, we’re just being more level-headed.”
The alicorn winced. “Apologies, my temper–”
“Yah ain’t got nothing to be ‘plogizin’ ‘bout. My grandfilly in the other room needs ter get her head on straight.”
“So what are we gonna do?” All eyes turned to the filly who’d spoken.
Midnight sighed. “The simplest solution is one I don’t want to tell you about.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s very unlikely and rather dangerous. And I’m afraid that if it occurred to you, you’d try it just to save us all some trouble.”
Granny Smith coughed. “I think the best fix is gettin’ one a them annulments.”
Big Mac nodded. “Eeyup.”
Applebloom looked between the adults. “What’s an annel… annulmy… that thing?”
“It’s like a divorce, just… simpler.” Midnight offered. “And I agree with your grandmother and brother, it’s the best answer. Unfortunately, finding somepony who can do it will take a while.”
“And… and if we can’t? Find ‘em that is?”
Midnight glanced over at Black Diamond’s form as the unconscious filly shifted. “I think my apprentice has already put her own plan for that into action, but I’m not sure where she’s going with it yet.”
“What about a herd?”
The other three stared at Big Mac for a moment. Granny spoke first. “I think that’s fer the best.”
Midnight nodded. “Register them as a herd that’s open at both ends. That way if we never sever the contract, they can still marry if they fall in love later.”
“Eeyup.”
Granny sighed, “Still, herd’s nowadays ain’t exactly popular with folk… I say short term we do it, but long term it’s our last resort.”
“No.”
All four of them turned at that to find Diamond rising to a sitting position. “Our last resort is making Applebloom a widow.”
The momentary silence was broken as Applejack walked in, her hat low enough that the brim completely shaded her eyes. “Y’all, I’ve got a piece to speak ‘bout this whole mess, and I’m gonna speak it.” She took a breath, but anything else she was going to say was cut off by an impact outside.
“Applejack! Are you in there!?”



“So…” Twilight blew on her mug of hot chocolate. “Nyx has been taken, the boutique is trashed, Rainbow’s house and Fluttershy’s cottages are both empty, the attack here ended with Applebloom getting married, and Demon Blood has an army of foals.”
“Unfoals.” Diamond corrected.
“Unfoals.” Twilight acknowledged. “Do we know what makes them… whatever they are?”
Midnight shook his head. “No.” He looked thoughtful after a moment. “But I think we know somepony who does. The way Diamond put him to sleep means his dreamscape is locked now, so we’ll have to wait until he wakes up to ask.”
“What about what that one filly you met said?” Applejack asked, “The ponies who are not because we are? That make sense to any of you?”
The alicorns traded a glance. “Not any of the good kind.” Twilight said.
Midnight closed his eyes. “There is an afterlife gate in Tartarus. It’s possible that Demon Blood used it to capture the souls of foals as they died and use them to create some kind of golems.”
Granny Smith set a platter of apple fritters on the table. “However they got here, they’re here. Do we know who all’s left?”
Twilight swallowed the bite she had already taken. “I haven’t checked Sugarcube corner yet, so we may or may not have Pinkie. Spike hasn’t been able to flame any messages to Princess Celestia since we got turned into a pocket dimension, so definitely no help there. Beyond that… Everypony’s gone.”
“What about Bon Bon and Lyra?”
Applejack looked nervous. “What about ‘em Applebloom?”
Midnight chuckled. “The only pony at this table who doesn’t know the answer to that is Diamond. It’s time she started learning a few ponies to trust anyway.” He smirked when the mare in question made a gesture with her eyes. “Applejack, have you ever tried to pull the wool over your grandmother’s eyes? Let me tell you, it doesn’t work.”
He sighed, “Lyra is an accomplished necromancer, which might really help if the unfoals really are spirits of the dead given new bodies. However… we have to ask if we want to risk her cover, especially considering… If Demon Blood knew what they protect…”
Twilight nodded. “That would mean disaster. So they’re out, do we have anypony else?”
Big Mac snorted as he entered the kitchen. “Eeyup.”
Applejack turned to him. “Who ya thinkin’ of?”
The stallion merely pointed in the direction of town. “Ponyville.”
The group collectively facehooved.
“That makes entirely too much sense.” Midnight said, “Twilight, Applejack, you two head into town.”
“And get anypony who’s fighting organized.” Twilight nodded. “They’ve all probably made their own decisions about risk versus reward with their covers.”
Granny Smith sighed. “Before ya go Applejack, there’s something ya need to be here fer.” She walked out of the room, then reentered with a glowing box balanced on her back, “Applebloom, come here.” As the filly stepped forward, the family matriarch turned to her other two grandfoals. “Applejack, Big Macintosh, you two bear witness now that I did my duty, y’hear?” She turned back to the youngest and sighed.
“Applebloom… There’re a lot of reasons I’m doin’ this, but it comes down to it bein’ time. Yer ma, she left ya an inheritance o’ sorts, and I’ve been keepin’ it safe for ya until ya were old enough. I reckon it’s about time ya had yer birthright.” The old mare reached up and pulled the box off her back, setting it on the ground in front of her.
“Ya see, yer ma weren’t from a happy place. T’were lots of dark things where she’s from, even today. But one thing she brought from there on purpose was this. It’s an heirloom of sorts, passed from a mother to her youngest daughter when that daughter becomes a mare. I don’t know its whole story, but I know the mother weren’t always around to tell her daughter, so I’m guessin’ there’s a way you’ll find out.”
Granny Smith took a deep breath and pulled the lid of the box open, lifting it towards herself. “Its name is Sanas.”
There were a few varieties of gasp around the room. Applebloom reached out in reverent awe and brushed her hoof against the box. Inside, a beautiful silver and blue chainsword lay coiled on a bed of red velvet.
Twilight’s voice from the back was slightly shaky. “Th-that’s mithril… and those blue parts, I-I think they’re adamant.”
Midnight swallowed. “There are few things that draw breath that that blade can’t kill.”
Applebloom heard both alicorns only distantly.  Gently, she lifted the sword from the box and held it in front of her. “Sanas.” She breathed.



As Twilight and Applejack left the farm for town, the rest watched them from the porch. Around the point the two mares vanished behind the trees along the path, Midnight turned to Applebloom. “You know, it just occurred to me; we’ve been talking about your future all night, but we’ve barely even consulted you. You heard all of the options earlier, what do you want to do about the marriage?”
Applebloom opened her mouth to respond, stopped, and deflated slightly as she glanced to the side. “I dunno.”
Diamond walked over and threw a hoof around her neck, pulling her into a sideways hug. “You don’t need to decide now, I think he’s just saying you need to think about it. Whatever you decide, just remember we’ll help you fight for it.”
As the dark filly went to pull away, the light one grabbed her. “I… I think…” Applebloom whispered something in Diamond’s ear.
The ranger nodded. “Then that’s what we do.”



Cheerilee leaned on the dresser she had just moved against her bedroom door. She glanced over her shoulder at the two foals currently in her care. “Button, Sweetie, you two remember how I told you to leave me if you have to? It’s time.”
“What?”
“But Miss Cheerilee–”
“No arguments. We don’t have much time before those things get in here. You two need to go out that window. Sweetie, you’ll have to ride on Button’s back again. While he gets you to the ground, you keep those things off him. He’s the pilot, you’re the gunner.”
“But… you’re not coming with us?”
“No. I’m sorry. If I leave with you, they’ll see me. You two need to slip off unnoticed. This window will let you out onto the roof. Jump to my neighbor’s roof, find your way down from there. And keep your promise, take care of each other.”
When the unfoals broke down the door four minutes later, the only things waiting in the room for them were Cheerilee and a cold night chill.