//------------------------------// // Twilight's Last Stand // Story: The Black Apple // by Duke of Canterlot //------------------------------// Twilight knew that their next decisions would be the difference between life and death and the difference between freedom and tyranny. There was an air of anxiety in the room. Along with Starlight Glimmer, Pinkie Pie, Discord, and Silver Spoon – they were the resistance, the ones who needed to figure out how to save Equestria. “Starlight Glimmer”, said Twilight, “do you think you could pull off time travel? I don’t think a unicorn has ever done it before but your research has been promising.” “Of course, I can pull it off”, said Starlight Glimmer, “it is actually really easy for me.” “Starlight”, said Discord, “I hope you’re right. Not even a draconequus like me – the Master of Chaos – can travel through time.” “You don’t have my level of unicorn magic, so I’m not surprised.” Twilight was growing more skeptical by the minute. Starlight Glimmer had an aura of arrogance to her which was off-putting. Could she really have accomplished what even the great unicorns of the past such as Starswirl the Bearded couldn’t? “I would love to help more”, said Discord, “but I need to make sure Fluttershy is safe. I’ve been alive for thousands of years and there has never been one more brutal than Apple Bloom – besides her father.” With that, Discord disappeared. “Pinkie”, said Twilight, “something I’m kind of curious about. I put in my magic to the cauldron but I saw that there was already a block to Apple Bloom. What was that?” “Oh that. It was super duper easy! When Zecora and I learned about Apple Bloom’s blood, we just went to Sweet Apple Acres and added a little bit of the poison to the potion. It counteracted Apple Bloom’s chants. Anyone with her poisonous blood is unable to use it for their evil deeds.” “That is clever.” “Anything that I can do to help”, blurted out Silver Spoon, “it pains me so much to just sit here and do nothing.” “You can help by going back to Ponyville and hunkering down. We’re doing some really advanced stuff right now and I don’t think you will be much help”, said Twilight, “by you never shutting up, you are just impeding the process.” “You really think I’m annoying?” “Yes. I do but you’re a good filly – now get out of here.” “Ok”, responded Silver Spoon softly as she exited the hut. “Wow, Twilight”, said Pinkie Pie, “that was super duper mean of you.” “On our walk from Canterlot to the Everfree Forest – she would just prattle on about meaningless stuff. I don’t think Silver Spoon is useful here. At least your chitter chatter is usually relevant.” “And I was thinking you were gutless”, said Starlight Glimmer with a smile, “I would have abandoned Silver Spoon midway on the journey myself.” “You’re both terrible ponies”, groaned Pinkie Pie, “but what’s the plan?” “Pinkie”, said Twilight, “you will be guarding the contents in that cauldron. You’re clearly knowledgeable about its contents and can stop someone nefarious from stealing it. Starlight Glimmer, travel back in time and fix this. You have two targets. Apple Bloom and Tirek.” “Easy”, said Starlight, “I’m assuming I go back before Apple Bloom committed her first murder.” “Yes”, said Twilight, “I know it may be hard since she’ll just be a little defenseless filly but it’s good for..” “You don’t know me too well, Twilight, but it won’t be a problem.” Twilight shuddered. Starlight seemed to have a ruthless nature to her but this was their only hope. “And in return – I will allow you to bring Our Town back to its original state.” “Excellent”, responded Starlight, “that is the only motivation I need to get this all started.” They heard chanting from outside, “KILL STARLIGHT GLIMMER! KILL STARLIGHT GLIMMER!” “On that note”, said Starlight, “I am going to save Equestria from Apple Bloom.” Starlight Glimmer opened up a portal and jumped into it. Twilight was nervous. She guessed she would never know if it truly worked unless she forgot everything that Apple Bloom had done and things were back to normal. That sounded like a dream come true. The chanting grew louder and louder. “Hey”, shouted Pinkie Pie, “Starlight Glimmer isn’t here – go look somewhere else!!” “Our Queen said that she was spotted here – revived after her rightful execution”, said a stallion. The door fell to the ground again. There was an earth pony stallion, a pegasus stallion, and a unicorn female. “I am not going to ask nicely again”, said the earth pony with gritted teeth, “where is Starlight Glimmer?” “She just kinda disappeared – I dunno”, said Pinkie Pie, “probably plotting how to steal all of your cutie marks again!” “Listen to me”, said Twilight, “I know you are all upset by Starlight Glimmer’s actions.” “Understatement of the century”, grumbled the unicorn. “But this monster, Apple Bloom, is much worse than anypony. You know the sun hasn’t shone at all since Apple Bloom took over, right?” “Well it did over Our Town”, said the pegasus, “Starlight Glimmer figured out how to make it work.” “Nothing good about Starlight”, said the earth pony, “she is worse than Apple Bloom.” “Starlight really is some kind of superpony, isn’t she?” “Not like you, Princess Twilight Sparkle”, said the unicorn, “but she is so talented at magic.” “I’m willing to admit more talented than me. I’ll tell where she is if you all don’t kill us.” “I understand you’re in a tough situation”, said the pegasus, “my name is Night Glider and these are Double Diamond and Sugarbelle.” “Hi there, I’m Pinkie Pie!” “Ooh, I wish I could bounce like that”, said Sugarbelle, “so cool!” Double Diamond refused to say anything. “I was born like this – not sure how”, said Pinkie Pie. “One of life’s unsolved mysteries”, added Twilight Sparkle, “how do I know I can trust the three of you? You have pledged loyalty to Apple Bloom.” “That’s right”, said Double Diamond, “all hail the Queen. If you don’t tell us where Starlight Glimmer is, I will personally bring her to the hut to get this information out of you.” “Uh, dude”, said Night Glider, “are you sure you really want to go down that path?” “Of course”, responded Double Diamond, “we cannot let Starlight Glimmer escape.” “I know all of you have been quite isolated but Apple Bloom is far more evil. Starlight Glimmer, I’ll admit, is arrogant and misguided from my brief interaction with her but I don’t think she is a bloodthirsty sociopath like the threat we currently have.” “That’s true”, said Sugarbelle, “Apple Bloom is kind of like King Sombra.” “King Sombra”, snarled Double Diamond, “Apple Bloom is benevolent. She has given our cutie marks back.” Twilight saw that Night Glider and Sugarbelle were eyeing the rope and gag used on Pinkie Pie. Twilight wasn’t going to stop them. Sugarbelle used a minor stun spell on Double Diamond as Night Glider rushed with the tools to keep him down. “Sorry friend”, said Sugarbelle, “this is necessary. Apple Bloom is the real threat.” “Where is Starlight”, asked Night Glider. “She traveled back in time to find Apple Bloom in the past and to defeat her.” “I hope we can trust Starlight Glimmer.” Twilight wasn’t keen on revealing the reason why they could probably trust her. “If it works, we are all going to forget about Queen Apple Bloom.” There was a loud bang. Twilight saw it was Trixie and Iron Will – except they were both overpowered. “Iron Will has been informed that there were traitors here.” “The Great and Powerful Trixie heard first.” “No, Iron Will heard first.” Double Diamond quickly got out of his stun. “You idiots better be useful”, groaned Double Diamond, “when Sugarbelle stunned me, it sent a message to the Queen. Then she notified you two nitwits that she needed help.” “Iron Will is not a nitwit.” “Neither is Trixie!” “Whatever”, said Double Diamond, “you two will oversee murdering Night Glider and Sugarbelle on sight. It is a lawful action according to our Queen.” “You-you-you monster”, stammered Sugarbelle, “I thought we were friends.” “We were, but you chose evil over good.” Twilight was frustrated. Apple Bloom was always at least one step ahead – was she going to sabotage the time travel too? “Pinkie and I will help fight against these idiots”, said Twilight, “four against two.” “Trixie does not like to be called an idiot!” “Apple Bloom only employs idiots”, said Night Glider, “Double Diamond being Exhibit A.” “Shut up – aren’t you glad you have your cutie mark back?” “I am confident that Twilight and Pinkie would have helped us too in that endeavor with no strings attached.” “Night Glider and I will fight Iron Will. Sugarbelle and Pinkie, take Trixie out.” “The Queen told me some of you were disloyal. Now you will pay.” Double Diamond rushed out. “Trixie can defeat a weak unicorn and a pink mush with incredible ease.” “Hey, I’m no pink mush!” Pinkie Pie threw the first punch at Trixie knocking her down.