//------------------------------// // Revival // Story: The Black Apple // by Duke of Canterlot //------------------------------// Apple Bloom could hear a boom all the way from her chambers. She knew something was wrong in an instant. The alicorn flew downstairs to the dungeon and saw that Cerberus was dead lying in a pool of his own blood. Worse though, Twilight Sparkle and Silver Spoon were gone. Apple Bloom let out a shriek of rage – she was going to get them and she was going to destroy them. Could those two brats have killed Cerberus and escaped like she and Tirek did? No, that was impossible – Twilight wasn’t even an alicorn anymore. She deduced that the massive hole in the wall was created by Cerberus himself. He must have helped them escape and died from his injuries. She was a fool to trust Cerberus. He was probably plotting against her the whole time “If they bring you back to life”, snarled Apple Bloom, “ah will make your life a living hell – you traitor to my Queendom.” Apple Bloom spat at Cerberus’ body and left the prison. She needed to get Gilda on board for her next plan. Apple Bloom knew where Twilight Sparkle and Silver Spoon were headed. She was going to make the case to save Snails. He was such a nice fellow and didn’t deserve to die – even though he was Apple Bloom’s first kill. She knew those two were going to try to bring Starlight Glimmer (who was apparently some time travel genius), Princess Celestia, or even Cerberus back – she could not let that happen under any circumstance. Hell, thought Apple Bloom, she would kill Twilight and Silver Spoon and bring back Snips and that bird she killed a while back. It seemed like a fair trade. She just needed to enchant whatever spell before her enemies did it first. This was fucking war. Twilight Sparkle and Silver Spoon arrived at a hut in Everfree Forest. Despite the destruction of Zecora’s original hut, a new one was built in its place. Twilight Sparkle had one immediate thought – Silver Spoon never ever stopped talking. “I’m impressed that you always seem to find something to say”, said Twilight Sparkle to Silver Spoon. “Aww, that’s so sweet of you, Twi. Diamond Tiara always used to tell me – Silver Spoon, stop with your word salad – nothing you say actually means anything. Time to humiliate the blank flanks now, lol! Oh I wonder what things will be like with me and Tiara if she was brought back to life. So many ponies – you know, do you think we will get that far or only four?” “We’ll have to ask Zecora’s successor that, Silver Spoon.” The two knocked at the door. There was no answer. “Maybe no pony is home?” “Possibly”, said Twilight, “or – let’s knock one more time.” Twilight knocked on the door. There was silence. “Something isn’t right. It sounds too quiet and no pony is actually frolicking in the outside world these days given the virus that is Apple Bloom.” “Oh no, this is so terrible!” With a surprising demonstration of power, Silver Spoon charged at the hut’s door causing it to fall to the ground. What they saw was not promising. Pinkie Pie was tied up and gagged. At the cauldron were Apple Bloom and Gilda. “Oh hello, there. It is nice to be an almighty alicorn”, said Apple Bloom with a grin, “ah know you were trying to do – but ah have a better idea.” “What the hell are you going to do”, asked Twilight with gritted teeth. “With that dumb dog being dead, ah figured to be nice and bring Snails back alive.” “Oh, I remember Snails from back in school – he was such a sweet and simple pony. How generous of you, Apple Bloom”, said Silver Spoon. You idiot, thought Twilight Sparkle, we can only bring back one – doesn’t Silver Spoon see what Apple Bloom is doing. “I think I have a better idea”, said Twilight Sparkle, “we’re going to bring back a pony that will undo all the damage that you have done – Apple Bloom.” Twilight had to think quickly about what magic she could use to stall Apple Bloom and Gilda. Neither of them had her training but the alicorn and overpowered griffon were going to make things tricky. “What are you going to do, Twilight”, asked Apple Bloom, “ah know you’re thinking of what you can do to stop me. But you can’t beat me and Gilda. You’re not even an alicorn anymore. Ah defeated Starlight Glimmer. Ah am pretty sure ah can defeat you too.” Twilight hoped this would work. She shot a beam at magic at the cauldron. “Hold on there”, snarled Apple Bloom, “what the hell did you just do?” “Whatever I did”, responded Twilight, “someone as brilliant and powerful as you can fix my little trick.” Apple Bloom was turning red with rage. Twilight feared for a moment that Apple Bloom would just outright kill her – but Apple Bloom focused on the cauldron. “Just say the word, my Queen”, said Gilda, “and I will rip these three to shreds.” “Not yet”, said Apple Bloom, “ah need to figure out what Twilight did to this potion.” “I’m not saying anything”, responded Twilight. “Shut up! You’re going to die soon – just not right now.” “I thought you were the smartest pony in Equestria. This should be easy.” “Ah wasn’t born an unicorn, give me a fucking break!” With a quick burst of magic, Twilight freed Pinkie Pie from her constraints. Pinkie Pie began bouncing with glee. “Twilight, I am so happy that you are here. I thought Apple Bloom had you locked up in that dungeon.” “Sacrifice by Cerberus”, responded Twilight. ‘Aww, that’s so awful. But I think I am..” Twilight made a shh sound. She didn’t want to risk any information getting out to Apple Bloom. “No, it’s ok – Pinkie Pie”, interjected Apple Bloom, “keep talking. What were you about to say?” “I forgot.” “Of course you would, you dumb pink motormouth. So you’ve been Zecora’s lackey, huh? Help me fix whatever Twilight did.” “Zecora did but I forgot.” Twilight was proud of Pinkie for not spilling the beans to Apple Bloom. “It doesn’t matter”, said Twilight, “because you, Apple Bloom, are better than all of us. We can play games to stall our inevitable downfall – but you will figure things out and we will all die at some point.” “Ah wish ah didn’t have to kill any of you – well, Silver Spoon sucks – but if you would have just joined me and not meddle in my plans constantly, you could have lived. Ah am inevitable.” “And I’m Pinkie Pie!” Twilight could see the growing rage of Apple Bloom. She looked like she was ready to torch them all. “You know what”, said Apple Bloom, “this is all like some big puzzle right now which ah will solve. Too bad that Motormouth won’t tell me what ah need to say to bring Snails back to life.” “It’s actually not any words – it just takes” Twilight was impressed. Pinkie just kind of stopped mid sentence. “Ok so no specific words. Ah will try trial and error then. Unless anyone thinks they can attack me here and now.” Twilight knew that would be a dumb move. She was useless against an overpowered alicorn. Apple Bloom smiled and said, “let the fun begin!” “Ah wish to bring a pony back to life. His name is Snails – a good pony with a good heart. His decency will help make Equestria great again, not this damage that the evil princesses like Celestia have inflicted upon Equestria. All hail, Queen Apple Bloom and her power!” Nothing happened. “Ok, ah am clearly doing something wrong”, snarled Apple Bloom, “what the hell did you do to the cauldron, Twilight? Ah hate you so much.” Twilight shrugged and said, “I don’t want to insult your intelligence by giving you the answer so soon.” Apple Bloom tried again another five times – a slightly different iteration but still nothing worked. Apple Bloom was turning so red with rage that it appeared to be her new color. “Y’all gonna tell me what you did – or ah will kill you on the spot!” “Ok”, said Twilight, “I will show you what I did. Oh, great cauldron – bring back Starlight Glimmer, we miss her so.” The cauldron began to bubble. Apple Bloom looked desperate to do anything to stop the cauldron. Gilda said to Apple Bloom,” just say the word, my Queen, and they are all dead.” A unicorn appeared. She was a lilac pony around Twilight’s age. This must have been Starlight Glimmer. Twilight knew to let her sleep a little longer – recovering from death was an exhausting experience. She hoped Starlight had succeeded with time travel to save them all. “Ah demand answers”, yelled Apple Bloom, “how did you do it and ah couldn’t? Tell me now or ah will kill you all and this potion crap will be destroyed forever!” Twilight knew she need to think fast.