> Corrupted Souls > by Flame Blade > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Mountain climb > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The sun rose on another magnificent day for Sweet Apple Acres. Apple Jack and her Sister Apple Bloom wondered away from the farm and toward the school. The suns rays lit up Twilights room as she woke to another beautiful day and a letter from Princess Celestia telling Twilight to keep all ponies in Ponyville away from the large mountains shadowing Canterlot. "Twilight why cant any pony go up that damn mountain, what threat could it pose to any pony?" asked Apple Jack. "Well, there is a dragon and some sort of strange magical field, sort of pulling ponies in, but not very strong" said Twilight reading the letter over again. "Alright Twi, but any updates on dat mountain tell me, k?" said Apple Jack. "I will" said Twilight as she galloped off towards her castle. Apple Jack looked at the mountain, wishing to do something, anything that was adventurous and didn't involve her friends. Then she decided she would climb the mountain. After about an hour of packing, Apple Jack set off towards the mountain, catching a train to Canterlot and finally galloping towards the mountain. By nightfall, the mountain loomed over apple jack, as she made her first fearful step onto the mountain. A rush of greed swept through her body, urging her to carry on. She could see the sun rising and she was only half way up the mountain and she could also see the cave at the top of the mountain. As another rush of greed swept through her, a guard called to her to come down, but the greed pushed her on. As she made it to the next ledge she gasped for breath and looked down to see the unicorn guard rushing up the mountain protected from the field of greed around the mountain. Apple jack new he could not keep that pace and that he would slip so she just carried on towards the next ledge, which was about 1 mile away. She felt the air grow colder, as it began to snow and the air started to become thinner. She was about three quarters of the way up when she felt a magical air bubble surround her. The guard had slipped and injured himself badly and could no longer chase Apple Jack up the mountain. It was getting late, so Apple Jack decided to set up camp on a large ledge she had clambered onto. The tent was small, with hardly any room for a full grown mare, but it had to do for the night, besides it seemed no pony could see her even a pegasus guard had looked right at her and not noticed her, she was safe . In the morning Apple Jack awoke to the sound of a pegasus guard speaking to another about how the pony had simply disappeared, Apple Jack realised that they were flying around near by and were disappearing into Canterlot. By the time Apple Jack reached the cave, it was nightfall again and she had no choice but to sleep in the cave. > The offer > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Apple Jack suddenly awoke to a voice in the cave, "so, your awake, I have been awaiting your arrival" said a wingless dragon, who looked just like spike. "Who are you?" asked Apple Jack, completely discombobulated by the dragons presence, "I am spikes father, he is my son, stolen from the nest by a white pegasus in armour and I knew a pony would come someday, to take the offer" said the dragon, glaring at Apple Jack, who thought she was going to get ripped to pieces. "What offer is that now?" said apple jack a little less confused. "Why the offer is power, the power to be an alicorn at will" said the large purple dragon. "Are ya sure I could turn into an alicorn?" questioned apple jack, another rush of greed creeping through her body. "Yes, try it" said the dragon, clicking his fingers and instantly Apple Jack let out a scream, as a pain seared through her head and back. A pair of orange wings formed on her back and a orange unicorn horn grew from her head. "Wow, what else can ya do?" asked apple jack intrigued by the powers of the beast. "lots more all you need to do, is give me you soul" said the dragon with a grin. "Give ya me soul? Sure, it was difficult getting up this darn mountain anyways" said apple jack, who was very scared, to the dragon, who clicked his fingers and said "Your wish is my command" which was followed by an evil laugh, then Apple Jack felt her wings grow, she felt all her teeth become inch long fangs, her mane grow almost touching the floor of the cave and changed from blond to gold. The feathers on her wings became golden tipped, her horn grew longer and also became gold tipped. She became taller and thinner, the magic beginning to starve her. She realised her cutie mark had become one shiny golden apple and then a rush of pain engulfed her and her soul was ripped out of her body. Then the greed subsided and she said faintly "Why?" Apple Jack realised that she was standing in front of a castle guard, who was starring at the monster she had become. Then she lept onto the pony and violently pulled his head off and sucked out his soul. Apple Jack lept into the sky and flew towards Ponyville. The flight to Ponyville was quite quick, apart from eating, ten pegasi and one unicorn along the way, but she still wasn't full. As she landed in Ponyville, she saw Pinkie Pie bouncing through the dim lit streets of Ponyville. Apple jack lept onto the pink mare, not even giving her time to scream. As the sun rose, Apple Jack returned painfully to her earth pony form and woke up in bed thinking it was all a dream, but she could never be further from the truth.