Ch. 2: Applejack’s Tears
Once we were outside Prince Alex and the others set up a stone for Pinkie while I sat next to Dashie. “I still don’t get why I can’t fly ahead and scout the path we’re taking.” Dashie said looking at the stone. “It’s because it be bad to split up sugarcube.” I replied sadly. “You saw those monsters Dashie, you saw what they did to poor Pinkie there." I could see Dashie's heart sank at the thought of our best friend's death. "We should stick together." Soon Prince Alex came over to us and guastured us to the stone, the name Pinkie and a very well done carving of her Cutie Mark was on it along with when she was born and when she died. “We… already said our goodbyes you two. You’re the last ones before we go. Take your time.” He and the others slowly walked away as Dashie placed her hoof gently on the stone remembering our new found strength. “How can you say goodbye to someone when they aren’t even there. We don’t even have a body to give a proper burial.” Dashie said sitting down. I’ll tell ya, it was bothering me too. “Just… say what you have to say Rainbow. It’ll help.” I said looking to her sadly. “Help? Help! Help what AJ?! She’s dead don’t you get it and what’s worse is we can’t even give her way to rest in peace! How is this to help huh?! How!” I guessed the others were just watcign and listening at this. “It’ll give us all some kind of closure.” I answered weakly. “Closure, closure, what bucking closure AJ?! You don’t get it do you! There is no closure! Pinkie’s dead, we can’t give her proper rest, monsters are trying to kill us, we have no idea where the buck we are or how to even get home, and you call this closure?!” I’ve seen Rainbow upset before but this… this was all new to me. “Go ahead and say your goodbye to air AJ! It’s not going to bring her back!” Sighign I stepped up to the stone and sat down. The armor was somethgin to get used to, it made my body ache and itch for some odd reason but Prince Alex said it was normal so I’ve been putting it off. I looked to the stone and… said my peace.
“Pinkie," I started, my voice well beyond breaking point. “You've brought us more laughs than I care to remember Sugarcube, and I know that wherever you're goin. You'll bring em with ya. Just. Try not to have too much fun without us, okay?" I wanted to cry but somehow, I knew that wherever Pinkie Pie went, a lot of smiles would be following.” I turned to walk away but soon I overheard Rainbow talk. “You… were my best friend Pinkie. You know that right?” I didn’t want to but… I moved far enough to give Rainbow her space and… so I could over hear a bit. I didn’t want her breaking that stone out of a fit. “I… can’t really remember if I have really ever told you that, and… Pinkie I feel like a complete foal that I don’t, but, you were. I’m still bucking myself now for not really expressing just how much of a great friend you were, and… what you meant to me.” I got confused at that. Just what in tarnation was Rainbow talking about? “Actually…” there was a sigh, “You just don't know how hard it is right now to describe how awesome you were Pinkie Pie. I mean, yeah sure, you could be obnoxious and make no complete sense at times, but… you were always fun and… and happy. I… couldn’t really understand why you were always so happy, but then again, there were a lot of things I didn’t understand about you Pinkie.” I just sat there and listened. I didn’t know why I did so but… it was as if Pinkie was telling me to do so. So… I just did.
Rainbow soon gave a small chuckle. “It still amazes me how you could just pop out of some place, or how you could keep up with me that time when I was trying to fly away from you so our friends and I could throw you that important surprise birthday party. It… kind of always boggled me, but I realized why in time. You were just being… you.” That was the most truthful statement there was. Pinkie would always be Pinkie, no matter what. “What I have to say is… I'm gonna keep going. I know it's going to get harder from here but that never stopped me before right?” She gave yet another chuckle, this time it sounded… hollow. “Pinkie… you were more than just some random pink party pony. You were a mare with the biggest heart I’ve ever seen. I… I always admired how you could always put us before your own wellbeing. What you did when we first got here Pinkie… I… I don’t think I could ever do that.” Rainbow let out yet another sigh. “I guess… that’s what makes you, you Pinkie. You seemed to just. Have this amazing ability to just bring smiles to other ponies, and I think that was one of the reasons you were always so happy.” I never knew this nor did I want to forget it. Rainbow… was scared and… admitted that she admired her. Just what the hay was going on between the two? “Now, you know I’m not good with all this deep stuff, and I might be wrong, but that’s what I believe. It’s almost like… you lived off happiness itself, and… and it made everyone else just become happy with you.” Soon Rainbow became really quite and I thought she was done. I was about ready to get off my flank and trot back to the others when she started talking again.
“Pinkie Pie, do you remember the time when we all went to see the Wonderbolts? I was so excited and ready, that I didn’t tell any of you what I was going to do after the show. I didn't tell any of you for a reason. I… was asked to join the Wonderbolts but before that I had to go through a trial. I was hoping that once I was accepted, I would surprise you all in an official uniform. I was more than ready, but you know the rest.” Rainbow said tiredly. I did remember that day. We all went to see the Wonderbolts do a charity race for the Cloudsdale Hospital for young foals. I was wondering where she went after that show. “Apparently, I wasn’t good enough, and… I was rejected. I don’t think any pony could ever understand just how crushed and destroyed I felt then... except for you Pinkie. You were there to help me get over it. I mean… to hear those words… was nothing compare to what I saw happen to you. ‘Sorry Miss Dash, but you just don’t have what it’ll take to cut it. Why not try next year?’ Pinkie… Pinkie those words still haunted me to this day but I don’t think it will anymore. Something else currently is.” I didn’t know why but… I turned around and placed my hoof on Rainbow’s shoulder causing her to jump a bit but… she soon gave me a hug and just cried her eyes out. “Dashie, I’ll be okay. We’re all here for ya.” I did the best I could for her at that moment, letting her cry her eyes out. “AJ… Can I… be left alone for now?” I looked her in the eyes. “You sure Sugarcube?” She nodded sadly. “Alright, but I won’t be far.” I soon stepped away and overheard the last that was needed. “That day Pinkie… You kissed me.” I fell onto my flank hearing that! Pinkie did what now?!
“I felt your soft lips press against mine, and though it was only for a second, it was. Pinkie it was the most amazing thing I ever felt. It made my heart stop, my head foggy, my wings tense, I loved it… and… I loved you. I could feel this… sudden rush of heat in my face that I was hoping you couldn’t see but… you did. I had hoped for the second option, though in a way, I regretted it. That night made me realize that you weren’t just my best friend, but something more than that. I learned that I actually had feelings for you that night Pinkie. Feelings I never knew I had, till that kiss. I never knew love, Pinkie. I was still very young and dumb. But I knew Pinkie. I knew from that day that…I loved you Pinkie Pie. I loved you with all my heart, all my soul, all my being but… I was too scared to tell you. I… I didn’t want to ruin what we had, but now I wish I had told you.” Soon Rainbow broke down into a fit of tears that caught the others attention but I gave them the sign to let her be. She needed this and… I needed to hear it. “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry I never told you, that I didn’t protect you and it’s a regret I will have for the rest of my life, because it’s too late now. You’re gone and you’re not coming back… just like my parents. I… haven’t see them for eight years. I… may never see them again.”
Dashie… Dashie was an orphan? Just like Scootaloo? I was serious floored. “I still think about them every day, and I still cry when I go to bed at night, wishing that they were with me, laughing and giggling. But they can’t. It’s been a while, but the pain of them being gone is still fresh as if it happened just yesterday, and this was my reminder. It was terrible for me Pinkie. All I could think about was that day. The day they died. The day I lost my family and the ones I loved. I never told you how I lost them huh? It was when Cloudsdale was adding on to the new top layer to the Cloudaseum. Mom was a Wonderbolt and dad was a cloudstruction worker. I was just a filly. Fluttershy remembers it too. She lost her dad that day as well. A rouge storm cloud rolled in and struck the side my dad was working on. It damaged my dad’s wing and he was falling fast. Mom went right after him as fast as she could but… she just couldn’t pull it off, The Solar Flare. It’s kinda like my Sonic Rainboom but… with flames. Mom used to pull it off a lot before I was born. Fluttershy’s dad went to stop the cloud but it struck two more times, they both fell to the ground. It was… quick, the doctors told me. Least Fluttershy’s mom was kind enough to take me in till I got too much for her.” She sighed. “Pinkie, I was an oblivious Pegasus, and somewhat still am. I… didn’t tell them to be safe that day. And… I didn’t tell you I loved you. I know you Pinkie. You would want me to keep on smiling. You would want every pony here to smile. Still… Everyone was hurt and just shocked when you died. The girls and Prince Alex… wants us to move on and forgotten you don’t have a place to rest, except for me. I don’t know about you Pinkie but Rarity and Fluttershy were pretty upset and I think they’re starting to spend a whole lot of time together.”
I wasn’t sure but I think Rainbow may have been looking at Rarity and Fluttershy. I just hoped she wasn’t going to say what I thought she would say. “When we get back home, I hope they start dating.” I nearly passed out at that. Yep… she said it, and I thought it. “Applejack… AJ’s probably the toughest one out of all of us right now. I think she’ll be trying to keep every pony’s spirits high, but let the rest of us. She’s just as hurt.” I then heard her lay down, like she was with Pinkie at that moment just talking and she’s only listening. “I… I fell in love… again. At first it felt like betrayal to you, and it might take me a while to tell them, but I’ll always remember the mistake of not telling you. Know you Pinkie you’d want me to go for it. I hope she feels the same way for me. I had a crush on her for a while and well… I really like her. You’ll always be my first love Pinkie, and nothing will ever replace that. I still do Pinkie... and I always will. I’m also thinking of adopting some foals to raze when we get back. Can you imagine me with small foals running around? Heh, yeah, me neither, but… raising children was a dream I wanted to spend with you. I’ll… just have to spend it with someone else.” I wanted to cry right then and there, poor Rainbow. “So here I am Pinkie, in front of your so called tombstone. I will always, always, regret that I never said how I felt about you and what you have done for our friends.” Soon I heard stone scraping against stone and soon Rainbow passed me with her head down. Before I left I turned and looked at the tombstone one last time. There, newly carved into the stone was a set of lines under the carved Cutie Mark. Never stop smiling and always laugh. You never know what smiles it’ll bring. Right there I cried. It was so fitting for an amazing pony like her. After my crying, I returned to the group but not before tossing over my shoulder one finally goodbye. “We’ll see you later Pinkie. You can bet on that.”
I soon returned to the group over hearing an argument. "Now hold on there, Rainbow, and let see what Twilight has to say." Rarity called out. “What in Tarnation’s going on?” I yelled coming up to Prince Alex who was in his explained Mage Form. He explained it to us when we all woke up, mainly because Twilight asked about it. He looked over to Twilight and spoke. "Go on, Twi. Tell AJ what you have planned." Twilight gave a sigh and sat down to speak to us. "Look, I'll admit, it's not the best idea I've come up with," she started looking at me, "but it's all I have. We should skip the first Safe House on the map and head for the second one. We'll be able to do a better search if we do that.” I looked at her like she was mad. “Twilight you you’re your filling okay? If we skip this first one who knows what could get us. And we don’t even know if these armors will protect us for long in a fight.” Rainbow and Fluttershy agreed with me but Rarity sided with Twilight. “Look I know what Twilight’s saying may be a bit odd but honestly, what do we really know of this place? I say we find out more about this crazy place so we can have a better chance of leaving.” Rarity said in her defense. “What about you Prince Alex, what you say to all this?” I asked. He gave a sigh and looked right at me. Or at least I think he was, hard to tell with that plate over his face, whatever that face was. “I agree with both sides. It’ll give us a chance to find out more about the area yet it’ll cause us to become vulnerable to attacks.” I had to agree with him on that. “Why not just gather what information we can on the way to this first Safe House? It’ll be smarter to do so and we’ll still be able to keep ourselves safe.” Everyone looked at me funny. “What?” Twilight came up to me and patted me on the shoulder. “AJ, that’s a great idea. Why didn’t we think of that?” We all had a good laugh at that before making our way… from our dear friend.
After what seemed like a mile or so walk we came into some kind a city, or at least what was left of it. Prince Alex gave off a low whistle. “They don’t make cities like that used to. I mean, look at this place.” He gestured with a hoof. He returned to being a pony when we started trotting. He was right, a lot of the taller buildings looked burnt or crushed or something. The smaller buildings looked a bit, worse for wear but looked like we could enter them if needed. “Let’s check a few of these places out. Maybe we can find something useful.” Twiight said pointing to one building. We all nodded and headed over to it. It had a sign on it with a two and a four on it, whatever that meant. We walked through some busted out windows and looked around. Looked like a shop of some kind. “See if we can salvage any of this stuff girls. I’ll check the back for creatures.” Prince Alex said changing over to his Knight form. I still wondered how he did it, some kind of spell that he had in his world, who knows. After about an hours search We sighed met in the middle of the shop next to some crazy looking statue. It was a large statue of a biped creature with wings holding out what looked to be a bowl, next to which was a small step ladder. Prince Alex returned but he was in his pony form this time. “Find anything?” He asked. Rarity nodded ant pointed up to the bowl. Something inside it was giving off a glint of light. "Twilight and I found it earlier but neither of us can access our magic for some reason, there's something up there." Prince Alex nodded and allowed his horn to glow with a sapphire aura, and soon caught it with his teeth. "I've got it." He soon spat it down onto the floor and spat a few times, “Ugh, yuck dust.” Twilight came over to look at it and instantly recognized the paper. "Hey everyone, it's a map! Now we might have an idea of where we're going." Twilight soon began studying the map. "Twilight, can you read it?” Fluttershy asked worried. “Twilight nodded and showed it to us. “It’s hand written and has instructions but I can’t understand them.” Prince Alex looked over it and read it outloud to us.
“From this store head four miles north then turn right of Seventh Street. There you’ll find a blue arrow, follow it to the red arrow but do not go down its path. Look for the green building and enter it and head to the high school.” He looked at all of us and we all shrugged at that but Twilight didn’t. “It’s a school of higher education that young colts and mares can go to learn more. I think Manehattan had a few.” We all nodded at this and I gestured for the prince to continue. “Once inside the high school follow the blue lockers to the cafeteria, there you can find rations you can have but take one each per member of your group, no more. From there exit through the door marked with three stars, do not go through the ones with three X marks. From here take the stairs up and follow the green lockers to the red and blue lockers. To not follow the blue lockers this time, follow the red. There you will find the gym. Your next set of directions are there, do not take this map with you. If needed copy it. Sign, a fellow survivor?” He looked at all of us and we all gave him the same look. Confused. “How the hay are we to copy all that?” Rainbow said annoyed. Prince thought on it and nodded. “Rainbow go get me a piece of wood and a bit of metal but be careful. Twilight, AJ, think you can find some paint in here?” We all nodded and heade our separate ways and returned with our bounty about five, ten, minutes later. “All we could find was a bucket with some old paint shavings in it.” I said putting the old bucket down off my nose. No way was I going to carry it in my mouth. “Good, just set it down together. It’s time for some alchemy.” We all stepped back as the Prince’s horn glowed again and lifted the items up. In a flash of light we had a book and a fountain pen. Though the Prince did look a bit winded after that. “You okay Prince Alex?” He nodded as he sat down. “Yeah, just Alchemy spells take a lot out of me. It’s not easy turning one thing into another.” Twilight took the book and pen and wrote everything down as the Prince recovered.
“There, done. We better put this back as it said.” Twilight said closing the book and handing it over to the Prince who used a bit more magic to repair a sack Fluttershy found in one of the aisles. He put it inside after slinging the back over his neck and right wing. “Alright, onward north to this Seventh street.” We all nodded and headed that way. For four miles we were the only things making a sound in the place. It was kind of creepy. Boy I wish I had a weapon on me, might make me feel a lot better. “Look girls, there’s a blue arrow on that building.” Fluttershy said rising to the air. We all looked at where she was pointing and smiled. “Alright, according to the directions we’re to follow it till we see a red one.” Prince said pulling the book out magicly and checking it.” Rainbow came up to him. “Think I should fly ahead and see what’s there?” Prince frowned but… nodded. “Alright but Rainbow, be careful." Rainbow wordlessly nodded and cautiously entering the claustrophobic space. She soon came back quickly and landed next to us. “It was another one of those "things", the same monster that killed Pinkie Pie!” she reported. We all looked at each other worried. But this one couldn't be the same right! I thought to myself. Just how many of them are there in unholy place! Soon we heard a soft moan came from the location and my eyes widen with terror. There wasn’t just one of those things, there were two! The creature came out, hungry to tear into our flesh just like it did Pinkie’s. Thankfully Prince Alex wasted no time focusing on a spell. He ripped a part of the ground up and hurled it at the monsters, the beasts completely crushed on impact. Both let out the weakest of moans before falling silent. Soon I fell back on her haunches. “That was far too close for comfort. Thanks, Prince." mumbled a shaken Rainbow. He just nodded as he sighed. "Let's just get out of here. I want to be done with this place." We all nodded at that and continued onward to this high school.
A few hundred scuffles later, with Prince Alex sadly being the only one doing the fighting for us, we finally made it to the blasted school’s cafeteria. Looks like this ‘fellow survivor’ forgot to mention the monsters! “What are these things?” Rarity said pulling out a package of… something. “Well the instructions did say there where rations here. Those must be it.” Twilight said looking a few over herself, I too was looking at the funny packages. “Ugh, I can’t read a darn bit of this!” Rainbow yelled dropping two packages back into the container they were from. Rainbow had a point there. Whatever language was being used in this world, we couldn’t read a darn bit of it. “Sorry girls, I wish I could cast a translation spell on all this but unless I know the language I the spell won’t work.” Prince said tiredly. “I think I found some different ones over here.” Fluttershy said pointing to a container. Prince came over and looked at the odd looking words on it. “Hey I think I can read this.” He said happily looking at us. “It’s in in an ancient language long lost to pony kind for many years. I think it’s in Flutterpony.” Twilight’s eyes widened at this. “How could flutterpony be here?” Prince looked at all of use and scratched his chin with his hoof. “Not sure but I’m going to try and use the translation spell on it. It should only take me a minute.” Again his horn glowed and the words did as well. After about a minute the words were readable. “Huh, I was wrong. It was in Zebracan.” He soon looked at the other containers and sighed. “Too bad I can’t read the rest.” We all went up the container and read what it said, Tarts and Wheat Pasta. “We can eat those.” He said using his magic to lift one out of the container and translate it, “Says here the tarts are apple cinnamon.” We all grabbed one. “Yet we’ll need water to use them.” Out of the corner of my eye I say Twilight look at another container. “I think I found it, if my translation is right.” We all came over and Prince read the set of words on the side and nodded. “Everyone grab two bottles. The container says we can do so.” We all grabbed one and put them into Prince’s bag. “Alright, it said to go to the stars right?” I asked looking at the doors. “Yes, from there we’re to head up the stairs and follow the green lockers.” Twilight said drinking a bit of her water before putting it into the bag. Thankfully the bottles had different caps so we couldn’t get our drinks mixed up.
“And from there we’re to follow the red lockers, not the blue ones to the gym.” Prince finished closing the bag. Nodding we went on our way. It didn’t take us long to get to the gym. One of the upper levels seemed to have collapsed to the bottom making a ramp. “I don’t like this place.” Fluttershy said shivering. “I’m with you Sugarcube. Something ain’t right here.” I returned looking around. “Just keep an eye out for the next set of directions.” Twilight said looking around the upper level. “Be better if we had some light.” Rainbow said somewhere next to me. “Your wish is my command.” Prince joked as he short off a bolt of magic. I wished he didn’t because right in front of us was a monstrous bird and it was not happy about the early wakeup call! It was the size of Princess Celestia and had no feathers to speak of. It had skin and razor sharp bones for its wings and had what looked like turtle shell over it’s body. It’s beak was serrated and looked to have holes through it. It’s take was a spiked ball on a long skiny snake like tail. It’s talons looked even worse as they two looked serrated and the glinted in the magicly made light. It swooped over us and knocked poor Fluttershy intot he bottom of the gym. “Fluttershy! We all screamed as she rolled down. “I’m. I’m okay.” We soon heard her bleet like a goat as the creature dived at her. “Pick on someone your own size you over grown buzzard!” Rainbow yelled bucking it in the head while in the air. It was soon followed by Prince in in knight form giving it a buck of his own, right in the middle of it’s back. It hit the ground and squawked before retalianting with it’s claws and tail. Rainbow got the tail while Prince Alex held it’s talons off with his horn like blades. “Tartarus! This thing’s as strong as me!” he yelled fighting off the creature. “Rainbow you okay?” Fluttershy asked as Rainbow shook her head. “I’m okay, what about you?” she asked back. That was the bravest thing I’ve ever seen Rainbow do. “I could use some help over here!” Prince yelled as the creature now had him pinned to a wall and started pecking at him. It was now or never. Setting my Stetson I barreled down the ramp turned and bucked the creature in the beak sending it flying with a sickening snap. “You okay Prince?” I asked gasping for breath. “Yes. Thanks to you. I was about to become monster bird feed.” He asked panting. We soon heard the creature get right back up. “That’s impossible. I bucked that bird hard enough it would have busted ten trees!” I shouted. “I don’t think that’s going to be enough, that shell seem to be protecting it.”
“So how we kill the darn thing?” I asked. “I wish I knew. I never fought against soemthing like this.” Prince said firing spells at it as it flew over us. “Twilight, think you can spot a weakness in it’s armor!” I yelled up. I saw Twilight nod as she watched the creature only for the floor under her to cave and bring her and Rarity down to our level. “Great now what we do?” Rainbow asked sacasticly. “Hold your ground! If it gets close enough to you, buck it!” Prince yelled as it swooped in for another attack. Quickly Rainbow and I pivoted and bucked the think in the check with another sickening crack sending the creature to the wall. Prince than changed over to his Caster form and start firing spells at it but each oen just seemed to bounce off it’s skin. “Darn, my spells aren’t working on it.” He yelled at the creature got back into the air. “What about Pinkie’s Element? We haven’t used it yet.” Fluttershy said before. “Ahhhhh!” We all screamed her name as the creature grabbed her and flew upwards. “On no you don’t!” Rainbow said flying after it “Pinkie’s Element is our only shot. I’m going to tap into it.” Prince said concentrating. I watched as the airiel battle took place with Rainbow and the creature going at in an air battle.
Rainbow bucked at it and bucked at it but it still kept it’s grip on poor Fluttershy. At least she was still moving. That armor must be something special. Soon Rarity, Twilight, and I heard what sound like a small rush of wind as a blast of magical energy hit the creature like a fireworks rocket causing ti to let go of Fluttershy who was caught by Rainbow. We all turned to see Prince Alex had… a cannon on his left arm in his Knight form. “Is that I cannon on your arm?” I asked. “When it comes to Pinkie, I think it’s appropriate.” He retorted. I did remember Pinkie saying something about never leaving home without her Party Cannon. That must have been it. The creature got right back up and squawked at us a lot. “Oh what’s the matter bird brain? Afraid of our cannon?” Rainbow taunted. I wish she would think before she talked. The thing squawked one more time before firing a fire ball at us which thankfully Prince Alex blocked with a magic shield. “You just had to go and taunt it didn’t you?” Rarity shot at her. She gave a small laugh before replying, “Oops.” Prince Alex just shot the thing back with another cannon blast sending it into the air where it took flight bit a little shakily. “I think we found it’s weakness.” Twilight reported as it just flew in the air. “So it’s seems, but we can’t wait for it to just open its beak every time to kill it. It’ll take too long and I’m not sure how long Pinkie’s cannon will last. I can already feel its magic draining with each shot.” Prince Alex returned. This was bad. Twilight and Rarity could use their spells, Rainbow’s bucking only brought it down to our level to fight which only the cannon could harm it, and the only weapon we had was slowly loosing it’s magic. I… I had to do something. I… I had to fight. I had to protect my friends. I… I…
Snapped, and boy howdy did I snap. In just flash I was on my hind legs and gaining something similar to Prince Alex’s Knight and Mage Forms. My head, or what was my head came down my Stetson hat falling onto my newly helmeted head, my former head becoming my chest, my front legs gained fingerless claws and my hind legs back hooves spread out. On my right arm was my Element, I was wondering where it had gotten to. “What in tarnation?” Was all I could get out before my Element flashed and my flanks opened and two weapons popped out. I didn’t know what they were but I grabbed them and pointed them right at the creature and them… twin booms were given off making fall onto my flank. The creature squawked in pain and I looked at my weapons. They looked like Pinkie’s party cannons but far smaller. Yet they sure did pack a punch. “AJ, is that you?” Twilight asked. “I guess this is that other magic bits you two were talking about.” I returned. Carefully I tried to stand up like Prince Alex and somehow… I knew how. It must have been the Element at work.
Not carrying for this here and now I kept unleashing, whatever I was firing, at the creature bring it down to our level. The creature looked like it was on its last leg, and it was time to put it out of its misery. “Don’t, stop. It can’t fight anymore.” Fluttershy begged. “Fluttershy that thing flew you around the place and wanted to eat you!” I returned. “Maybe it was just protecting its home.” Fluttershy countered. “We can’t take the chance of this thing coming after us!” I argued. “No Applejack. Fluttershy has a point. I mean look at it.” Prince Alex said pointing at it. It was true. The creature looked like it wasn’t up for anymore fight. “I… I… Alright.” I said putting my weapons down. We slowly started to look away from it when. “Look out!” Rainbow cried tackling Rarity, Fluttershy, and Twilight to the ground. The Creature had just fired off another fire ball giving me and Prince Alex a chance to finish off. With one last blast from each of us the creature’s head exploded and it fell to the ground dead. It was then we heard Fluttershy crying. It… It had to be done. “Fluttershy, I…” I never got to finish as she flew right into Rarity’s waiting hooves trying to comfort her. I tried to go to her but Prince Alex stopped me. “Let her be AJ. Let’s just look for the next set of directions and get out of here.” Sighing I nodded, walking with his aid in my newest form.