//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: Sweet Apple Munitions // Story: A Broken Balance // by Spell Bound //------------------------------// Sweet Apple Munitions. 3 months had passed since Apple Jack heard anything about the love of her life. Being in charge of the only weapons manufacturing company meant that you where on friendly terms with everyone, and you heard a lot more. Her old friends had reached high ranking positions in their respective fields, and kept in touch to get specialised weaponry. Apple Jack’s price for the special crafted weapons was information. And the best information you could give her, was information about her husband and daughter. She knew that each side of the war wanted to get Spell Bound on their side, but she didn’t care about that. She just wanted him back, to where she could keep an eye on him and their little girl. From her raised platform she oversaw guns being forged within warehouse 2. Even though they would kill, possibly some who she once called friends, there was something satisfying about watching them take form, their creator not missing one little detail in their creation. She was momentarily distracted as she saw her little sister come into the warehouse. “Hey AJ! Big Mac needs you in warehouse 5!” Apple Bloom called up to her big sister. “Got it little sis! Go tell Caramel to keep an eye on things here!” AJ responded. She came down from her platform and walked out of warehouse 2 and began the trek to warehouse 5, which was on the other end of Sweet apple acres, although the tree’s hadn’t grown here in a long time. With this trek she had time to think back to happier times. More specifically, one of the happiest days of her life. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Apple Jack and Spell Bound where sitting next to each other resting against one of the many apple tree’s in her orchard. They had been together for about 2 strong years. They where possibly the happiest people alive. Yet for some reason AJ couldn’t figure out, Spell was being quieter than usual, and seemed nervous. “Everything alright sugar cube?” “Yeah. Everything’s perfect my dear” he responded with a sigh. “Now why do ah believe that?” Spell stood up sighing seeming really down, but AJ could tell he was simply nervous. What she couldn’t tell was what about. “Spelly, why do ya seem more nervous than a bag full of cats hangin above a waterfall?” The comparison between him and a bag full of cats made spell laugh and lightened his mood greatly. “AJ, stand up for a second.” “Sure thing sweetie.” AJ stood up looking at her love curious about what he was up to. “AJ, how long have we been together?” “Why, ah make it 2 years.” “And it’s been good yes?” “Of course. It’s been the best 2 years of ma life.” “And so it has been for me. This leads me to my next question, which will change everything.” “And....what's that?” ‘great’ AJ thought to herself ‘now he’s got me worried .’ “Apple Jack....”He turned around to face her, and sunk to one knee. “Will you marry me?” Apple Jack stared at him, shocked. Her mouth kept opening and closing as if speaking, but no words came out. Finally she squealed delight and nodded her head. “YES! Yes ah will.” Spell slipped a ring onto her finger and shared a loving embrace as sunset began in the background. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “LOOK OUT!” AJ barely had anytime to jump out of the way as an experimental mechanised weapons suit fell over. They had been working on them for months, but the balance was always off. “Well for apple’s sake. By the time we work out the flaws the war will be over.” “Sorry AJ. We just can’t figure out what’s wrong. Oh Big Mac wants to show you something. He’s in the back” the worker said gesturing over his shoulder into warehouse 5. “Thanks sugar cube. Keep at that suit.” She entered the warehouse with both curiosity and dread. What could be so important for her brother that it couldn’t wait till the working day was over. Big Mac would get so consumed with his work that he wouldn’t talk to anyone till the project was done or the working day was over. Looking about AJ saw his workshop empty, and the fires of his forge where dead. Taking a quick look around she saw the door to the storage compartments was slightly ajar. She assumed that’s where Big Mac was, seeing as the worker did say he was in the back. Entering the storage she saw exactly what she expected. Rows upon rows of weapons, armour and even mechanised vehicles. But what she couldn’t see was her big brother. “HEY! Big Mac, You in here?” AJ called out. “EEYUP!” A voice called from deeper within. Following the voice she found her brother over a special case. She had watched him create it a couple months ago but had no idea what was in it. “What was it ya wanted me for?” Big Mac simply nodded towards the case saying nothing else. Confused she walked over to the case hesitantly. She was nervous. Heck, the last time she was this nervous was on her wedding day. Opening up the case she gasped, surprised at what lay within. Inside the case, was a suit of armour, but no ordinary suit of armour. This suit was mechanised, and the way it was built, it was obviously for a seer. But on the chest, was an emblem they were all too familiar with. It was a leaf, surrounded by stars symbolizing whoever it belonged was adept at magic, and specialised in nature magic. The suit was designed for Spell Bound. “Ah was hoping to give it to him before he left, but didn’t finish it in time. Ah created the case to hold it till he visited us.” “But....why? If he returns to us won’t he stay?” “You know he can’t do that AJ. It would bring every army to our doorstep trying to get him. He’s stayin away to protect ya.” AJ looked down sadly sighing, knowing what her brother said was true. “Ah miss him Big Mac. Ah want him back, so ah can look after him and Apple Blossom.” “Ah know sister, ah know.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Cotton was nervous. She had been perfectly fine earlier. She had finished a dress order, and managed to win a verbal battle against Rarity. Although they where competitors and didn’t really like each other, they had been on friendly terms and their confrontations where just good natured verbal battles now. And sugar cube corner had her favourite cupcakes in. So today was pretty good. But then Spell came along and ruined everything. He said he wanted to see her, and that it was important. The fact he was so serious about it was unnerving, but he seems nervous. And Spell was never nervous. He was rational, cool headed and nothing made him nervous. And yet he was clearly nervous. This in turn made her nervous. She looked up at her clock. It was time to head down to Sweet Apple Acres to see what he wanted. She quickly brushed her hair, which was messy from worrying, so Rarity wouldn’t see it and use it against her. Sure that no sign of her fear was showing in her appearance she left her shop and walked down the path which would lead her to Sweet Apple Acres. ‘What could possibly be making him so nervous?’ Cotton thought to herself as she neared here destination. She headed towards one of the picnic tables AJ had installed years earlier, hearing voices from its direction. As she neared she saw AJ and Spell sitting next to each other smiling happy. All signs of nervousness gone from Spell. “You wanted to see me?” “Oh Cotton, when did you get here?” “Just now actually.” “Ah good. Take a seat.” He gestured to the bench opposite from them so the table would be in-between them. Taking her seat cotton fidgeted still nervous about what might happen. “The reason we wanted to see you Cotton is because there’s a favour we want to ask of you.” ‘A favour’ cotton thought to herself. ‘Well that’s not so bad. Seems there was no reason to be nervous. “Indeed. Ah want you....we want you cotton......” AJ drifted off due to her happiness. “We want you to be the god-mother of our daughter when she’s born.” Cotton eyes widened with surprise and just stared at them mouth open. “You mean....you’re......She's........Me......woah.” She fells backwards passing out from shock. “Do ya think she’s ok?” “Yeah, she’s had worse falls.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AJ smiled to herself. That day had been so happy. When cotton awoke, She was as happy as the soon to be parents where. In fact before they could say anything more she ran off to get Pinkie Pie to help organise a party in celebration. “Ah hope you’re safe Spelly, and ah hope you’re takin care of our little girl.”