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“We are near,” Zecora spoke, voice as low as the whispers of the woods around them. As if she'd mistakenly spoken to the trees instead of her companions, she raised her volume and spoke again, “Gather your courage and keep your weapon close, Applebloom. If there is something you cannot have here, it is fear.”
Applebloom replied with a nod, unsure of what to answer. Time lost its importance when they left the zebra's hut and took for the Everfree Forest, and the striped equine hadn’t so much as breathed a word since their departure, leaving Applebloom and Epona to converse among them. To suddenly ask that she gather her courage was surprising at worst.
Zecora had imparted a gift to her as her last action prior to this trip. It was a wooden shield that was shaped like an eye, with the zebra’s cutie mark on its front. She had gone on to describe how it had been a family treasure in Zebrica, from the time when her tribe still waged war with its neighbors. It now rested on the earth pony's back, strapped to her cape with a strong rope. Two small bottles were tied to that same rope, dangling by her side. One bottle was filled to the brim with a red tonic, and the other with a blue tonic of sorts. Zecora hadn't told her much about them. Her parting words had been 'red for exhaustion, blue for the right time'. Applebloom had shrugged it off.
Her conversation with Epona had roused her curiosity, though. She had learned that the blade in her scabbard was called the ‘Kokiri Sword’. It had been Link’s first weapon, she had said, and one of the boy’s most treasured possessions, right after an ‘Ocarina of Time’ instrument. The Kokiri were a tribe of children of the forest - or human foals, as Epona had to put it - who never grew up, and lived long lives. Applebloom idly wondered if they also had to find their 'special talent'.
Of everything the Hylian horse had shared, however, the most recent developments in her life had been the most curious. Epona had only mentioned an endless fall and her luck in finding an exit from some sort of mine. Sure, that had cost her her owner, as she had wound up in the forest, where she had been alone and hurt.
But when the thought of giving up entered her mind at last and she collapsed under the weight of her body, the most regal winged unicorn, of plumage and coat as dark as the night, visited her dreams. She spoke words of encouragement, and promised to help her. When the night fell, Epona found the promise fulfilled. The stars had guided her to Zecora.
Their conversations were cut short by a cough from the zebra. She had stopped just ahead of them to observe the landscape from the top of a moss-covered rock. Beyond that point, the world met an abrupt descent. They had reached the Ghastly Gorge.
"You claim we have seven days at most. We must make do with that time if we wish to rescue your friends from their host." She stepped aside, allowing Applebloom to take her previous spot on the musty terrain. A fresh breeze was already there to welcome the filly, a breeze she knew she could only find in such places as the Everfree Forest. Maybe the Kokiri felt this every day. "Below is the Bog. I come here to meditate. It matters not where exactly. It is all the same. Atop the slippery surface of a rock, under the frigid waters of the waterfall or dependent of the balance of a log.
"There is more to this swamp than what meets the eye, however," she added cautiously. "A powerful deity slumbers in these waters, a spirit that swore to protect them forever."
A deity? Maybe it's the one Steven mentioned, Applebloom thought, glancing down at a river that slithered among the trees at the bottom of the cliff.
"What you described of these Shadowbolts is most distressing," Zecora continued. Her voice betrayed the concern that her eyes hid so well. "If you wish to have the upper hoof, then you must receive this spirit's blessing."
"W-Wait a minute," she quickly stuttered. The moment of distraction nearly caused her to lose her footing. "Ya mean Ah have to go all the way down there jus' to meet a snake?"
"She's too young, Zecora," Epona piped in, standing between the two.
Zecora immediately cast an annoyed glare at the horse. "Age does not matter. If the tales you told us of your master are true, then you should know better.
“Epona and I shall wait on the other side of the Everfree Forest, where we shall resume our journey. Tread carefully, young Applebloom, and do not hurry.” The zebra placed a hoof on the filly's shoulder in an unspoken request to see each other in the eye. “One miscalculated step in these woods may cost you your life. Although no evil roams down below, the guardians of the waterfall will not hesitate in causing strife.”
"A-Ah don't know..."
Zecora raised a hoof to hush the filly. When she obtained silence, she smiled. "I have faith in you. Despite Epona's words, she does, too."
Applebloom wasn't as happy. She sought for some confirmation of the zebra's words in Epona's eyes. Epona was struggling to keep a grin, perhaps thinking it would inspire the filly forward. It didn't.
Regardless, she knew that there was truth in what Zecora had said. The Shadowbolts were powerful, much more powerful than even the three equines combined. As she stared at the forest that spread into the horizon below, in the confines of a soaring canyon, she prayed that whatever was down there would grant her a proper advantage. She spotted a path she could follow to reach the bottom. She would barely be able to walk on it, but it appeared to be the only possibility.
"Have faith, young one."
Those were the last words Applebloom heard from the zebra before the roaring of the wind filled her ears. Epona just looked on. Without the filly, there was no need to try to smile.
"Come now, Epona, ours is still a long run."
But Epona didn't budge. She just stood there, boring into Zecora's back with a bothered look upon her.
"You didn't tell her."
Feigning shock, Zecora looked back and cocked an eyebrow. Then, with the same neutrality she'd always kept, "There was no need."
"You still should have told her! Zecora, her brother is just grasping at straws right now, but he'll find her!" Epona stomped a hoof, hoping to get the zebra's attention. She didn't get it. She continued nonetheless, her tone more pleading than imposing. "When he does, it'll be a matter of time before she knows. It'll be worse--"
"And when she does know," Zecora continued. Her voice had an unwavering calmness to it that annoyed Epona to no end. "From this body I will have been freed."
Not intending to carry the conversation on any further, the zebra turned and left. Epona followed her at a much slower, unconvinced pace. She mumbled curses and snarls under her breath.
"She still had the right to know..."
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Step after step, Applebloom slithered amongst the rocks of the cliff face. It was an incredibly sluggish pace, but the filly didn't want to take the risk of falling. Just looking down the very narrow ledge made her dizzy enough to require hugging the wall.
Through it all, she felt like she was being watched. The shrill cry of a bird echoed throughout the valley every so often, followed shortly by another, more guttural moan. Applebloom gulped, nudging the sword's hilt now and then to make sure it was still there.
The thought of turning tail crossed her mind more times than she could count. Epona had been right; she was too young to be facing such trials. She didn't have the smallest bit of experience with a sword, and whatever little she knew of it had been force-fed like a spoonful of fish.
Her resolve always strengthened, though. Every moment she doubted her skills was a moment lost in rescuing her friends. She trusted Zecora. If the zebra knew of something powerful in this valley and Applebloom could use it, then she would find it.
The end of the climb silenced those thoughts. Following the zebra's advice, Applebloom unsheathed the sword and gave it an experimental swing. The suffocating embrace of the forest started right there, at the base of the cliffs. The lowly grass that greeted her hooves at first immediately gave way to the loftier Everfree-grade trees. The shadow they cast filtered the nigh-nonexistent light of the night sky, shrouding the valley in absolute darkness. The darkness was her first enemy.
Her second enemy was flapping its wings under the cover of the night. Her ears swiveled left and right in a frenzy, hoping to trace the origin of the sounds.
That search led her to a large, rippling shadow that approached from within the forest. The realization that she couldn't run or hide struck her harder than any foe could ever hope to. Deprived of choice, she tightened her grip on the sword.
This unnatural screech almost escaped her throat when the shadow reached her. That single beating of a wing multiplied itself by a thousand, all around the young filly. She swung the blade wildly, but the enemies always evaded her attacks. Their wings felt like needles as they brushed against her coat. Their shrill cries felt just as sharp in her ears.
Despite her mind's continuous demands to react, she still found herself frozen in fear, curled on the musty ground. After all, she was still just a filly who was afraid of the dark and aware of the threatening monsters under her bed. Her efforts to fight back her fright were futile. She got closer and closer to crying with every close shave of the monsters' wings.
She would never dare to look up. She didn't to know how these monsters looked, because her imagination filled that gap very easily. Already she envisioned devilishly red eyes shimmering in the void with sharp, bloodstained blades sticking from their sides. She whimpered. What was she to do?
"Hoo," the darkness answered. The cry was familiar to her. From amidst the whistles of the razor-sharp wings of the monsters came a strong gust of air. It felt different, and inspired courage in Applebloom's heart once again.
The wave of winged enemies had stopped flowing against her. Perhaps Owlowiscious had found help. Perhaps a pegasus had agreed to look for and save her. Half-expecting to see some mighty stallion, she opened her eyes. Whatever was in front of her that the moonlight bathed in its weak light, it wasn't a stallion - or a pony - at all.
It was airborne, and it was just Owlowiscious.
"Y-Ye... how'd ya spook them off on yer own?"
"Hoo."
Not yet fully convinced, Applebloom took a moment to settle herself down. The initial panic had triggered the rush of adrenaline. Once she felt ready, she returned the sword to its scabbard and rose to her hooves. Mud matted her fur from sole to neck. She tried to shake it off. "Thought ya'd have flown off after yer owner."
"Hoo."
"Yer owner, Twilight Sparkle?" She tried to move. An itch on her sides led to the discovery of a collection of superficial cuts, marring the yellow of her coat with paper-thin lines of red. Her shield had likely taken the brunt of the attack, with her cape in a close second.
"Hoo."
"Consarnit, the unicorn ya live with in the-- ya know what, never mind. Jus' lemme be. The faster Ah run Zecora's errand, the sooner Ah'll be back on mah way to Sweetie Belle."
The owl didn't seem the least concerned. As she walked, Applebloom could still hear the beating of his wings beside her. Then the owl made his presence known again. "Hoo hoo."
"How'd ya find me, anyways? Ya been followin' me?"
"Hoo? Hoo hoo!" the owl almost sounded offended.
"Geez, fine." She paused. "Thanks fer... fer helpin' me out..."
"Hoo!"
"...but Ah really need to get tootin'. Zecora said Ah should look fer somethin' down'ere, and Ah jus' wanna find it 'n leave."
"Hoo."
The filly sighed internally. The owl's true intentions became apparent when the road clearly forked and she was pushed to the path to her right. She tried to resist but the owl displaying surprising strength.
It wasn't the first time that the owl did this to her; just the most noticeable one. By way of light nudges and calls for attention, the owl had effectively been leading her through the thick darkness. She didn't argue at first; after all, Owlowiscious had been responsible for leading her to Sweetie Belle.
This time, she'd been led to a dead end. There was only a wall of bushes to look at. She was smirking already.
"Look, Ah'm right thankful for leadin' me to'er earlier, but Ah really dun' think ya know yer way around... the bog..." The ability to speak properly escaped her as she stuck her head through the bushes. Had Owlowiscious been able to smile, then he would have. "...well, that Ah wasn't expectin'."
She was met with a small, round clearing, dimly lit by the bolts of lightning in the sky. It was a dead-end, she noted with some frustration, as the other side of the clearing was but one of the edges of the valley. There was enough light to see its inhabitant, though. It was a tall, slim creature whose only movement was the violent twitching of its limbs.
When the sky rumbled with thunder, she saw how its skin was akin to wood in more than just color. It appeared dry and rough, and the way it stuck to the bone gave the beast a sickly aspect. She sought for eyes, but found only the holes of a wooden mask for a face.
"What... what is that thing?" she stuttered, backing away from the bush.
She wasn't expecting the owl to have an answer, but he gave it anyway. "Hoo?"
"It looks real dangerous... why'd ya bring me here?!" Owlowiscious chose to fly down and pivot her head as an answer this time. He led her back to the bush, and pointed a wing at the other end of the clearing.
After a bit of squinting, Applebloom spotted what the owl had wanted her to find. Past the monster was a cage, partially covered with leaves and branches. Its contents drew a gasp from the filly. "Wait... is that a seahorse?"
"Hoo."
"So ya... ya mean Ah should rescue it?"
The owl nodded again. "Hoo."
Applebloom's mood shifted instantly. "What's gotten into all o'ya ponies' heads lately? Ah ain't no hero!" She only realized how futile it was to hope that Owlowiscious would reply when the owl gave her another long, motionless stare. Brow furrowed, she shifted her attention back to the clearing. The bipedal creature hadn't moved. "But... what about that there monster?"
"Hoo."
Owlowiscious left his perch to land by Applebloom's side. He stuck out a feather from the tip of his wing and held it close to his beak, as if demanding silence. Once he was sure he had Applebloom's attention, the owl took off towards the monster with skillful lightness. The filly staggered to reach him, but went no farther than what the safety of the bush allowed.
She just sat back and observed how the owl flew past the beast without a care in the world. The bird disappeared from sight momentarily, eclipsed by the shadows of the treetops. Applebloom's heart skipped a beat when the owl took just slightly more time than he should have.
But there he was, standing on the cage and eyeing her expectantly.
"Ye're crazy!"
"Hoo-hoo!"
The monster's head pivoted back at the owl surprisingly fast. Applebloom held her breath as though she was the one perched on top of the cage. They stood there, playing a staring game between beast and bird, neither one moving at all.
The monster moaned... then sluggishly moved its head to its original position. Owlowiscious didn't so much as blink, even after the whole ordeal. He spread his wings open and beckoned her to move.
"He did it... so it's safe."
She gulped. It had ignored Owlowiscious, right? Maybe it would ignore her as well. Besides, Zecora had said that there was no evil here. It was all just a test. "A-Ah hope."
She cowered and gulped one last time to steel herself. In the darkness, the bush shivered. Step by step, she dragged herself through the mud and the mold, eyes shifting nervously between the monster and the cage. The small clearing was suddenly much, much larger, and the barely lit ground that much more dangerous.
The last time she had snuck like this was still fresh in her mind. It had been some weeks, maybe months, since she snuck out of bed and down into the kitchen to nab one of her grandmother's bottles of Zap Apple jam.
Wonder how granny and Big Mac are...
Nearly bumping against the monster made her forget her idle wonders - if the rotten smell of its skin hadn't done that already. Surprised out of her mind, the fur of her coat standing on end, Applebloom slowly crawled away from its feet. Her presence had somehow remained unnoticed. She could bet that Owlowiscious would be laughing if he could.
Focus, AB! Ya don't want to get caught like this!
The incident was successful as an eye-opener, as Applebloom covered the remaining distance in no time. The cage was upon her, presenting a new enigma: how she would open it. A lock was her only obstacle. The golden seahorse, whose body glowed ever so softly, was watching her with its big, round eyes, but never getting close.
Ever the crafty one, Applebloom’s first try was with a twig. The sword’s blade was unfit for such a small lock, but the twig did wonders at breaking through it. It was aligned, she was ready to crack it, and the twig was holding in… until it snapped. Cursing her lack of skill at lockpicking – and after throwing a quick glance at her flank in search of a lockpicking cutie mark – she decided to switch tactics. Owlowiscious hooted, and a plan instantly came to be.
Said plan was subsequently killed, as the answer to all of her problems was once again with the owl. A small key plopped onto her mane from its beak, an object that she took with mild annoyance. The reason for the owl to hide it from her in the first place was beyond her.
Letting it slide down to the back of her hoof, she noticed it was a key. Convenient, she thought, biting down on the steel key and jamming it into the slot. The creaking of the lock was all it took to ruin her cover.
The monster's head swiveled her way, causing a surge of adrenaline to course through Applebloom. She threw open the cage's door and bit down on the seahorse's tail, subsequently dragging it out of the cage with her.
"Get away! Run!" she hollered at the small creature. It took her advice and attempted to flee, somehow managing to float just inches above the ground.
It was far too late, as somehow, the monster had already captured it again. The seahorse simply fell where it stood, completely immobile. Applebloom felt a pang of rage rise in her chest.
"Leave it alone! Why don't'cha mess with somepony yer size!" Surprisingly obedient, the monster spun around, and her anger subsided completely. She cowered before the emptiness of its mask’s gaze. "O-Oh, huh, 'cept with, y'know, me."
The undead monster turned a deaf ear to the filly's words. A pained scream, not unlike that of a doomed soul, escaped its bare mouth, letting Applebloom know that it was time to flee.
But she couldn't. She couldn't move her legs, or keep her eyes away from the pair of black circles on the creature's mask. Her tail could twitch at best, but that was it. She was completely powerless.
"Owlowiscious..."
Convinced that its prey was ensnared, the monster stepped forth, its steps creating a disgusting plish-plosh. Applebloom tried to shiver.
"Help..."
The monster wrapped its skinny arms around her, baring its sharp, disgusting teeth. Seeing itself unable to grasp her head, it chose to grip her by the neck with a single, skinny hand. The lump in the filly's throat gave way to deep fear and dread. A sob wracked her body.
"G-Git away..." she muttered weakly. The monster's jaws hovered over her foreleg and stopped there, as if to study it. Applebloom forced her eyes shut. "Dun' do it... p-please..."
The beast did not empathize with her pleas. Overcome by a ruthlessness rivaling that of a famished bear, it sank its jagged teeth in the filly's leg, then moaned loud enough to drown her wails. Not a second later, it pulled away, as though the first bite had been in a completely wrong spot. Another candidate was soon chosen, it seemed, as the monster grabbed her by a hind leg and raised her until they were eye-to-eye.
He wants the neck.
Just as it prepared to bite, Applebloom’s scream became unexpectedly louder. Mind set to cruise control and body on autopilot, she jerked away from the monster and kicked her foe as soon as the chance presented itself. Its wooden mask stood no chance against an Apple’s buck, and despite her young age, Applebloom’s was no exception.
There was nary a response from the monster. It moaned, this time in a clear display of pain, and let go of the filly. Applebloom stumbled to the ground, eyes brimming with tears. She didn’t stop for a second, nor did she hesitate: she pulled the sword out of its sheath and relentlessly hacked at the undead being. Not one of the blows she delivered missed. To her surprise, not one of them drew blood from her enemy. The creature was as dry as the bone her sword struck.
When exhaustion finally caught up with the filly, there wasn’t a mask on the monster’s face anymore. Although the darkness didn’t allow her to describe it accurately, the loose tendrils of flesh hanging from its chin made her wish she never would. Just as she took a step away from the monster, its husk slumped to the ground, lifeless. She watched it for a little longer to make sure it wouldn’t suddenly rise from the dead. It didn’t.
“A-Ah did it—HNNG!” Her moment of celebration was interrupted by a sting of pain on her leg. The monster had dug its teeth deep into her flesh. She fell to her haunches at the thought of some unknown infection in her body… or worse, of becoming a zombie. “N-Need to find that snake…”
Quickly scanning her surroundings, she found the seahorse in the exact same place it had been petrified. Owlowiscious stood next to it, patiently awaiting the earth pony’s arrival. He greeted her with a short hoot, one that almost suggested some regret, then pointed down at the seahorse and hooted again.
“Miss Seahorse…” the filly softly called, prodding the small creature with a hoof. The ‘spell’ seemed to have worn off, which was a plus in her book.
"Please… hear my plea," it cried with its shrill and childish voice. Applebloom’s eyes went wide when the seahorse rose to the air on its one. It was definitely not injured. "The evil Timberwolves have broken me apart and scattered my pieces…"
"The timberwolves?" But... Zecora said that there was no evil here...
The seahorse didn't even notice her words. It pressed the tip of its snout against Applebloom's to call her attention. "Please, find a way to return me to the base of the Ghastly Waterfall!"
"Look, hum, Ah'm kinda sorta real busy right now..." The seahorse deflated in front of her. Applebloom swallowed nervously. "But, huh, if ya wanna stick 'round, maybe we'll find yer place?"
"Oh, yes! Thank you so much!" Suddenly filled with joy again, the seahorse floated up to side with her. "I will be sure to thank you properly!"
"Aw, shucks, that's okay," Applebloom was quick to answer, resuming her trot. "'sides, Ah really didn't do anythin' much... Owlowiscious did most of the job."
"Hoo!"
The seahorse's chuckle was like tiny bells in light wind. "Courageous and modest! You are quite the filly."
Applebloom looked away to hide the little blush that had crept over her cheeks. "Let's jus' focus on findin' that waterfall so ya can find yer, huh, pieces. Ah really need to find that deity so Ah can go 'n save mah friends."
"Oh?" the seahorse said, tilting its head. "You are looking for the deity?"
"Sure am! Oh! Ya live down'ere, don't'cha, miss? Maybe ya know where Ah can find him!"
"Perhaps we can make a deal, then. Return me to the waterfall, and I will show you the way to the deity." The seahorse extended its tail. "Do we have a deal?"
Overjoyed, Applebloom readily bumped her hoof against the tail. "Deal!"
"Perfect! Let us be on our way th--" A howl. A cold chill ran throughout their bodies. "Oh my. That does not sound good."
"Hoo hoo!"
"Timberwolves," Applebloom gasped. The filly could recognize their howls from miles away. She smiled a little. Her grandmother always made a fuss about it. "Owlowiscious, take Miss Seahorse and try to find that waterfall! Ah'll be right behind ya!"
Applebloom gulped as soon as she issued those orders. The owl didn't seem to notice. He just nodded and took the seahorse in his talons. She was alone in the fight against the wilderness now.
It was in this time of uncertainty that her tutor's words echoed. A sword wields no strength unless the hoof that holds it has courage…
Her grip on the sword tightened.
Gather your courage, the zebra had spoken as well. The two entities mingled together in her mind. They were both right. Courage. That's what she needed.
If Owlowiscious can spook them monsters and see them square in the eyes, then Ah'll be darned if Ah can't!
"Alright, ya big monster!" she growled at the darkness with a newfound vigor. "Where are ya?!"
The thicket shivered. Senses on full alert, Applebloom spun on her heels. Just as their namesake would suggest, the creatures she sought for could easily blend with the forest.
She could run away, just like she had done before. She had run away from the pegasi, from the monsters of the forest and from the fire as it consumed the work she was proudest of. In all of those cases, she had lost someone or something. In all of those cases, she had been defenseless.
Not anymore. She'd have courage and stand up to the challenge.
Another shiver. Another snarl.
Somehow she predicted the first attack, but could do nothing more than jump haphazardly out of the way. The timberwolf was watching her now, eyes shimmering with a sickly green color. That didn't daunt her anymore. Applebloom no longer felt intimidated by the beast's guttural rumble.
She attempted her first strike, a wild swing of the sword. She heard the timberwolf's heavy body move out of the way, leaving a gust of putrid wind in its wake. The bushes shivered again, announcing the timberwolf's entry.
The obnoxious smell was disorienting. Having unwittingly caught a deep whiff of it, Applebloom bobbed in place for a moment. She was alone again, but she knew that the timberwolf wasn't done with her yet. She could still hear its steps behind the bushes. It was observing her, rounding their little arena, waiting for the chance to attempt a new move.
The natural stench was just as much of advantage as it was a disadvantage for the timberwolf, however. Applebloom had noticed that and had taken full profit of the downsides. Just as she stopped and the timberwolf leaped out of the bushes, ready to pounce onto the young filly, his target spun in place.
The wooden creature only noticed the sword in her mouth too late. With one well aimed swing, the blade pierced the wolf's stomach, tearing it open. Stripped of its torso, the timberwolf crumbled apart. Its fragments, all of them sticks and leaves, harmlessly rained down on Applebloom.
She didn't even get to breathe a sigh, though, as the scuffle had attracted more timberwolves. She could hear their growls already, and chose for the best not to stay. Her sole moment of stillness was spent trying to figure out where to run next. Luckily, the rumbling of a waterfall was there to provide guidance, which she gladly followed. The wolves were in hot pursuit, fangs and claws bared and ready to strike.
The filly was actually beginning to smirk triumphantly when she suddenly ran out of places to escape to. She had found the waterfall; rather, its top, as the basin was down below, hidden under a swirling barrier of mist. The waters that fed it disappeared just halfway down the fall.
The timberwolves arrived then. Their snarls and stench struck fear in the young pony's heart, but she persevered. She spun to face them, and all at once, her determination crumbled. She had expected to see a gang of a measly three, maybe four of the lupines. A pack of ten, maybe more hidden in the foliage, was waiting at the entrance to the woods.
"This... ain't good..." She was back to square one, she realized, reaching for her sword.
One of the wolves reacted immediately by pouncing on her. Applebloom was surprised by the suddenness of the attack, but didn't hold her sword back. The weapon reduced the timberwolf's head to pieces, ridding her of an enemy. Angered, the pack snarled in unison.
"Stay b-back! Ah'll do the same to all o'ya!" Applebloom's shouts only served to anger them further. A trio of wolves stepped forth.
Their attack came without warning, but they fell to the blade. Her swings lacked skill and often sliced only the air. Despite that, Applebloom carried on. Though she did not know how to properly wield a sword yet, craftiness had always been her specialty. She was learning through experience.
Be courageous. Be courageous. Be courageous.
She knew that she would never stand a chance against any other swordspony, for they would, unlike these feral beasts, find ways to counteract her. So long as the timberwolves only attempted to strike her with their claws, she would survive.
By the time little beads of sweat started rolling down her face, Applebloom had successfully exhausted quite the number of timberwolves. She wasn't without wounds on her end, and the little cuts across her face were her mementos of the battle. The shield on her back had been put to good use, too, if the claw marks on its front were any indication.
She had been pushed to the very edge of the cliff - and of herself - while the timberwolves showed no sign of ending. For the first time, she was growing fearful of the outcome. She tested the ground behind her with a hoof. There wasn't any. Every beat of her heart was coming in shorter intervals. As though they were capable of sniffing the fear in her, the timberwolves closed in. Applebloom felt her stomach aching with their nauseous scent.
One of them swung a claw at her, which she retaliated to with a swing of her own weapon. Both missed, though that seemed to have been the wolf's intent. They were mocking her. They took a step forward, and Applebloom stepped backward.
"They got me... Gotta jump..."
The courage that had fueled her had started to fade away. She tried to summon it again, to call upon her tutors' advice and scour it for useful information in that situation.
"Jump, AB," she found herself whispering.
Just one more moment. One more second, and Owlowiscious would surely swoop down on the timberwolves, granting her just one more moment to act. Whatever hope she had of that vanished the moment her enemies struck.
Shamefully, she was caught off-guard. She resorted to the shield, which had endured so many of the hits until then. It was both her salvation and her doom, for what the timberwolves' claws didn't accomplish, the lengthy fall she was thrusted into did.
She yelled, watching the cliff wall race beside her as she plummeted through the haze. The wind roared in her ears, bringing tears to her eyes. The growling of the water crashing upon the rocky base of the waterfall became louder. Not once did she let go of the sword.
In the blink of an eye, she was submerged. A flash of pain clouded her head for a split second, stripping her of her sense of orientation. When the icy touch of the water finally reached her and she came to, Applebloom paddled towards the surface like she never had before, not even stopping to wonder why there was such bright light outside.
She broke the water with a deep, raspy inhale. The golden light was still there, within the mist that floated just above the water. She thought it enough to be thankful for the guidance it provided, and rushed towards the shore.
Dripping wet and exhausted, Applebloom fell to the gravel, coughing the excess water out of her lungs. The Kokiri Sword clanked to the ground.
In retrospect, she had done well. She had survived. All by herself, she had survived against an entire pack of timberwolves. If only she could tell everyone, they would all be proud of her achievement.
The anesthetic effect of the cold water wore off, and her real concerns surfaced. Even the collection of cuts all over her body had nothing on her foreleg. Where the undead monster had bitten her before was now a large gash that bled abundantly, and Applebloom didn't want to even imagine what other injuries were beneath the skin. She tried to touch it, but the pain drove her hoof away.
"Owlowiscious! Where are ya?!"
Nothing. No response from anyone. Just the murmur of the waters coursing through the rocks. She let out a sigh that more closely resembled a sob.
"Owlowiscious! Miss Seahorse!" Another distraught sigh, another dangerously raspy cough. "Anyone... p-please..."
"So, it is true." Applebloom's ears perked up at once. She raised her head. The seahorse she had rescued was right there, floating overhead.
"Miss Seahorse!"
"When I was told of a filly that sought the Light Force, I thought the Guidepost had lost his mind - for good, I might add." The chimes of its voice were barely noticeable in this low, serious tone. "I was about to confirm these rumors... but the timberwolves bested me."
"Urgh... help..." she coughed exhaustedly, raising a forehoof to try and reach for the seahorse. "M-Miss Seahorse... please..."
To her surprise, the seahorse turned away and headed towards the waterfall. The filly’s young heart shattered. She had risked her life to save the seahorse, and they had made a promise to each other. Applebloom had honored her part, so why wasn't it doing the same?
"What... what're ya doin'..."
“Oh courageous one!" the seahorse answered once it was within the mist. It was strange; its shrill voice had suddenly become clear, booming even. It was no longer fitting of a creature that was so small.
So unfitting that, as it turned out, it wasn't the seahorse talking. Rather, an entire community of small seahorses that floated above the waters was talking at the same time, producing the louder voice that reached her ears. The one she had rescued huddled with its brethren, and the waters were suddenly filled with a golden light. Applebloom shielded her eyes from the glow.
She could barely believe what she was seeing when she lowered her hoof. A giant sea serpent, just like Steven, was now rising out of the water. Its gaze was much more elderly and serious than that of the stylish serpent she had encountered, and its scales were dark green in color, just like the surrounding brush. A Guardian.
"I am the Keeper of the Ghastly Waterfall. I thank you for returning my broken and shattered body to normal. I feared the worst when I was ensnared by the vicious Timberwolves, and then held captive by the living dead... but you saved me. Thank you, once again."
Applebloom took a bow from the serpent, and for a very short moment, she smiled. The strain of standing on her injured leg soon caught up to the filly, however, stealing her breath and her balance. Still she managed to stutter, "The Keeper... ya were the deity all along..."
"You appear wounded..." it cooed, lowering its massive head towards Applebloom. The filly stared down at her injured foreleg and covered it with her good one in embarrassment. The snake held out an arm and beckoned her to move closer. "Come hither. Allow me to ease your weariness..."
Applebloom hesitated at first. Her heart, childish in nature, still raced, troubled with the way the luminescent seahorse had strayed away in her time of need. Even as she started to move, Applebloom's mind kept screaming to turn back. The water, cold as it felt, was like a blessing for her tired, wounded body.
The deity assumed control there, where the waters were deeper and the filly could no longer move. The serpent clamped its hands together, then just a moment later, parted them again. A flock of light pink sprites had magically taken shape between them.
They flew down towards Applebloom, allowing one to inspect the other. Marvel overcame shock when the filly realized that these were not parasprites. These boasted no massive mouth or adorable eyes, but their bodies emitted a glow about as intense as that of a small candle.
Then suddenly, one of the fairies behaved differently. Tailed by a trail of glittering specks, it began to describe circles around the filly. The touch of the dust was reinvigorating, as if she'd been offered cool water after craving it for days.
But then, after the last grain of sparkly dust touched her body, the fairy simply disappeared. One by one, the other fairies did the same. Little by little, the pain that assailed her leg and body diminished. When all but one fairy was left, she felt as though her trial had never happened. A tentative nudge at her leg led her to the same conclusion; no bite marks, no scars, it didn’t even feel broken anymore. She had been healed. Not a single scratch was left on her body.
The last fairy, noticing that the filly was fit to leave again, did not follow her brethren's steps. Instead, she fluttered back to the serpent, and contented herself with circling the deity like butterflies flock around flowers. Applebloom looked on, confused.
"W-What happened t'them?"
"When a fairy's purpose is fulfilled, they simply... disappear. The dust which they release is their legacy, and a new fairy is one day born from it."
"Y'mean... like a phoenix?"
"That is correct. As a Great Fairy, it is my duty to watch over them. I am one of the four Guardians of Equestria. Ours is a benevolent magic, and mine is only for those courageous enough to receive it."
"M-Me? Courageous?"
The snake nodded sagely. “As it would seem, I was right to deposit my faith in you. You demonstrated a feat of bravery beyond what most ponies would.” It carefully brought its frame closer to Applebloom. “You are, without a doubt, the one we have been waiting for.”
Such was her confusion that the filly's tone lowered to that of a whisper. "Yer... waitin'? Fer me?"
"There is no way for us to know who it is exactly. We know once we've met them. Just as I have met you.
“As I had promised, I wish to reward you. Raise your hooves, young one, and accept this power."
"Like this--AAH!!" the filly immediately cried, biting back tears. No sooner had her hooves left the ground than a searing pain washed over them. The water had become inexplicably hot.
A thread of boiling hot water slithered upward, to where her forehooves were, and gently enveloped them. The heat was not unbearable now. It felt good, like a warm bath in a cold night. The filly was so lost in pleasure that she truly felt disappointed when it was over. Her hooves felt slightly heavier now, and for a good reason: a pair of horseshoes adorned their underside, their bright grey surface glittering faintly under the fountain’s light.
"The shoes you wear will unlock the magic that all Earth ponies possess, but are unable to use to its full potential. Stomp the earth with them and make your foes tremble.
"There is one more thing I wish for you to carry. Please accept this parting gift." The serpent cupped its hands, and an intense shimmer erupted within its palms. The light was as blue as the morning sky this time, but just as powerful.
When the hands parted again, a stone grey orb with a single, darker gem incrusted on its face was revealed. It gently floated down towards the filly, leaving the guardian to continue its wish. "Protect that gem well. The day will come when the power imbued within is unleashed. You, Applebloom, will be the precursor."
Applebloom inched closer to the floating relic. It irradiated an indescribable feeling of power and presence; the type of feeling that would lead one to fall to their knees and bow. There was certainly a great power locked away inside it.
As soon as her hoof touched the stone, however, it vanished. She still felt its presence. It took her only a moment to understand what had just happened. Just like Natural Scale and Sweetie Belle, the power had been stored inside her.
Still, Natural Scale had given her best friend a mission. Applebloom only had a hint that something would happen. She had to clear it while she had the chance. "A-Ah'm not sure if Ah understand."
The serpent was not about to grant her that satisfaction, though. "You will understand when the time comes. Protect the gem, and all will turn out well.
"Your task is a trying one. It will not be easy, Applebloom. Should you wish to grow stronger, seek the springs of my fellow guardians, West, North and East of here. I am sure they will be willing to help you in your quest.
"Bear this in mind, however." The serpent's tone grew somber. "This is but a test. It is your first trial. We are confident that you will pass with brilliance." The guardian spread its arms open in a welcoming manner. They were easily the span of three houses. "Return here if you grow weary. I will tend to your wounds."
“Ah’ll… Ah’ll keep that in mind.”
Applebloom was still hesitant when she thanked the guardian and started walking away from the fountain. She felt a strange happiness, bordering on giddiness. It wasn't that she'd just received the blessing of a guardian, or been granted a new power to save Sweetie Belle.
And the truth was what kept her smile from showing up. She was happy because, just like her friend, she had a mission of greater importance. She didn't know the details of her mission like Sweetie Belle did of hers. It felt encouraging nonetheless.
She picked up her pace. There was work to be done. There was the face of a cliff to climb, a zebra to meet, and a desert to be crossed. She would find the pegasus, and she would rescue her friends.
Behind her, the guardian watched in silence. Half-truths and hints were the way of the higher beings. Applebloom was but a child that lacked the right incentive to act. There was much, very much that the serpent could have told the filly, centuries of knowledge. There had been no need for it, for they would not have served any purpose.
When Applebloom finally disappeared from its sight, the guardian’s caring expression withered to that of a stern frown. They would meet again. Given time, the filly would grow stronger. The guardian’s only wish was that she would have the strength to make the right decision.
"Have faith..." it whispered, sinking back into the waters of the basin. "Hero chosen by the Elements..."