//------------------------------// // Sweet Apple Acres (Applejack's Sanctuary) // Story: EquestriaBound Girls 2: The Journey for the Eight Magical Melodies // by Lucky Ness //------------------------------// "And that's why we're all here behind the school at 3AM." Rainbow says finishing her explanation to Scootaloo. "So where do you have to go next." Scootaloo asks. "My Pinkie Sense is telling that it has something to do with apple trees." Pinkie Pie says. "Sweet Apple Acres? Ah should have known that mah home would've been my Sanctuary." Applejack says. "Well, what are y'all waiting for? Let's go." "LET ME COME WITH YOU!" "Scootaloo, I think you probably head home, darling," Rarity says. "You need your sleep." "But I can't sleep knowing that what happened to me might be happening to Apple Bloom or Sweetie Belle." She looks down towards the ground. "I need to know they're alright." "That's not such a bad idea." Ness says, putting a hand to his chin. "If Giygas has taken control of her friends minds', then maybe she could actually help us talk them out of it, instead of having to fight them. I you let her come, then I will make it my personal agenda to protect her from harm." "Alright, you can come," Rainbow says. "Just as long as you stay close to me or one of the others. Okay, everyone, seeing as how we're at the school, I'll be taking Scoots and Fluttershy in my car. If anyone else wants a ride from me, please raise you're hand." Pinkie raises her hand. "Okay, then if that's it, then we'll see you at Sweet Apple Acres." -At Sweet Apple Acres- "We're here." Rainbow says as she turns towards Scootaloo. "Scootaloo, you can go check on Apple Bloom now, but make sure to take someone with you." "I'll go." Ness offers. "Thanks, Rainbow!" Scootaloo heads towards the house, with Ness in tow. It isn't long before they arrive at the front door, which is wide open. The two cautiously head inside, and Ness follows Scootaloo to Apple Bloom's room. When they get there, Scootaloo knocks on the door. "Hello, Apple Bloom? It's me, Scootaloo. I just wanted to make sure you were alright." There's no response. "Hello?" Scootaloo tries the doorknob, finds it unlocked, and opens the door to an empty room. "She's not here." "She's probably at the Sanctuary." Scootaloo finds a crumpled piece of paper on the floor, which upon being smoothed out shows a picture of a barn on it. "This was ripped off of the wall," she says as she notices writing on the bottom left corner of the page. "It looks like she wrote something." "It says 'Sanctuary.'" Ness says as he puts a finger to his forehead. "I need to get this information to the others. Hopefully one of them will be able to receive my telepathic message. Pinkie? Yeah, we found out where the Sanctuary is. Okay. We'll see you there." Ness turns towards Scootaloo. "I need you to lead us to the barn." ---- "Hey guys! I hear Ness's voice!" "Pinkie, that's impossib-" "He knows where the Sanctuary is! It's the barn!" Pinkie interrupts Rainbow as she receives more of Ness's telepathic message. "He says he and Scootaloo will see us there." "Then ah'd suggest we hurry," Applejack says as she moves in front of Rainbow. "Come on, this way." ---- "It shouldn't be much further." Scootaloo says as she leads Ness to the barn, which had appeared on the horizon. "Ah, there it is." "The two continue to walk towards the barn in silence until Scootaloo hears footsteps coming towards them from the direction of the barn. She stops and turns towards Ness. "Ness?" "I hear them, too, Scootaloo. It's probably the Sanctuary's guardian, so we should be cautious until the others show up." The footsteps gradually get closer and closer until a person with yellow skin and red hair can be seen walking towards them. "It's Apple Bloom, Ness." "Try talking to her. Maybe we can snap her out of it before the others show up." "O-okay. Apple Bloom?" Apple Bloom doesn't respond. She just keeps walking forward. "A-Apple Bloom. It's me, Scootaloo." Recognition flashes on her face when Apple Bloom hears Scootaloo's name, but only for a moment. "Talk to her about the things you've done together, it doesn't matter what, just make sure that it's something that she would remember." Ness says. "Apple Bloom. Do you remember that time we made a music video with Sweetie Bell?" Apple Bloom stops walking towards them, and stares. "Or how about when we formed a band for the Battle of the Bands?" It's at that very moment that Apple Bloom speaks. "Sc-Scootaloo?" "You're mind's being controlled by an alien named Giygas. You have to fight against his influence, Apple Bloom! You have to do it for everyone you care about!" "She can never leave my influence." "Yes, you can! Apple Bloom, you are strong enough to do this!" Apple Bloom starts to quiver. "No. I won't let you-!!!" She collapses to the ground and starts to shake as she lets out a little scream. "I'll help you through this." Ness's fingers start to glow yellow. "PSI LIFEUP!" The yellow glow leaps from Ness's fingertips and envelopes Apple Bloom, providing her energy as she fights for control of her mind. Eventually, she stops shaking and sits up, having returned to her senses. "Scootaloo? How'd I get here?" "You're mind was being controlled by an alien named Giygas. I know because the same thing had happened to me." "Okay, but why are you here?" "I came to check on you with Applejack and Rainbow. They should be on their way. They know we're at the barn." "Scootaloo!?" "Rainbow?! We're over here! We found Apple Bloom." "And freed her from Giygas's control." Ness adds as Rainbow and the others enter the clearing that Ness, Scootaloo, and Apple Bloom are in. He turns towards Applejack. "The Sanctuary is now unguarded. Go get the Melody inside there." "Sure thing, sugar cube." Applejack pulls the orange Melody Stone out of her pocket and heads towards the barn. The minute she enters the barn, the stone starts to absorb the energy of the place, indicating it by playing another portion of the song and heating up in Applejack's hand. Applejack then returns to check on her sister.