AJ and the Dragon
Chapter 17
Down With The Dragon
Applejack ran through briars and bushes with Winona right on her tail, barking as she followed her mistress through the Everfree Forest.
"Big Mac!" She called out, her voice echoing through the wood. "Mac!"
"Applejack?" A familiar voice called out, sounding like it didn't believe what was just heard. AJ followed the direction where the voice came from. Soon, she saw her older brother.
"Mac!" She cried out happily. Big Mac then saw his sister, unharmed and looking overjoyed to see him.
"Applejack!" The two siblings ran to each other and enveloped each other in a tight hug, both of them crying tears of joy. "You're all right." The eldest sibling whispered as he held his sister tight. He then released her. "But, the Dragon. How in tarnation did you get away from him?"
"Not now." AJ said. "Right now, I wanna see Apple Bloom."
Big Mac then led Applejack and Winona out of the forest back to the familiar sight of Ponyville. The cowgirl felt a bit of joy that she's home.
Soon, Sweet Apple Acres came into their view. The two siblings quickly ran into the farmhouse with the barking collie dog right behind them. They then came up into Apple Bloom's room, where the youngest Apple was sitting up in bed, and Granny Smith was sitting beside her.
"Applejack!" They both exclaimed.
"Granny! Apple Bloom!" AJ took them in a big hug.
"You're really back." AB said, tears filling up her hazel eyes.
"I knew ya would be all right." Granny said.
Apple Bloom then broke the hug. "What about the Dragon?" She asked. "How did ya escape from him?"
"I didn't escape, li'l sis." Applejack said. "He let me go."
"Say what now?" The young girl questioned, raising an eyebrow, along with Big Mac and Granny Smith.
"You mean that low-down Dragon just let ya go?" Big Mac asked.
"He ain't like that anymore, Big Mac." AJ replied, turning to her brother. "He's changed, somehow." She didn't notice that a fond smile appeared on her face when she began thinking of Spike. But it wasn't missed by Granny Smith.
A knock was then heard from downstairs. Applejack went to go get it, not seeing the worried glance that Big Mac and Apple Bloom shared. When she opened the door, it showed the face of the last person she wanted to see.
"What do you want?" She demanded, growling low.
Brandy Bar grinned maliciously. "Ah, Applejack. Glad to see you again. I've come to see your sister."
"My sister?" AJ asked, confused.
Brandy then moved out of the way to reveal an ambulance and a crowd of people. "I think your sister is very ill, and needs a hospital."
"No, she doesn't!" Applejack shouted at him. "She's fine!"
"You're darn right I am!" A voice piped up. Apple Bloom came beside her sister, showing that she was fine. She was then joined by Big Mac and Granny Smith.
Brandy was confused. "Well, I don't understand. Your sister was-"
"You tried to poison me!" AB shouted at him. The crowd gasped in surprise, while in the shadows three figures were hiding.
"You tried to do what?!" AJ shouted, her face becoming red with anger. "That's low-hanging fruit, even for you! Why in the whole world of Equestria would you even try to do that?!"
"He tried that just so that you would consider marrying him." Apple Bloom revealed, glaring at the hunter, who was becoming more enraged by the second.
Applejack had enough of it and punched Brandy across the face, making the crowd gasp again. The cowgirl was usually pretty level-headed, and it was rare for her to explode.
"I told ya already, you low-down scum! I will never marry you!" She shouted.
The hunter regained his balance and focused on Apple Bloom. "Well, you're one to make an accusation." Brandy said, rubbing his jaw. "I heard that you and your brother were raving about a dragon in Equestria."
The crowd began murmuring amongst themselves, not sure if this was true. But what AJ said next seemed to speak for them.
"I just came from that castle, and there is a dragon there!" She said.
But Brandy didn't seem to buy it. "Please. You will say anything to defend your family." He then smirked. "Besides, you have no proof of it."
Applejack glared at him while reaching into her satchel and pulling out the mirror that Spike gave her. "These people know that I would never lie. Except you. But if y'all want proof, I'll give it to y'all." She then turned to the mirror in her hand. "Show me the Dragon!"
The violet light again swirled over the surface of the mirror, and it then revealed Spike, who was roaring in anguish. Before AJ could feel her heart break at the sight of him so crestfallen, she showed the townsfolk the image. They all exclaimed in fright, while Brandy was stunned quiet. They were telling the truth.
"Is it dangerous?" Someone asked from the crowd.
"No, no." Applejack assured. "He wouldn't hurt anyone. I know he may look frightening, but he's actually really kind and understanding." She looked down at the reflection, softly smiling at it. "He's my friend.
Once again, Granny Smith caught that little smile her granddaughter was giving to the reflection of the Dragon, her emerald green eyes glowing at the image she's seeing. But, she was not the only one this time. Brandy also caught it, and envy began boiling through his blood as he forced her gaze away from the mirror.
"If I didn't know better, I'd think you have feelings for this monster." He said with a slight growl.
AJ glared at him, getting away from his grip. "He ain't no monster, Brandy." She said. "You are!"
Brandy had enough of it and tried to take the mirror from her. But she held tight onto it. "And not only that, but my friends are here, too!"
"Princess Twilight?" A voice from the crowd asked. Soon, there were questions exploding everywhere.
"And Rainbow Dash?"
"What about Pinkie Pie?"
"Is Rarity there, too?"
"And Fluttershy as well?"
"Yes, they all are there, at the Dragon's castle." Applejack answered.
Brandy then began forming another plan. "Well, if the princess and her friends are there, then they must have been captive there." He said. "If they are, then we must rescue them!"
The crowd began shouting agreements.
"No, wait!" AJ tried to explain, but up to no avail when Brandy began chanting a battle cry.
"Down with the Dragon!" The crowd then began repeating the cry as some began to sing.
Townsfolk: They're not safe until he's gone.
He'll then come after us at night,
Sent to sacrifice more souls to his monstrous cruelty.
He'll wreck havoc on our town if we let him wander free.
Brandy then joined in as he helped some of the townsfolk assemble some weapons.
Brandy Bar: So, it's time to take some action, folks.
It's time to follow me!
Through the mist, through the woods, through the darkness and the shadows,
It's a nightmare, but it's one exciting ride.
Say a prayer, then we're there, at the drawbridge of a castle,
And there's something truly terrible inside.
It's a dragon, he's got fangs, razor-sharp ones.
Massive paws, killer claws for the feast.
Hear him roar, see him foam, but we're not coming home
'Til he's gone. Good and gone! Down with the beast!
As the crowd began to head off into the Everfree Forest, Applejack tried to stop them to explain again.
"No! That ain't the case anymore!" She pleaded. But Brandy grabbed her by the arm and finally snatched the mirror away from her.
"I'll be taking that." He placed the mirror in a pouch on his waist and stretched out his free hand. Dark green magic appeared and the Apple family became enveloped in it. He then sent them flying into the barn as he roughly pushed AJ in as well.
"Can't have you running off to warn that monster, now can I?" The doors then magically slammed shut and he barred it with wooden posts for good measure.
Applejack ran to the door and tried to push it. "Let us out, you varmint!" She shouted. But Brandy had left to catch up with the mob.
Townsfolk: Grab a torch! Leave your porch!
Brandy Bar: Throw your courage to the sticking place.
Townsfolk: We're counting on Brandy to lead the way.
Through a mist, through a wood,
While within a haunted castle,
Something's lurking that you don't see everyday.
It's a dragon, one as tall as a mountain.
We won't rest 'til our friends are safe and secure.
Sally forth, tally-ho, grab a staff, grab a bow,
Praise Faust and here we go.
Brandy got up to the front and began to lead them. "We'll save our fellow citizens and show the Dragon what for!"
Meanwhile, Applejack kept trying to push the doors open along with Big Mac, but it still wasn't enough.
"I have to warn Spike!" She said as she pushed.
"Is that his name?" Apple Bloom asked from behind her.
"Yes." Her older sister replied, before losing her grip on the door and falling to her knees. "This is all my fault."
"Now, don't get all down now, sugarcube." Granny Smith said, coming down beside her and helping her up.
"Yeah." Apple Bloom agreed. "We'll think of something, Applejack."
From outside the barn, the three figures earlier looked at each other, nodded, then vanished back into the shadows.
Back in the Everfree Forest, the mob was still singing and marching along. But, they didn't know that storm clouds were beginning to cover up the sky, and the rising of Luna's moon.
Townsfolk: We don't like what we don't understand, in fact it scares us,
And this monster is mysterious, at least.
Learn some tricks, work the strives,
Save your children and your wives.
We'll save our friends and their lives.
Down with the beast!
In the castle, everyone was in a room, lamenting about their close failure.
"He had her right there, right in the moment, yet he just let her go!" Discord ranted. "So much for true love."
"Discord!" Fluttershy reprimanded. "If that happened to you, wouldn't you have done the same?" She asked, making the Lord of Chaos quiet as he thought of himself in a similar scenario.
"But they were so close." Pinkie said. Her hair was now deflated with a gray tint, and Cheese had an arm around her as comfort.
Rainbow Dash angrily threw one of the throw pillows across the room, with Soarin' barely ducking it as he came to sit beside her. "Well, that's it! Game over for everyone!"
Sweetie Belle then heard something. "Hey, guys!" She then looked out the window, which was now starting to have heavy raindrops running down the glass.
Scootaloo then came beside her. "Is it Applejack? Is she back?" She excitedly asked.
Everyone quickly came to look out the window, Pinkie now having her hair back to its normal vibrant state. But, it wasn't AJ. It was the mob.
"Oh my goodness!" Rarity exclaimed. "It must be the entirety of Ponyville!"
"I don't know what is going on, but I do know that Applejack isn't behind this." Twilight said before stating some orders. "Fluttershy, you and Rarity go tell Spike what is happening, while the rest of us try to keep them out for as long as we can until we can think of something."
"Right away." Rarity said before taking Fluttershy by the arm and both of them headed up to the West Wing.
Everyone else ran or zoomed downstairs towards the doors, singing.
All: There's no choice.
Prepare ourselves.
We are marching into battle,
Even though the danger may be increased.
From outside, the mob arrived at the doors and began to try and push them down as they sang.
Townsfolk: Raise the flag.
Sing the song.
Here we come, we're fifty strong.
And fifty townsfolk can't be wrong.
Down with the beast!
They tried to push down the doors, but from the other side, Twilight, Discord, Sweetie Belle, and Fancy Pants were holding them back with their magic, while everyone else pushed against the doors.
From up in the West Wing, Fluttershy and Rarity saw Spike by the Iris Iris, which it only had two petals left.
"Uh, excuse us, Spike?" Fluttershy asked hesitantly.
"Please leave me alone." Spike whispered, still staring at the wilting enchanted flower.
"But Spike, the castle is under attack." Rarity informed as both her and Fluttershy looked downstairs as they heard the banging from outside. "What should we do?"
"It doesn't matter." Spike said glumly. "Just let them come."
The two girls looked at each other. It was hard to heal a broken heart, especially in crisis. But now, they see that it was no use, and they left him.
When they went back down, they saw everyone trying their best to hold back the doors.
"This isn't working!" Pinkie said as she and Cheese braced themselves.
Rainbow pushed herself harder against the huge doors, but it was showing that she was losing her balance. "Anyone else has a bright idea?" She asked.
Just then, Discord had a light bulb materialize above his head. "I've got one!" He exclaimed.
"It better be a good one!" Twilight said as she was starting to lose her strength.
"Oh, it will be." Discord said with a smirk.