A dying Applejack is kept company by Twilight, but they receive a visitor who offers them an alternative they had yet to consider...

Written expressly for Equestria Daily's inaugural Writer's Training Grounds. Apologies in advance for the clipped, frenetic pacing of the story, but there was a hard limit of 1,500 words, and when you're as wordy as I am, that's very difficult to obey!

Now with an awesome audio adaptation by the talented Scribbler!

Cover art shamelessly swiped from Carnifex; modified version by Scribbler.

To save her sister and her faithful student, Celestia herself must travel into the ancient tunnels beneath the ruined castle in the Everfree Forest. She, and the guards who accompany her, must face the dark, twisting corridors. Still, what was Luna and Twilight's purpose at the old castle? Why were they unable to return of their own accord?

And what watches Celestia from beyond the light's edge?