//------------------------------// // A Mare's Home is her Castle. // Story: A Touch of Chaos // by Written Out //------------------------------// “…elp!” Applejack wearily swum awake. Bleary-eyed, she glanced out the window. ‘s funny, she thought grumpily. If it’s so late, why’s it so dang bright? A flickering red glow filtered inside from the open window, casting the room in a hellish light. Trying to rub the sleep out of her mind, she wondered if it was the light that had awoken her. “…help!” “No,” Applejack mouthed a futile denial, horror writ wide across her face as a vague memory of what had awoken her slipped into her conscious thoughts. Any thought of sleep forgotten, the terrified mare exploded off of her bed and thundered down the hallway. Not even stopping to grab her hat, panic running through her mind, she sped as fast as she could through the darkened building. She realized what had woken her and, more importantly, what the voice had said. “Applejack! Help!” “Apple Bloom!” Applejack shouted, her pounding hooves and thunderous gallop echoing through the quiet house as she charged at the front door. Not willing to slow down enough to open the door properly, she lowered her shoulder and barrelled directly into it. The door blew completely off its hinges, revealing to Applejack a sight that the farmpony knew she would never forget, not even if she lived to be as old as Princess Celestia. The barn was awash in a roaring inferno. The roar of the flames and the force of the heat was oppressive, even as far away as where Applejack stood. Standing in front of it, watching her, stood the creature from the forest, once again fully healed. One of his hands clutched a burning brand, which he tossed to the ground in front of him once he was certain she had seen it. But it was what he held in his other hand that concerned her the most. Wrapped up in her Cutie Mark Crusaders cape, Apple Bloom struggled weakly in the creature’s grip. The corner of the cape had been shoved into her mouth, and Applejack was unable to make out her muffled cries over the sound of the fire. Apple Bloom’s scared eyes pleaded for rescue. “What the hay do ya think yer doin’ ta my sister?” Applejack roared, charging directly at the creature. The creature turned and vanished into the burning barn behind him, carrying the flailing Apple Bloom under his arm. Applejack chased after him without a second’s hesitation, leaping into the roaring firestorm. Inside the barn, the billowing smoke stung her eyes and throat, forcing her to squint and immediately parching her lungs. Every gasp for air started to hurt, but she pressed on. “Apple Bloom!” Applejack croaked out, the smoke filling her lungs and choking her. Intellectually, she knew that she needed to get out of the barn as quickly as possible, but she was far too worried for her little sister to spare any concern for her own safety. Her thoughts a panicked mess, she staggered through the blazing barn, trying to find any trace of the little filly. With every step, her body grew heavier. With every gasping breath, she seemed to take in less and less air. Her vision narrowed and blurred, her dry eyes unable to produce any tears. Unable to see anything through the billowing smoke, she no longer had any idea of where she was. Ignoring her own plight she continued to hunt for her sister, in case the creature had abandoned her in the barn. Her legs buckled beneath her body, bringing her crashing painfully to the ground. Succumbing to asphyxiation, she barely managed to mutter out one last sentence. “Ah’ll save ya…” But the roar of the flames was the only response. Air! Sweet clean air! Applejack regained consciousness, feeling fresh air being pushed into her lungs. Off to the side, she saw the still-burning barn was now completely consumed in flames with smoke pouring out of every window. If she had still been in there… she shuddered at the thought. Looking up, she gazed directly into the eyes of her rescuer. She was lying on her back, Big Macintosh standing directly above her. His lips were locked against her own, forcing air into her lungs. Pressing a hoof against his chest, she gently pushed him back. “Ah’m alright now, What-“ Her eyes widened as she remembered why she had been in the barn in the first place. “Apple Bloom!” She hastily tried to clamber to her feet, wanting to rush into the flames once more. Big Mac’s heavy hoof pressed firmly against her before she could, pinning her against the ground. She struggled against him, striking his body as hard as she could with her hooves. “Calm down,” he said severely, if not unkindly. “Throwing yourself away ain’t gonna to help anything. Whatever that was ran out the back with her right after you entered the barn. When I didn’t see you leave, I got worried and went in after you. I can’t believe you just forgot everything about fire safety, even about staying close to the ground when there’s lots of smoke.” Applejack stopped fighting at the news that Apple Bloom was not in the barn, sagging limply against the ground. Big Mac stepped away from her, but she continued to lie there. “Ah couldn’t save her,” she said, hugging herself tightly. “Ah saw her, but there was nothin’ I could do. She was taken. Right in front of me. Ah failed her.” Big Mac sighed before looking up at the burning barn. Looking away from it, he bent down and picked up a sprig of hay from the ground. Gripping it in his teeth, he pointed at her with it. “She’s not lost yet. All we need to think about now is savin’ her.” Twilight rolled over in her sleep, mumbling indistinctly to herself. Her dreams were filled with images of blood, pain, and screams. She walked through the ruined streets of Ponyville, the destroyed houses standing in silent judgement of her. The few ponies she saw refused to look at her, ducking down side streets or ignoring her altogether. Her steps brought her in front of the destroyed library she had once called home. The great tree was withered and broken, burn marks clearly visible around the entire building. The clouds boiled and seethed in the skies above her, eventually coalescing into the form of her mentor. Princess Celestia glared down at Twilight from the heavens, her normally kind voice filled with a mixture of barely-suppressed rage and disappointment when she spoke. “You are responsible for this, Twilight Sparkle. For the weight of your crimes, life imprisonment or death are the only possible punishments. How do you plead?” Twilight glanced up dispassionately at the noble figure above her. A heavy weight filled the pit of her stomach, and she forced her gaze away. She no longer felt worthy to even look upon the Princess she had once idolized so much. All she had ever wanted was to help the Princess in any way she could. How had everything gone so wrong? Now she barely had any desire to live, not after all the pain she had caused. Celestia closed her eyes sorrowfully. Despite everything, she still loved her former student. Banishing these last regrets from her mind, her horn began to glow as she stared down at the unresisting unicorn. “Very well. Then as the sole remaining ruler of Equestria, I declare your punishment-“ “Twilight!” The shout broke through the grip of the dream, startling Twilight awake. She blinked in confusion as the glaring visage of Princess Celestia gave way to an anxious-looking rainbow-maned pegasus perched in her windowsill. “Rainbow Dash?” Twilight asked, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. “What are you doing here this late?” “No time to explain,” Dash waved Twilight’s questions aside with a wave of her hoof. “Apple Bloom’s been foalnapped. I’m going to wake the others. Meet us downstairs.” Flaring her wings, she took off into the night sky. Twilight stared at where Dash had been for a few seconds before leaping off her bed, all thoughts of the dream temporarily forgotten. “SPIKE!” Soon, Twilight and Spike were running down the stairs. In the main room, they found a sleepy-looking Sweetie Belle helping Rarity remove several mane curlers from her mane and tail. The pair must not have even waited to remove them at their house, instead rushing over here immediately to help. Despite this, Rarity still greeted Twilight with a weak smile. “Hello, you two. Sorry we let ourselves in, but I thought you might like some time to get ready.” “It’s no problem at all, Rarity,” Twlight assured her while Spike unsuccessfully tried to hide a yawn. “Do you know what’s going on?” Rarity shook her head at Twilight’s question. “Sorry, dear. All Rainbow Dash told me is that Apple Bloom was foalnapped by that creature.” Sweetie Belle shivered uncontrollably beside Rarity, looking like she was about to start crying. Rarity swept a leg around the frightened unicorn and pulled the little filly close against her chest. “I brought Sweetie Belle since I couldn’t bear the idea of leaving her alone. Could she stay here with Spike for the night?” “Of course. Spike, could you please set her up in my bed? It doesn’t look like I’ll be getting any more use out of it tonight.” “Alright.” Spike gingerly walked over to the sisters, gently resting his claw against Sweetie Belle’s shoulder. Sweetie Belle flinched away from the contact, moving closer against Rarity. “I wanna go too,” she muttered indistinctly, the words muffled by Rarity’s fur. “Let me help.” Rarity sighed and rested her chin on top of Sweetie Belle’s head, ignoring the tiny horn poking painfully into her throat. “I’m sorry Sweetie Belle, but no.” Sweetie Belle didn’t react, have been expecting the answer but dreading it all the same. Spike waited patiently a few feet away while Twilight watched quietly by the stairs. “I know you want to help your friend,” Rarity continued, “but the best way you can help her is to wait here. If you came, I would be too scared for your safety to properly help find her. I know it hurts, but all I can ask is that you have faith in me and wait for our return.” Sweetie Belle remained silent and unmoving for several moments before slowly nodding her head. Rarity kindly pushed her over to Spike, who led her towards the stairs. Stopping in front of Twilight, she turned and looked squarely at the purple unicorn. “Please. Please save her,” she begged, her voice heavy with emotion and her eyes brimming with unshed tears. Twilight closed her eyes and bowed her head, acknowledging the filly’s plea. “I will. I promise.” At Twilight’s words, Sweetie Belle continued up the stairs. Every step scraped against the floor, every step she took a struggle to not turn and run out into the forest. Her head hung low, nearly touching the floor as she followed after the concerned baby dragon. After the pair vanished into Twilight’s room, silence descended on the library. Both mares were distracted by their thoughts, each wondering if they would be able to show Sweetie Bell’s bravery and wait if it were one of their friends in danger. Neither wishing to broach the subject, the seconds ticked past in silence until the front door was abruptly thrown open. Applejack stormed inside, Fluttershy’s tail clenched firmly in her teeth. The yellow pegasus must not have been going fast enough for Applejack’s tastes, so the farmpony had decided to carry Fluttershy to the library. Spitting out the mass of pink hair, she looked at the others already in the room. “Rainbow Dash and Pinkie ain’t here yet?” she asked. “Here we are,” Pinkie Pie sing-songed as she bounced in through the open door, Dash flying in close on her heels. Fluttershy demurely stepped out of the way to let them in while Applejack simple nodded in greeting to Dash, silently thanking the speedster for waking everypony up so quickly. “Now that we’re all here,” Twilight said, “AJ, could you tell us what’s going on?” “The creature in the forest took Apple Bloom and burned down the farm,” Applejack bluntly stated. The others gasped in collective shock at Applejack’s words, noticing the soot that stained her orange coat. Applejack bowed her head down to them, looking directly at the ground. “Please, will you-“ “You don’t even have to ask,” Pinkie interrupted. “We would never leave you to do something so dangerous on your own. And drop the formal talk, it just sounds silly coming from you.” The joke lightened the tension in the room, and Applejack smiled in relief at the surrounding ponies. “Thanks, y’all. Big Mac and Granny are tryin’ to contain the fire back at the farm, so I didn’t have anywhere else to turn.” Dash flew over to Applejack and flicked at her hat in exasperation. “Come on, AJ,” Dash chided, “we would never leave you hanging. You know that.” Applejack gave Dash a thankful look. “Sorry fer doubtin’ you, but Ah’m so worried Ah guess Ah’m not really thinkin’ straight. Big Mac lectured me not to do anything rash before Ah left.” She banged her front hooves together angrily. “Ah swear, if he’s harmed so much as a single hair on her head, Ah’m gonna… well, Ah’ll think of somethin’.” Applejack looked over at the smartest member of the group. “So what’s the plan, Twi?” “Oh…um…” A vision of a burnt and destroyed arm flashed in front of Twilight’s eyes for a second before she shook it away. “I can lead us to the creature, but we don’t know if he still has Apple Bloom with him.” Rarity cleared her throat with a dainty cough, turning all eyes towards her. “That might not be a problem. Applejack, was Apple Bloom wearing her Crusader Cape when she was taken?” Applejack blinked in surprise at the strange question. “Well,” she hastily cast her mind back to the last moment she saw her sister, “yes. The creature had tied her up in it. Is that important?” Rarity nodded her head at Applejack’s answer, a small self-satisfied smile blooming across her face. “It is. After we fought the creature a few days ago, I began to fear for Sweetie Belle’s safety. At first I passed it off as simple paranoia, but it continued to eat at me all night while I helped treat Twilight. After she went to sleep, Spike helped me find the books she had used to develop her locator spell and I made some modifications to it.” “Hang on,” Twilight interrupted, a look of amazement spread across her face. “That was an incredibly advanced spell, and it’s hard even for me to cast it. The only reason I’m able to use it to find the creature at all is because Discord’s energy stands out so much.”  Rarity tossed her coiffed mane, posing for her friends. It wasn’t often somepony managed to one-up the highly talented unicorn, and Rarity intended to enjoy this moment. “Have you forgotten, dear? You may be gifted with great magical power, but there is nothing I can’t do with gemstones.” Twilight had the grace to look ashamed at Rarity’s unspoken rebuke. She didn’t mean to, but being Princess Celestia’s personal student had given Twilight something of a superiority complex. She had mostly gotten over it since moving to Ponyville and meeting her friends, but it still reared its ugly head from time to time. “Fascinatin’ as this is,” Applejack growled out, “Ah don’t see how any of this helps with findin’ my sister.” “Alright, I’ll skip to the end,” Rarity agreed, returning to her normal posture. “I enchanted some gems and used them to make those cape clasps that I gifted Sweetie Belle and her friends with two days ago. No matter where they go, I’ll be able to find them.” “Oh, that’s so cool,” Pinkie said as she bounced in excitement. “I wish I was a unicorn able to cast such useful spells. Then I would know where everypony in town was at any time and wouldn’t need to spend any time looking for them if I wanted to throw a party. But would I still be me if I was a uni-hey!” Rainbow Dash gently but firmly pushed Pinkie to the side. “Question for another time, Pinkie. So what’s the plan, Twilight?” Dash was looking forward to another rematch with the creature. He wouldn’t escape her this time. Twilight closed her eyes sorrowfully, remembering what her last plan had caused. How can I plan when I’m no longer confident in my own ability to know what’s right? Why do they put so much faith in me? Don’t they realize they might get hurt next? A memory of a dream slowly drifted through her mind, a dream of the glaring visage of her mentor. “You are responsible for this, Twilight Sparkle.” Twilight’s friends were watching her in concern. She was just standing there silently, not looking at any of them. Fluttershy edged to Twilight’s side and gently poked the unicorn. “Um… are you okay?” Twilight’s eyes shot open and she stared at the concerned pegasus. “No!” she screamed in Fluttershy’s face. “No, I am not okay! How can you believe in me so much? How can-“ Twilight’s tirade was cut off as a wall of pink hair filled her vision, covering her entire face. “Shh.” Fluttershy’s quiet voice soothed from a spot next to Twilight’s ears. The kind pegasus had wrapped the stressed unicorn in her forelegs and was gently cradling her. “We believe in you because we trust you. Maybe you need to trust yourself a little, too.” Twilight sagged limply against Fluttershy, resting her head on Fluttershy’s shoulder. “How can I trust myself when I don’t even know what to believe in?” she murmered quietly, her voice slightly muffled by Fluttershy’s mane. Fluttershy gently stroked the back of Twilight’s head before answering. “Believe in us. Believe that we believe in you.” Fluttershy’s words cut through the fog of Twilight’s mind, bringing clarity to her thoughts. She recognized the dream-Celestia’s words as just that; nothing more than a dream. The tearful words of a young filly ran through Twilight's head. “Please. Please save her.” Twilight had a promise to keep, after all. “Sorry Fluttershy. And… thanks.” Taking a deep breath,Twilight returned Fluttershy’s hug before both ponies released each other. “Let’s go, girls. We’ve wasted enough time. I’ll explain the plan on the way.” Rarity trotted through the Everfree Forest, her horn glowing as she focused on casting the locator spell. Applejack and Fluttershy followed behind her, neither falling behind though Fluttershy looked like she was beginning to tire. “We’re close,” Rarity yelled back at the pair. Applejack only nodded, a grim look in her eyes while Fluttershy didn’t respond at all, only focused on keeping up. As they approached Apple Bloom, Rarity’s mind cast back to how Twilight had explained the plan. “We’re going to split into two groups,” Twilight had said. “We don’t know what the creature is planning, but since it made sure Applejack knew it had taken Apple Bloom, we need to assume it’s planning something. We’re going to try and stop him from pulling off whatever it is. One group will keep him distracted while the other group focuses on finding and saving Apple Bloom.” “Remember,” she had stressed, “our only goal is to save Apple Bloom. Once she’s safe, we will break off contact with the creature and return to Ponyville. Are there any questions?” Once everypony had assured her that there were no questions, she had proceeded to divide up the groups. Now Rarity, Applejack, and Fluttershy were searching for Apple Bloom while Twilight, Pinkie, and Rainbow Dash were hunting the creature. “It’s coming from there,” Rarity said back in the present, pointing at the entrance to a small cave. Both Rarity and Fluttershy slowed down at the sight of the cave, remembering the last time they had seen this cave. A time which had ended with them nearly being killed by a manticore. It was the very same cave that the creature had been living in before. Applejack ran past them both, heading straight for the cave entrance. Rarity and Fluttershy shared a glance before following her. At the back of the cave, they found that the rock pile Rarity had noticed before had been moved aside, revealing a large hole in the wall. The hole opened into a tunnel, which twisted and turned before vanishing into the darkness. Indistinct noises echoed out from the tunnel, just clear enough to make them out as the crying of a helpless filly. Applejack gritted her teeth, the pounding of her hoofbeats seeming to increase in strength as she charged recklessly into the tunnel. Fluttershy started to flag, panting for breath. Rarity noticed Fluttershy starting to fall behind and slowed down to help her. Fluttershy gave Rarity a grateful look as the unicorn’s magic steadied her. The pair redoubled their efforts, catching up with Applejack. The pounding of the three mare’s hooves echoed through the tunnel, nearly overpowering the sound of the crying filly. Applejack’s hat rustled in the wind, almost flying off on several occasions but somehow managing to remain on her head the entire time. “Apple Bloom!” Applejack yelled, her shout echoing and reverberating through the passageway. The crying abruptly stopped, and Apple Bloom’s weak voice could be heard in return. “Apple…jack?” “Ah’m comin’, sis!” A flimsy looking wooden door stood at the end of the passageway. Applejack snorted in disgust and charged it. Apple Bloom’s panicked yell could be heard emitting from behind the door. “No! Stop! It’s a tr-” Applejack blew through the door, unknowingly setting off a tripwire that had been deviously hidden behind the portal. Several dozen tiny fires bloomed in the darkness of the tunnel, each flickering flame illuminating the explosive fruit placed right next to it. Explosions rocked through the tunnel, cracking the rock and dropping several tons of stone from the ceiling. Fluttershy “eeped” as the crumbling ceiling fell towards her, curling up into a tight ball and covering her head with her hooves. Abruptly, something hit her from behind, throwing her out of the collapsing tunnel. Landing behind Applejack with a painful thud, Fluttershy felt a wave of stale air and dust wash over her, displaced by the collapsing tunnel. Several stalactites broke off from the ceiling of the large cavern they were now in, smashing against the ground and sending sharp chips flying in every direction. Fluttershy flinched away as one shattered not too far away from her, the stone shards barely missing her. As she did, she happened to glance back in the direction they had come from. Her eyes widened in horror at what she saw. “Rarity!” she shrieked. Her closest friend was pinned under a large boulder, only her head and a single hoof left exposed. Fluttershy ran to where Rarity lay, heedless of any aftershocks or more falling rubble. Rarity looked up as Fluttershy approached, smiling weakly but honestly when she saw the pegasus was unharmed. “Oh…good…” Rarity had managed to hastily cast a small shield around herself before the boulders crushed her, but even the act of breathing hurt. Nothing was broken, thankfully, but she wasn’t going anywhere any time soon. “You’re… safe. I was… worried.” Fluttershy’s breath caught in her throat as she realized what must have happened. She clenched Rarity’s exposed hoof and pressed the top of her head against Rarity’s own. “Why?” she sobbed out. Tears flowed freely from her eyes, the sparkling drops falling from her cheeks and landing on Rarity. “Why did you save me? You could have gotten out if you had left me, so why? Why would you help me when I’m so useless? Why?” She quietly sobbed out the last words, her voice barely reaching the injured unicorn. Rarity raised her free hoof and gently stroked the side of Fluttershy’s muzzle. “Because you are my friend, darling. I don’t need a reason other than that. Any noble pony would have done the same.” Unable to hold her hoof up any longer, the weak unicorn let it drop. Fluttershy caught it before it hit the ground. Rarity continued to gasp for breath, the little speech having taken a lot out of her. “Sorry, but… I’m going to rest for a bit.” Rarity’s eyes slowly closed and her breathing started to level out. Fluttershy stayed with her, gently stroking the unicorn’s mane as Rarity drifted off to sleep. Only focused on comforting the unicorn as much as possible, she was unaware of the danger unfolding behind her. In the cavern, Applejack had her own problems. Apple Bloom was held within a flimsy wooden cage in the center of the large cavern. She seemed to be shouting something while gesturing at a giant hole in the carvern wall, but Applejack’s ears were ringing and she couldn’t make out what was being said. If she had, she would have been able to hear noises coming from the hole, noises of a large creature moving around. An unusual smell seemed to waft from the opening, filling the entire room with its stench. Out of the corner of her eye, Applejack saw a large serpentine head poke into the cavern from the giant hole. The head blinked sleepily, probably having been awoken by the sound of the explosions. Three similar heads followed the first, looking around the dimly-lit cavern. As one, the four heads focused on the shivering filly caged in front of them. One of the heads licked its lips, and the hydra stepped into the cave. The room shook with every step the monster took, sending more stalactites plummeting to the ground. “Oh no, y’all don’t!” Applejack whinnied her challenge to the creature. Armed with nothing more than her love for her sister, Applejack charged the mighty beast. One of the heads turned at her proclamation, roaring as it caught sight of her. The other three heads stayed focused on Apple Bloom, and the monster slowly descended upon its hapless prey. Rainbow Dash flew high in the skies above the Everfree Forest. The sun was just starting to peek over the horizon, casting long shadows over the entire forest. Dash tried to focus on the ground below her, but her thoughts were elsewhere.   They had better be alright, she thought to herself. A loud explosion had come from the direction the other three had vanished a few minutes ago. Dash had wanted to see what happened, but Twilight convinced her that they needed to find the creature. She said he was around here somewhere. Hmm? An unusual whistling noise filled the air for a moment before Dash was struck from the side.  “Hey!” Suddenly wrapped in a net made of vines and weighted down with rocks, Dash flailed her wings wildly as she fell from the sky. Able to slow her descent enough to prevent the impact from being too painful, Dash still let out a “Oof” as she struck the ground. “Dash!  Are you alright?” Twilight yelled as she ran up to the grounded pegasus, Pinkie running alongside her. “I’ve been better, Twilight.” Dash said sarcastically. Her legs and wings pinned by the net, Dash could only turn her head and look at the two mares cantering through the trees towards her. Seeing a shape detach itself from the surrounding forest and charge them from the side, Dash yelled out a warning. “Twilight! Your left!” Twilight turned to look in the direction Dash had indicated. Because her head had changed position, the descending axe caught her on the horn instead of a softer, more vulnerable spot. Twilight’s eyes crossed and she passed out from the sudden impact against her skull.  The creature bent down next to her, shoving his hand into her open mouth. “GET AWAY FROM HER!” John looked up at the noise, seeing the pink mare had gotten a cannon from somewhere and was pointing it at him.  He dove to the side as she pressed the fuse, sending confetti, tablecloths, and balloons flying through the spot where he had been standing. Rolling to his feet, he gripped his axe tightly in his hands as the pink mare pulled a pair of cupcakes out of her poofy mane. The blue winged one struggled in his net. He turned his attention away from her – she was not a threat. The pink mare pulled a hoof back, preparing to throw her confectionary weapon at him. Before either of them could attack, a loud roar booming through the area drew their attention. Not far away, the land buckled and heaved before exploding upwards. Four serpentine heads burst up out of the earth, throwing rocks and dirt in every direction. The limp form of an orange pony with a yellow mane was clutched firmly in the jaws of one of the heads, her forehooves and head dangling uselessly while the rest of her body was hidden from sight inside the creature’s mouth. An errant gust blowing through the area ripped the cowboy hat off the pony’s head, sending it fluttering towards the ground below.