//------------------------------// // Chapter 7 – Time Rewound // Story: Ponies in the Attic // by Digodragon //------------------------------// Cold drops of rain stung Applejack’s face. She slowly opened her eyes and saw her family looking down at her. AJ groaned as her sore lungs took in fresh air. There was a sharp pain in the back of her head that rivaled the terrible burn marks upon her skin. Cara lifted AJ up and held her tight. “Sweetie, please talk to me!” she cried out. “Are those turnovers done, ma?” AJ joked weakly. “Well now you’re just teasin’,” Bramley scoffed. Big Mac and Bloom helped their sister stand up. AJ felt her legs wobble, but she managed to hold her balance. Bramley picked up the hammer and placed it over his back. The drizzle that fell around them was cold and relentless. Cara wiped the tears from her eyes. “Are you alright, ma?” Applejack asked. “I’m fine, just, I was so scared that I lost you,” Cara said. Apple Bloom nudged her big sister. “We were all real worried about you,” she explained. “You did fall three stories with that monster on top of you.” AJ looked up at the window she crashed out of. It looked fairly high from down here. She was amazed that she had not broken any bones. More amazing was that Applejack had changed events. Her parents survived the creature in the tower this time. With their help, she felt confident that she could finish this quest. “What happened to the monster?” AJ asked her little sister. Apple Bloom shrugged. “I don’t know,” she replied. “We only found you down here. I guess it’s gone now. Big Mac didn’t see it in the tower either when he went back for Smarty Pants.” “Eeyup,” her brother chimed in with a pat against his saddle bag. Bramley began to walk towards the rope bridge. “If we’re done squackin’, let’s get going. We got some furniture to disassemble.” A cold shiver ran down Applejack’s back. She just remembered that Zecora was left alone at home to watch the stranger disguised as Granny Smith. The Apples might have another fight on their hooves if the stranger overpowered Zecora. “We need to hurry,” AJ stated with urgency. “I have a bad feeling Zecora could be in trouble.” “Your granny ain’t that big a pain,” Bramley commented. “Sure she babbles a bit, but that’s harmless.” AJ shook her head. “That ain’t Granny Smith, pa,” she said, “But I think I know who it is. Come on!” She galloped ahead and led the Apples toward home. The drizzle intensified into a full downpour as the family raced through the Everfree Forest. ~ ~ ~ Applejack ran up the porch steps of her home, her breath visible in the cold rain. The recent burn marks on her drenched body ached more so than the older bite wounds, but AJ refused to let the pain slow her down. Thunder rolled over the farm as Apple Bloom and Big McIntosh arrived a moment later, winded from their race through the Everfree Forest together. Cara and Bramley arrived last as the large magical hammer slowed them down. The icy rain dripped slowly off their faces as they looked toward AJ for guidance. Applejack spun around with the intent to kick open the door, but she stopped as a sense of fear hit her again. It was the fear of the unknown, of what she may lose once they stepped inside this house. “Something wrong?” Apple Bloom asked. Applejack took in a deep breath despite her sore body’s protest. “I don’t know,” she said softly. “I guess, whatever happens in here, I just want you all to know that I love you all.” “Hey now,” Bramley interrupted. “Don’t sound like this is the end. We’re all doin’ this thing together, no matter what that clock does to us.” “That’s right!” Bloom added. “Eeyup,” Big Mac agreed. Cara lifted the magical hammer and handed it to AJ. “Use this, sweetie,” she said. “Since you seem to have a deep connection with what has transpired, I think you should wield it. We’ll always be right behind you.” AJ took the weapon and slung it over her shoulder. “Thank you all for believing in me,” she said with a tearful smile. She held the hammer tight as she swung it at the front door. The entrance splintered in two and clattered on the floor. Without a moment wasted, AJ stepped inside the house. “Zecora, are you still around?!” she called out. “Where’s that imposter granny?!” AJ looked around the living room and noticed a chipped teacup on the floor beside a broken chair. A scuffle had taken place here recently, but AJ couldn’t tell who the victor was. She turned to the old grandfather clock in the corner. There was a dried stain of blood upon the jagged edge of the broken glass door. She wondered whose blood it was. The rest of the family stepped inside from the rain. A crack of thunder rattled the windows and startled Bloom. She scurried closer to her big sister. The family heard hoof-steps approach from the second floor and Applejack kept her grip on the hammer tight. “Alright varmint,” AJ stated loudly, “What did you do with Zecora?!” The white and black stripped Zecora stumbled onto the second floor landing from the darkened upstairs hallway. Her mane was disheveled, and there was blood caked on her cheeks and right foreleg. The imposter stepped out behind the zebra. She had a hoof that leaned on Zecora’s backside as if the two were good friends. It couldn’t have been much farther from the truth. “Well if it isn’t the… wait,” Granny Smith hissed. “What are you two doing here?” She pointed at Cara and Bramley angrily. AJ saw a moment of confusion in the imposter’s eyes. “I figured out that I could rearrange events a bit,” Applejack explained. “I reckon you wanted to do the same, but some events can’t be changed, can they?” The imposter snorted. “Everything can be changed! Why couldn’t you all just accept your new lives? You would have all been happy together!” “Because it was all a lie!” Applejack snapped back. “Life is full of pain and loss, but that’s just part of the deal! It’s what brings about hope and dreams, strengthenin’ family and friendships. A candle has got no purpose without a shadow to illuminate.” “I refuse to lose him again!!” the imposter screamed out. Zecora shoved the distracted old mare away and shouted down to AJ. “You must move like quicksilver! Use the hammer and strike-” The fake granny kicked Zecora down the flight of stairs and Big Mac raced over to catch her. Applejack lifted the hammer and backed away. “Ma, Pa, keep her distracted,” AJ shouted. “I know what I got to do! AB, you’re with me!” She hobbled quickly with her little sister toward the clock. Bramley charged the couch in front of the upper-story landing and used it as a step to jump up and over the railing. Big Mac dragged the injured Zecora away from the stairs as Cara scurried up the steps two at a time. “No! Stop!” the imposter yelled. Bramley reached for the fake granny and grabbed her foreleg. The imposter pulled back hard and her leg’s skin peeled off like a banana. The wrinkled flesh crumbled in Bramley’s hooves as the imposter’s leg was replaced with a dark shadowy tendril. She swung the black appendage and struck Bramley in the face. The stallion fell backwards toward the stairs. Cara dove under her husband and caught him before he tumbled down the steps. Applejack lifted the heavy hammer and swung it at the clock. The wooden frame cracked under the blow, but managed to hold together. The imposter ripped the railing off its foundation and leaped at Applejack. AJ turned and raised the hammer up to block the imposter’s swing as the old mare landed in front of her. The orange pony thrust the hammer into the imposter’s chest and shoved her back. Apple Bloom rushed the old mare from behind and jumped at her back. The filly grabbed the imposter by the face and pulled hard. The skin peeled back off the old mare with a sickening rip and exposed a dark, shadowy face with two yellow eyes. “The clock is mine!” the imposter shouted. She grabbed Apple Bloom by the hind-leg and threw the filly across the room. Bloom bounced off the coffee table and collided with the couch. Applejack turned her attention back to the grandfather clock and began a second swing at it. The monstrous imposter lashed out with her tendril leg and grabbed AJ around the forelegs. The orange pony was yanked hard to the floor and the hammer dropped out of her grasp. She crawled to the hammer, but the imposter granny pressed a hoof against her to keep her pinned. Big Mac charged the monster from behind and grabbed her around the waist. The imposter reached behind with her tendril and wrapped it around the red stallion’s neck. She squeezed hard and choked the red stallion. Big Mac let the old mare go and wrestled the black tentacle off his neck. The monster kicked out at his chest and Big Mac stumbled backwards into the coffee table. His weight crushed it flat. The monster reached down and grabbed at the wooden floorboards with her tendril leg. She pulled up a board with impossible strength and swung it down on the orange pony. AJ was flattened from the blow, but she gritted her teeth against the pain and tried to stand up once more. The monster swung down on her back a second time, then a third. Applejack buckled and fell flat on her chest. A fourth swing came down and the pain pierced her head like a knife. “Stop it!!” Cara cried out as she raced down the stairs. “You’re killing her!!” Sound and light blurred in AJ’s head as her body gave up the fight. She couldn’t move, she couldn’t breathe. All she could do was cry. All her efforts to make things right had failed. “I just… I’m sorry,” Applejack whispered to herself. The blurs faded away and she was embraced by silent darkness. ~ ~ ~ “Get up,” whispered a small voice. “Get up and fight!” AJ opened her eyes, but she only saw a haze of shadow in all directions. Her body lay on a cold invisible floor, wracked with pain from her injuries. She moved her head slightly and saw a blurry white light approach. “Come on Applejack,” the familiar voice said encouragingly. “I know you can do this!” “No, I-I failed,” she whispered back. As the light drew near, Applejack felt its warm presence. Her eyes focused on the light and she saw the young stallion prince appear within it. He brushed his regal purple robes aside and sat down beside her as the light dimmed to a softer glow. “Am I… dead?” AJ asked him. The prince shook his head. “No, I don’t think you are,” he said. “Otherwise you would be somewhere else.” “Then where are we?” The prince pondered the question for a moment. “I’m not sure,” he finally responded. “I never fully understood the magic of the clock. I apologize that because of my ignorance, I have caused you so much pain.” He put a gentle hoof on AJ’s shoulder. “See, I was once very sick and the fair lady I loved feared losing me. She convinced me to commission Starswirl to create a magical device that would grant me a second chance at life. It worked, for a time, but not even magic can cheat death for long.” Applejack nodded. “You had trouble thinkin’, right?” she asked. “Time jumped around, things stopped making any sense?” The prince sighed. “Indeed, those were troubling days for me. That is why we must destroy that clock, Applejack. We must end the cycle before it repeats, before others fall victim to it.” “My parents,” AJ said, “They must be caught in this cycle too. What will happen to them, to us, when the clock is destroyed?” “If Starswirl was as brilliant as I remembered him,” the prince replied, “Then everything should return to its proper time. I know it must break your heart to lose your parents so soon after your reunion. I can only hope that someday you may forgive me.” AJ slowly shook her head. “No, it’s alright,” she weakly said. “I… I kind of figured it was too good to last. At least I got to have a couple more days with my folks, to tell them how much I loved and missed them.” “Then hurry,” the prince urged, “You must get up and rend that infernal time piece!” Applejack tried to stand, but her body refused to move. “I… I don’t think that I can move.” The prince took her hoof and squeezed it tight. “You can! I’m right here beside you. I know you can feel it. Use the last of my strength as yours and stand up!” The light grew bright and enveloped AJ. She felt the warmness nurse her aching body. She closed her eyes and focused on the prince’s hand. She concentrated on standing up. Her legs began to heed her commands and she slowly rose from the ground. Pain was no longer her master as she stood up for one more chance. Reality snapped back into place around Applejack like a bright flash from a camera. Everyone in the room stared with amazement as she straightened up, raised her clenched hoof, and parried the monster’s next swing of the floorboard with Smarty Pants. The wooden board fell and clattered on the floor. “H-How…?” the monster stuttered in shock. Applejack pulled back her other foreleg and punched the monster between the eyes. The imposter fell backwards and landed on her butt. AJ spun around and reached down for Spell Driver. She hoisted the hammer up and aimed it at the grandfather clock. “No, please!” the monster cried out. “I don’t want to lose my prince again!” “We never lose our loved ones,” AJ firmly replied. “They’re always with us in our hearts.” With a mighty swing and all her remaining strength, Applejack drove the hammer down upon the clock. The timepiece shattered and ejected glass, splinters, and gears in all directions. The hammer continued to plow through the magical artifact until it struck the living room floor with a resounding impact. Applejack collapsed on the floor, her body utterly exhausted. The monster fell to her knees as the dark shadows upon her body evaporated. Underneath the fears and darkness appeared a small and frail pony with beautiful translucent wings. She looked at her beautiful legs and then up at Applejack. “I-I’m so sorry,” the fairy sobbed. “I just didn’t know what to do. I loved him so much.” The Apple family gathered around the fairy and comforted her. As tears rolled down her cheeks, the bright and ghostly apparition of Prince Horos rose from the doll on the ground. “It’s the prince,” Apple Bloom whispered. Zecora had found enough strength to sit up. “Indeed, he had helped us through this arduous quest. AJ has freed him now so that he may finally rest.” The fairy curled up in fear, but the prince smiled and held out his hoof. “I’ve missed you, my flower.” “Horos, oh please forgive me!” the fairy replied. She jumped into his arms and took on the same ghostly appearance as they embraced. “I’m so sorry!” “Do not cry, my love,” the prince said happily, “We are together again, thanks to this brave lady here.” He gestured to AJ, who was only able to smile in return. “Thank you, Applejack. Thank you for freeing us of the clock’s magic and… for your forgiveness.” “You’re welcome,” AJ replied. She watched the two spirits fade away in each other’s arms. Bramley and Cara sat down on the floor with Applejack. They both began to glow with the same ghostly shimmer. The whole family, save Applejack, was perplexed about the light. “Ma? Pa?” Big Mac asked worriedly, “What’s wrong?” “I-I think it’s our turn to go now,” Cara said weakly. “Go?!” Apple Bloom shouted. The little filly appeared to be in shock. “No, not you too! Applejack can’t be right about you being dead. She’s got to be wrong! You just can’t be dead!” She rushed at her mother and hugged her tight. Tears began to fall from her eyes. “Applejack, isn’t there another way?!” the filly cried. AJ shook her head sadly. “I wish there was, sis.” “My little darling,” Cara whispered to Bloom. “I know you’re scared and confused, but… but I remember now what happened to us. We died years ago in the forest.” She held onto her youngest daughter tightly. “Ma, please don’t go!” Bloom whimpered. “Shh, be brave my little one,” Cara replied. “You’re as strong as your siblings. I know you will be alright. Just… don’t grow up too fast… and never give up on finding your cutie mark. Follow your dreams and you’ll find that special talent of yours.” Bramley hugged Apple Bloom as well. He then turned to Big Mac and firmly shook his hoof. “Watch over your sisters, son,” he said sadly. “I-I know I was never good at showin’ my feelings, but know that I’ve always been proud of you.” He gave his son a manly hug. “And take good care of Cherilee too,” Bramley added. “Always treat her proper, you hear?” Big Mac nodded and sniffled. “Thanks pa, I’ll remember that.” Applejack limped over to sit between her parents. Cara gave her a big hug as she tried to hold back tears. AJ hugged her back with what little strength she had. Bramley helped hold her up. “I’m sorry it’s got to end this way,” AJ said. “You did what was right,” Bramley interrupted. “Ain’t that what honesty is about? Don’t ever hate yourself for what you did here. Instead, know that you brought closure to us all.” AJ nodded. “I’ll try.” “Remember to comb your mane every morning, AJ,” Cara instructed. “And spend some time with your siblings. Make as many memories as you can with them!” She pulled the family together for a tight group hug. “And take care of granny too,” Bramley added. “I know she’s a hoof-full, but she means well.” The yellow-green stallion saw that Zecora sat off by herself. He reached over and pulled the zebra into the group without hesitation. “I want to thank you for being a good friend to my daughter, Zecora.” The zebra smiled as she joined the hug. Applejack was happy that her father accepted her, and had even gotten her name right this time. They all held on as the white light intensified and engulfed them all. Applejack closed her eyes and braced for whatever awaited her, be it her memories, another life, or oblivion. This time, however, she was no longer scared. ~ ~ ~ Tick, tick… The soft ticking noise of the clock awoke Applejack from what felt like a dream. She was in a hospital bed, completely bandaged up from all the injuries she had sustained in her recent quest. However, the adventures of the past few days were vague memories in her mind. AJ touched her cheek and felt the scar that had started the whole ordeal. She knew right there that it all had happened. AJ slowly sat up and looked around. She shared the room with another patient that was hidden away behind a curtain, but she saw the familiar face of Apple Bloom asleep on a nearby chair. On the table beside her sister was a ‘Get Well Soon’ card with signatures from all her friends. The calendar on the wall above indicated that today was Sunday. Above the calendar date was the serene image of a lake, but this time there was only one tiny pony fairy sitting at the water’s edge. Beside her was a prince in a purple robe. The two held hooves as they watched the sky. Applejack couldn’t help but smile at the image. Bloom stirred in the chair and yawned. She opened her eyes wide when she caught sight of AJ sitting up. “Sis, you’re finally awake!” Apple Bloom shouted excitedly as she jumped out of the chair. Bloom ran up to her big sister’s side and gave her a hug with all her strength. “I’ve been so worried about you that I stayed here all night!” Applejack returned the hug. “Thank you, AB. I appreciate that,” she said happily. AJ was glad Bloom was okay, but did her little sister remember anything from the alternate history? She was curious to know if anything was left changed. “So what exactly happened?” Applejack asked to start her little white lie. “I don’t remember how I ended up here.” “Well, I’m not exactly sure either,” Bloom explained, “On Thursday night we were fixing the old grandfather clock in the living room. The next morning you were plum gone all day! No pony saw where you went, but Big Mac and I found you Saturday morning on the living floor with Zecora. You both were badly injured and the clock was completely destroyed and there was this huge hammer sitting on top of the pieces!” Apple Bloom paused to catch her breath from the run-on sentence. “You sure you don’t remember what happened?” AJ didn’t know how to answer her sister’s question. “Well, this is going to sound mighty weird, but it’s the truth. The clock had some real powerful magic inside that changed history. Our parents were still alive and I was losing my mind. I had to get that hammer to smash the clock and fix history back to the way it needed to be.” The little filly was dumbstruck. “So you did see ma and pa again,” she said curiously. “Yeah,” AJ replied. “I... wait, you know what happened? How?” Zecora chuckled from behind the curtain. She pulled it back to reveal that she was the other patient. The zebra was also wrapped in bandages from several injuries, which included a neck brace. She pointed to a specific scar on her foreleg. “I had cut myself on the clock, just to see if my theory was true,” Zecora said with a smile. “It was then that I saw time in the same way as you.” Apple Bloom interrupted the zebra’s explanation with her own. “When I asked Zecora why the two of you were half-dead on the living room floor, she told me this strange tale about you questing for that magical hammer to destroy the clock. I didn’t believe it at first, but when you just told me the same thing, I knew it wasn’t just a tall tale.” “So, you remember everything that happened to us?” AJ asked the zebra. Zecora nodded. “I do indeed, our adventures were quite scary. However, your sister remembers nothing about your parents, so do be wary.” Applejack turned to her sister. “I’m sorry that I couldn’t have us stay in that other life. I reckon you would have wanted to have our folks still alive.” “It's alright, sis,” Bloom said. “As far as I can tell, it was you that disappeared from my life here. I’ve grown up with you as my big sister and… and I’m just happy that you came back.” She began to cry tears of relief as she hugged her big sister a second time. “Just promise me that you’ll tell me everything about your adventure, okay?” Bloom requested. “Zecora only knew a few parts about our parents and I would like to really know more about them.” “I will, sis. I promise,” AJ said happily. There was a knock on the room’s door. Big McIntosh, Cheerilee, and Rarity walked in with several gifts. Cheerilee had a small bouquet of flowers and a dozen balloons for the room, while Rarity had brought AJ’s hat and a thermos of tea for Zecora. Big mac gave AJ a hug so strong that the orange pony couldn’t breathe. “We were all so worried about you two!” Rarity said fearfully. “I just couldn’t believe that you were missing for a whole day! Where have you and Zecora been, AJ?” “It’s a long story,” Applejack replied, “But give me a day to recover and I’ll tell you the whole tale.” Rarity gave Zecora the thermos of tea while Cheerilee set the flowers and balloons down on the table. Applejack put her Stetson on, but she felt that something was missing. She removed her hat and looked it over. There was nothing wrong with it that AJ could see. Cheerilee gave friendly hugs to Applejack and Zecora. “The school children have been asking about you two,” she said. “I’m sure they’ll be happy to know you are both alright now.” She looked at the clock and gave it a half-hearted frown. “I wish I could stay,” Cheerilee stated, “But I have to do a little cleaning at the school house for Monday. I hope you don’t mind.” AJ shook her head. “Not at all,” she replied. “In fact, I’m sure Big Mac could help you out if you be needin’ it.” She glanced at her brother who appeared shocked at her statement. “What about you,” Big Mac asked AJ. “I’ll be fine, you big lug,” Applejack taunted playfully. She leaned in closer and whispered her next statement privately to him. “You go spend some time with her. I don’t want you missing out on your life on the account of your cold hooves or your sister. It’s what pa would of said if he were still here, so pony up and get going!” Big Mac gave her a confused look, but he didn’t ask any questions. Instead he simply nodded and trotted off behind Cheerilee with a smile. Rarity stood nearby and fidgeted with her mane awkwardly. Applejack thought about what to say to her and came up with an idea for the unicorn to try. “Say, Rarity,” AJ began. “You plannin’ a summer fashion line any time soon?” “Well, yes,” Rarity replied hesitantly. “I have been brainstorming some ideas, though I’m not sure why you would show any interest in fashion.” “Well, let’s just say my experience has inspired me,” AJ explained. “I’d love it if you could design for me a cream hat with a wide brim. Maybe throw on some orange jewels and a pink bow like Bloom’s? I’d like it to feel Manehattan in style.” Applejack’s description caused the next minute to be held in silent puzzlement, interrupted only by Zecora’s soft slurping of her tea. “A-Are you serious?” Rarity asked with a curious expression. “Yeah,” AJ said with a nod. “I know, it’s totally left field of me to ask for anything fancy, but I thought maybe once in a while… you know, it might not be so bad to look nice?” Rarity’s eyes lit up with joy. “Applejack, you’re embracing your own beauty?!” “Well now, don’t expect to see me goin' off to the spa every week,” AJ corrected. “This is just a ‘sometimes’ thing I wanted to try out. Baby steps and all that.” “Yes, of course,” Rarity agreed. “We should start with just the basics for now. I would be delighted to design that sunhat for you. I will start on it right away!” “Actually,” AJ interrupted, “Before you do that, I do have one more request if you’ll humor me.” “Anything for you, my dear,” Rarity said happily. Applejack put her hat down and brushed a hoof through her blonde bangs. “Could you maybe spruce up my mane a bit? Nothing too fancy, I’d just like to have it braided in the back to keep it together.” Rarity gave a wide smile as she left to retrieve a comb and brush. Zecora gave AJ a little chuckle and the orange pony winked in return. “Why the sudden change of style?” Apple Bloom asked. “You normally don’t like that fancy stuff.” AJ lifted her little sister onto her lap. “Well, durin' my recent ordeals, I was reminded that I got our ma’s eyes. I reckon I don’t want to forget the kind and lovin' pony that she was.” Bloom studied her sister’s eyes. “Ma had green eyes like yours?” she inquired. “What do I got that’s like mama?” “Well, for one thing, you have her imagination,” AJ began. She pictured both their parents in her mind and began to relate them to her little sister. Apple Bloom listened carefully as AJ described the two ponies that were the most adventurous parents Equestria had ever seen, and how they saved Ponyville from a dangerous clock made long ago. In fact, AJ told the whole story about her adventure to Bloom and Rarity. Sharing her tale made the loss of her parents hurt less as the good memories filled her heart. She missed them dearly, but she would never forget their memory. Later that night, Applejack had the best sleep she experienced in days.