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// Part 2-B: Showdown at Sweet Apple Acres 
// Story: A Striped Past 
// by Marezinger Z 
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A Striped Past

Part 2-B: Showdown at Sweet Apple Acres

As Twilight and her chosen companions left; Pinkie, Rarity and the Apples gathered around Zecora for further instruction. 
“Alright dear, what can we do to help?” Rarity asked.
Zecora looked out the window. “I do not know when he will next appear, all we can do is wait I fear. But there are some things I can prepare, so that in this battle we can better fare.” 
“I’ll help you.” Apple Bloom said as she hefted one of her bags. “We can set up in the kitchen.” 
“Do whatever y’all need to do.” Granny Smith gave her okay to the idea. “Anything on the farm you think will help we’ll make sure you have.” 
“Your farm tools will do; bring them to me, would you?” Zecora requested.
“Big Mac?” Granny looked to him and pointed towards the barn. 
“Eeyup.” Big Mac nodded and headed for the door. 
“You should go too, Pinkie.” Rarity suggested. “I don’t think it’s a good idea for anypony to be walking around alone out there.”
“No problem.” Pinkie bounded to Big Mac’s side and they hurried out towards the barn. 
Apple Bloom followed Zecora into the kitchen and began unpacking the things they brought. She found herself not recognizing many of the materials. “Hey Zecora, what is all this?” She picked up an eerie looking charm that was made from bone. 
Zecora let out a wistful sigh. “Things I had hoped you would not have to see; things that represent an abandoned side of me.” 
“What do you mean?” 
“I have taught you only half of what I know; the other half being arts handed down from long ago. From using them I swore to refrain, but with the threat at hoof… from doing so I can no longer abstain.” 
“You’re talking about spiritual stuff, ain’t ya?” Apple Bloom asked. Zecora looked at her with a bit of shock at her astuteness. “I kind of guessed, hearing about your mother and all. You know how to do that stuff too?” 
“Not as proficiently as she; but yes, I can, as you will see.” Zecora put her hoof to Apple Bloom’s head. “I did not keep these things from you out of distrust. It is due to their nature that I felt I must. While your friendship has never swayed, I worried that if you knew you would be afraid.” 
“It’s okay.” Apple Bloom nodded with a warm smile. “Knowing about it doesn’t change how I see you at all. In fact, hearing about your past makes me feel that much closer to you.” 
“Thank you, little one. Now, let’s see to it that this battle is won.” With a sure nod from Apple Bloom she began to explain what she had planned. 
Back in the living room, Big Mac and Pinkie returned with a bounty of work tools. Big Mac began setting them out on the table while Pinkie returned to Rarity. 
“Did you see anything out there?” Rarity inquired. 
“Nope, but it’s awfully quiet.” Pinkie noted. “You could hear a pin drop, really weird.” 
“That certainly doesn’t sound good.” Rarity felt a chill at the news. 
“Them animals out there can sense a lot more than we can.” Granny went to the window and looked out over her farm. “They probably high tailed it out of here; which means that evil whatchamacallit isn’t too far away.” The group sat in silence at Granny’s words; they then jumped in fright as the sound of a voice broke the ominous quiet. 
“Rarity! Pinkie!” Starlight’s voice rang out. 
Rarity held her hoof to her chest, her heart racing a mile a minute. “Oh, its’ only Starlight.” She ran to the door and poked her head out. “Over here, darling!” She waved and caught her attention. 
Starlight rushed inside and shut the door. “Twilight told me what’s going on, everything still okay here?” 
“Yes, no sign of our unwelcome guest just yet.” Rarity informed. 
“Not going to lie, that was a lot to take in.” Starlight admitted. “Are we really dealing with some kind of ancient demon?” 
“Like that’s the craziest thing we’ve had to deal with.” Pinkie casually noted. “Heck, we’re friends with stranger things.”
“You have a point.” Rarity conceded. 
“Well whatever it is, it it’s looking for a fight then I’m ready to give it one.” Starlight vowed. 
Zecora and Apple Bloom came in from the kitchen bearing a box of prepared materials. Zecora looked over the tools on the table and hummed approvingly. “These will do nicely, now I will attempt to explain our options concisely.” 
“What have we got?” Starlight asked as she and the others joined them by the table.
“Since I do not know what he can truly do, I have put together some basics to help see us through.” Zecora pulled out seven necklaces from the box. “Each of you must wear a charm, they will help protect you from harm.” 
“Pretty.” Pinkie said as she donned hers. 
“Doesn’t exactly match, but function over form I suppose.” Rarity slid hers on with her magic. 
Zecora went to the tools on the table. “Next I will…”
“Wait a sec hon.” Granny interrupted her. “Do y’all hear that?” 
The group felt the air grow still and they could hear the trees outside begin to rustle wildly. Starlight ran to the window and looked into the front yard. “Zecora, you might want to see this.” She called back over her shoulder. 
Zecora joined her and gritted her teeth as she beheld her brother. “He found us soon than I suspected. I suppose that is to be expected.” 
“Finish your work.” Starlight gave her a confident look. “I’ll keep him busy till you’re ready.”
“Starlight, this creature is powerful and old; you’ve nothing to gain from being so bold.” Zecora warned. 
“Hey, I’m no slouch in the magic department.” Starlight smiled. “I’ve got a few tricks of my own, trust me.” 
Zecora nodded and laid her hoof to her. “Just don’t overdo, we’ll be right behind you.” 
“Leave it to me.” Starlight headed outside, taken aback at first by the strong wind that blew through the area. She bravely walked out into the front yard and faced the cloaked zebra. 
“I am here for Zecora.” He said calmly. “Bring her to me, unicorn.” 
“Not gonna happen.” Starlight held her ground. “You aren’t laying a hoof on our friend without a fight.” 
“You think you are a threat to me?” He balked. “You are nothing.” He waved his hoof and an unseen force cut through the air. Starlight braced herself and as the wave passed over her, the charm around her neck reacted and dissipated the attack. Seeing this, he let slip a bemused laugh. “More of Zecora’s tricks.” 
“My turn.” Starlight’s horn lit up and she let loose a massive blast of raw magical power. It struck him in the chest and he lurched forward as he was pushed back. 
“Impressive, girl.” He smiled as he pulled the cloak from his body. “But for your sake, I hope that was not your best.” He reached out to his side and an ectoplasmic tendril rose from the ground and wrapped around a nearby apple tree. It plucked the tree from the ground with ease and launched it at Starlight. 
Starlight raised a barrier around herself and the tree splinted into pieces as it smashed against it. As she lowered her defense she saw him slowly walking towards her. “Not even close.” She taunted. “Here’s an oldie but a goody. Let’s see how you like my Similo Duplexis, Accelero combo.” Her horn lit up once more and she split into two. The twins ran in opposite directions at blinding speed, they began circling the demon and firing off magic blasts into him from all angles. 
Growling in irritation, the zebra slammed his hoof into the dirt and trails of ectoplasm began to snake out in all directions. The end of each trail formed into an claw and they began grasping at the purple blurs around them. Through virtue of sheer numbers, both Starlights were taken by their ankles and lifted into the air. Starlight ended her spell and as her duplicate vanished, she teleported herself from the claw's grip. Seeing his opening as she reappeared and fell from the air, he jumped at her and drove his hoof into her chest. All the air left her as she was brought to the ground and pinned down. “A valiant effort, unicorn. But ultimately futile.” 
“Zahir!” Zecora’s voice called out. 
“You still call me that name?” Zahir released Starlight and rose to face her. “How… sentimental.” 
“Get away from Starlight you big jerk!” Pinkie commanded. 
“And get off my land while you’re at it!” Granny added. 
“You are welcome to your friend.” He braced his hoof against Starlight’s stomach and sent her flying towards them. Big Mac jumped and caught her, cradling her as he landed hard on the ground. 
“Starlight.” He held her head up. “You okay?” 
“Been… better.” She managed through a sharp breath. 
“And I shall gladly leave this place.” Zahir continued. “Assuming Zecora gives me what I want.” 
“You take me for a fool, I will not be your unwitting tool.” Zecora said firmly. “To grant your wish will doom the land; for seeing you free I will not stand.” 
“And you can be sure we feel the same way.” Apple Bloom affirmed. “Zecora is our friend; and if you mess with her then you’re messin with us all.” 
Zahir bore wicked smile. “Friends eh, then perhaps I should call upon my own.” He knelt and laid his hoof on the ground. “I believe you know them, Zecora.” He drew an arcane symbol in the dirt and the crystal in his chest began to glow. Shapeless, ectoplasmic masses rose from the ground and swirled about him. “Let those who fell while I did stand, take form again and obey my command!” The masses slowly took on equine form.
“Oh no… it cannot be so.” Zecora watched in horror as the entities fully formed into her lost zebra kin. Of most note was the one that stood at Zahir’s side. “Father…” 
Zahir rose and slowly pointed his hoof at Zecora. “Bomani, bring me your daughter.” Without word the spectral zebras began to move in. 
“Zecora, what do we do?” Rarity asked but Zecora was paralyzed by the emotional surge of what she saw. 
“Everypony back inside!” Apple Bloom took charge and ushered them all into the house. She slammed the door and hurried over to the table. “Here, the tools.” Apple Bloom hopped up into a chair and popped open a vial of oil that she and Zecora had prepared. She poured into onto the heads of the farm tools and they started to glow opalescent.
“What the hay are you doing Apple Bloom?” Granny asked as they gathered around her. 
“Those things are spirits, normal stuff won’t work on em.” Apple Bloom began. “But Zecora said that coating things in this oil will basically let us fight back against anything spiritual in nature. So everypony grab one; that barrier powder I laid out around the house won’t keep those things out like it will Zahir.” 
As each chose a weapon, the ethereal ponies began walking through the walls in pursuit. Pinkie readied her garden hoe like a bat and ran at the nearest enemy. “Take this!” She swung and the tool connected solidly, knocking the zebra back. “Hey, it works!” She cheered. 
“Time for round two then.” The weary Starlight used her magic to begin swinging her rake about in elegant fashion, fending off another pair of the invaders. 
“Eeyup!” Big Mac charged in with his shovel with Rarity and Apple Bloom behind him. 
Granny went to the shaken Zecora and grabbed her cheeks. “Listen hon, I can’t imagine how you must be feeling right now, but we darn sure need you thinking straight.” 
The haze in Zecora’s eyes faded and she looked down into the old pony’s wise eyes. “Yes… you are right. Now is not the time to freeze in fright.” Her peripheral vision caught sight of an incoming pair of hooves and she grabbed Granny and jumped away. They turned back to see her father approaching. “Father, you have my vow; I will see you free from this torment somehow.” Granny readied her enchanted trowel but Zecora held her back. She grabbed a sack of chalk powder from the table and dipped her hoof in it; she quickly set her powdered hoof to the floor and drew a symbol of her own. Muttering an incantation in a foreign tongue, the chalk symbol seemed to come to life and slither over to her father. It formed a circle around him and he found himself unable to move. “That will hold him steady; let us help the others, Granny.” As her friends struggled against the ghosts, Zecora ran about the house and repeated the binding she had performed on her father. Once all of their opponents were incapacitated, she returned to the table and retrieved a shamanistic staff. In the center of the room she planted the sharp end into the floorboards and began reciting an incantation. The spirits began to wail as if in pain and slowly faded from view. As the house fell quiet, the exhausted group reconvened around her. 
“My word, what was that” Rarity asked. 
“A ritual for banishment.” Zecora answered with a heavy sigh. “It sees that from this plane, all spirits are sent.” 	
“Are you okay?” Apple Bloom saw the drained look in her eyes. 
“I am alright, but we have yet to make it through this night.” Zecora steeled herself. “Let us finish this affair and send that beast scurrying back to its lair.” 
The group headed back outside where Zahir awaited them. “I see you have your mother’s talent after all.” He applauded. 
“For what you have done to my kin, you will pay.” Zecora promised. “You have my word we will win this day.” 
“Does anypony have any ideas on how we’re going to do that?” Pinkie asked, as even her endless optimism was being tested by this ordeal. 
“I do.” Starlight spoke up. “Spike gave me a scroll before we split up, he said it was a powerful spell that would help out in a tight spot.”
“Then by all means, darling.” Rarity gestured for her to proceed. 
Starlight pulled the scroll out and opened it up, she took a deep breath but paused in confusion as she read. “What kind of spell is this?” 
“Who cares, just read the dern thing.” Granny insisted. 
“Alright." Starlight shrugged. “Captain Wuzz! Come to our aid in this time of need in the world of Ogres & Oubliettes!” 
The group jumped back as a burst of smoke appeared in their midt and Discord emerged. “What ho! Is it time again to travel back into the breaches of dark…” He stopped as he noticed the atypical assortment of ponies around him. 
“Discord?” Starlight asked in surprise.
“Oh, Starlight.” He patted her on the head. “Partaking in the raucous adventure I see. Well, if you’re all going to be joining in you to need to pick character cards.” He waved his hand a collection of stat cards appeared in his claw. 
“Sorry Discord, this isn’t a game.” Starlight pointed to Zahir. “See that guy, he’s an ancient demon possessing the body of Zecora’s brother and we need you to help us stop him.” 
Discord glanced over at Zahir. “You called me all the way here for this?” He asked, a bit perturbed. “He doesn’t look that tough.” 
“Is this some kind of joke?” Zahir asked. “What is that ridiculous creature you have called upon?” 
“Ridiculous?” Discord turned an angry eye to Zahir. He snapped his fingers and instantly appeared in front of him. “You dare call Discord, the master of chaos… ridiculous?” 
Zahir looked up at Discord without the slightest hint of fear. “Whatever you are, if you get in my way, I will remove you.”  
Discord smiled and looked back at the others. “Alright Starlight, this ones on the house.” He turned back. “Now, you need to be taken down at notch.” He snapped his fingers and Zahir was instantly pulled neck deep in the ground. 
“Ah, I see now… chaos magic.” Zahir laughed. “This might be fun after all.” His eyes went aglow and the soil around him burst, he flew from the ground and landed cleanly. Raising his hoof, three ectoplasmic spheres formed around him; they thinned out into razor sharp disks and he sent them at Discord. 
Discord separated his slender body into segments and the blades passed by harmlessly; he reformed himself with a smug laugh. “Please, is that all you’ve….” One of the blades curved back and sliced off his left claw. He watched it fall to the ground and sighed. “Really.” He picked it up and began sewing it back on with thread and needle he summoned forth. Wiggling the fingers of his reattached claw he dismissed the sewing equipment. “Fine, you want to play rough?” He snapped his fingers and a boat appeared over Zahir’s head, as it fell from the sky the zebra leapt out of its way. Snapping his fingers again and again, more random junk began raining down on Zahir but all of it missed its mark. 
“Such power.” Zahir said as he once again landed safely. “Yet you wield it like a child.” He cocooned himself in ectoplasm and it slid off of his body, forming two duplicates of himself. 
“Ha, I know that trick too.” Discord snapped his fingers and four more of himself appeared. “Get him you handsome rapscallions.” The four Discords charged in and were met by the two Zahirs. As they clashed, the real Discord and Zahir began walking towards each other. 
Discord summoned his Ogres and Oubliettes bow and fired a volley of arrows; Zahir in turn summoned his ectoplasmic claws and each one plucked an arrow from the air and snapped it in two. Zahir then sent his claws after Discord who, with a snap of his fingers, brought an equal number of licorice vines from the ground which intercepted them. Snapping his fingers again, one of the apple trees came to life and began hurling apples at Zahir; with a wave of his hoof, an ectoplasmic blade cut through the tree and felled it. As Discord raised his claw to snap again, he felt something grab him; looking down he saw that his legs and tail were held fast by more claws that he hadn’t noticed sneak up on him. He snapped his fingers but they did not yield and more came forth to take hold of his arms and neck, immobilizing him.        				   					          							  
Zahir stepped up to him and smiled at his surprise. “Your chaos magic has great effect on the physical world, but it cannot directly impact the spiritual one. Your power cannot remove my binds; you have lost, trickster.” 
“That makes two of us.” Discord grinned as he slid his eyes over towards the house.   	
“What?” Zahir looked back to see Zecora finishing a massive symbol she had been carving into the ground while they were fighting. “No!” He started back to the house but she drove her staff into the symbol’s center and it began to glow. Zahir instantly fell to the ground in pain and his body began to fade. “Zecora! This is not over!” He screamed as he vanished from the battlefield. His doubles disappeared and the claws holding Discord faded away.
“Discord!” Starlight and Zecora ran over. “Are you okay?” 
“I'll have you know that I had him right where I wanted him.” He brushed the ectoplasmic residue from his arms. 
“I know you did.” Starlight said with a wink.
“The time it takes for that ritual we could not afford, at least not without your help, Discord.” Zecora lowered her head in appreciation. “If I may, I would like to ask if you would stay. This war is not yet complete and your power will surely help in Zahir’s defeat.” 
“Well, I certainly have a score to settle with him now.” Discord grumbled. “Alright, I’ll help you.”
“Thanks Discord.” Starlight smiled but let out a groan and fell to her knees. 
“Hey.” Discord quickly held her up. “What’s wrong with her?” 
“She battled Zahir but was injured in the end.” Zecora pointed to the house. “Take her inside and her wounds I will tend.” 
Discord snapped his fingers and teleported Starlight and himself inside. As Zecora helped Starlight, the others cleaned up the house as best they could. Granny Smith took the time to prepare soup for dinner and as the sun finally set on the trying day, the battered group sat about in the living room to finally relax. 
“Here you go sweetie.” Granny put a pillow under the bandaged Starlight's head. 
“Thanks, Granny Smith.” She settled on the couch with a heavy sigh. 
“Well, we may be worse for wear… but we won.” Rarity said proudly. 
“That is true, and I must thank you.” Zecora looked over them. “This fight was never meant for you, but without you I could not see this through.”  
“We’re all in this till the end.” Pinkie put her hoof over her heart. “Pinkie promise.” 
“I just hope we bought enough time for Twilight and the others to make it back.” Starlight said through a yawn. 
“Well we’ll worry about all that tomorrow.” Granny eyed them all. “Right now, y’all need to get some sleep. You’ve done enough for one day.” She looked to Bic Mac and pointed over at Apple Bloom who had already fallen asleep. “Take your sister to her room, then you get on to your own.” 
“Eeyup.” Bic Mac lifted his slumbering sibling and headed upstairs. 
“Zecora, you can sleep in Applejack’s room; and you two can take the guest room.” Granny gestured to Pinkie and Rarity. “I’ll stay down here with Starlight.” 
“Are you certain?” Rarity looked at her unsurely. 
“Certain as rain in the spring, now git.” She waved the three of them upstairs with a motherly smile. 
As Granny went to the couch to sit beside Starlight, Discord took the spot from her. “I don’t need to sleep, but old ponies like you do.” He flippantly waved her off. “I’ll stay with Starlight and keep an eye on things.” 
“Well, that’s mighty sweet of you.” Granny smiled. “If y’all need anything just help yourself.” She patted Starlight’s leg. “See you in the morning kiddo.” 
“Goodnight Granny.” Starlight said with a weak smile. As Granny headed upstairs she rolled her eyes up to Discord. “Careful, keep this up and somepony might think we’re friends or something.” 
“Shut up and sleep.” He said sternly but with a light smile. As she closed her eyes, Discord snapped his fingers and extinguished the oil lanterns.