//------------------------------// // Chapter 37: Tears & Deceit // Story: Knight of Equestria - On Distant Shores // by SupraMacPringles //------------------------------// Pinkie Pie happily hopped along the snowy streets of Ponyville like she always did. She was out and about running errands for the Cakes, greeting everypony she met with a smile. Despite the situation Equestria was in, with Hearth's Warming being only a week away Pinkie couldn't help but be in a good mood. Sugarcube Corner was sure to be busy baking all sorts of festive treats which was something she looked forward to. As she hopped along, she noticed a path she had never seen before. A dirt road that lead outside the town somewhat. Curious, she changed her course to see where it lead. It lead a decent bit out of Ponyville, stopping at a large, square patch of land she had also never seen before. A fence marked an area that was closed off for some reason or another. She shrugged before turning around to go back to town, only to find the path she walked had vanished. Ponyville had also disappeared from sight. "Pinkamena, my dear!" a voice called from behind her, in the direction of the empty lot. She turned back around to see the tall shape of the human King. A straw hat rested on his head, covering his eyes and casting a shadow over his face. He also held a wooden cane. Behind him was a large gate, open wide and leading to what appeared to be a large amusement park. Many colored lights flashed as a ferris wheel spun and roller-coasters rocketed down the track. "What do you think?" the human asked. "I made it just for you." Pinkie was wide-eyed at the sight. "For me?" she asked. Gabriel posed with his cane as if to invite her inward. "But of course! You can enjoy it as much as you want, Pinkamena." Pinkie began to excitedly hop into the park before being stopped by the cane. "Ah, just one moment. Something I need make sure you understand, first. This place is special, since it was made for you it reflects the type of pony you are. Do you understand?" he asked, receiving a very fast nod in response. "Then knock yourself out..." he said, bowing to allow her entry. Pinkie was riding everything she saw and having a blast. The rides were fast, fun, and plentiful. It seemed that every ride she had ever enjoyed being on was there somehow. Every now and then she'd catch a glimpse of Gabriel standing high on a ride she wasn't on, but she didn't pay it much mind. Something she that did bother her, though, was how she was the only one enjoying the rides. Somehow nopony else had seen the place and wandered onto the park. As she got off a large twirling ride, she looked around to find another ride she hadn't been on yet. She heard a large metallic clanging noise as the ride she had just gotten off of began to fall apart. Then the ferris wheel somehow unattached from it's hinges and rolled into part of the roller-coaster track, sending the car of the coaster into another ride. As the chain of destruction spread even further, Pinkie began to hear the screams of someone she couldn't see. She was sure that there was no one here but her, and yet the screams reacted to everything falling apart. As the dust cleared and silence returned, Pinkie looked around at the destruction that seemed to surround her. The lights had all gone out, the sound of amusement rides and screams had stopped. She was alone. "How unsurprising." she heard as a clawed hand rested on her shoulder. "This happened much faster than I thought it would." "W-what happened? Did something go wrong?" she asked. "You could say that, although I would say it's more accurate that something wasn't right." Gabriel replied. "... what does that mean?" "Well, it's as I said, dear Pinkamena. This place embodies the pony you are. I may have made it, but it came from within you." "This is... who I am?" she asked, not quite understanding what he meant but feeling sad nonetheless. "Surely the thought has crossed your mind. The life you lead will burn bright like a star, before the inevitable crash. Nothing lasts forever." the human answered. "Although... it could." Pinkie Pie, who at this point seemed to be losing her characteristic cheerful personality, looked to him as if in question. Gabriel grinned at the mare. "Your problem, my dear, is a lack of focus. Your default chaotic nature and free willed spirit are only damaging if you don't reign them in. I can teach you focus. I can give your chaos form. Perhaps you'll actually make something of yourself. Think it over, I've got something else to attend to." In a flash of light, the human was gone. She was left alone in the wreckage of what she was told would be her life. Was he telling the truth? She couldn't know for sure. She felt a wave of nausea wash over her and lost control of her legs, quickly blacking out among the ruins. When she came to, she was back in Sugarcube Corner. Her saddlebags full of supplies and other things she had spent the day collecting was with her. She didn't know exactly what happened, but was relieved to be home, even more relieved that her encounter with the human King seemed to be a dream. …... At Sweet Apple Acres, things were as serene as ever. Applejack didn't have too much to do, so she was just making sure the Apple Family house was as winter-proof as possible. As she did her inspection, her younger sister ran up to her. "Applejack! Applejack!" Applebloom shouted, clearly distressed. "Whoa there! Where's the fire, sugarcube?" the elder sister responded. "You know how all the apple trees have withered because of the winter?" the younger asked. "Yeah?" "And how none of them have any leaves or apples?" "Yeah?" "And how it'll be months before they come back in season?" "What in tarnation are you gettin' at?" Applebloom pointed toward the orchard without another word. As Applejack looked to where her sister pointed, she felt her jaw drop. At the edge of the orchard stood a bright green apple tree, the delicious red fruit even visible from where they were. Needless to say, Applejack was stunned. "What the hay is that doing there?" AJ asked. "I know, right?! That's what I said!" Applebloom responded. Applejack began to slowly approach the somehow green tree, Applebloom following close behind. As they got closer, they noticed that the grass around the tree was also green, somehow uncovered by snow as well. When they reached it, Applejack reached a hoof out to feel the bark of the tree, finding it strong and firm, and most importantly; it was definitely real. She looked up into the leaves and saw the many apples that still hung on it's branches. "Do you like it?" said a feminine voice from behind them. Applejack and Applebloom nearly jumped out of their skins at the stranger's question, turning around to find a purple unicorn in a long cloak. Applejack immediately recognized her as the unicorn who accompanied the human Gabriel. "Applebloom, go back inside." Applejack said firmly. Applebloom did as she was told and ran back to the Apple house as fast as she could. Applejack watched her go until she saw the door shut and turned her attention back to the purple trespasser. "What're you doin' here?" Amethyst slightly raise an eyebrow. "I'll ask again; do you like it?" "This tree is your doin'?" "It is. I'm not from Equestria, you see, so when I heard how acclaimed Sweet Apple Acres' apples were, I needed to see for myself." Amethyst replied, floating an apple down from the tree using magic and taking a bite. Applejack was visibly displeased. "Yeah, well, just because you used magic on our tree doesn't mean the apples are free." she said. "Oh, I know. I never expected a handout." Amethyst said, pointing upward into the tree. As Applejack looked up, a large sack came flying down from within the leaves. As she picked it up, she heard the clanging of coins and noticed the bag was quite heavy. "I assume that will cover it." said a male voice from within the tree. Applejack looked up again to see Gabriel sitting casually on a branch, eating an apple. The human jumped down from the branch, landing next to his unicorn accomplice. He took another bite from his apple. "Nearly a decade and yet they're still so sweet..." he said. Applejack was a bit disturbed at seeing the human's elongated sharp teeth tearing into an apple, even more disturbed that he was on her farm. "Is that all you two wanted? Some apples?" Applejack asked. "This is an apple orchard, isn't it?" Amethyst asked sarcastically. Applejack narrowed her eyes at the unicorn as Gabriel finished his apple. "Is that the thanks we get for restoring your tree? Maybe we should do more?" he said. Gabriel drew his sword and with a great sweeping motion cleared the grass and a bunch of other trees free of snow. Amethyst's horn began to glow and Gabriel planted his sword into the earth. Magic covered the trees as they came back to life and the grass below grew back green and healthy. Applejack couldn't see the extent of their restoration, but knew it had to be at least a dozen trees. While she was amazed, Applejack was still suspicious. "A-and what are y'all asking in return?" "Oh, nothing much. Just a deal with you and your orchard." Gabriel answered. "What kinda deal?" "After the recruitment for my army is complete, obviously I'll need to keep them fed. Naturally you'll be paid handsomely and your trees will be kept healthy all year 'round." Applejack wanted to refuse, but the weight of the sack of bits already given to her had temporarily made her hesitate. Then she remembered that he had used the word 'army'. "An army for what?" Applejack asked, speaking her mind. "Oh, a bit of conquering, a bit of border expanding." Gabriel responded. Amethyst pulled out her silver pocket watch. "We need to be going, Gabriel." "Ah, so we do. I'll expect your answer by Hearth's Warming, Applejack. Don't disappoint me." Gabriel slashed his sword into the first healthy tree, creating a hole he stepped through which quickly closed behind him. Applejack didn't even notice, but Amethyst had vanished as well. As they left, the trees they restored began to wilt at an accelerated rate, returning to how they were before. Applejack sighed and picked up the bag of bits they had given her. She hated the idea of working with someone who had hurt her friends, so she knew she would refuse the deal. But at the very least she could afford to get the roof fixed.