//------------------------------// // Chapter 09 - Seek Guidance // Story: Their Very Own Suns // by Blank Page //------------------------------// Twilight Sparkle was going to faint.  Her lungs felt as though they were about to explode, but she didn’t dare take in another breath, lest the guards in Applejack’s cabin heard her. Applejack was right; the Manehattan Guard was expecting her return, and they were stopped before the limits of Manehattan.  Twilight just hoped they would show some leniency in their ‘routine’ inspection because of it. She trusted Applejack had hidden them well enough to fool the guards, yet her fears still gnawed away at her. She allowed herself a quick gasp of air and nearly sighed it away in relief when the guards didn’t notice. A small crack in the floorboards provided the only source of light in the dark, cramped area Twilight hid away in.  She almost wished it wasn’t there, teasing her with faint glimpses of movement above, but her desperate curiosity would have driven her mad otherwise. She thought to Solaire and how worse off he was, and Twilight’s fears shifted that he would be caught rather than her.  Applejack’s cabin had little hiding room for a creature of his height, and they had to hide his sword and shield beneath the saddlebags in the loft, far separate from him.  If he was caught, he would be cornered and defenseless and vulnerable… No, he wouldn’t be, Twilight thought to herself.  He was strong and patient and above all brave, far more than she could hope to be.  While she cowered in the cramped dark beneath the floorboards, she imagined Solaire was holding his composure far better.  If he was here with her, he would probably tell her that there is no need to panic, to have faith in their cause. She just had to be brave like him.  Brave like him, Twilight repeated to herself. A hoof covered the small crack above her, and the board shifted beneath the guard’s full weight, pinching against Twilight’s muzzle.  Her heart spiked, and her eyes clenched tightly as she silently prayed he would go away. “Well, everything looks clear,” one of the guards said above.  Hoofsteps moved across the cabin towards the front, and as the weight on top of her lifted, her hooves quickly moved to ease the lingering pain in her muzzle. “Alright, Miss Applejack, everything appears to be in order,” a muffled voice announced.  “Welcome back to Manehattan.” Time seemed to drag before the cabin finally lurched forward again.  Twilight sucked in another breath, and it cut through the groaning of wheels like a sharp wheeze.  She didn’t dare make a louder sound. She felt every jarring bump and pit of the road beneath her.  Her eye was pinned back on the crack in the floor, staring up into the unmoving cabin as though it would provide some comfort.  Though they escaped the immediate danger of the guards at the checkpoint, they still had an entire city to traipse before they were even relatively safe.  She counted the seconds as they passed to keep her worrying mind occupied, even as they turned into minutes and dragged on longer still.  How much longer would the madness go on? The cabin shuddered as it sharply turned off the cobble street, and Twilight winced as it stalled and lurched over a large bump.  It gradually came to a stop. Twilight felt her heart spike again. Did they arrive? Were they safe? She heard the door open once more, and as hoofsteps drew closer she found herself holding tightly to her breath.  They were right on top of her. Light flooded into her cramped compartment as the hatch lid was peeled away, and Twilight shot upwards with a gasp. “Twilight dear, you’re safe,” Applejack quickly assured her, but it did little to help the panicking mare. “Solaire!”  Twilight’s eyes locked onto the wardrobe at the end of the cabin, and it shuddered and groaned beneath the force of her will as she reached out to it with her magic.  It shifted slowly to the side, revealing a large cubbyhole Applejack had used as an additional closet, and beneath the salesmare’s ornate dresses rested her Warrior of Sunlight, sitting cross-legged with a nearly surprised look in his eyes. Before he could so much as get out a word, Twilight leapt out of her hiding space and tackled him, wrapping her hooves tightly around his chest. Solaire staggered back from the impact, using a hand to prop himself from falling further back.  He looked down to his summoner, still embracing him and slightly shaking, and he shook his head with a soft chuckle.  “Why, you nearly had me worried, shouting my name so, Twilight,” he chastened her lightly. She didn’t respond, simply tightening her embrace around him, and he smiled, ruffling her mane comfortingly with his free hand.  “I suppose this means our mission was a success,” he offered, looking up to the salesmare. “You have our thanks yet again, dear Applejack.” “Oh, don’t thank me just yet.  I fear I have only taken you halfway.”  Her faint smile disappeared as she looked to the door.  “Manehattan is a large city, and we don’t know where to even begin searching for Evening.  I’ve parked us next to the apartments where my aunt and uncle live.  If you two need a place to stay and hide away from the Guard, I know you will be more than welcome.” Twilight pulled away from her companion, allowing him to stand to his feet, and turned meekly to Applejack.  “No, we couldn’t impose,” she shook her head. “I won’t hear of it, Twilight,” Applejack said sternly.  “Your mission is far too important, and Manehattan is far too dangerous for either of you to be walking in broad moonlight.  If the personal student of the former princess truly is still here, then she would be well hidden, as should you. My conscience would do well to know that you two are safe, and my home will more than suffice until you can find a better center of operations.” Twilight looked up to Solaire, who gave a grim nod.  “Alright,” she conceded with a sigh. “You’ve convinced me… again.  You’ve done so much for us; I just hope some moon we can repay you.” “Uphold your promise and bring back the sun, and you can consider the debt more than well paid,” Applejack assured with a knowing smile. A sigh escaped Twilight, but it was a pleasant one.  She gave the salesmare a thankful nod and turned to Solaire.  “Alright, let’s get your things. It’ll be hard to move around here without being spotted, so we’ll have to be careful.” “Actually…” Applejack interjected.  She hesitated when Twilight returned her attention to her, hoping she wouldn’t offend her, or her companion for that matter.  “It might be best if Solaire stays in here, lest we gather any unwanted attention,” she explained carefully. “No offense, darling, but you’re not exactly hard to spot in a crowd.” Solaire shifted on his feet, obviously disturbed at the thought of separating from his host.  Twilight looked pale, her mouth opening and closing, trying to form words. “N-No, we stay together,” she finally said. With the desperation in mare’s tone, Applejack knew there was no room for compromise with her.  Still, with the city of Manehattan dauntingly awaiting them, she had to at least try to convey the gravity of their situation.  “Twilight, please understand,” she pleaded. “Word of your travels have spread even here; I overheard even the guards at the checkpoint speak of rumors.”  She looked to Solaire, hoping he would be more understanding. “If you are to walk out those doors, you cannot have your weapons or armor. You are imposing enough as it is to most ponies, but if somepony sees you dressed for battle, or even with the sun embellished across your chest, they will take notice, and the wrong ears will quickly hear of it.” He didn’t answer immediately, but with a short glance to his host he removed his helm, looking to Applejack with a hardened resolve.  “Very well. If disarming myself should somehow be safer, then so be it,” he nodded. “If we truly are in short supply of friends in this dire town, then surely we should be encouraged to hold closely the company we already have.” “Then… Then it’s settled,” Twilight interjected, a tremor lining her tone.  “We stick together, no matter what.” She turned to Applejack. “You know what’s out there better than us; we’ll follow your lead.” Applejack shook her head.  She couldn't believe what she was hearing, but she thought better than to continue arguing for their separation.  Who knew how long they had been traveling together? It wouldn’t be proper of her to wedge herself between them.   Even still, though she didn’t doubt their capability, she still felt the need to offer some protection, however minimal. She sighed in resignation and trotted past the pair to her wardrobe.  “Not like that you’re not,” she said simply as she opened the doors. Applejack stood to the side to show off her dresses and continued before Twilight could ask.  “As I’ve already said, you two are rather famous, and the guards are on the lookout for a unicorn of your description accompanied by a silver giant. If you go outside, you’ll need a disguise.  Feel free to use one of my dresses; whatever can help you blend in and hide your cutie mark. “Solaire…”  Applejack’s voice trailed as she looked over the Warrior once more.  “Suffice it to say, I fear my dresses might be a little too… small for you, among other things.”  She motioned to a small box on the other side of the cabin.  “However, there should be some spare curtains in there, and of course there are the blankets on the loft bed.”  She paused, realizing how ridiculous this all sounded. Even still, as inconvenient as it was, it was the best she could afford.  “Make use of what you can,” she sighed. “I’ll be waiting outside.” Applejack made her way back to the door, pausing once she opened the door to look back to her companions.  Twilight had already summoned two dresses from the wardrobe and held one against herself, looking up to Solaire for approval.  With a faint smile, she exited the trailer and trotted out of the alley and into the lamp lit streets. Manehattan had changed so much since she had left.  The streets once filled with life that enticed her as a filly were now dead, save for the passing patrols of the Manehattan Guard.  An uncanny silenced filled the air; only the sound of her own marching hooves and the squealing of her trailer’s wheels had accompanied her during her trek through the city.  Now that she stood alone in the moonlit streets, she found it suffocating. This was not the city she grew up in, the one she knew and loved.  It was some twisted perversion of it. “Excuse me, ma’am.” Applejack nearly jumped out of her skin.  Two guards approached from down the street, a pegasus and a thestral.  They paused beneath the streetlight with her, and the pegasus gave her a curious look. “Is there a reason you’re outside by yourself?” he continued.  His companion looked over Applejack suspiciously, her slit eyes digging into her like daggers.  Her tongue became caught in her throat. “Forgive me, I-I was just reminiscing,” she stammered, hoping the smile she tacked on was at least somewhat convincing.  “I’ve been away for a long time, and I just came back from Baltimare.  Everything just…” Her voice trailed off as she looked back to the skyline.  “Everything just looks so different.” “Wait a minute, you didn’t travel through the whole city alone, did you?” the thestral cut in.  This was starting to feel like an interrogation. Applejack waved a hoof.  “Oh, heavens no! Why, a wonderful stallion kept me company from the, er, outpost.  Although, he never did say why.  I actually live in these apartments; once I pulled my trailer into the alley, he left me to enter when I was ready and trotted along back to his friends.” “Your trailer, huh?”  The thestral leaned casually to the side and peered past Applejack and into the darkened alley.  “Mind if we take a look?" Applejack froze.  “Oh, I, um—” “Come on, Angel,” the pegasus groaned.  “It’s a long trip from Baltimare, and she’s bound to have already had it searched if she came in through any of the checkpoints.  I’m sure the mare just wants to go back home to her…” His voice trailed as he glanced to Applejack. “Friends? Family?” “Aunt and Uncle,” she nodded, sighing in relief.  “They adopted me when I was little.” “See?  They’re probably waiting on her, too,” the pegasus pointed out.  “Who are we to stop a family reunion?” Angel stared at her partner incredulously before rolling her eyes.  “You’re too easy on the mares, Jester,” she complained. Her companion shrugged with an innocent smile, and all Angel could do was shake her head.  “Wrap up your sightseeing and get back inside,” she said, turning back to Applejack. “We’re under a shelter in place warning. Shouldn’t last for long.  The Guard will notify everypony know when the situation is handled.” “That… sounds serious,” Applejack noted warily.  She could feel her brow dampening with sweat. Could the guards notice it under the moonlight?  “What in heavens could that be for?” The guards glanced to each other; Jester with cautious eyes, and Angel unamused. “You mean they didn’t tell you when you came in?” Angel asked.  Applejack’s hesitant response was all she needed, and she shook her head.  “We got word last night two rebels were heading to Manehattan. The warning is in place to keep everypony safe and out of harm’s way while we work.” “Even still, it’s nothing you need to worry about,” Jester cut in.  “The Manehattan Guard has maintained stability in this city for over three years now in spite of the griffon riots.  We can handle two more rebels. And just in case, the Princess is even sending reinforcements.” “The-The Princess is?”  Applejack’s mind was racing.  How did Princess Nightmare know they were coming here?  She knew bringing the Warriors here would have been a risk, for them more than anyone.  But this? What had she done? Had she led her new friends into a den of wolves? “Th-Thank you.  That’s comforting to hear,” she lied. “Hopefully this mess will all be over soon.” Jester frowned; she didn’t appear comforted by the news.  He worried that he might have spoken of these rebels too highly, suggesting that they needed reinforcements to begin with.  “Hey, you have nothing to worry about. You’re deep enough in the city that I’m sure you won’t even notice it’s happening.” Angel rolled her eyes.  “Alright, Romeo, that’s enough,” she called as she continued down the street.  “We still have half a district to patrol before changing shifts, and I don’t want to still be when the lieutenant arrives.” Jester gave Applejack an apologetic smile and trotted a few steps after his partner before pausing.  “Sorry about Angel. She’s normally pretty nice. I guess she’s just a little on edge,” he explained. “It’s fine, really,” Applejack shook her head dismissively.  “It was… Jester, right?” The pegasus gave a proud nod. Applejack smiled softly.  “A rather unfortunate name for a guard,” she noted. “Ha, don’t I know of it,” he chuckled.  He stole another glance towards his partner, quickly shrinking away in the lamplit streets, before returning to Applejack with a warm grin.  “You must’ve been traveling for a while. Go on to your aunt and uncle and get some rest. And keep an eye out for any griffons, will you?” Applejack blinked in confusion at the odd request.  “We have most of them corralled up and accounted for, but there are still some stragglers giving us a hard time,” he explained.  “If you see any, be sure to inform the Guard.” “Yes, of course,” Applejack quickly said.  “I’ll try to stay safe. Thank you, Jester.” The pegasus gave a polite nod, and with a swift beat of his wings, he took off after his partner.  Applejack’s charade broke the moment he left. She all but collapsed with a deflating sigh. Truly, the Manehattan she knew and loved was gone, tarnished by Princess Nightmare’s tyranny.  But she thought of Solaire, and what he had said last night. Perhaps there would be a chance for normalcy to return, even if it didn’t seem likely now. She closed her eyes and held her head high, taking in a deep breath and slowly letting it out through her lips.  Her mind drifted back to a time when these streets were brimming with life and sound, when she would have been barked at by passersby for standing like she was now, when the aromas of different cultures seemed to blend in the air, when the sun bathed everypony equally with its warmth.  If she thought hard enough, she could almost feel it; a phantom sensation, a tingle of a memory. When she opened her eyes, she was greeted with the same dark cityscape from before, but a hopeful warmth still resided within her.  Some moon… nay, someday they would rebuild.  Until then, she would cherish the memories she had, and hope that it would come soon. “Everything alright, Applejack?” The salesmare turned to find Twilight peeking out of the alley.  Rather, she could only assume it was Twilight from the voice. A large, wide-brimmed, blue hat concealed most of her face in shadows.  The faint glint of her purple eyes was all that could be seen beneath. “Yes, I’m quite alright, Twilight,” Applejack sighed.  “It’s safe for you to come out. You just missed a passing patrol.” “Yeah, we heard you talking to somepony earlier.  We didn’t want to take any risks,” Twilight explained as she stepped out of the alley.  A light blue dress concealed her body, one of Applejack’s more ornate gowns. Lines of silver accented the neckline, trailing down her chest before disappearing into the waistline.  The hemline fell near to her hooves and covered her tail. It gave her a slimming appearance; although the hat… “I feel like the hat’s a little much,” Twilight said self-consciously, as if she had read Applejack’s mind.  “It’s pretty… big.” “Yes, I thought I had thrown it out for the same tragic reason,” Applejack mused. “I… may have accidentally poked a hole in the top to fit it on,” Twilight admitted sheepishly.  The salesmare wouldn’t have noticed unless she had pointed it out; Twilight had strung a ribbon of flowers across the band to conceal it. “Well, I had been meaning to get rid of the old thing anyways,” Applejack smiled.  “You can keep it, darling." Twilight’s expression was hidden as she looked down and off to the side, but Applejack noticed how she rubbed a hoof against her foreleg nervously. “I… I look silly, don’t I?” she asked timidly. “Twilight, you look absolutely stunning,” Applejack assured her with a smile.  “And Solaire, you…” Her voice trailed as she looked him over. He looked like a walking pile of dirty laundry.  Curtains were wrapped around his waist and draped down to cover his legs; although she could still see the chainmail and iron on his feet.  Even more was piled upon his shoulders, making him appear top-heavy, and his face was shrouded in a hood made of a green blanket she kept with her bed.  Only his hands remained uncovered, and he attempted to hide them as he crossed his arms and tried to appear smaller. “You… look very warm,” she nodded, not wanting to hurt his feelings.  And very noticeable, she thought to herself.  She had to get him off the streets before somepony noticed.  “Let’s hurry inside,” she quickly said. “I may have found some urgent news, and it would be safer to discuss once we are safe and indoors.” Twilight and Solaire closely followed Applejack’s lead as she entered the apartments, eager to hear what she had learned.  Her aunt and uncle lived on the fourth floor, giving her ample time to catch them up on what she little information she had pulled from the guards.  She was careful to speak to them as though they were not the rebels in question, in case of any stray listening ears behind the closed doors they passed. Throughout the first floor, Applejack noticed the same note was pasted across every door; all bearing the royal seal, all bearing the same message.  Stay indoors. Rebels are coming. Alert the Guard of anything suspicious. She could only hope that the Warriors could sway the citizens on their side yet again as they had in Baltimare, but she knew it was misplaced.  After all, Manehattan had been under the protection of its Guard for years now. They held the city, the homes of hundreds of thousands of ponies, from falling into absolute chaos through the griffon riots.  What could the Warriors possibly say to convince the masses that the griffons, branded as invaders, were right all along, save for their tactics? Their voices reverberated in the stairwell as they ascended to the higher floors.  With their headwear, it was hard to register the Warriors’ reactions to the news. Twilight was first to respond, humming softly. “Well, it sounds like these ‘rebels’ are on a time table,” she said, quickly catching on to Applejack’s code.  “It’ll be difficult for them to move around the city once these reinforcements arrive. And if they were sent by the Princess directly…”  Applejack could see her noticeably suppress a shudder. “The rebels’ luck might be running out sooner than they’d hope,” she said softly, almost a squeak. She looked up to Solaire.  Behind his green shroud, the look in his eyes was not reassuring.  He nodded, though. Not out of encouragement, but dedication. This might be their last battle, but he would stay true to his oath.  He would protect her, no matter the cost. But Twilight was not willing to let it come to that. “Maybe it would be better if we search for Evening Twinkle now,” she thought aloud, a hint of fear chipping at her voice.  “You’ve been an amazing host, Applejack, but like you said, things are too dangerous. You should go back to your family. My… companion and I can handle ourselves—” “We are not having this conversation now,” Applejack hissed.  “It is too dangerous out there.  With those… rebels on their way, I’m fearful of your safety.  I cannot allow you two to roam around this city in search of a single mare who’s been missing for—” She cut herself off and stopped dead in her tracks.  Twilight and Solaire nearly ran her over, but as they looked up the next flight of stairs, they found the answer to their abrupt halt. A griffon leaned against the doorway to the third floor, standing on her hind legs.  Her talons were folded across her chest, and her eyes narrowed into daggers as she looked them over and hovered over Solaire.  Nopony said a word. With a huff and a roll of her eyes, the griffon fell back on all fours and descended the stairs towards them.  The party was careful to move to the side to grant her passage, and all the while, the griffon’s eyes lingered on Solaire, as if she was sizing him up.  As she disappeared further down into the building, Applejack couldn’t help but remember the warning Jester had given her, and she pushed her friends forward. “Hurry,” she said under her breath, mindful of the thunderous echoes they had been giving off until then.  “We can speak more freely when we are with my aunt and uncle.” They made it to the fourth floor without another word, paranoia eating away at Applejack.  Youthful memories sparked back to life as they trotted down the all too familiar hall, along even more familiar fears.  Once upon a time she was worried they would not accept her; after all, she was just a distant niece, and her arrival was rather abrupt.  But no later than when they greeted her did she realize how unfounded her fears were. They accepted her as if she was their own daughter, and they quickly became the mother and father figures she never had.  It pained them to send her away to Baltimare so many years ago, and now she had returned, the prodigal daughter accompanied by two infamous rebels. Would they accept her friends with open hooves as they had her? They stopped before a familiar door with a plaque of twin oranges, and Applejack’s heart felt as if it was skipping.  With a deep, calming breath, she raised a hoof and knocked three times. A second passed, and then another. Hoofsteps could be heard from the other side, drawing closer.  The door opened slightly, held fast by a chain, and a mare’s blue eye peeked through. “Applejack?” the mare gasped. The salesmare could barely contain her swelling heart.  “Auntie Orange!” “Applejack!  Honey, unlock this door this instant!”  The door quickly closed, and the sound of metal locks sliding rang in the air before it was thrown open again, revealing a mare and stallion with bright eyes and relieved smiles. Applejack galloped in and wrapped a hoof tightly around the mare.  “Oh, Clementine, it’s been far too long!” “You took the words right out of my mouth, dear niece,” Clementine hummed sweetly with an even tighter hold.  Twilight noticed they shared the same hairstyle. In fact, they looked very similar save for the color of their coats and manes; where Applejack’s mane was blonde and her coat orange, Clementine’s were switched. Her uncle joined for a quick squeeze before they quickly separated.  “We’re glad to have you back,” he smiled. “And what a lovely dress that is,” Clementine admired as she held her niece out at hoof’s length.  “Did we send you this one?” “No, I bought this while I was in Baltimare,” she smiled.  “Which reminds me; I have so much to tell you about.” She paused and looked past them and back into the hallway.  “Starting with my new friends.” Clementine and Orange followed her gaze and went rigid at the sight of the strangers, particularly the giant.  “Auntie, Uncle, I would like to kindly introduce to you the Warriors of Sunlight.” Clementine’s eyes darted to her husband, and he looked to her and nodded.  She held a hoof tightly around her niece as Orange darted to the door, and he slammed in shut in front of the Warriors’ faces, locking the deadbolt and door chain and throwing his weight against it. “I…  Uncle!” Applejack protested, resisting against her aunt’s grip.  Clementine struggled to keep her under control; Applejack always was stronger than her, something she always credited to her sister’s side of the family.  “What are you doing?!” “Have you gone mad?” Orange demanded.  “Those were the rebels the Guard is looking for!” Applejack wrestled out of Clementine’s hooves and stared down her aunt and uncle, a bewildered look in her eyes.  “I am aware of that! They need a place to hide!” “Then why did you bring them here?” Clementine asked incredulously. “So they could hide here!” Applejack explained, as though it was the simplest answer in history. “Applejack, you cannot be serious,” Orange chastised.  “They’re dangerous.” “They’re my friends,” Applejack retaliated. “Applejack, we sent you to Baltimare to stay away from the conflict of this accursed city,” Clementine pointed out.  “You weren’t supposed to involve yourself in more trouble and bring it back.” “Your aunt is right,” Orange stepped in.  He allowed himself back on all-fours and walked closer to his wife, giving the door wary glances.  “You’re an upstanding mare. You have no business associating yourself with such a crowd.” Applejack sputtered.  “I have no business— An upstanding—!”  She grunted and scoffed loudly. “I swear, you two have no idea what kind of mare I am!” she accused.  “And you have no idea what I’ve been through in Baltimare!  I had a Lunar Guard assigned to babysit me all moon and night!  It was absolutely hellish!  I couldn’t go anywhere myself; I couldn’t make any friends!” “But you were safe!” Clementine cried.  Applejack paused as she noticed a tear running down her aunt’s muzzle, carrying parts of her mascara.  “We loved you more than the world, Applejack.  You were the daughter we could never have.  We hated to see you leave, but we knew it was what we had to do.  Manehattan was too dangerous with the griffons stirring up trouble.  We wanted to stay together, but…” Clementine’s words began catching in her throat.  When it was clear she couldn’t say anymore, she turned and hid her face away in Orange’s chest.  He wrapped a comforting hoof around his wife, hoping to ease her shaking. “It… cost more than a few bits to convince the Guard to let you leave,” he said softly.  He looked up to his niece with somber eyes. “And that was just for you. We couldn’t afford to all leave as a family.  We knew there would be strings attached, but it did little to ease our hearts and minds. Every letter we received, already opened and inspected by the Guard, we couldn’t help but worry that something more was wrong, something that you couldn’t tell us about.  When you sent your last letter, that the rebels had attacked Baltimare and that you were returning home, we were devastated. We thought we had made a grave mistake, sending you out into that cruel world like a lamb to a den of wolves.” Clementine peeled away from her husband, leaving most of her makeup across his chest and trailing down the sides of her face.  “You’re just so much like my sister,” she croaked. “To think I might’ve lost you, too…” Applejack was speechless.  A pang of remorse gnawed inside of her, and she moved to close the gap between her family and held them tightly in an embrace.  She could feel her aunt’s grief as she shook in her hooves and her uncle’s compassion as he covered them both with protective hooves.  Clementine held her close as though she would slip away yet again. For a moment, Applejack felt as though she truly had returned home, and she felt a tear burn a hot trail from her own clenched eyes. “You know I would never do anything to put either of you two through such a worry,” she chastened them lightly.  “And that’s the honest truth.” She felt her aunt’s face brush against the side of hers as Clementine nodded.  She managed to break free of them and looked to them both sincerely. “But you cannot tell me that this is the way things are meant to be,” she continued.  “We cannot keep living in fear like this, of the griffons, of the Guard, of the Princess.  Somepony has to do something about this.” “Applejack…” her uncle sighed; even his eyes were bloodshot. “I’m serious, Uncle Orange,” she pressed.  “The Warriors outside aren’t the brutes the Throne wants everypony to believe.  They’re kind and tender and… jolly,” she explained with a broken laugh.  “They turned the entire city of Baltimare against the Princess, and they are more than capable of standing up to her.  They just need a place to hide while they find their friend, and they’ll be gone before you’ve even realized.” “Applejack, please,” Clementine begged.  “Enough of this talk of rebellion. Please, just come with us to the kitchen.  I-I prepared lunch early in case of your return. We can eat and be a family again and forget all this nonsense of—” A heavy thud sounded from the hallway, causing everypony to pause.  Applejack’s heart spiked. She raced to the door and tried to pull it open, but it gave no yield.  The deadbolt. She scrambled to unlock it and tried again. The door came loose but jarred to a halt after opening only a couple inches.  The door chain. “Accursed locks!” she hissed under her breath. She slammed the door shut and ripped the chain away from the door.  It nearly flew off its hinges as she threw it open, but when she stepped out into the hall, the Warriors of Sunlight were nowhere to be seen.  All that was left was a large, wide-brimmed hat laying idly on the floor; the same Twilight wore to hide her identity. Down the hall, a stallion’s head peered out of his apartment.  When Applejack’s eyes met his, he quickly retreated inside and closed the door. Applejack’s mind was reeling as she picked up the hat, trying to understand why Twilight would have abandoned it.  The implications led to dark conclusions, and she couldn’t help but think the worst. Twilight and Solaire had left, possibly not of their own free will, and now they were alone in a city prepared to devour them. “Oh, no…”