"A love potion?!" Applejack gaped in shock.
"Actually it turned out to be a love poison," said Big Mac, the quiet stallion throwing Apple Bloom a slight scowl.
Applejack looked at their little sister as she trotted down the dirt path with them on either side, the yellow filly flashing her returned sister a nervous grin.
"Lil Bloom, I don't know whether to be proud of you for your resourceful thinking, or insist that Big Mac here was far too lenient with you and insist he double your chores for another month," said Applejack.
"Aw, come on Applejack," pleaded Apple Bloom desperately, "I've already learned my lesson. You can't force two ponies to be together."
"It ain't just that, Apple Bloom," said Applejack, looking off into the distance. The silhouette of Canterlot could just be made out against the blue sky. Applejack trembled slightly as she imagined what became of the last person that trifled with love, and her protective big sister persona imagined Apple Bloom suffering the same fate. Applejack trembled again.
Apple Bloom's situation wasn't entirely the same, but still...
"There can be severe consequences for trying to manipulate somepony's heart, Apple Bloom." She looked down at her little sister with a worried expression. "I myself learned recently just how severe the outcome can be. I met somepony... someone... who tried to achieve all her sinister goals by manipulating the love of multiple ponies. She... suffered a horrible fate."
Apple Bloom blinked. "You mean the changeling queen Hermaeus Mora sucked the brains out of?"
Applejack jerked so hard her hat almost fell off. "How... how did...?"
"Princess Celestia informed all of Ponyville about what happened in Canterlot," said Big Mac.
"I know that," snapped Applejack, having remembered that the Solar Princess had promised to warn everyone on how dangerous Hermaeus Mora is. "But she didn't... leave out the more morbid side? At least for the foals' sake?"
Big Mac shook his head. "The Princess felt it was necessary for ponies of all ages to be informed of everything that Hermaeus Mora is capable of. After all, if some kids come across one of those black whirlpool thingies of his, you think they would approach it if they think it's going to suck their brains out?"
Applejack... could not fail to see the logic in that. Or the truth. Unlike the fables of the Boogiemare, Slendermane, or the Pony of Shadows, Hermaeus Mora would, without a doubt, drain the knowledge from a child, if said child had knowledge he sought.
'Logic and truth...' thought Applejack, shaking her head to derail her train of thought off the track it was taking. 'I have been in Apocrypha for too long. I am a simple country farm girl, I shouldn't think things with logic alone. For Twilight's sake.'
Twilight may not be chewing her hooves to the bone worrying about what might bleed over to Equis from Nirn anymore, but the book loving pony no doubt still hoped her friends would never change from their encounter with Hermaeus Mora.
"Applejack?" mumbled Apple Bloom, holding a forehoof to her temple nervously. "Will... Hermaeus Mora really suck my brain out for what I did to Big Mac and Cheerilee?"
Applejack saw where this was going and immediately came up with a counter strategy.
"No, no, Apple Bloom," she said, draping a hoof over her sister's withers comfortingly. "I wasn't necessarily referring to him. I just meant you shouldn't manipulate a pony's heart. It never ends well, even if you believe your motivation is good."
"But... but..." mumbled Apple Bloom, still clutching her head in fear. "Hermaeus likes knowledge. If I hadn't fixed what I did to Cheerilee, she could never teach again. Wouldn't that make him mad?"
That was a good point, and for a split second, Applejack shared Apple Bloom's worry, but it immediately subsided.
"I wouldn't worry, sugarcube," she said, pulling Apple Bloom close, so they walked pressed together. "Miss Cheerilee is a wonderful teacher, but I don't think Hermaeus Mora is interested in what she teaches. Something like him don't need to be taught his ABC's, after all."
"You really think so, Applejack?" asked Apple Bloom, slightly calmer.
"If Hermaeus Mora was cross with you for what you did, you would have heard about it before now," said Applejack, gently pushing her little sister away. "Varmint ain't exactly the patient type."
"I still don't understand. If Hermaeus Mora is really so mean, why...?"
"Land sakes...!"
Apple Bloom's confusion was interrupted by Applejack's silent exclamation.
The trio of siblings had arrived at the outskirts of Sweet Apple Acres, the long stretches of apple orchard directly before them.
Bright green eyes were going to the size of dinner plates and growing more moist than a rain cloud as Applejack beheld the trees of her childhood. She hadn't been gone long, at least from her perspective, but already she could see the changes. The trees had different shaped branches than she remembered, from three years pruning, loss, and growth no doubt, but they looked healthy. At last, Applejack could lay her worries over Sweet Apple Acres fate in her absence to rest.
The trees drifted by as Applejack seemingly moved among them involuntarily. They sported a plentiful bounty of bright red treasures, just right for apple bucking. She was sure it was her imagination, but Applejack could swear that there were fewer bruised apples among the branches than the last time she had laid eyes on her precious orchard.
Memories flooded her mind like the first waters that gave ponies life on this world.
Her first applebuck season, her first zap apple harvest, the time she left to Manehattan only to realize this was her home.
Everything Granny Smith ever taught her about the orchard... about life.
Overeagerness began to overwhelm Applejack as she thought about her beloved granny. 'It won't be long. Soon we'll be together again...'
"Braeburn, stay to the left, ya dunderhead!"
Speak of the devil.
"Granny!" Applejack exclaimed excitedly as she galloped in the direction of the familiar voice. But she stopped when she realized something.
Years of being reprimanded by the ancient mare had taught Applejack how to gauge her tone, to tell whether she was disappointed, angry, annoyed, or concerned. This was all four.
"What was that ma'am?" Applejack heard the familiar voice of her Appleoosaian cousin.
'CRASH'
Followed by the unmistakable sound of wood striking something solid, and very hard at that.
"GRANNY!" shouted Applejack with concern, quickening her pace in the direction of all the noise.
...She did not notice the wavy tendrils above, connecting to a massive shape, its shadow encompassing the shadows of everything nearby.
---
A few moments prior.
"I don't understand," said Granny Smith exasperatedly as she and Braeburn stood within a grove of Golden Delicious trees, looking up into the branches of one of the grove's leafy occupants, spying a cluster of fruits that had yet to be harvested. "How In tarnation did you miss a bushel of this size?"
"I'm sorry ma'am," twanged Braeburn, turning his hind legs toward a tree. "We Appleoosaian ponies may be good in the apple orchard ourselves, but we haven't the skill that you Apples of Ponyville possess." He cast a longing glance at the tree's branches and the plump bounty they sported. "I don't even have any experience harvesting such rare apples, personally."
"Enough excuses," scolded Granny Smith, positioning wooden buckets along the base of the tree in preparation for when the apples descended. "Just hop to it. On the double."
"Yes ma'am, said Braeburn hurriedly, flexing his muscles in preparation.
Granny Smith snorted and looked up into the apple tree, and the dozen or so apples dangling from its branches. Now normally the wise old mare wouldn't have been so peeved if such a paltry amount of apples had been accidentally skipped over, but as Braeburn said, these were no mere common apple. No, these were a special breed of the highest quality.
They were called Platinum Delicious.
As their name suggests, Platinum Delicious are snow white beauties belonging to the family of their sweet tasting cousins, second only to the zap apples in regards to quality and flavor. They were grown through a special process known only to Granny Smith's branch of the Apple family, developed generations ago, each one containing at least ten times the flavor of a normal Golden Delicious. And at least one hundred times the worth.
Due to their great flavor, a Platinum Delicious can be sold for several times the amount of any other apple.
But even with the Apple family's diligence, the mysterious process that sowed Platinum Delicious apples only produced twenty or so a year.
For a single tree to have so many at once was almost unheard of; it was practically a fortune in apples.
Steadying his breathing, Braeburn reared up on his front legs and apple bucked the tree with all his might. The bright white apples barley flinched, a single leaf fluttering to the ground, almost mockingly.
"Ya can't buck Platinum Delicious with the traditional method, for Pete's sake," said Granny Smith, her annoyance blooming into full blown anger as she painstakingly trotted toward her great nephew's side. "Must I do everything?"
"I am so sorry, ma'am," Braeburn apologized once again, desperately hoping not to inspire the ancient Apple's wrath. "How do you buck Platinum Delicious?"
"Ain't no time to teach ya," said Granny Smith, Braeburn gasping as she suddenly began running her hoof along his side. "We'd be too late now if Big Mac wasn't behind on opening the stall already."
Braeburn looked at the position of the sun in the early morning sky. "Ya'll sure he's late?"
"With them youngins helping him?" inquired Granny Smith. "It'll be a miracle if they're able to open the stand at all, and if they do, our only hope of having a single customer is if Princess Luna pops into Ponyville during her dreamstride." Granny Smith halted at Braeburn's hip, swirling her hoof in a small circle. "Aha!"
"Eep!" gasped Braeburn, Granny Smith's actions sending a tickle feeling up his spine. "Granny, what the hay are you doing? That tickles something awful..."
"Giddy up," proclaimed Granny Smith, jabbing her hoof into Braeburn's side.
Everything ceased to exist for Braeburn for a split second. His mind, his thoughts, his very existence became one single impulse.
BUCK
WHAM
The next thing Braeburn knew he was lying on the ground, his hind legs aching like a buffalo had trampled over them. Panting heavily, he looked up and saw the Golden Delicious tree wobbling back and forth like a rubber tree, its branches devoid of fruit.
'Did I do that?'
"Don't just stand there gawking," scoffed Granny Smith, piling the Platinum Delicious apples from one bucket to another, the multiple buckets having only been needed to catch the apples as they fell, in case of a wide dispersion. When all of them rested in a single bucket, Granny Smith shoved it into Braeburn's stomach as he lay on his side. "Get off your duff and get these to the market, lickity split."
"Yes ma'am," saluted Braeburn, scooping up the bucket and placing it in the Apple family wagon that sat parked a few feet away. As soon as Braeburn strapped himself to the harness, he bolted down the trail like his tail was on fire.
Granny Smith smiled as she watched his retreating form. She had been tough on him, but that was just her way. Truth be told, Braeburn did better than Applejack, Big Mac, even her beloved son Bright Mac (Celestia rest his soul) during their first time harvesting Platinum Delicious apples.
Maybe she would reward him with a slice of apple pie upon his return.
Her gratitude was short-lived when she saw Braeburn take a certain turn up ahead. It was the correct path from the orchard to the market, but it had one peril that must always be avoided. A peril that Braeburn had obviously forgotten about in his haste.
"Braeburn, stay to the left, ya dunderhead!" shouted Granny Smith as she painstakingly tried to pursue her great nephew on her withered legs.
"What was that ma'am?"
'CRASH'
'NO!' Granny Smith rounded the corner and her fears were realized.
Braeburn lay in the dirt, his eyes spinning. The wagon lay on its side, the front axle snapped like a twig. Scowling, Granny Smith glared at the culprit.
No, not Braeburn; a large jagged rock jutting from the right side of the path.
When Granny's family first settled here and planted their first apple orchard, they came across this rock while carving out the trail for their expanding orchard. Yet, why was it still here, decades later? Of course, the Apple family had attempted to remove it, it would not even have been the first rock they had removed while carving the path. But this rock resisted every attempt to remove it, no matter how deep they dug, no matter how wide they set the perimeter, they could not find the thing's base.
They soon found it was not a mere rock, but a huge boulder of phenomenal size buried deep in the ground, only the jagged peak visible on the surface.
Such a thing was beyond their capacity to move, so they decided to leave it where it was and expand around it, constantly aware to stay on the left side when taking this path from the field to the market to this day, almost like a tradition. A tradition Braeburn wasn't familiar with.
'The Platinum Delicious.'
Snapping out of her split second musing, Granny Smith looked up in time to see the bucket containing the precious cargo twirling about in the air, throwing it's contents out like a catapult.
"NO!" All Granny Smith could do was watch in horror as the valued fruit submitted to gravity and fell towards the ground, to either be bruised or mashed into applesauce.
Suddenly, each Platinum Delicious was struck by a speeding ball of violet light, emitting a high pitch whine as they struck, freezing them in place. Granny Smith looked at the spectacle with perplexed wonder. Had she finally gone senial?
"Ooh, my head," moaned Braeburn as he stood, gasping at the wreckage of the wagon. "Oh, Granny Smith is going to tan my hide for this."
He noticed said mare behind him and cringed, expecting her to lash out like a rabid timber wolf. But she just continued to stare ahead, stiff as a statue. Noticing her perplexed look, Braeburn turned his attention to the floating Platinum Delicious apples. However, his only response was to sigh in relief.
"Oh thank Celestia," he said, looking around. "A unicorn must be nearby. And they decided to help."
"This ain't the work of no unicorn," said Granny Smith, Braeburn looking at her in confusion. "I've seen every form of magic imaginable, and this ain't nothing like anything that can be expected of an average unicorn. Plus, when a unicorn levitates something, their magic engulfs it. The magic floating these apples came flying out of the trees and surrounded them like ravenous fruit bats. And they ain't shimmery like unicorn magic should be."
Braeburn had to admit she was right. When a unicorn levitates something, it's shrouded by a shimmery, wavy sheen of telekinesis. Whatever was levitating the apples wasn't even noticeable.
"Whoever is out there, wherever you are, come on out this instant," shouted Granny Smith to the orchard. "Whatever you are, if you did this to help save our apples, then we thank you. If you plan to steal them for your own gain, know that I, Granny Smith, will hunt you down to the ends of Equestria, not resting until I nail your hide to my barn after I've tanned it. Twice."
Braeburn gulped. Granny Smith didn't make empty threats.
"I would never steal, Granny," said a mare with a country twang similar to both Granny Smith and Braeburn as she emerged from the trees. "You taught me better than that."
Braeburn gawked.
Granny Smith's dentures fell out as her mouth fell open.
Applejack stood before them, scratching her leg with her forehoof nervously. She actually didn't know what to say at this point. What could you say that would make up for three years?
"CUZ!"
Applejack was suddenly bowled over by a speeding yellow stallion, knocking her over and leaving her sprawled out on the path."
"YOU'RE BACK!" shouted her cousin gleefully, "BY THE STARS, IT HASN'T BEEN THE SAME WITHOUT YOU! "I'VE MISSED YOU, CUZ!"
Applejack missed Braeburn too, as well as any member of her extensive family. She returned his embrace, shedding a single tear as she wrapped her hooves around his withers. But as much as she cared for her cousin, she wasn't here to see him, specifically.
"Great to see you too, cuz," Applejack said wholeheartedly. "But..." She gestured to Granny Smith with her muzzle.
Braeburn followed her gesture and froze, he might not be the brightest star in the sky(admitting personally that he can be a bit scatterbrained) but even he could see when an awkward situation was about to rear its ugly head.
"Oh... ugh, right, right," stammered Braeburn as he scrambled off his cousin and stamped to the right side of the path, hopefully giving grandparent and grandchild enough space.
Applejack trembled as she stood before her granny, the aged mare's puzzled look morphing into her legendary stern glare.
"Granny..." began Applejack, swallowing a frog that was forming in her throat. "I..."
"I see you have come back, lil miss," said Granny, Applejack clamming up at her sharp voice. She looked to the floating Platinum Delicious apples. "I actually didn't believe it when old Celestia sent word to us that the old Woodland Man was going to be teaching ya and your friends magic, but here we go. Now you can make things float, yeah?"
"Yes Granny," answered Applejack, recognizing one of Hermaeus Mora's many aliases, but unsure how her grandmother knew of it. "And...much more."
"You had better not be thinkin' that these fancy spancy powers grant you any edge over your chores," said Granny threateningly.
"No! Of course not, Granny," said Applejack hurriedly. "Sweet Apple Acres has always been run by good old fashioned elbow grease. That will never change as long as I live."
"Good," said Granny Smith. "Glad to hear you didn't learn any wrong lessons while away." Granny Smith approached her granddaughter and scowled at her. "And as for the right one?"
Applejack knew she wasn't referring to the new knowledge she had attained in Apocrypha. "Nothing is more important than family, extended, or otherwise. No matter how glamorous anything might be in the future, I will not let it blind me to the woes of the ones I love.
"I... will never turn my back on someone who depends on me, regardless of the circumstances... Like I did with Twilight."
Granny Smith had dropped her tough exterior and embraced her granddaughter tearfully before she had even finished.
"It's great to have you back, sugarcube."
"Applejack, there you are!" said Apple Bloom as she hurried up with Big Mac in tow. "You just up and left us."
"Sorry," said Applejack as she and Granny Smith let go of one another. "Kind of got lost in my thoughts."
"So she ran into you in the market, huh?" asked Granny Smith.
"Eeyup," replied Big Mac.
"Her friends too," said Apple Bloom. "They get to stay here until Princess Cadance and Shining Armor get married."
"Until?" inquired Braeburn, completely waving off the fact that a royal wedding is about to take place. "So you ain't back for good?"
"'Fraid not," said Applejack. She then went into the explanation about how Hermaeus Mora had given them a temporary reprieve from the task they now shared with Twilight. Since it was going to take time for the six of them to adapt to the power of the Thu'um as efficiently as Twilight had become, the Daedra had given them permission to organize the wedding of the Royal couple, and needn't return until its conclusion.
"The Woodland Man must really want this mister Durnehviir something awful if he's going to such great lengths," stated Granny Smith.
"When a Daedric Prince sets his sights upon something, there ain't no stopping em," explained Applejack. "The... things Hermaeus Mora, and others of his kind, have done to get what they want are most disturbing."
Braeburn personally agreed. When he saw the tendrils and eye that had been added to Applejack's Cutie Mark he could not help but cringe, the yellow eye seemed to be actually looking at him.
"But because of him, you can now do this?" asked Apple Bloom as she pointed to the still floating Platinum Delicious apples. Being so young, she couldn't help but only focus on the aspects of the situation that were cool. "That's so cool!"
Applejack mentally kicked herself for forgetting about the floating white fruits. It was a miracle her telekinesis hasn't worn off.
She picked up the bucket from where it had landed (miraculously intact) and with a gesture of her hoof, levitated the apples back within.
"That is a mighty fine trick," said Big Mac, impressed.
Applejack quirked an eye smugly. "That ain't nothing, big bro."
Everypony's eyes flashed.
"You mean that ain't the best thing ya'll learned in Mora's library?" asked Apple Bloom.
"Not in the slightest," said Applejack, throwing a glare at the rock that had plagued her family for generations, its latest victim laying pitifully beside it. "You, partner, have crashed your last apple cart."
The other apples fidgeted as Applejack took up a defensive stance in front of the rock.
What was Applejack about to do that generations of the strongest Earth Ponies could not?
Talk, apparently.
'Vohaalvut'
A strange blue mist extruded from Applejack's mouth as she spoke that bizarre word, encompassing the jagged rock and turning it semi-transparent. Suddenly, before all their eyes, the rock sank into the ground, never to trouble any Apples again.
Apple Bloom gaped.
She had seen this before.
Back during the original wedding, when she and her fellow Crusaders had been taken hostage by changelings, Twilight had used something similar to make them untouchable. Apple Bloom gulped. Twilight had also used that power to turn their changeling captors into ice sculptures. Even today, she cringed at the memories of frozen piles shattered changeling flesh.
Now her sister had the same power.
"What did you do, cuz?" asked Braeburn.
"I made it as intangible as shadow," explained Applejack. "Until my Thu'um wears off, it will keep passing through the ground, so deep it will never surface again."
That... was impressive.
"But seeing as it was your blunder, Braeburn," said Big Mac suddenly, irritated, suddenly shoving the bucket of rare apples into the smaller stallion, knocking the wind out of him. "You can take these to our market stall, and while you are at it, finish opening and mind the stall."
"Hey, how do you even know it was me?" argued Braeburn.
Big Mac scowled, and Braeburn laughed nervously.
"Ain't happening," said Granny Smith, wrenching the bucket away from Braeburn.
Big Mac blinked. "But Granny, this much Platinum Delicious..."
"Is just what a Royal Wedding needs."
Big Mac gasped, then grinned in understanding. Despite the high end buyers that usually purchased the Platinum Delicious, having them served at these upcoming events would put them within the sights of even more potential buyers. Not to mention the honor of serving their dishes in Canterlot.
"But Big Mac raises a good point," said Granny, refocusing on Braeburn, who gulped. "This was your blunder, however, seeing as a big wedding is underway, and we are expected to provide the hors d'oeuvres, we will need everything we got. The market stall can wait, however, I expect you to fix this here wagon you busted up good as new."
Braeburn wasn't about to argue.
Sure, fixing a wagon was no meager chore, but he knew full well he was lucky he wasn't being forced to do it blindfolded. The wagon could not be moved in its present condition though, so Braeburn made his way back to the barn to get the repairing equipment. He was followed by the others, having tasks needing to be done themselves.
It was then that Applejack remembered something.
"Granny?" she said to the aged mare holding the bucket of apples beside her. "Zecora accompanied us on the way home from Canterlot. She... said something drastic has changed in my absence."
Granny Smith halted, the others following suit. Big Mac, Braeburn, and Apple Bloom knew what said change was, now it was time for their long lost family member to be enlightened.
"Hon," started Granny, "I am aware of how you feel about the Woodland Man for what he did to little Twilight..."
"What has Hermaeus Mora got to do with Sweet Apple Acres?" asked Applejack, her anxiety increasing. "When we mentioned him in the market, Apple Bloom reacted as if she had interacted with him before."
Granny Smith looked downtrodden, and Applejack gasped."Granny, tell me you didn't..."
"Now before y'all get all judgemental, you had best wait until you know why I did what I had to."
But whatever Granny Smith had done would have to wait, for at that moment, a speeding rock collided with the bucket in Granny Smith's hooves, staggering her and knocking three of the precious fruits from their resting place.
"GRANNY!"
Everypony surrounded the teetering mare and steadying before she toppled over.
"HEE HEE HEE."
The insulting laughter brought Applejack's attention, gasping at what she saw.
Three familiar bunnies stood across the path, holding the pilfered Platinum Delicious's.
Applejack's face turned red. Not even home for a day yet and this happens.
"YA THIEVIN VARMITS!" shouted Applejack as she made her way to the obnoxious bunnies blowing raspberries at her tauntingly, her anxiety for what Granny was about to say momentarily forget. "LET'S SEE HOW MUCH OF THOSE APPLES YOU CAN STOMACH AFTER I SEND AN UNRELENTING FORCE DOWN EACH OF YOUR THROATS!"
But before she could move much farther, a red hoof shoved something to her chest. Looking down, Applejack saw that Big Mac had shoved a gasmask to her chest.
"Bic Mac, what the hay?" she asked, but could only stare as Big Mac put on a gasmask himself.
"Put it on now, sis!" He said urgently.
Something in Big Mac's voice (which he rarely used given any circumstances) told her she would regret it if she didn't comply immediately, so slipped on the mask without further question. Looking around, she was shocked to see that the others sported masks too.
'What in oats and apples is going on?'
'BOOLMP'
A low brass sound reverberated through the orchard, jarring Applejack too her teeth. "What in tarnation was that?"
'BOOLMP'
A second noise reverberated, sounding closer.
"Poor critters," said Granny Smith as she stared at the trio of bunnies who had stayed behind to taunt them, rather then flee with their spoils, in pity. "We told dear Dr. Fauna to keep them out of the orchard after it happened, but she just can't corral critters like your friend Fluttershy."
Applejack slowly turned to her grandma, her terrified expression obscured by her gasmask. "After... what happened?"
'BOOLMP'
This noise sounded right on top of them, and was accompanied by the groaning of wood, as if several of the nearby trees suddenly became strained by a great weight.
'BOOLMP'
Some birds in a nearby tree scattered, squawking in fright as they made a beeline in the opposite direction of the loud thrumming.
'BOOLMP'
The furry culprits finally registered the noise, looking around in confusion.
'BOOLMP'
‘CRASH’
Applejack jumped back as the top of a nearby tree exploded, scattering leaves, branches, and a few stray apples around, a gigantic shape emerging.
Whatever it was was so massive that it obscured the sun upon its arrival, but once Applejack's eyes adjusted, what she saw made her heart stop. A huge, bulbous shape lingered high in the air before them all, the size of Ponyville's balloon. But this was no pony made vehicle.
It was dark tan in color, its round body extending back and ending in an almost tail-like structure. Huge tendrils extruded from its pale blue underbelly, which expanded and receded like a balloon being blown up then deflated, obviously keeping the thing aloft. The tendrils wriggled and squirmed almost independently of the creature they were attached to, sending a creepy feeling through Applejack.
Though she knew what this creature was...
She had read about them, even seen a couple during her recent adventure in Morrowind...
...A Bull Netch.
Applejack could only stare on, transfixed as the creature bore down upon them all, sounding its brass call throughout the orchard. It suddenly veered forward, in the direction of the bunnies. The three furry animals could only watch in horror as the floating mass towered over them, tendrils large enough to rend them limb from limb.
Suddenly, a dark green, gaseous sphere descended from where the tendrils met the creature's body, leaving a green trail in its wake, shattering as it struck the ground.
Applejack snapped out of her shocked state when a wave of gas enveloped the area, the ponies' gas masks protecting them from the noxious fumes, but the obnoxious bunnies had no such protection. The unmistakable sound of bunnies in pain joined the morbid chorus of the Bull Netch as it continued to bellow, the three Platinum Delicious rolling from the noxious cloud to come to a rest at Applejack's hooves.
But Applejack didn't notice, too focused on what was transpiring before her.
The cloud of poison soon cleared, revealing three bunnies sprawled out in the dirt, coughing fiercely. The Bull Netch bellowed again, the three looking up at the huge challenger in great fear. Frantically, they scrambled off clumsily, the yellow one stumbling, and apparently unable to rise again, prompting the other two to support their companion on their shoulders as they scampered out of Sweet Apple Acres.
Applejack remained focused on the Bull Netch.
"What...? How...?" Applejack could not form a coherent sentence, but Granny Smith didn't need her to.
"I reckon you're plum curious as to why critters from the Woodland Man's realm are here in the farm?"
'Wait, 'critters'?
Sure, seeing 'a' Bull Netch here on the farm was indeed surprising, but Applejack could only see one...
CRASH
CRASH
CRASH
Applejack could only stare from behind her gasmask as multiple Bull Netches arrived from within the trees.
And they were not alone.
Multiple smaller creatures that resembled jellyfish out of water also accompanied them. Applejack recognized them as Betty Netch's, the female version of the Netch species.
"It never fails," commented Braeburn, looking upon the floating giants with awe. "Where there is one, more are bound to be close by."
"And the misses never let their studs stray far from them," added Granny Smith, waltzing right up to a Betty Netch and stroking one of her tendrils seemingly affectionately.
Applejack's breathing hitched.
Though she was not worried about Granny Smith's wellbeing for her actions.
Netches were big, fearsome creatures, to be sure, but despite their size, they were generally docile animals. The Bull Netch, as very recently shown, could spout poison, and while the Betty Netch lacked that ability, all Netches sport poison glands at the tips of their tendrils, and Betty Netches could be far more vicious than a Bull Netch, especially during mating season. But they usually only attack when provoked.
Especially Betty Netches, who were extremely protective of the multiple Bull Netches they dominate over in their herd.
But back to Applejack, her worries weren't for Granny Smith being hurt by the Netches, it was why they were here in the first place.
Like Granny Smith said, more or less, they were from Nirn. "Granny, what are these critters doing here?"
Granny turned to her granddaughter and sighed. It was time she became aware of what went down while she was away.
---
"Goodness gracious!" moaned Auntie Orange, diving to the ground as she was almost dive-bombed by multiple velvety winged creatures. "This... isn't what me or my husband signed up for!"
Granny Smith gritted her dentures in annoyance. Auntie and Uncle Orange had been the next in line in the Apple family to assist Sweet Apple Acres during Applejack's forced leave almost a year and a half ago, and had bellyached the whole time. Though it wasn't entirely unexpected, and not only for the fact that they were a Manhattan family branch, who had long since lost touch with their farming roots.
And Granny Smith, though still annoyed with her big city relatives, could not entirely fault them for complaining to this situation, for it was pressing, even for her.
Taking her mind off her obnoxious relatives, Granny Smith scowled into the heavens...and the old foe circling above.
Vampire fruit bats.
These menacing winged creatures had plagued her family in the past, and now they're back, and with a vengeance.
While the last encounter with these flying devils had been a harrowing experience for Granny Smith all those years ago, this was much worse.
Hundreds of thousands, at least, were swarming the orchard, its once lovely trees drooping and withered under the ravenous assault. Every second, a barbed tongue would descend from the sky, scooping up a ripe, red apple from either a basket, or right out of a tree, pull it into a fanged maw, then a shriveled apple would plummet to the ground, joining its multiple brethren, their shriveled corpses littering the entire ground of Sweet Apple Acres. And it was only getting worse.
Try as they might, the denizens of Sweet Apple Acres could not protect their precious crop, and to make matters worse, the fewer apples there became, the more the vampire fruit bats desperately hunted for more, once there weren't enough to go around.
'Smash'
Granny Smith looked across the orchard to the barn in the distance. The apple cellar had held up, until now, apparently, now a virtual whirlpool of vampire fruit bats was funneling past the wrecked doors into its underground depths, no doubt plundering what few apples remained. Granny Smith fought back tears.
"Auntie and Uncle Orange!" called the old mare, gaining the panicked couple's attention. She reached beside her and plucked Apple Bloom, who had been standing beside her hopefully to aid in the defense in some way, and chucked her with all her might at Uncle Orange, who caught her. "Take Apple Bloom and get to town, now!"
"What?!" protested the youngster. "But Granny, the farm..."
"The farm is lost," Granny Smith forced out, tasting bile on each word as they left her lips. "If this keeps up, somepony could be hurt, and as much as I love this place, it ain't worth your well-being."
"But Granny..." protested Apple Bloom, tears streaming her face.
"No buts, Missy," scolded Granny.
Apple Bloom clammed up, but tears still flowed down her cheeks.
"Now move your caboose," said Granny Smith, "All of you."
"What about you Granny?" asked Auntie Orange worriedly.
"I gotta go find Big Mac," answered Granny. "Knowing that stubborn mule, he's still defending Applejack's protegé. But it ain't worth it now."
The Oranges nodded, taking off for Ponyville, a crying Apple Bloom on Uncle Orange's back.
Granny Smith glared upward, the sky so thick with vampire fruit bats that the orchard was bathed in early twilight.
Stomping her hoof down, Granny Smith knocked a pitchfork up from the ground and caught it in her teeth. Blowing a puff from her nostrils, Granny Smith charged into the decrepit trees, trotting on shriveled apple cores in her wake, and swinging her pitchfork to knock aside any cluster of bats in her path. She sped down the orchard faster than she had in decades. Her aged body momentarily reverted back to when she once roamed these fields in her youth.
She trotted past worn trees that once represented the legacy of her family's skill, but we're now withered husks of the past that brought soul crushing despair to Granny Smith's heart. But the thought of her grandson spurred her forward. And she found him right where she thought he would be.
"EENOPE!"
"EENOPE!"
"EENOPE!"
Big Mac was wielding the wood axe used for clearing away dead trees, keeping the vampire fruit bats at bay as they closed in what the bulky stallion was defending. A single apple tree grew on this section of the farm, but sported only one apple. Clearly it was no ordinary apple.
An apple so big it staggered the tree it grew from lay attached to one of the burdened trees branches.
It was the last project Applejack managed to complete before she left, and was sure to win first prize in the competition held in Appleoosa. But that didn't matter now. Family mattered.
Granny Smith swatted aside the last few vampire fruit bats in her path, spitting out the pitchfork at Big Mac's hooves and gasping for air at her exertion.
"GRANNY!" called Big Mac worriedly. ""ARE YOU ALRIGHT?!"
"Just dandy," said Granny as her grandson supported her. "But we gotta skedaddle, now."
Big Mac's mouth fell open. "But Granny..."
"Look, you big oaf," scolded Granny, "I'm sure Applejack would appreciate you defending her hard work, but which do you think she would prefer? Defending her apple pointlessly to the point where you get hurt, or worse, or getting yourself to safety so you can still be around for me and Apple Bloom."
As seldom as he used it, Big Mac's voice caught in his throat. He could not argue with Granny Smith's logic, but he was loath to just abandon all his family stood for. But Apple Bloom and Granny...
"Eeyup," swallowed Big Mac looking at his family orchard forlornly.
"Come on, Big Mac," said Granny Smith supportingly. "Maybe... maybe we can rebuild. The varmints will have to move on eventually, especially when there's no more food...."
'SHATTER'
They both looked up to see that the vampire fruit bats had crashed through the attic of their barn, undoubtedly looking for more apples, the ancient contents of their family's history scattering along the ground.
"You despicable varmints," said Granny Smith, dodging left as family photo albums and other Apple Family books rained down around her. "If I was a few years younger..."
"GRANNY!" Big Mac's shout brought her attention, she noticed he was looking at something before her hooves with wide eyed terror. She followed his gaze and looked down, growing confused at what she saw.
While she recognized every book that had fallen around her, she didn't know this one.
Its cover was black, and very rough looking, a gold insignia of tendrils and crab claws decorating the cover in the center. But before she could contemplate more, the cover sprang open, revealing pages so yellow that they had to out age any book the Apples own, illegible symbols twittered across the pages like insects.
Then, before Granny Smith's aged eyes, a gelatinous black tendril blanketed in luminous green runes sprang from the wrinkled pages and wrapped around her neck.
"GRANNY!" she heard Big Mac scream before everything blacked out.
---
Granny could only stare ahead in transfixed wonder.
Gone were the ransacked apple trees, and the poor demolished barn. Before her eyes stood an expansive sea stretching beyond the horizon, the waters black as tar. Above extended a poison yellow sky, wriggling tendrils identical to the one that had obviously dragged her here extruding from multiple dark vortexes dotting random places among the hazy clouds.
"Welcome to Apocrypha, Mrs Smith!"
Granny Smith turned around.
Her focus wasn't on the multiple tornadoes of book pages, the ground or castle made of books, nor even the strange floating tendril creatures floating about.
Granny Smith's attention was centered on the new vortexes spiraling into existence just before her, multiple eyes at the center of at least half of the tendrils that began to reach out, focusing on her with slow blinking gazes.
Granny Smith scowled through her wrinkled muzzle.
"Y'all got some nerve, just up and yanking me into your hole in the wall Hermaeus Mora!" sneered the ancient mare.
Hermaeus Mora blinked.
"Interesting," said the Daedra, "Most mortals experience fear or awe when visiting Apocrypha for the first time. It is rather unheard of for someone to have the gall to speak to me with such assertiveness, especially within my realm."
Granny Smith wagged her tongue in annoyance. "It takes more than this to stun a mare who has seen as much as I have." She gave Hermaeus Mora what could only be described as the stink eye. "And if you think your googly eyes and weirdo tentacles are going to scare me, you got another thing coming."
Such arrogance.
How should a Daedra respond to such slight?
"I suppose you have a point," said Hermaeus Mora calmly. "After all, the more knowledge one possesses the greater the strength of the soul."
Granny Smith was not in the mood for such meaningless talk.
"What do you want, ya varmint?" she asked impatiently. "I don't suppose you brought me here to tell me you have decided to release Applejack and her friends from their duty to ya."
"A favor due to me must be carried out," replied Hermaeus Mora.
"Thought as much," said Granny Smith, turning her tail on the Daedra with a huff. "Well, if you don't mind, we have a bit of a dilemma going down at Sweet Apple Acres, so if you would kindly return me from whence I came, I would much appreciate it."
"Precisely why I am here, Miss Smith," said Hermaeus Mora, Granny Smith turning back to him and arching her eyebrow. "Such a shame, your family home is being defiled by such despicable creatures. Years of your family's hard endeavors, destroyed to satisfy the gluttony of creatures that have no right to gorge on what you have worked so hard to sow."
Granny Smith didn't like her family's suffering being spoken so casually. "We will endure. The Apples have always overcome any hardship. No matter what happens, we can always rebuild."
"Undoubtedly," said the wretched abyss. "But... what if you didn't have to?"
Granny Smith tilted her head. "What are you saying?"
"I am offering you, and your family, my aid," explained Hermaeus Mora. "For one such as me, vanquishing such a meager foe, even in such great numbers, is simple."
Granny Smith's mind focused on the state her beloved farm was in just moments prior. All the damage, all the mayhem, sicking a creature like Hermaeus Mora on those responsible was very appealing. But, as Hermaeus Mora said himself, Granny Smith had stores of knowledge that allowed her to see past base desires.
"The Princess warned us about how you operate," said Granny Smith, "You don't offer any form of assistance without compensation."
"Most astute," said Hermaeus Mora, "of both you and the Princess."
"Well you can forget it," said Granny Smith sternly. "One Apple has already been lost to your vile mechanisms. I may be old, but my family still needs me."
"Again, I commend you for your swift mind. But you misinterpret," said Hermaeus Mora, his tendrils weaving lazily through the air. "Applejack, and her companions, the deal I offered them was a very unique situation. That is not how I usually operate. I have no intention of stranding you here in Apocrypha."
"I don't have time for this," complained Granny. "Even now, poor Big Mac is being set upon by vampire fruit bats."
"You have more time than you realize," said Hermaeus Mora,"As I have done with my champion during her training, I have altered the flow of time between your world and mine. And unlike your grandchild, you are not technically even here."
"Oh, what are you spouting about?" Said Granny Smith impatiently. "I'm right here talking to you."
"Only in mind," explained Hermaeus Mora. "I have only brought your mind to my realm, your body still stands in Equestria."
That was actually a chilling thought.
But now...
"I don't care what you have done," said Granny Smith. "I don't need your assistance."
"Do you think so?" snided Hermaeus Mora, almost smugly. "What will happen to Applejack if she returns home to find it destroyed? You know your grandchild. How will she feel when she finds her family destitute... because she wasn't around to protect her home?"
Granny Smith backpedaled as if struck.
As much as she was loath to admit it, she knew Hermaeus Mora was correct. If Applejack returned to find Sweet Apple Acres ransacked, she would never forgive herself. She could just imagine her, plagued by such soul crushing despair and guilt.
But the Princess's warning...
"I can promise you this, Granny Smith," said Hermaeus Mora, "I do not desire pain or suffering. If you accept my bargain, nothing will happen that will disrupt the livelihood of you or your family. In fact, I guarantee you will only prosper."
Granny Smith swallowed,"What did you have in mind?"
---
Granny Smith next saw her orchard, Big Mac galloping up to her.
"GRANNY, ARE YOU ALRIGHT!" he shouted, kicking away the Black Book at her hooves.
Granny Smith just stared at him sadly. "Ya might want to brace yourself, dearie."
Before Big Mac could inquire on what she meant, a bone chilling laughter tore throughout the orchard.
“Hahahaha, HAHAHA!”
Up above, sections of the thick cloud of vampire fruit bats dispersed as great black vortexes exploded into existence. The red eyed flyers ceased their assault to look at the portals questioningly, but before they could even begin to get a grasp on what was happening, the portals revealed their purpose. Floating creatures several meters long, and sporting several tendrils, descended from the portals, several dozen in number.
The creatures mellowed around, seemingly curious to their new surroundings, Granny Smith and Big Mac looking on in awe. Then, before they closed, the portals produced creatures that were different in appearance to what came through first, but carried enough resemblance to be recognized as the same species, most likely a different gender.
The dozen Betty Netches hovered above the Bull Netches, and Big Mac let out a shocked gasp as a creature he recognized as Hermaeus Mora appeared before them.
"YOU!" he called angrily, but Granny Smith put a hoof on his shoulder, her expression telling him to not interfere.
'RAAN MIR TAH'
The Thu'um resounded over the Bull and Betty Netches, who then organized before Hermaeus Mora in an almost army like fashion, the Betty Netches at the head like generals.
"Destroy them," was all Hermaeus Mora said before he vanished.
All Tartarus broke loose.
The Bull Netches descended upon the vampire fruit bats like great warships from above, deploying gaseous spheres into the masses and engulfing them in a cloud of pure death. The Betty Netches apparently didn't have this ability, but their tendrils spun around like propeller blades, and if a bat was so much as grazed, it fell to the ground, spasming uncontrollably. Vigorously, the Netches began to tear the vampire fruit bats apart.
Granny Smith and Big Mac made for the barn, knowing such an onslaught was best avoided, barricading the door.
"Granny Smith, what did you do?" asked Big Mac.
"What I had to, for the farm," said Granny Smith, wiping away a shameful tear.
---
A few hours later, they emerged from the barn to quite a sight.
The afternoon sun shone above, no longer obscured by fruit bats, who now littered the ground, unmoving...
...but was occasionally blotted out when a Bull or Betty Netch hovered above.
Big Mac and Granny Smith backed away stunned as a massive Bull Netch approached them, but the behemoth just floated before them. It did nothing but hover there, occasionally making a light moaning noise. Somehow, they knew it was just curious.
"Ugh, hi there, big fella," said Big Mac.
The Bull Netch reached out with a tendril and stroked Big Mac's short mane, startling the stallion, but when it became apparent that it meant no harm, Big Mac actually smiled. Something about how they moved and acted told Big Mac that these creatures were not going to harm them.
"Well, hey there little lady," said Granny Smith. Big Mac turned to see that a Betty Netch had drifted up to her and was nuzzling her.
"Sweet Celestia!"
Granny Smith and Big Mac turned to see Auntie and Uncle Orange trotting up the path, careful not to tread on the limp vampire fruit bats that stared blankly up at the sky. Apple Bloom, still on Uncle Orange's back, tried her best not to look at the carnage around her.
"What in the name of the Mare's Statue happened here?" asked Auntie Orange.
"What... are these critters?" asked Uncle Orange. "We saw them appear from town, so we returned to the farm to investigate.
"They are your new guardians."
All present jumped as Hermaeus Mora appeared before them.
"Behold the protectors for your livelihood. These are the Netches, and they are yours to deploy on any pests who would defile your crops. They will protect against any threats that may tread upon this domicile."
Granny Smith took a deep breath and approached the Daedra.
"Remember our agreement, ancient mortal."
"Ya ain't gotta remind me," said Granny Smith, "I will share everything I know about farming with ya, even my most coveted technique."
"And…?"
---
Applejack threw the doors of the barn open, and what Granny Smith had told her on the way here was confirmed, of what else she had promised Hermaeus Mora.
Her mouth flew open as she beheld the giant statue that rested against the rear wall. It was at least a story tall, roughly the shape of an egg. Multiple depictions of eyes were carved along its marble surface, the base resembling tendrils.Four limbs like scorpion claws extended from the sides, reaching upward as if they intended to rend the sky.
It was unmistakable.
There...in her barn, with multiple family farming books resting beneath it, along with a Black Book, illuminated by red candles, was a shrine dedicated to Hermaeus Mora.
How could this happen, in her own home?
"Applejack," comforted Granny Smith behind her. "I know this isn't what you wanted, but I had to do it."
"Granny, do you know what you have done?" moaned Applejack as she turned to her grandma, tears streaming her face. "Hermaeus Mora... he's..."
"A right mighty dangerous, I know," said Granny Smith. "But so far, he has kept his word. And besides that, he is the reason Sweet Apple Acres survived."
"I know," glared Applejack, forcing down her tears. "But you faced vampire fruit bats before, did you really have to resort to making a deal with a Daedra to handle it?"
"This time was so much worse, Applejack," said Granny Smith, "And it wasn't just the bats neither."
"I... don't understand," said Applejack.
"Applejack, don't you remember what I said? The vampire fruit bats desecrated our entire crop, other than your fair entry apple," explained Granny Smith. "Your entry won, by the way, but that would not have helped the farm any; how do you think we pulled through?"
Applejack remained silent.
"Come with me, youngin," said Granny, walking from the barn, gesturing that Applejack follow her.
They made their way behind the barn, and Applejack saw something she hadn't expected.
"The Netches here not only drove off them vampire fruit bats," explained Granny Smith. "They provided a resource for us that we could sell until our orchard recovered."
Stacked in even rows were large baskets, but they didn't contain apples. Each basket housed a large velvety sack that contained hundreds of small, spherical objects. Netch egg sacs.
Applejack knew for what purpose Netches were farmed in Morrowind, but here?
"As soon as the little fellas hatch, they behave the same as the originals that Hermaeus Mora brought here," said Granny Smith. "They defend against pests, from parasprites, to caterpillars. Somehow, his command is passed on to the children.
"It wasn't long before other farmers around Equestria heard about our unique pest control and began making offers to acquire some for their own farms. We weren't willing at first, but once it became clear how fast they breed, we agreed.
"Soon every farm in Equestria will be using them, and not just for pest control."
Granny Smith pointed, and when Applejack looked, he saw a massive pile of bruised apples. Usually, they were for the pigs, but an apple farm can have several defective apples, and oftentimes too much for the pigs to eat before they rotted and had to be disposed of. But now there apparently were more mouths to feed, wherever that was.
Several hovering Bull and Betty Netches swarmed the compost pile, scooping up several apples in their tendrils and somehow depositing them in their bodies to be digested somewhere.
"The critters are crazy for rotten apples," explained Granny, "and oftentimes they don't wait for us to serve 'em. They go right into the orchard and pluck 'em themselves.
"And not to mention how good pets they could make." Granny pointed to Big Mac, who was currently helping Apple Bloom onto the back of a much smaller Bull Netch (obviously a calf) who surprisingly stayed still long enough for the yellow filly to settle on its back, hovering higher when Apple Bloom hunkered down on her belly, looking around in awe as she was carried into the air, the Bull Netch drifting smoothly, seemingly aware of its passenger.
"See, nothing too bad."
Applejack could not deny it, she could see the profit and growth opportunities right before her. Her farm could gain so much.
"Now buck up and come on," said Granny Smith, heaving the bucket of Platinum Delicious apples. "You said you have a wedding feast to put together, so let's not dawdle."
Applejack swallowed, but decided to let it go for now. The Netches were obviously a boon to Sweet Apple Acres, and had apparently arrived in the nick of time. But deep down, Applejack felt a kinship with Twilight and her worries grow stronger.
It was happening, Nirn culture was encroaching on Equestria, maybe subtly for now, but who knows what else may follow.
"Coming Granny," said Applejack, her happiness to be working side by side with her family again resurfacing, momentarily quelling her worries for now.
But something else nagged in her subconscious. Maybe it was her intuition, maybe it was her role as the Element of Honesty, but something told her something wasn't right.
‘As pesky as they are, vampire fruit bats are known to be obnoxious, not vicious,' thought Applejack, looking up at the sky before following her grandma into the kitchen. 'Hermaeus, you caused this catastrophe to begin with, didn't you?'
Somehow, Applejack knew she wasn't wrong.