//------------------------------// // Season 3: Chapter Thirteen: Hope shall sing.:The return of the elements arc // Story: Project Harmony One. // by Megaskullmon //------------------------------// "Allow Hope to sing." The middle of a field of trees in the dream world Core opened her eyes. She had a large smile forming on her face. "Ah, I love being near trees." Looking up at the tree's they had no fruit on them or even leaves. The poor cowgirl sighed she knew she was in the dream. But she didn't even want to leave the trees. For the moment she leaned into them feeling more at home then she ever has. Yanari slowly walked up beside her sitting down near the tree. "I had a feeling you would show up." Apple Core calmly said. "Yes, I sadly had to. I don't want to battle you miss Core. I just want to continue on my wandering following every sun I see. I used to be a holy warrior of hope. A creature that worshiped the light of hope. But down the line, I was corrupted by my friends." "A creature of hope? Well, then I see why you fall so hard then. But why aren’t you attacking me?" Yanari looked over after the question and she smiled showing her bug-like teeth. "I'm my Harmony side miss core. I will not harm you unless my friend find's that we need to fight. He seems to get all your friends to fight. It's starting to upset the others. Disharmony leaders are getting a bit upset with him that he is doing this. He is making you ponies to powerful in their eyes." Core laughed. " Well is that a good thing or a bad thing?" She asked while she looked at the tree's seeing no birds hearing no birds. It hit her hard that there wasn't anything of the sort. She slowly stands on her hooves. Finally, it hits her she is not in a real field or seeing real dreams. "So I guess my hunch was right. I am in that dream spell. Tell me Yanari how long have I been in this spell?" The bug creature stood up. "About almost a year. But the war won't fully start till you're all out of this bubble. Then you won't fight the war maybe for a year again. It will take time for the rest of the equestrian army that joined you to get to this new world. Then just to rebuild the station will take time as well." Core sighed softly looking at Yanari. "I'm not sure about this. I just want a normal life. But if I can settle down for at least a year or two. I can finally have the family I have been wanting to have. But...I know my leg has been lost. But still, I want to start a family. I need to find some pony that will love me for who I am." Yanari chuckles. "It seems like all your friends want a family something to come back to. I for one agree to that. Since well the new world you will be in we can't find it. It's in a part of the universe that it's hard for our ships to even fly in. But it allows creatures allied with Equestrian military and ships from your world that joined you." Apple core sighed " I think it's time that I try to find what I must do." Core walked away from Yanari heading into her home to gather gear for whatever is going to be going on. Looking at the old photos of Apple Jack and the apple family through the years. She is one of Apple's that went to space. The others stayed behind. But she has a fear that Twilight and her minions destroyed what Apple jack left behind. She walked through the house. Looking at the home she grew up in. That she left behind after the station finally became fully online. She just sat in her old room that was Apple jack's former room. But all she did was to check for her gear. Grabbing a slug thrower shot gun that she kept for wolves and other creatures. But she even grabbed her old sword that she bought when she was a foal. She sighed deeply looking at the weapons. " I don't know if it's wise to take all these." Looking around the room. She felt that Hope was gone in the Apple family. How was she going to bring it back? But then she knew that Applejack used to play songs for the family. She went through the house looking for the old banjo. She found the Banjo in a set of old mothballs. She went outside gently sliding her hoof along the old strings. Making some music closing her eye's feeling the music. Then I started to play the song. "We traveled the road for generations." While she sang the element on the tree outside the spell glowed. Causing the trees to form the start of the Zap apples. The apples stare at their crops turning into Zap apples. Apple core's older sister. Red Apple started to sing the song. "We Traveled the road of Generations." Sunset Shimmer and Luna watched this happening looking at the element of hope glowing. She smiled. "What is going on Luna?" Shimmer asked. "Hope Sunset... hope." "Joined by a common bond. "Apple core and Red Apple sang. "We're singing' our song across the pony nation. From Equestria to beyond." The rest of the Apples started to sing. The element glowed brighter causing a strange spell to happen to the land that would start giving the Apples the Zap apple tree's when it's time. The spell formed a docile version of Timberwolves so the howl could be heard. "After what happened to Equestria Shimmer the Apples lost everything. Everything. All that Applejack ever built all that her father and mother built over the years. Just seeing this hope in their eye's seeing the fact that they know... They could see their sibling or family member again. Brings them hope. "We're Apples forever!!" "Apples together!" The entire farm grew into the song. Even the ponies who aren’t apples joined in. The fact that hope fills their hearts makes them happy about this. The town glowed brightly the Seven Fang that protected Buttery Berry held her close to give her hope. He smiled at her when she was crying. Because she needed this more than anyone. Chaser and Shadow the two mare's that worked on parts of the station just stood there listening. Chaser was a bit of trouble in this new world. A bit of a crazy mare. "We're Apples to the core!!!" Apple core started to sing the next verses. They could start hearing her through the element of hope. "There's no place id rather be. Than travelin' with my family! Friend's all around come and join us see. As we sing across the land!! " Red Apple smiled that her sister was close to her again. Hope in their family’s eye's filled them. Now it wasn't just apples anymore. Some even married into Carrots and other growing families. There were no new feuds. It was the only way to keep peace with farm families. All of them started to sing loudly. "We're Apples forever! Apples together!!" But during the song, Yanari rushed in she was glowing bright black stabbing the banjo with her sword. Causing Apple Core to stop singing. But the rest of the family kept singing while Yanari grabbed the mare tossing her into a tree. Rushing at her to make sure she can't even get back up onto her hooves. Apple core lifted the shotgun with her hooves. It was made for earth ponies to be able to use them with their hooves. She fired it causing Yanari to fall to the ground but not as well. Dead she dropped it running away into the station all over again. She had her old sword trying her best to get away from Yanari. But the large creature just kept chasing her. "You gave them much hope!! You need to be stopped. Hope will destroy them as it did to me!!" Apple Core ran away as quickly as she could. She had much fear in her eyes. But she did what she had to. Being a farmer she waited around a corner and then when Yanari turned to get to her. She bucked her hard in the stomach. Causing the armor that she wore to shatter and she flew away from Core. Core quickly tried to move. But in the dream Yanari sliced through her left foreleg she gasped in pain screaming in agony. She fell to the floor leaning into the wall. She started to sing to give herself hope. "Please bring the sun to me...Please bring my heart to me." She sang shivering in pain. Yanari just walking closer Core knew she would be killed if the large Bug got ahold of her. She stood on her hooves trying to run with just three legs now. It was harder then she thought. But she kept singing. "We are apples to the core. Bring me my heart... Back. Bring me, my soul, back. " Yanari finally grabbed her. "Got you.." Core just stood there now letting her end come. Yanari got ready to attack with her sword. But it was a trick. Core held her sword stabbing deep into yanari's chest. The large bug gasped and laughed falling to her knees. "You think...this will stop me? Run...Miss core run." Yanari started to pull the sword out of her chest. Core quickly turned around bucking her back hooves into the head of Yanari causing her to fly into the wall. But core noticed she couldn't kill her. She knew what she had to do. "Please element of hope....along with my friends. Save me...please!!" 0000 The tree outside started to glow brightly. The element has been fully awakened glow to protect Apple Core. A beam fire's into the spell causing it to glow brightly and to make a sound that is ringing. The ponies stare at the spell. The beam rushed into the spell causing Apple core to grow a new leg just for the time, of course, it even gave her a new weapon. It said on the hilt the spear of hope. Yanari finally walked into the hall staring at her. "You have no place to run anymore Apple Core. I shall win even when we meet in the battle. Despair always wins the war on hope. I will never let you live without me. You're nothing without me!!" "Id hate to admit it to you. You're right. I am nothing without you. Without you, I would just be a simple farmer. So" Somehow not being a unicorn the spear floated beside her in a glow that looked as powerful as hope. "Come and fight me Yanari. Let’s see who will win this battle." The two stared at each other. Their muscles on their bodies tensed up. Yanari's many arms tensed up. Her hands started to sweat from holding the swords. Core stood on her hooves. Sweat slowly poured down her face. The pain from trying to keep this new leg from hurting didn't help either. Their eye's stared at each other. Then they both charged when they got into range Core tried to stab Yanari with the head of the spear. But it was blocked. The two stood there attacking each other with as much force as their bodies allowed. The spear attack using every inch of might. But with it being polearm it was harder to attack someone that used swords. Core jumped back groaning in pain. She looked up at the large bug charging at her. She smirked using the spear to trip Yanari knocking her into the wall making her at least knocked out for the time being. Core tried to stab into her back with the spear. But it didn't go through her shell. She had to find a way to break through the shell. Maybe heating this blade would do. She left the knocked out the bug to go to the docking bay. Yanari stood up flying up into the vent's to try to chase Core as fast as she could. Core made into the docking bay. She looked for what she could find a blow torch. Setting the spear down turning it on to heat the blade of the spear. Leaving the fire of the blow torch making the blade glow brightly. Steam and smoke went through the air. The tip of the spear didn't even melt for it's an enchanted spear made of her element. Yanari broke through the vent's leading into the docking bay. Core stood up quickly grabbing the spear trying to force the tip of the spear into the bug. Yanari backed up quickly feeling the heat of the spear. "Good try...pony." Apple Core has fear in her eyes now. Turning the spear quickly smacking the poor bug with the blunt part of the spear causing the poor bug to fall to the ground. Apple core rushed back out of the docking bay. The Bug stood up growling in anger. "Get back here!!" Core quickly hid into a closet waiting for Yanari to move past it. The pony then slowly walked back out. Getting her head almost sliced off by Yanari's quick movement. Core blocked the attack with the spear. The spear shattered in half. Core fell to the floor. Looking at the tip of the spear. Turning back to Yanari who is standing over her. Yanari did a side swipe unlike in other battle's sometimes lifting the blade above their head to give a good chance to stab them. But Core rolled out of the way her tail getting sliced a bit. She grabbed the tip of the spear quickly charging into her stabbing it deep into her chest. The bug just stood there looking at the spear into her chest. She looked back up to Core and smirked. "You thought that would kill me? I am the element of despair. You need to fight me like it." Core backed up but Yanari grabbed the tip of the spear charging into Core stabbing it through her into the wall having her be in pure agony. The bug smirked forcing the heated blade deeper into the poor mare and the wall. "You can no longer run." She pulls the spearhead out of the wall and the mare letting her fall to the floor. The poor mare lay there panting groaning. She closed her eye groaning. "Please... Celestia. I need hope...give me hope.." She felt the hoof of Applejack on her back she looked up to the honest mare. She didn't speak but the genteelness of her green eyes said it all. She felt another hoof looking up seeing her friends. Then she looked at Discord who stood in front of Yanari. "Leave the element of hope alone Yanari." The creature of Chaos stood in front of the bug. He looked weak from his time trapped in that spell. The bug laughed shaking her head. She took a step forward. While the friend's and Applejack tried their best to heal the poor Apple mare. "Discord... Brother join us..." Discord stood there with a weak smile. "I will never join you again. This creature from Equestria is now under my protection from creatures like you." The bug smirked grabbing her blade's. But she didn't know that the Apple pony slowly stood up even if blood slowly drained from the very wound. "NOW Apple core!!" Yanari turned to see hooves back deep into the bug's chest. The armor causing her to be protected broke and fell apart showing her weak points now. Core lifted the spear tip in her mouth. Slowly walking to Yanari. Her element is weaker than the others. Her hope is very weak. But she felt that if she made herself a family her hope will be fulfilled. The bug weakly stood groaning. Core tossed the blade at Yanari it flew right into her chest causing her to fall to her knees. She looked at the Apple mare. She was still alive how that is it's hard for Apple Core to understand this. Core pulled the blade out of her chest. Dropping the blade to the ground. She sighed softly sitting down staring at Yanari who just watched her weakly. "So you don't wish to kill me now?" The large bug asked. "Should I?" Core just stared at her. " I could kill you now but would that be how your friend wishes this battle to go?" Yanari sighed closing her eyes. " I don't know anymore. I used to be a creature of pure light. But then being given this power of hope. Then Dispare. I don't understand it." Core sighed wrapping her forehooves around the one that tried to kill her hugging her. She tried to fill her with the Hope that she had in her own heart. The sound of Yanari starting to cry made Discord very surprised at this. He walked to the two sighings. "Think you got this Core?" Apple core looked up to Discord nodding. The poor creature smiled weakly. Slowly walking away. "Listen Yanari. I can't do this very easily. I watched half of my friends get hurt. I watched a very close friend of mine Sugar Sparkle lose her ability to walk from a bullet going into her neck. Core stood up from the hug. "Take care." She left Yanari sobbing while she walked into the room of the elements. "I'm here.." Muffin Savanna turns to see their friend. They both smile they seem to be more into what they’re talking about. "Hello, Apple Core." A soft voice spoke. Core turned to look right at Sugar Sparkle her eyes grow wide. " You're walking...." Core's eyes fill with tears. She runs to her wrapping around her friend hugging her. Sun Sparkle looks over she smiles but then talking to her father again. Core turned to look at the former element of hope. Standing there was a golden armored Yanari that held a large sword. It glowed with a bright rune. She smiled. "Hello, Apple core. This is what you will look like when you fully embrace Hope. But Core I can tell you don't fully embrace it." Core sighed looking away. " I don't feel I deserve it. I'm just a simple farmer. I also make food for the entire station." Yanari leaned down putting her left hand under Core's Chin. "Miss Core I know it will be hard for you to understand....but.." They look over to seeing the element of song waking up. "Oh...no." "What’s up?" They stare at the element of the song. The creature looks like a seven fang. "The element of the song. The counter of it. Sadness." Core blinked she had a look of fear in her eyes. "Pinkie Cake has been on her own for a while now. Her element of Song didn't even trigger her element yet. She's all alone!" She said loud enough for the other's to hear and start to worry about Pinkie Cake. Outside of the dream, the element of the song slowly glows very dimly. Pinkie Cake is the last of her line. All of them have been killed during the attack on Ponyville. She knows this the last of the Pie line must win this battle or die like the rest of her family.