The road to Sweet Apple Acres never felt so long and arduous as when Twilight set out that afternoon with Fluttershy and Luminous. Every step seemed shorter, though Luminous kept running every few steps to keep up. She had insisted on coming, in a very roundabout way, and Twilight was sure she'd follow anyway. Her new squire had been an orphan, Twilight knew, and had been taken into the care of the state after blinding two bullies with a spectacularly brilliant flash of light. The bullies' sight had been restored after a week or so, but Luminous was taken into the state's care after that, and signed up for the School for Gifted Unicorns.
Unfortunately, she'd failed the entrance exam, and continued to fail it even after three years of nearly constant study. Her magic, they told her, was simply too unpredictable: vastly puissant one moment, and impossible to conjure the second. Twilight shivered inwardly at how close she'd come to failing the test herself, and empathized with the little unicorn's plight. She'd leapt onto the chance to be Twilight's squire, apparently in the hopes that Twilight would succeed where her other trainers had failed, and out of a desperate attempt to find her special talent. Her hopes were one more burden on Twilight's shoulders, but she genuinely felt for the stubborn filly.
Twilight tried to push her stress down, but the throbbing bite on her neck and the burns on her sides wouldn't let her focus as well as she'd like. She'd put on a brave face for Fluttershy and managed to convince her she wasn't in much pain somehow, though in all honesty she felt like she'd been tossed around by an avalanche.
The thought of avalanches made Twilight think about the time of year. It was early winter now, and all three ponies were wearing scarves. Luminous was wearing a pink and purple scarf emblazoned with Twilight's cutie mark, something Twilight found vaguely unsettling, while Twilight herself sported her own plain purple scarf that matched her coat rather nicely. Fluttershy was wearing a light blue scarf, and seemed troubled, though she always replaced her frown with a smile when she noticed Twilight looking.
The purple unicorn felt it probably had something to do with why Rainbow Dash hadn't stuck around when her mate, Fluttershy, had. She felt a little guilty about it, but was thankful for the pegasus' presence. “Fluttershy,” Twilight asked as they walked past the start of the apple orchards, now bare of leaf and fruit alike, “Have you heard anything about what's wrong with Applebloom?”
Fluttershy nodded, “Oh yes, and it's most strange. She has... Well it's like she's changing into another pony. And strange things happen around her... Unicorn magic without a horn, things like that, or so the specialist we brought in told us.”
“Us?”
“Applejack called Rainbow and me in first after she got no response from you, and we called in a specialist in magical maladies from Canterlot.” Fluttershy said, worry creeping into her tone, “But he didn't know either. I just don't know what to do,” Fluttershy sighed and landed next to Twilight, walking beside her as they finally reached the gate to Sweet Apple Acres.
Twilight and Fluttershy sat in the dining room in an uncomfortable silence, with Granny Smith snoozing in the corner Luminous sat beside Twilight, rigid as a statue, . Big Macintosh had brought them in, the big crimson stallion unusually silent, which was saying something, but he led them into the dining room of the big Apple family home. Granny Smith had come in sometime later, apparently oblivious to Fluttershy and Twilight, and promptly fell asleep in a corner chair, which added an element of surreality to the scene. Finally, after what felt like hours, a familiar orange earth pony walked in through the door.
“Applejack, we're here to... I mean...” Twilight stammered to silence as Applejack stared at her. She tried again, “I... I got your letter, finally... See, Trixie had... She was...”
“Twilight Sparkle,” Applejack said softly, tiredly, “Ah live less than a mile up the road, and ah've said before that yer always welcome. Not once, for weeks, did you come by.”
“There... Was a case to solve, ponies were getting murdered...” Twilight said weakly, gradually fading into a sort of fidgety silence. “I'm... Sorry, Applejack, I was scared.” Twilight admitted softly, looking down at the table.
“Scared.” Applejack said flatly.
“Yeah... I'm... I'm not the same, and I guess... I guess I was afraid you wouldn't want to... Didn't want to be my friend anymore, after I stopped getting letters... I got depressed, stopped leaving the library, except to work on the case. I figured Rarity had said something an-”
“Rarity?” Genuine astonishment colored Applejack's tone, and Twilight looked up to see the powerful farmer looking puzzled, “What about Rarity?”
Twilight blinked, “Well we... Didn't exactly have the best break-up...” At Applejack's shocked look she added, “We were together for a while... I was hospitalized for alcohol poisoning...”
Applejack shook her head, “I thought that-... No, it doesn't matter now, ah never had anything against ya except fer not comin' down to see me. But it changes things a bit,” the orange earth pony sighed and jerked her head, “Come on Twi,” she said in a friendlier tone than when she'd entered, “Ah need yer help with Applebloom, we can talk about whatever else later.” Twilight rose and followed Applejack, nodding. Luminous quietly followed, with a polite nod to Fluttershy, who sighed and flapped over to the kitchen to make something to eat while she waited.
“We've tried everything, Twilight, but something's not right with her,” Applejack said quietly as they climbed the stairs; Applebloom's room was on the second floor, down a long narrow hallway. “It's like... Like she's not really there, like something's missing.” Twilight nodded, frowning while she mentally filed the information. As they stepped into the hallway leading to Applebloom's room, Twilight was struck by a sudden impression of brambles creeping outwards from the door at the end that faded swiftly.
She shook her head, causing Applejack to raise an eyebrow, then nodded to the door, “I feel it, Applejack. Something's wrong, it's like...” Twilight's eyes widened as a sudden thought occurred to her, “Applejack, when did this start, exactly?”
“Uh... As soon as she came back. Little things like dying her mane at first of course but now... It's like she's a whole new pony.” Applejack said, shaking her head before peering at Twilight shrewdly, “Why? You think you might know something?”
“Celestia, I hope not... Stay here for now Luminous,” Twilight said to her squire, who frowned but nodded and sat by the entrance to the hallway obediently, “Applebloom might be in a rather fragile state if I'm right...” she shook her head, “And if so, I'm going to need you to run down to the library and send a letter to the Princess via Spike.” Luminous nodded and sat rigidly, the very figure of faithful watchfulness. Twilight coughed, a little embarrassed, and started down the hallway.
“Been meaning to ask,” Applejack said quietly when they'd walked a ways down the hall, “What's with the filly?”
“She's my squire,” Twilight said uncomfortably, “I'll explain later.” Applejack nodded, as they were in front of Applebloom's door, on which was nailed a sign.
DO NOT ENTER
By Order
Applejack knocked regardless, “Applebloom, Twilight's here to see you,” she called through the door. The lack of response seemed to be underlined by the sign on the door. Applejack knocked harder, “Applebloom, come on, Twilight might have some way to help ya.”
“Read the door!” Came the shrill reply. Something about the phrase made Twilight pale, but Applejack just seemed to get irritated. She was about to knock again, when Twilight held up a hoof to stop her.
“Applebloom,” Twilight said clearly and calmly, “Open this door please.” After a moment or two, the door opened, and there stood Applebloom, looking extremely surprised as she attempted to fight her own body. Her coat was its usual yellow, but her mane and tail were a deep purple now, save for a pink stripe. Her eyes were red and purple, rather than their usual red and gold, and filled with intense emotions. Twilight looked into the room and frowned at the equasions, books and notes pinned everywhere. “Applebloom,” Twilight asked gently, “What were you trying to do?”
Applebloom tried to clamp her mouth shut, but she blurted out in a voice that held only a trace of her former accent, “I was trying to become a unicorn, so I could get rid of all the magic. It's filling up my head, and it hurts!”
Twilight nodded, “I can help with that, Applebloom. Do you trust me?”
“No!”
“Why?” Twilight asked softly, “I've been your sister's friend for ages, done my best to help you earn your cutie mark and saved you from the Beast. Why don't you trust me?” Twilight didn't sound defensive, just tired.
“Because... This is all your fault. Somehow!” Applebloom snapped back, tears forming in her eyes, “None of this would have happened if you hadn't run off, Zecora sent a note that said we had to get you back from somewhere, and that's why I went out that night, if-” she cut off abruptly at Twilight's gesture, literally unable to speak.
“Applebloom, you're right partially, your current state is directly my fault. I was careless, and I'm sorry. But...” Twilight added, her eyes narrowed, “Zecora would never call you out in the dead of night and definitely not into the forest, not even for me. Something else is at work here, and I intend to get to the bottom of it.” Twilight's expression softened as she saw Applebloom frown in thought, “But I can't do that if you won't trust me. Can you trust me to help you relieve the magical stress at least?” Applebloom stood still for a long moment, then nodded. Twilight smiled wearily, “I'll get that together shortly, you can go back to what you were doing.” A tension seemed to leave Applebloom, she shook herself and slammed the door in Twilight's face.
“What,” said Applejack slowly after a moment, “Was that all about?”
“I'll explain when we're back down at the dining room, I have a few letters to write.”
“You OWN her?!” Applejack said indignantly, planting her hooves on the table, “Now look here Twilight-”
“I don't WANT to own her, Applejack,” Twilight said tiredly, writing the last of the letters with her telekinesis while Luminous waited patiently, “But the Beast GAVE her to me.”
“Yeah, so?” Applejack said suspiciously.
“So, that's what caused this. Creatures like him... Agh, one moment,” Twilight gave the last letter to Luminous, who saluted and dashed off at full tilt back towards the library. She turned her attention to Applejack again, “Look, you never break your word, right Applejack?”
“Of course not! Ah would never-”
“But you could, right?” Twilight asked, peering at her friend intently. “If you really wanted to, you could break your spoken word.”
Applejack was briefly reminded of the incident with Discord, but shook her head, “Ah suppose ah could, but ah wouldn't.”
“Of course not, but the Beast can't. He literally cannot break his word, spoken or otherwise. And...” Twilight sat back and sighed sadly, “Agreements made with him are equally binding.”
Applejack blinked as the penny dropped, “So you... Own her then? Because of something that thing said?” Twilight nodded glumly, closing her eyes. “What does that have to do with what's wrong with her?”
Twilight was silent for a moment, then said, “The Hedge is the boundary between our world and the Beast's. It's full of dangers, the most common of such being the thorns and briars that line the path,” Twilight's voice was low and sad, “Since the Hedge is the boundary between the physical and the non-physical, it stands to reason that its dangers present a threat to more than our physical selves. When Applebloom was taken, she was dragged through the briars and thorns, they tore at her hide like claws, and, if I'm right, her soul too.”
A long silence stretched out, then Applejack said weakly, “Her... Soul?”
“Yes, her soul. And it's being filled by me somehow, which is why her body is changing, and why the magic is hurting her; it's unicorn magic, and she's an earth pony. It'd be like... Like if you tried to take off like a pegasus with no wings to lift you.” Twilight opened her eyes and looked up at the ceiling, her face setting in a determined scowl, “But if I'm right, I can get her back to normal, if I'm wrong... Well I'll do my best, no matter the cost.”
After several silent moments, Applejack nodded, “Alright. The guest room's free, it's the first door on your left up the stairs, and... Twilight?” Applejack turned to leave, but tilted her head to look at her friend over her shoulder, the setting sun making her mane shine like polished gold as she smiled, “S'awright, ah knew ya wouldn't leave me hangin'.” Twilight nodded, smiling back as Applejack continued on to bed. The mood was partially spoilt by Granny Smith snoring in the corner, but Twilight didn't really care. Applejack and Fluttershy at least had forgiven her, and she was determined not to let them down.
Applebloom sighed in relief as the crystals set in the crown around her head began to glow with stored magic. Crown was something of a generous term for the mass of wires, crystals and electrodes that made up the device around Applebloom's head and connected to the beeping machines around her. It had been the labor of most of the night, once Twilight's letters started having an effect and ponies, books and material started arriving. Nopony, not even other changelings, knew much about the Hedge, but soul-magic mishaps did occasionally happen. As such, Twilight had called in some favors from the academic community and had pored over case files in the Apple family kitchen for hours before constructing the mana siphon.
“Now Applebloom,” Twilight said once the device was full and every crystal was glowing brilliantly, “This is only a temporary solution, but I'm betting that feels a bit better, yes?” Applebloom nodded fervently, about to thank the purple unicorn, but Twilight cut her off, “However, we still have the other problem to deal with, and until we do we can't slow down. Now,” Twilight said, setting down the case file she'd been reading and gently disengaging the mana siphon from Applebloom's head, “pretty much every expert has said that you should have been able to regenerate your soul on your own. For some reason you haven't, and nopony knows why.”
“But...” Applebloom said, puzzled and a little downcast, “What can we do then?”
Twilight nodded, “A good question, we'll... Ah, Trixie, have they found anything?” She turned as a familiar blue unicorn insinuated herself into the room. Trixie was incredibly wary of Applejack for some reason Twilight couldn't divine, and generally hid out of sight of the apple farmer whenever she could. So, to ease her blue aide's fears, she made her run all her messages to the changelings she had combing the Hedge.
Trixie nodded, looking through the doorway nervously before whispering, “Yes, but you're not gonna like it.”
Twilight sighed tiredly, rubbing her eyes, “Why Trixie I've gotten used to the Hedge spiting me whenever it can, what's wrong?”
Trixie grimaced, “Hobgoblins have gotten ahold of all three pieces. Powerful bast-” Trixie's gaze flicked to Applebloom and she amended her statement lamely, “Bad guys. They're guarding them for some reason. They're not using them,” Trixie added hastily, seeing Twilight's eyes widen, “But they're killing anything that comes close. Octavia lost a chunk of tail to one when she tried to get a better look.”
“Alright, I guess it was too much to expect this to be easy. Where-”
“Twilight,” Applebloom asked, nudging the unicorn, “What pieces? What hedge? Hobgoblins?”
Twilight rubbed her face with her hoof, then nodded, “The pieces of your soul, Applebloom, which were scraped off when the Beast pulled you through the thorns.” Applebloom's eyes widened, but before she could say anything Twilight continued, “The Hedge is where he pulled you through and the place in which the Beast lives. Most of his kind don't, he's kind of a hermit by their standards. Hobgoblins,” Twilight continued loudly as she saw Applebloom about to interrupt again, “Are creatures that have gotten lost in there, lost their souls and become something... Else. They can be violent, insane, or totally trustworthy, depending on how they've adapted.”
Applebloom was silent for a long moment, then she looked up at Twilight, “So... The bits of my soul are being kept prisoner by these hobgoblins?” Twilight nodded, “And without em I'm gonna slowly turn into you and not be able to refuse anything you say?” Twilight winced, but nodded, “So... What're you gonna do?”
“Applebloom,” Twilight said, her voice hardening as she rose from the table, “We're going to take back your bits of soul from those creatures, and Celestia help them if they refuse to let them go,” Applebloom took a step back as Twilight's vehemence flowed forth like a river from a broken dam, “I will burn the Hedge to the ground if I have to, rather than let you suffer like this.”