The apple trees were taller than Applejack remembered. Those that had been seedlings now towered over her. She gaped in awe at their grandness as Spike walked beside her. He held out his claw to stop her and pointed ahead. A yellow, red-headed earth mare in a simple brown dress and kerchief was bucking a tree. She wiped her brow as the apples fell into a circle of wooden buckets.
"That's her," Applejack murmured. "That's Apple Bloom."
It had been ten years since she had last seen her sister. Then, she had been a maid of seventeen, fresh out of the schoolroom. Now, she was a grown mare, and in the morning sun she was beautiful.
"I can't do this."
Applejack tried to turn around, but Spike grabbed her hoof.
"You said so yourself," he said, looking at her sincerely in the eye. "They're not immortal like you. If you don't see them now, you might never see them again."
Applejack sighed and let him lead her through the orchard. When Apple Bloom spotted them, she let out a gasp.
"APPLEJACK!"
She ran towards her sister and tackled her to the ground. The two of them laughed as they tumbled in their embrace.
"I can't believe it!" Apple Bloom exclaimed as she rose to her hooves. "You're really here!" She helped her sister up. "I didn't think you'd ever be comin' back!"
"Me neither, Apple Bloom," Applejack said as she examined her. "Look at ya. You've gotten so big!"
"And you…" Apple Bloom cocked her head as she scrutinized her sister. "Ya look exactly the same. Shouldn't ya be forty-somethin' by now? How come ya look so young?"
Applejack sent Spike an uncertain glance, and he urged her with his claws. She sighed in defeat.
"Apple Bloom," she said, looking her in the eye, "I'm a vampire."
The younger mare blinked and then threw her head back in laughter. "Oh, that's a good one! Still got yerr sense of humor, I see!"
The couple turned to each other and shrugged, deciding to laugh along with her.
"And who is this cute little fella?" Apple Bloom said, crouching down to the dragon.
"This is Spike. My, uh…"
She paused to think of the appropriate word. Spike thought of it for her.
"I'm her gentledrake friend!"
Apple Bloom's amber eyes widened as she glanced between them. "Really, AJ? I mean I'm okay with him bein' a dragon, but ain't he a little…young?"
"Hey, I'm just short for my age!" Spike said, puffing out his chest.
She scoffed. "If ya say so." She grabbed her sister's hoof. "The others are gonna wanna see ya! They're in the house gettin' breakfast ready!"
She dragged them down the hill to the small wooden cottage sitting between a large red barn and a chicken coop. Two foals were playing on the porch, the older one a red colt with amber eyes and pink hair, the younger a magenta filly with green eyes and yellow hair. They shrieked in surprise when they saw the newcomers.
"Auntie Apple Bloom!" said the filly with a shiver. "What's that dragon doin' here?"
"It's okay, Honeycrisp," Apple Bloom said. "Spike's a friend. Or, at least, he's a friend of yerr aunt."
"But you're our aunt," said the colt.
"Honeycrisp, Jonathon," she gestured to her sister, "this here's yerr long-lost Aunt Applejack. Applejack, these are Big Mac's kids."
"I know," Applejack said, smiling at the foals. "You told me about 'em in yerr letters."
"We have another aunt?" Jonathon asked.
"This is," Honeycrisp piped, "wonderful!"
The children laughed as they threw their hooves around Applejack's front legs. The door opened and a magenta earth mare with green eyes and a light pink mane. In the crook of her foreleg was a yellow infant with equally green eyes and a braided orange mane. The mare grinned brightly at the visitors.
"Applejack!" she cried as she came up to the vampire, giving her a brief hug with her free foreleg. "It's so wonderful to see you again!"
"It's wonderful to see ya too, Cheerilee." She looked at the baby. "Is this lil' Apple Blossom?"
"It sure is."
Applejack held her hoof out to the baby, who gurgled as she grabbed and lightly sucked on it.
"Where have you been all this time?" Cheerilee inquired.
"Oh, you know," Applejack said with a shrug. "I've been busy workin' with the Count Discord, but since he's leavin' Tramplevania, he said I could come back and live with y'all."
"You mean," Apple Bloom squealed excitedly, "you're staying?!"
She nodded in reply and her sister attacked her with another hug.
"And I'm Spike!" the dragon declared. "Applejack and I are sort of…together, you know?"
"Pleasure to meet you, Spike," Cheerilee said, shaking his claw. "Big Mac is plowing the fields. He'll be back in time for breakfast. Oh, he's going to be so thrilled!" Her face turned serious. "Granny Smith is in bed. She'll want to see you."
She led them all inside and Applejack swallowed the lump in her throat as she went up the stairs to her grandmother's room. The elderly green mare was lying in her bed, looking as thin as a twig. Her dry mouth was open as she snored lightly. Applejack cautiously approached her.
"Granny?"
The old mare wearily lifted the wrinkled lids to her amber eyes. "W-Who's there?"
"It's me, Granny," Applejack said, kneeling down at her bedside. "It's Applejack."
"Applejack?" she said weakly.
She couldn't stop the joyful bloody tears from coming. "That's right. Applejack."
As she squinted at the vampire, the corners of Granny Smith's mouth slowly turned up. "Applejack. I…I didn't think I'd get to see ya again before…before…"
"It's alright, Granny," Applejack choked through her tears as she took her grandmother's hoof. "I'm home. And I'm never leavin' ya again."
In the late Count Trenderhoof's illustrious mansion in Bullarest, Sunset Shimmer was sitting down to tea with Twilight and her brother Shining Armor, a tall white stallion with blue eyes and hair dressed in his uniform as Captain of the Royal Guard. Only one of them was drinking tea, of course.
"It's is an honor to meet you at last, Captain," Sunset said as she poured her guest tea.
"Shining Armor, please," the stallion said as he used his magic to drop sugar lumps into the cup. "I was surprised by your invitation, my lady, but when you informed me that my sister was working for you…" He turned to Twilight. "What exactly is your job here, again?"
She exchanged a nervous glance with Sunset. "I'm her…um…"
"She's my secretary!"
"Yes, secretary! You know," she laughed awkwardly, "because I'm all about books and paperwork and…other secretary…stuff."
"Well," Shining Armor said, not noticing the mares' odd behavior, "I must say I'm glad you've moved on from all this vampire nonsense."
"Actually, Shining, the reason I've…pursued other interests is because I found our parents' murderers."
He spat out his tea. "You did?!"
She nodded excitedly. "I caught them in Zebiu."
"And?"
"Justice has been served."
He sighed in relief. "Thank the heavens!"
"But only two of the murderesses were captured," Sunset said. "One escaped the police and could be seeking vengeance on Twilight, or even you."
"Well, you don't have to worry about me. I'm a trained soldier, remember? But Twilight, did you really track down those killers by yourself?"
"Well," Twilight said, glancing at her so-called employer. "I had a little help."
Hanging his head, he said, "I'm sorry if I hadn't been supportive in your search, Twilight. I really did want to find our parents' murderers. I just didn't want you to get in over your head. And after what happened to Flash, I was worried I might lose you too."
"It's okay, Shining," she said, taking his hoof. "We don't have to worry about anything anymore."
"We actually wanted to talk some business with you, Captain," said Sunset.
"Business?" Shining Armor's eyebrows shot up. "What sort of business?"
The lady placed her folded hooves firmly on the table. "I'm sure you've heard of my brother's…disappearance."
"Yes." He nodded grimly. "Very tragic. The Coltgo jungle is just as dangerous as the city."
"Well he left a great deal of debt behind. While I received a generous grant from some distant relatives, I am going to have to find my own way to pay for my expenses. I hired Twilight, because I think she can help me in my new business."
"And what new business is that?"
The mares grinned at each other.
"We're opening a private detective agency!" Twilight announced.
"A detective agency?" Shining Armor repeated. "Well, can't say I'm surprised at you, Twilight, but my lady," he looked to Sunset Shimmer, "I did not take you to be interested in this line of work."
"Frankly, I'm quite bored with society," said Sunset. "I want to dedicate my time to more important matters. After all, I lost some pony close to me too and…I'd like that case to be solved."
"We were hoping the Royal Guard could use our services," Twilight explained. "Not that I think you incompetent, brother, but I'm sure you're aware of how many unsolved cases there are in Bullarest."
Shining Armor smiled. "It's no problem. In fact, there's a case regarding the murder of one of my guards that is baffling us as well as the police. Considering what happened to Mother and Father and Flash, you might be interested."
After he explained the case, the captain decided to take his leave and return to his duties, leaving the two mares alone to discuss the case.
"His throat was completely ripped out while on patrol," said Twilight. "You sure none of the girls had anything to do with this?"
Sunset shook her head. "We only attack law enforcement when necessary, but it usually draws too much attention, and as far as I know, Trenderhoof gave no order for such a thing."
"It happened on the night of a full moon. It could've been a werewolf."
"Not every murderer has to be supernatural. It could've been a mortal." She grinned mischievously. "If it is, may I eat them?"
"Sunset," Twilight warned, "we talked about this."
"But what if they're criminals?"
"All the same, you agreed you wouldn't feed on ponies anymore."
"Even the bad ones?"
"If the murderer turns out to be mortal, they will go to jail like any other criminal."
"Oh, you're going to starve me, Lavender," Sunset pouted as she slid her hoof over Twilight's. "After all, there aren't that many animals in the city."
"The answer is still no."
"Not even a teeny nibble?"
Her yellow hoof was going up her foreleg.
"That's not going to work, Sunset."
"What if they have open wounds?" Her hooves snaked around her neck. "Can't I just suck on them a little?"
Twilight shook her head. "You're impossible."
"Yes? Well, so are you."
They chuckled as they leaned in for a kiss. Neither of them saw Sugarcoat standing in a doorway nearby.
"If you two are going to be doing that, can you at least do it in your room?"
Fluttershy's eyes closed blissfully as she inhaled the scent of the sea. Her new senses were incredible. Not only could she smell the salty waters, but everything beneath them: the fish, the dolphins, the turtles, the seaweed, the coral. They were all satisfying as they tickled her nostrils.
The ship she was on had been constructed by Discord himself. He thought it would be less trouble having a nosy crew about, so he had set this boat to sail itself directly to their intended destination. On the boat's side written in cursive golden letters was its name: The Fluttering Bat.
Opening her eyes, Fluttershy watched the sunset on the horizon. Then she looked down at the waters, smelling the tasty morsels below the surface.
"If there are any fish down there," she called softly, "who are willing to satisfy our hunger, please come up. I promise that you won't suffer."
She waited and a minute later, a large mackerel tuna leaped up and into her hooves. Fluttershy could tell from his glazed eyes that he was old, and even though he was nearly a meter in length, she didn't find him so heavy.
"Go ahead," the fish wheezed. "I've lived a long life. I've almost gone blind."
Fluttershy sympathetically stroked his head. "I'll make it quick."
She ducked below the ledge so that she was out of direct sunlight, carrying the fish with her. Slowly, her teeth grew into fangs and she bit down hard into the tuna's neck. A crack of the spine was heard and the fish fell limp. Fluttershy sighed as she wiped the blood from her mouth.
I caught us some tuna for dinner, she thought to her husband.
Sweet! Discord replied in her head. Let me know when the sun has set.
She rose to look back out at the sky. It's beautiful, Discord. I wish you could see it with me.
Me too, darling. But I'll take your word for it.
She pondered awhile. Maybe there's a way.
Discord emerged from below deck a few minutes later, his cape wrapped tightly around his body, his paw and claw gloved and his head and neck covered in what looked like an executioner's hood. Over his eyes was a wooden pair of goggles with tiny slits for the eyes. Fluttershy couldn't help but giggle.
"I know, alright?" he snorted. "I look ridiculous, but at least I'm not burning up." His covered head looked in all directions. "So where's this beautiful sunset?"
"This way."
She grabbed the side of his cape, led him to the ledge and pointed out at the horizon. She could hear Discord gasping in awe.
"It's…it's…" He cried out as he covered his eye slits. "It burns!"
"Are you alright?" Fluttershy shrieked.
"Yes," he said, lifting his gloved paw slightly. "Maybe if I just…shield them a bit, I can…" As his paw hovered over his eyes, he quietly watched the sun as it sank below the horizon. "There we go."
Fluttershy smiled as she took his claw. Once the orange orb was gone, Discord yanked off his goggles, hood and gloves and stretched out in relief.
"Sweet darkness, that was uncomfortable!" He grinned down at his wife. "But it was worth it."
Then he noticed the tuna. "I see your fishing skills are improving."
"Yes," Fluttershy said, cringing slightly. "But could you, um…"
"Say no more."
She turned away as he brought out two goblets, hung up the fish in his paw and gutted it with his claw so its blood would spill into the cups. Once the corpse was emptied, he tossed it into the sea.
"For you, my darling," he said suavely as he handed her a goblet.
"Why thank you," Fluttershy said with a small curtsy.
They clinked their cups together and drank.
"Mmm," Discord said, smacking his lips. "Salty."
"But tasty," Fluttershy said with a sigh. "I don't think I'll ever get used to that."
"Oh, but you're getting so good at it. Did this one willingly come to you?"
"Yes. He was old and going blind."
"Then you made things easier for him. Besides, we're not the only fish eaters out here."
"That's true. A blind fish can't survive long out in the ocean."
"It's a dangerous world down there," Discord said, looking down into the waters.
"I wonder what it's like," said Fluttershy, following his gaze.
He glanced over at her and saw the curiosity in her eyes. He smirked mischievously.
"You know," he said, leaning his elbow on the ledge, "we could go see." He crept his claw towards her. "Do you know how to swim?"
Fluttershy looked down at his claw as it touched her hoof. "A little. When I was on my parents' farm, I used to swim in a nearby pond, but…it's been so long."
"Don't worry." He set down his goblet and scooped her up in his arms, making her gasp. "It's less likely you'll drown if you don't need to breathe," he caressed her cheek with his claw, "and with me staying so close to you."
Fluttershy glanced down at the water and then at him. "What are you suggesting?"
He whispered in her ear and her eyes widened.
"But Discord, what about the boat?"
He snapped his fingers and there was a loud rattle followed by a thump as the ship's anchor dropped from the side.
"It's not going anywhere," he said, wriggling his eyebrows.
Fluttershy shook her head with a laugh. "What am I going to do with you?"
"Oh, I can think of a few things."
She welcomed his lips and clung to him as he leaped off the boat, plunging them both into the water.