//------------------------------// // Queen's Pawn to D4 // Story: Lairs & Lycanthropy: Revival // by NeoNagasaki //------------------------------// A surprised yelp was given as a patch of loose rocks gave way under Twilight’s hoof, spraying the hillside below as she collapsed onto the ground. Slowly she pulled herself up with an angry grumble, glancing over the hillside. Granted, it wasn't very steep, but with hooves it became evident rock climbing was not going to be her forte. With a final grunt she brought herself up onto an even patch of rock and sat down. As her gaze looked over the flatlands below she inwardly kicked herself for getting caught up in this universe. How could she have just forgotten about her friends? One thing was for certain; the game wasn’t supposed to be this way, so something must have gone very wrong. Her hooves moved to her saddlebag to grab her water and absently bumped up against the lumpy metallic object. It didn't take her long to remove the statuette from her pack, her angry gaze focused on the shining metal object as she considered pitching it off the cliff in frustration. This blasted sculpture was some sort of magical artifact, the young apprentice wizard had been assigned by her master to take it to Canterlot. Canterlot, the seat of magical power in the empire, surely they could identify whatever this was. At the time Twilight had graciously accepted the assignment, puzzling over the mystery carefully on her way. Then again, since her meeting revealed that this world was a fake she had no intentions to have any alliance to her old master. Absently the statue was rolled about in her hooves, the mare knew she couldn’t bear to throw it away. Even here the only thing familiar to the young mare was magic, diminished though it was. When this shady nightmare was finally over she would certainly appreciate how easy things were on her. The statuette was set aside carefully as she took the water out and had a drink, the warm water refreshingly dampened her dry throat. The sun was high in the sky and beamed down onto the world harshly, but it did little to warm the mare. The wind was starting to have a bit of bite to it, and each time it blew it brought the warnings of winter. The leaves had long since stopped their discoloring and had begun to fall, making the view from the mountaintop seem like the forest was alight with some sort of pleasant fire. But thoughts of the seasons and their beauty were set aside as Twilight readied herself to press on once more. Below her was Apple Springs, a beautiful little town she had hoped to pass through uneventfully. Well, that didn’t work. Now her main focus was the barn that gave the town its name, the farm of the prestigious Apple Clan. The clan was a close knit group of farmers and warriors that had tended to and defended the land since Queen Celestia granted it to them generations ago. Her eyes cringed at the harsh sunlight as she peered down to examine the farm. It was a lot like the one Applejack had previously run in Ponyville…the armed guards were new though. Instead of her family being spread throughout all of Equestria it seemed the entire Apple fam- Apple “Clan” resided here. Twilight felt a sigh get slowly drawn out of her as she started trotting closer, eying the little farm as she made her way down. She remembered how happy she had been when she got this assignment, a simple diversion from the constant learning. Now she had to go pick up her friend and figure out how to get out of this world. Well, she thought as she approached the farm, the simple approach seemed best. Careful hooves deliberately pressed out the wrinkles she had acquired for her little hike over the mountain. All she needed to do was get Applejack, right? This should be simple, Applejack just needed to talk to Twilight and the memories should come back. Slowly she cantered up to the outer fence of the farm, eying each guard in turn. The guards seemed on edge, but they didn’t seem to act openly hostile towards her. She supposed they weren’t really there to defend against ponies in robes walking up to the front gate. Two smaller ponies flanked the side of the gates, Twilight recognized one as Golden Delicious, but she didn’t recognize the other. Their torsos were covered in well manicured and kempt green leather armor. Across their backs sat straps of leather, holding their crossbows at their sides, the levers turned outward and easily reached if they needed to use them. Eyes widened as she paused, the crossbows were loaded. She hadn’t seen them load them on her way over, and she knew keeping them loaded all the time wasn’t good for them. Her hoofsteps halted momentarily as she wondered what exactly warranted such trepidation. Her hesitation and cautious stares seemed to have the guards standing a bit straighter, staring at her expectantly. With a determined breath Twilight pressed on, wondering idly if she should expect trouble now. Tentatively she stepped up to the one in the middle, the big red one. She cocked her head slightly as he looked down at her, his massive form wreathed in silvery chain mail. Rather than a crossbow he held a massive mace across his back, and some sort of short sword at his hip. The two of them stared each other down expectantly. This was clearly Big Macintosh, everything from his posture to his hairstyle and yet...Nothing. Twilight met his gaze and waited for any glint of recognition to spark, but it never came. It seemed that while her memories of Ponyville were still there, he was meeting her for the first time. Eventually she gave a slight cough, then a polite curtsey. “Hello there. My name is Twilight Sparkle. I’m an apprentice from the Royal Mage’s Tower in Baltimare. I was wondering if I could speak with Applejack.” Twilight put on a polite smile as the awkward silence washed over them once more. A long stalk of wheat hung from Big Mac’s maw, bobbing up and down as it was chewed slowly. Twilight was about to speak once more when he finally responded “Nnnnnope.” He returned to chewing on the stalk of wheat. Well…that was Big Mac she supposed, blunt as always. “Ummm…” She bit her lip, facing down three armed guards wasn’t exactly her specialty, in either lifetime. It was funny, she thought back now to her life before where she had talked with Big Macintosh a hundred times. This was the first time that she thought about how easily he could mangle her with a big metal mace. Well, times had changed she supposed, and staring down the chain mail clad behemoth drove that point home “Can I ask why?” Another silence, but this time she had expected it. She waited, and eventually he opened his mouth again issuing his usual drawl of an answer: “Nnnnnope.” His eyes narrowed as he stepped forward threateningly, the corners of her eyes caught the two marksponies shifting towards their weapons. A nervous laugh escaped her throat as she started trotting backwards tentatively. “Weeeellll…I can see you’re entirely too busy…I’ll just get out of your mane.” Twilight turned around and made her way down the path, trotting much too quickly as she attempted to quash her panic. A slow, unpleasant sigh left her mouth as she looked back, making sure the three were out of sight. “Okay, plan A was a bust. Guess I’ll have to try this another way.” Immediately she took to the forest, circling back around to study the farm. She sat quietly for a while, flipping through the pages of a book while she gauged the farm. The calm, calculating eyes of a wizard flitted about waiting for an opportunity, something, anything she could use. Granted, she didn’t think a one pony infiltration was something she could handle, but then again, these were country ponies. They lived away from the tower, in fact the closest mage's guild was over a hundred miles from here. Some of them did manage to learn a spell or two, she had heard of several wandering bards picking up some magical know-how. She didn’t doubt that some of the older clan members might have picked up some minor knowledge of the arcane. But these ponies weren’t used to dealing with magic as an actual threat, it was her singular advantage, and she intended to use it. Purple eyes drifted up from her book, then she jumped with a start. The cover of the book closed with a careful thump before it was slipped back into her small bag. Her gaze fell to the guards she had spoken with earlier, they were moving, changing places with new guards. Three new ponies moved out to watch the main gate, they seemed friendly enough with each other now that she wasn't around to see them. As the new guards took their place the old guards started out into the apple orchard, perhaps a patrol? This was as good an opportunity as any, Twilight let out a silent plea as she made her way to her hooves and painstakingly circled the area. Her gaze peered out of the forest and along the orchard, carefully looking for any sign of the old guards. Certain that they had moved out of sight Twilight started to chant, her eyes turning from purple to a soft pale glow. Her flesh rippled and shifted, and with one soft wave her fur shifted colour. Her chanting continued as she looked down studying the new red fur. A newly red leg snapped and popped, shifting and rippling as she was lifted further from the ground. Her body swelled and expanded, finally slowing as her robes closed around her and shifted into a silvery flow. The cloth rippled and tightened, turning into a nice facsimile of Big Mac’s chain mail. The light finally died down, and standing in Twilight’s place was a nice copy of Big Mac. The apprentice might have only the basics of magic in this world, but Disguise Self was an easy enough spell for one of her caliber. She looked over what she could, turning back to flick her new tail about. With a small smile she pranced about for a moment, celebrating a successful spell. Her frolicking indulgence passing, she put on a serious face and did her best to act like Big Mac as she approached the gates once more. This time the approach went a bit smoother, the guards at the door looked up as she approached, but their demeanor didn’t change. One of them looked up casually and muttered “Oh jeez Big Mac, did’ya forget your mace?” Twilight froze, her head turning as she looked over her shoulder. She was still wearing her little pack, books and all, but what she didn’t have were the weapons she had remembered. She swore inwardly and looked up at the guard who was still waiting expectantly. “Eyyyyup.” She slurred. They didn’t seem to pay any mind to the suspiciously long time it took her to answer, perhaps they were used to it. “Well hurry up will you? Don’t leave the rest of your unit sitting out there without support. You know enough to follow protocol by now. Git!” The pony swatted her on the ass with the flat of his blade. Twilight reared back up on her hind legs in surprise, wheeling about furiously to give that country pony a piece of her mind for treating a…mare…oh. All three of them were staring at her now with a look of confusion and concern emblazoned on their faces. “Eyup…” she muttered, wheeling about and rushing into the farm. As her bulky figure pressed through the entrance there was no time wasted before the searching began. A red head swung from side to side as she looked in on several rooms discovering that these ponies took their jobs seriously. There were several stockpiles of apples, all ready to be loaded onto carts for transport. A useful tactic, she surmised, considering the Apple Clan didn’t have the manpower to protect all of the apples and move them for sale at the same time. An irritated sigh left her maw, she didn’t know how long she could keep the spell active, and she'd only prepared one of those. Her frantic searching did manage to turn up several rooms that had ponies in them, she actually saw Apple Bloom in one. They tiny filly raced about playing pretend with a wooden set of swords and laughing. What the hell world were they trapped in that even fillies looked forward to killing and dying? Twilight lowered her head disparagingly, whatever this new world was, they needed out, and fast. Twilight pushed another door open and smiled, finally, Applejack. With a pleasant grin Twilight bounded into the room, quickly assessing all the ponies in there. There were two of Applejack’s kin behind her at the door, and one pink mare lying on a small mat in the middle of the floor, her green mane and tail splayed out beneath her. Applejack stood over the one in the middle, spitting out a bandage as she watched Twilight come in. The two at the door weren’t wearing armor, but they did carry swords, was anypony in this place ever not armed? The one laying on the mat had her leg bandaged from hoof to knee and gave a grin as Twilight barreled in. The bandage was red, and a bit dirty, it was evident whatever hit her was bad. “Hey Big Mac.” the pink pony muttered, looking up at him. “Sounds like my leg’s gonna be just fine.” Naturally, that was when Twilight’s spell gave out and in a flash she was left standing awkwardly in the middle of the room. Everyone sat in stunned silence for a moment, but it was Twilight that moved first. Hastily she spun about and stared down the ponies going for their swords. Her eyes lit up as she let out a single magical word. A shockwave launched from her mouth and rolled over them, hefting them up and pushing them into the door with a hollow thunk. The two ponies fell to the earth, their swords clattering to the floor as their eyes rolled back into a blissful slumber. In a haste Twilight turned, already seeing Applejack drawing her swords and the wounded mare pushing herself to her hooves. Twilight leaped almost instinctively onto the wounded mare, forcing a yell of pain out of her as Twilight’s hoof smashed her back into the mat. The mare gasped and her hoof floundered moving out to the side, sending a spray of medical equipment to the floor in a clatter. A set of shears had sat upon the table, previously it was used for cutting bandages, it's new purpose was Twilight disembowelment. The mare clutched the shears with a hoof and raised it to the side, stopping only as she felt the cold familiar feel of steel against her throat. Twilight let out an audible gulp as she looked up, seeing Applejack on her hind legs, a longsword ready to relieve Twilight of the brain she so cherished. Twilight gave a bit of a chuckle “Sooo….this got out of hand kinda quick, huh Applejack?” she did her best to smile, but pressed the sword stolen from a sleeping ally closer to the throat of the mare she was on top of, "Drop it." The mare’s eyes widened in fear and her hoof went limp, letting the shears clatter noisily to the floor, bouncing past Applejack. “That there’s kin yer holdin hostage.” Applejack muttered under her breath. “I suggest you let her go.” Applejack’s hind legs quivered slightly. Ponies weren’t built to stand on their hind legs for any extended period of time, there was simply too much weight to support. For that reason most sword combat lasted twenty to thirty seconds, then the combatants would need to drop for a bit before they could get back to fighting. The longer a pony could endure the awkward position, the more useful she could be in combat. A bead of sweat started to slide down Applejack’s brow as she fruitlessly fought against gravity. “Applejack. I know that this is going to be hard, but I also know- No, I need you to recognize me.” She looked at her friend, hoping for any glint of recognition, but finding only eyes of anger staring back at her. Twilight heard a grunt behind her as the two she knocked out started to come to. “Applejack…We’re stuck in a different world. Remember the g…hey!” Twilight tossed the sword aside where it clattered to the ground noisily. Angrily, Twilight let go of her hostage and took a step back, allowing Applejack to deposit her weapons and fall to all fours with a relieved sigh. “You said you’d be the team fighter! We needed a tank, what the hell!” Applejack instantly looked guilty as she defensively stepped over her wounded comrade. “Ah was gonna sign up with the guards next town over when I was little…but my family needed me here…” Twilight could hear the sounds of the stallions groggily coming to and getting to their hooves. Remembering where they were they grabbed the weapons within range and started to move on Twilight. Twilight noticed them, but knew she had to press on, she could feel herself breaking through to Applejack. “We needed a pony with a high armor class and hit points to take point in fights damn it! Why are you dual wielding swords in leather!” Twilight stamped her hoof on the ground as she locked eyes with her confused friend, even stepping closer to glare at her. Applejack took the bait, stepping even closer and getting right in Twilight‘s personal space “Well why do I have ta leave ma’ family an’ train in some town guard for years, so that my purpose in life is ta’ get shot an stabbed!” Applejack let out a cry of frustration “Why does, dumb as a box uh hammers fighter have ta be my responsibility! Rainbow Dash got to be a monk!” Applejack huffed angrily now at the purple pony standing in front of her. Suddenly, as if coming out of a daze Applejack looked to her two clansmen, swords ready, staring at her like she’d lost her mind. “Oh horsefeathers…” She grunted as she sat next to the mare trying to roll to her hooves. A calm hoof resting on her shoulder ceased the movement. “Twilight…sugar cube…something bad’s done happened, hasn’t it?” A smile could be felt by Twilight as it pushed it’s way onto her face. “Yeah.” She admitted “But we’ve dealt with worse…” She cleared her throat as she absently looked to the sword wielding clansmen beside her. She gave a little cough to get Applejack’s attention, then moved her head in short thrusts to the side, towards ponies that were deciding if killing her was the best move. Applejack looked up, eyes glazed at the reality that had just hit her like a ton of bricks. “She’s an old friend guys, I knew her…a lifetime ago.” Applejack looked down to the ground as she started placing the medical eqipment back on the crate. “Come on sugarcube, we’ve got a lot to catch up on.” Visibly straining, Applejack managed to pull herself away from her patient and made her way into another room. Once Twilight heard the metal being sheathed against leather behind her she followed. An assessment was made by the purple pony on the state of this place as she was led up a flight of stairs. The rooms were dirty, far dirtier than Twilight had ever seen Applejack’s old barn. There were hoof marks worn into the floor in the more used places, and general everyday use had scuffed the floor up. Honestly that made sense, Applejack and her clan spent a lot of time working fields and moving around, it should be dirty. However, with very few exceptions, back in the real world Applejack’s barn always seemed fairly clean and tidy. How it remained tidy in their previous lives was a mystery, but it was something she'd have to look into when she got back. The creak of a door and the bright light of the sun pushed its way past Applejack and welcomed Twilight back into its embrace. As she followed she was led out onto the roof of the barn to sit on what seemed to be some sort of a silo. There was a nice wooden railing around it’s edges to keep ponies from falling off, and two ponies decked out in leather armor and crossbows. Their attention was lent to the pair for the slightest of moments before being returned to the fields below. “Sorry about the heightened security around here Twilight, there was a raid earlier today an Red Gala took a heavy cut to her hind leg.” Applejack looked out at the fields, it seemed as though she was a thousand miles away now. “Damn barbarians got a new mare a while back. I’ve never seen her, but she always goes for the hind legs, and I’ve heard she’s damn fast…” The distracted mare hit the wooden ground with a thump, her head laying sideways against the roof. “I knew something wasn’t quite right…” She muttered. Twilight stopped, gingerly sitting down beside her friend and setting a hoof on her back. “Yeah, I know.” “No ya don’t.” Applejack countered curtly “I’ve lost ponies Twilight, an it’s one thing to lose em when that’s the world you live in. You soldier on, ya know?” She looked up to her friend. Twilight felt the guilt washing over her, her friend’s gaze carrying an unspoken accusation. They’d still be alive if you’d never touched that game. Instead Applejack simply muttered “Big Mac and Apple Bloom used to have different friends you know, back in our world. Big Mac didn’t need ta put his life on the line every day back then…it feels like a bad dream.” Twilight’s head sunk lower, she didn’t even think about how everyone else’s lives had gone in this world. She’d studied in a nice safe tower, honestly it was a lot like her old childhood. Everypony else on the other hoof, they’d lived in a very different world. “Look, this entire thing is bad. But if we all work together maybe it can be reversed, put everything right again.” Her voice was sunken, it was more a statement of hope, not an assertion she could back up. Hopeful eyes looked up to Twilight as Applejack forced herself back up, looking back out over the horizon as the sun began it’s slow descent into the late afternoon “Twilight, I can’t go. In whatever world we live in, this here’s kin.” She looked over at the two checking opposite sides of the barn and chatting. “Them barbarians attack once a week, most times two. If I wasn’t here to keep mah family safe…I don’t know if I could forgive myself. Look, yer welcome to stay-” “No!” Twilight cut her off, the stinging guilt of breaking the world hitting her squarely in the heart. She wanted, more than anything, to believe that they were simply trapped in the game. But still the possibility lingered in the back of her mind that this was all happening, truly happening. That thought burned. “We’re the only ponies that even remember the real world. Everypony else has forgotten, I don’t know if it’s because we’re the elements of harmony or what. But that’s who we are dammit!” Her hoof slammed down on the roof “We’re the spirits of the elements of harmony, saving Equestria is what we do!” Applejack’s jaw set as she stared at her friend for a bit “Don’t stomp on the roof, the night watch is sleeping.” Twilight blushed at her perhaps unnecessary outburst. “Um…Sorry.” With that Applejack turned about and started towards the door back into the barn. “Look Twilight, just stay here a spell. I need to talk to Granny Smith, and get the transport loaded and defended on its way in and out of town.” She turned her head back briefly, her sullen demeanor dampening her features “An Twilight…I’m glad you’re with me again.” With that she made her way downstairs. Twilight sat, dumbfounded. She had found Applejack and had gotten her to remember, but apparently it was going to take more than that to get to work solving the issue. Nothing she knew about magic in either lifetime provided her with the slightest clue as to how to deal with the problem. Worse still she knew exactly where one of her friends were. Well, two if she counted Pinkie Pie, she was in Apple Springs somewhere. But solving problems was something you did by thinking and researching, she doubted that Pinkie Pie would provide much insight. In fact, it seemed likely that it was up to her, Twilight Sparkle, to fix this problem. It seemed fitting, since the entire damn problem was her doing. Twilight’s head sunk a bit lower as she made her way back down to the barn and re-introduced herself to everyone in the Apple Clan. Some she knew, many she didn’t. It seemed strange how the four in Ponyville managed to take care of their entire business and farm all by themselves. Perhaps without having to worry about greedy ponies taking things it required far less manpower. The difference caused Twilight to question why greed never came into it in the real world. After all, ponies still wanted things, and Applejack's orchard was completely undefended. For that matter she wondered exactly how they had managed to curb crime back in the real world. The only guards were in the palace, it seemed that crime, simply wasn't. She shook the thought from her head, none of that was important, what was important was that she make it the way it was. Finally Twilight found her way to the last pony she needed to be introduced to, the leader of the Apple Clan, Granny Smith. Twilight bowed politely to the wrinkled light green pony, and received a bow in return. This was the perfect opportunity, the young apprentice decided, to find a way to end the conflict. After all, if the barbarians were gone, Applejack could go leave without worry for her family. She pondered for half a second before turning back around and coming to Granny Smith. “Where have you looked for your enemy? If perhaps you could launch a frontal assault you could clear them out.” It was a simple plan, surely, but sometimes a direct approach was best. As Twilight Gazed upon Granny smith she grimaced, Granny Smith was…different. For whatever reason being in this world made her seem…younger. She easily stood on her four legs and her eyes focused completely on Twilight. She even seemed to hear everything right the first time, maybe her constant need to keep alert had done well for her. “No.” The aged pony told her “We get a few bumps and bruises fighting them off, maybe a death or two, but that’s rare. Too many would die if we attacked them.” “Hmmm…” Twilight pressed the issue “Perhaps you could find a way to placate them? If you made an arrangement to give them something it could protect your stock, and your clan.” It was essential she find a solution, they needed to find the others and get out of here. They were, after all, the last line of defense for all of Equestria. If there was ever a time Equestria needed defending, this was it, and she didn't see another line of defence ahead of her. “No.” Granny Smith growled angrily “I’m not about to give food away to any wild pony who is willing to harass us. We need to show strength! Otherwise more will come.” Granny Smith’s eyes had lowered into slits, anger and irritation pouring out. “Perhaps-” Twilight started. “I said no!” The old mare barked, baring her teeth. The stark contrast between the woman she was used to caused Twilight to back up a few steps in fear. Granny Smith cleared her throat. Giving Twilight a slight smile she shook her head “Oh…sorry dear. But I promise I’ve looked the situation over carefully and I’m doing what’s best. Now, just leave it to us. Please.” Even as she said please her voice lowered. It scared Twilight, it felt like a threat. “Um…okay, sorry…” Twilight lowered her head as she backed away from Granny Smith. The shaken purple pony turned about and noted Applejack moving towards the door outside. Grateful to have an excuse to get away from Granny Smith Twilight trotted after Applejack. “Applejack! Wait up!” She called out, moving up to flank the pony. Applejack smiled as her friend approached “Well hello again sugarcube. We’re about to escort our wagon out of the town. It’s a bit of a march, but if ya’d like ta come with strap on a spare sword.” Applejack looked pointedly at another one of her clansmen who gave up his smaller sword without much of a fight. Twilight looked at the sword tentatively before looking back to Applejack. Applejack’s head shook slowly “Ya don’t need ta know how ta use it Twilight, just try and look scary. If there’s an actual fight use some of yer magic on em.” Twilight was uncertain. “Isn’t escorting one of those things dangerous? How often do they attack them?” She took the sword, fiddling with the clasp as she awkwardly tried to put it on. “Naw.” Applejack shook her head, suppressing a giggle as the prissy city pony struggled with a simple sword belt. After a moment she moved forward to help her put it on. “They never attack our caravans. They’re careful barbarians, I’ll give em’ that. They watch all careful like, then strike places where we don’t have protection. So guarded caravans are almost never hit.” She pulled the clasp tightly and backed up, looking at her handiwork. Satisfied she turned about and made her way to the wagon. “Isn’t that a little…calculating for barbarians?” Twilight wondered aloud, more for herself than for her friend. Applejack snorted “Ah wouldn’t know sugarcube, them’s the only barbarians I’ve ever known.” --- Twilight’s trip went smoothly enough, and they came back to the farm without incident. That night Twilight’s rest was fitful, memories came to haunt her, both good and bad. Each time the horrors brought her back to the land of the awake all she could manage to do was turn over slowly and try to go back to bed. Each time she muttered “I’m sorry.” Things proved fruitless as Twilight abandoned her master’s quest and temporarily took on the work of the Apple Clan. The clan didn’t seem to trust her much, some even spread rumors that she had bewitched Applejack into obeying her. Luckily it seemed Applejack was fairly influential here, and dissent was swiftly put down by her. The two spent their spare time trying to find out exactly how they’d manage to deal with the barbarians and find their friends. They started to think that they’d not find an answer any time soon. They were, however, wrong. “Applejack!” The call came from above shook the two from their conversation as they looked up inquisitively. “Everyone! The barbarians are coming….All of them.”