Chapter 49 - Brother Armor
"It's kind of too bad we captured that griffon," said Bellamena as she poured another cup of soup in Apple Bloom's cup. "I mean, he was a double-agent--maybe even a triple-agent, but the stuff he cooked was, as they say in Griffonese, 'magnifique'."
"So do you think he's imprisoned in Rock Prison?" Apple Bloom asked as she threw a blanket over her body.
"Some say he is in the Secret Prison, never to be heard of again. Others say that they immediately fed him to a dragon they keep as a pet. Still, there are others who say that they let him go just so he could gather more info on Pegasopolis. You never know with these Government Types. Sis, what do you think?"
"Help me keep these spikes down like I told you to!" cried Ingrid from the outside. The light gray mare poked her head in the tent as the blizzard snow lodged in her windswept dark gray mane. The younger sister dropped her bowl of soup without spilling it, and zipped up her full-body parka as she leapt out to assist her older sister. The truck was being used as an anchor for their tent, but the rest of it needed to be anchored into the permafrost.
The sisters returned shivering and sniffling from the cold they had just acquired. They threw off their clothes as they gathered around the portable stove that doubled as their heater. Being naked around the filly meant that they had unexpectedly grew close to Apple Bloom, and she didn't seem to mind.
Both the sisters displayed geodes or a set of crystals as their Nature's Call on their flanks, which was reflective of their rock farm heritage. The brave little filly had a while ago got over her shame and embarrassment of not having one herself when Ingrid ordered her to take a bath in a discarded oil drum can in one calm day. The older sister merely glanced at Apple Bloom's blank flank, and then flatly declared that she didn't care if her Nature's Call had yet to appear or not. It did hurt Apple Bloom a bit when she said it. In some ways, she wanted her to care. In some ways, she wanted her to open up.
Bella seemed to be more open and friendlier of the pair, and while she didn't care for Apple Bloom's lack of Call on her flank, she cheered her on optimistically. It felt a little different having her as an older sister figure like Cheerilee, and Apple Bloom imagined that if she lived with Applejack, she might have had this kind of relationship. For days and nights, Bella related to an interested Apple Bloom tales of her and sister's endeavors and how they earned their infamous moniker by capturing a living unicorn. The Unicorn Hunters had run into Applejack a few times, and while they clashed, the filly heard nothing but respect from Bella.
However, Ingrid remained quiet around Apple Bloom. She acted gruff towards her, and yet in her own way she did care for her well-being. She could have left the filly in freezing in the snow when they found her as a stowaway in the truck bed. She could have driven back and dropped her off at Hollow Shades. She had been secretly leaving her extra rations for her to eat.
Whenever she looked at Apple Bloom, Ingrid's eyes would water slightly with an untold amount sadness she forced herself to hold back. She didn't say why she was after Applejack. She had forbidden her younger sister to tell the filly about their intents.
On that night, Apple Bloom found herself unable to sleep due to her worrying about her second surrogate older sister in her journey. Bella snored almost as loud as the northern winds outside their tent. Ingrid remained unusually quiet, even though Apple Bloom knew that she had mastered of the art of sleeping silently. Must have been part of her skill set as a bounty hunter.
"Go to sleep," she said to the filly. "We're moving out early tomorrow."
"I can't."
"Suit yourself."
"Ingrid, what do you have against Rebel Applejack?"
"I have nothing against her."
"Then why are you after her?"
While sighing, Ingrid rolled so that she was laying face-up. "She and her friends have something Bella and I need, and we need it so that we can bring back what we have lost."
"So you and your sister are orphans?"
"Uh-huh."
"I'm sorry. Maybe after we find Applejack, I can get my mother compensate for your losses."
"Forget it. Even if she wanted to, the money is coming from the taxpayers, and I don't wish to deprive them anymore than what the Government already took from them."
"Do you hate my mother?"
"I don't really. Look, go to sleep. This talk.... is making me remember some unpleasant things."
"Okay."
She pretended to, though. Ingrid fell asleep before Apple Bloom, and the little filly watched in the cold night from her toasty sleeping bag Ingrid whimpering and trembling in her sleep. The normally serious mare muttered something about her mother, and then her father. She couldn't see it well, but Apple Bloom was certain that Ingrid cried softly that night.
Apple Bloom wasn't probably born when whatever tragedy befell Ingrid and Bella, but as the privileged daughter of the most powerful mare in the world, she felt faintly responsible. The war against Pegasopolis made ponies commit terrible acts on one another, but still it was no excuse use the power of Eminent Domain and take away land without the owner's consent. This war molded the Unicorn Hunters into what they were today.
She couldn't sleep for too long anyway, and upon daybreak, Apple Bloom had to go to the bathroom. In her loosely-fitted adult-sized parka and boots, the brave little filly headed out in a dreary morning far enough to sanitary yet close enough to run back to the tent should danger rear its head. Despite having no wind, the cold air stung any exposed part of the filly's little body. Still, the sensation of relieving oneself out in the open remained a pleasant sensation. Once doing so, Apple Bloom zipped herself up and started back to the tent. She tripped, however, on the first step back. The ground beneath her boots felt unusually soft, and she started hearing the snow rustling right behind her.
A small mound of snow exploded from behind, and two mares, one mint green and cream-colored, emerged sweating and breathing heavily. The filly shrieked at their sudden appearance, though it did not occur to her that they might have did some inappropriate business in their own matching parkas due to their manes being drenched with sweat. They didn't seem very surprised at Apple Bloom's presence, but they were incensed.
"Hey!" cried the mint green pony. "Watch where you pee, you stupid foal! Some of us are sheltering underground for pony's sake!"
Two warning shots flew out of the tent to kick up the snow beside the two strangers, who then froze and held their front hooves up. Fully-dressed with serious scowls on their faces, Ingrid and Bella galloped out with their sniper rifles mounted on their harnesses. They kept the green and cream-colored mares at bay while they flanked their precious little companion, who was still recovering from the sudden shock.
The cream-colored mare regained her composure and confidence. She lowered her front hooves and stepped in front of her mint green companion to approach the bounty hunter sisters.
"I am former Warden Bon Bon of Rock Prison," she said, "formerly known as Flight Commander Sweetie Drops of the Aerial Squadron Justice. I hereby invoke Chancellor Code 686, requesting that you drop your--"
Ingrid fired another shot that quickly silenced Bon Bon and made her put her front hooves up in the air again.
Ponies passed like blurs before Fluttershy as they sealed off the second floor with sparkling and transparent yellow tape from any spectator, even if they should be upper class or royal. Incoming guards had set up a small command center in the form of a few tables complete with the usual forensic tools of brushes, bottles, and gloves. The wounded had been carried off. She could no longer find her friends here.
"I could have taken them on myself!" cried Princess Sweetie Belle as she tried to wrestle herself out of Rarity's magical telekinesis.
"Don't you ever think of such things!" the Diamond Princess retorted back. "These were rebels; killers maybe. Oh, I am so glad you're safe, but we cannot linger around while Captain Armor finishes his investigation. I'm putting you to bed."
"Don't I need to make a witness statement?"
"You must rest first. Now come along."
"But I'm not even tired."
Even released from her sister's magic, Sweetie Belle did not physically protest any further as she was carried away on her sister's back.
At the very least, Fluttershy wasn't outright blamed for Sweetie Belle's recent predicament, but she felt responsible all the same. Here she stood stiff, slowly recovering from the shock of her friends' defeat as well as lamenting at her own uselessness. The books and plans she wanted to show them were burned to a crisp on the floor. She could have kicked them behind her before the battle, or found some way to leave them on her back while she protected Sweetie Belle. Really, it was Blueblood's doing, and the stallion was on his back once again fighting the air with his hooves.
First Lieutenant Shimmer marched up to him and kicked him over. He did not get up, but Blueblood lay submissively as the mustard-yellow pegasus glowered over him.
"'Let me handle the security detail' you said," said Shimmer. "Nice one Blueblood. You just wanted to chat up with the mares in the gala."
"But I had reasons!" Blueblood cried. "I needed to be close to protect my Uncle--I mean, the King from terrorists."
"Lay off him, Lieutenant Shimmer," said Captain Armor. "Take him downstairs to the infirmary. He did his best to protect the Princesses and our Esteemed Guests."
"Yes sir," said Shimmer.
The First Lieutenant aggressively prodded Blueblood to his hooves, and sent him marching downstairs despite a bad limp. Once Shimmer followed after him, Captain Armor finally had a moment to breath a sigh of relief. He turned to Fluttershy, and helped her off her haunches once she accepted his offered hoof.
"Are you okay, miss?"
His voice was frighteningly familiar, but it made Fluttershy swoon all the same. The Captain's body stock was similar to that of Blueblood's, but he looked to have actually worked to get his shape rather than through regular exercise and dieting. His mane was likely dark blue blue due to the color of his cropped tail. His purple and gold armor hardly weighed down his handsome stature, and the blue shield and magenta star as his Destiny Glyph was likely the one reason why he became captain.
Flutterhy had never seen her Shiny's Destiny Glyph or remembered his face. And apart from him being a unicorn, Shiny had a white coat and had tufts of blue hair.
"The Crystal Rebels could have done a lot of worse if you haven't intervened," he continued. "I must thank you for protecting Princess Sweetie Belle."
"Crystal Rebels?" asked Fluttershy.
"Our kingdom may have had a thousand years of peace, but we still have dissidents acting up once in a while. Will you be all right to give us a statement on the recent attacks?"
"My friends... Are they all right?"
"Your friends are fine. It seems you're more worried about them, so I'll let you go for the time being. Sergeant Comet Tail will show you to the infirmary."
At Captain Armor's bidding, a yellow unicorn stallion guard arrived before Fluttershy, who then motioned her to follow him downstairs. The pegasus wanted to ask Armor if he was the Shiny she knew and admired, but he had immediately vanished via teleportation.
It was him, she felt.
The downstairs infirmary wasn't permanent, but it had been set up with quick and organized precision in a large and cavernous hall designated for whatever royal purpose that would exceed that of the grand dining hall. It was like a small town had suddenly popped up, with rows of individual partitions each divided by bluish and sparkling curtains. There was some sense of urgency, and yet there was not, but guards and medical staff trotted busily to and fro to tend to the wounded. Fluttershy counted about twenty beds. There might be more.
Comet Tail led Fluttershy to a designated room where her friends lie before trotting off for other duties. Inside, she found Applejack nursing her own bandaged head and her pride, and a white crystal nurse pony wrapping bandages around a the torso of a conscious Twilight. Pinkie Pie, however, remained unconscious with her face planted into, once again, North Star's butt, who also fell unconscious from Pinkie Pie's unintended assault on the poor unicorn's posterior. Fluttershy just happened to walk into an operation in which four stallion nurses pulled with all their strength to separate the pink earth pony from the pink unicorn. After a loud ripping sound, their efforts succeeded, albeit a big chunk of North Star's back part of her dress remained pasted on Pinkie Pie's face. A big slap to the pink earth pony's back resuscitated her immediately, and she chewed the dress portion into her mouth and spat it back out into a nearby waste receptacle.
"Girls, I had this strange dream," remarked Pinkie. "There was this pony who kicked me into the stratosphere, and I landed in a cushiony pink goodness. Boy, I never smelled anything so fragrant. Hey, is that North Star? Why is her butt showing?"
"That was no dream," said Applejack as she dismissed all the nurses with a wave of her hoof. "We got beat, and beat good. Just who the hay were those three?"
"Crystal Rebels," said Fluttershy.
"Figures. No matter how peaceful the kingdom is, there's always gonna be rebels, and that attack makes me even more suspicious about this place."
"Um, I have to apologize."
"What for?"
"I found a Secret Library where they kept their secret books. I got some, but they got accidentally burned during the fight. I'm sorry I couldn't protect them."
"It's all right. There's nothing you could do against those three."
"But I could have..."
"Don't worry Fluttershy. The most important thing right now is you're safe."
"And we have an important clue," said Twilight. "We can go back to the Secret Library and search for any possible copies of the books that were burned. We'll wait until all this dies down before we can investigate."
"Or we could investigate right now since everypony is so busy," said Applejack.
"You're right about that. Time is of the essence, so we might be able to pull it off if you follow my lead. Is everypony ready to go?"
"What about North Star?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"She's not part of our team."
"How about Rarity?"
"I don't want to let her know."
"And Spike?"
"I don't know where he is right now. Perhaps he's--"
"Here?" spoke Lieutenant Shimmer as she pushed the tuxedo-wearing baby dragon through the drapery doorway. With Second Lieutenant Blueblood beside her with a black eye along with two unicorn guards, Shimmer trotted in as if invading enemy territory, with eyes darting back and forth between Twilight, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy.
"It seems awfully convenient that the only castle breach in a long time occurred right after you mares arrived here," grinned Shimmer.
"If you're suggestin' that we're involved with those Crystal Rebels, you got another thing comin'," growled Applejack.
"I'm not suggesting that just yet, but as First Lieutenant of the Crystal Guard, I must perform my due diligence in writing down your witness statements… As well as writing down where you ponies came from and why. Don't sugarcoat it like you did with the Diamond Princess. I want the truth, and nothing but the truth."
"That sounded like a threat."
"Threat or not, I am here to do my job. Now, if you'll be so kind to tell me what you know, and my subordinate Blueblood will take down everything for me."
It didn't seem like they were going to fool Lieutenant Shimmer, and that mare looked as if she could tell if anypony lied to her or not.
So one by one, Twilight, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy told the truth about where they came from and the real reason they were in the Crystal Empire. Of course, it was purely by accident that they arrived here, and that their original destination was the Crystal Mountains where the Fourth Element supposedly lay. The group's fantastical stories elicited varying expressions between Shimmer and Blueblood: part awe, part surprise, and part disbelief. The two Lieutenants knew the definition of war, but they found it hard to believe that it actually existed outside the Empire's border. The thought of war eventually affected them with pity, thus eroding any accusative predispositions they bore towards the Esteemed Guests.
"Four ponies, one baby dragon, and their pets have ventured far off for a mystical artifact to end a terrible race war," Shimmer concluded. "It is compelling enough to make me want to disregard any link you have with the rebels. Esteemed Guests, this 'Element of Creation' you seek may possibly reside in our Empire. I will convince the Captain to allow you to roam free to continue your search. Oh, and try not to play the heroines here. You are our guests, and it would be unbecoming for us to allow you to solve our Rebel problem. Have a good night."
Shimmer punched Blueblood in the shoulder to get him moving, and the guards soon vacated the room. That was nice of her to allow Fluttershy and friends to roam free, and yet two of her friends' expressions was anything but receptive. Suspicious frowns remained on their faces long after they left, and Applejack, after putting her Stetson hat back on her bandaged head, motioned everypony and one dragon to follow her back to their guest room.
"The situation still smells fishy," said Applejack as she threw her boots on floor and part of her skirt on the bed. "That mustard unicorn came in ready to pick a fight, and next thing you know, she's all hunky-dory. Now she knows the reason why we're all here."
"And yet we remained trapped," said Twilight. "It's almost as if they're conspiring to keep us here for some reason."
"Maybe you ponies are overreacting," said Spike. "Just like Rarity, I think they're just being nice."
"Too nice if you ask me," said Applejack.
"Um, I have something to say," said Fluttershy, "but maybe it's not relevant to the mission."
"Tell us anyway," said Pinkie Pie. "I'd like to hear it."
"It's that well, I think I… I think I ran into… Shiny…"
"Shiny?" exclaimed Applejack. "As in Shiny-Shine?"
"Um… I'm not sure."
"As in Shiny-Shining Armor?" Twilight exclaimed excitedly.
"He did go by the name of Captain Armor."
"What did his Destiny Glyph look like?"
"It's a blue shield with a large purple star on it."
"It's him! It's him!" Twilight could not restrain her joy as she bounced up and down around the group. It was contagious enough for Pinkie to join in a happy carousel of pink and purple that revolved around their embarrassed friends, though with no other conscious pony present, there was nothing to be embarrassed about. Eventually, Applejack had to stop the fun by stopping Twilight first, and Pinkie Pie nearly rammed into Twilight's butt when she ended her happy and squeaking bouncing fun.
"Hold your horses," said the orange pony. "We ain't even sure if it's him. It might be even one heckuva coincidence if you ask me."
"How can you say that?" Twilight asked. "Weren't you looking for him too?"
"If it is him, he would have visited us already. Don't you think that's strange?"
"Applejack, we have to find out anyway."
"But what about our mission? You haven't forgotten about it, have you?"
"I haven't, but part of the reason for me going on this journey is to find my brother. Oh, what should we do? What should we do? He's so close!"
"Remain focused, Sugarcube. We still gotta find out what's the hay is goin' on with this Empire, but I'd like to make sure this Captain Armor is the Shine I'm lookin' for as well. We'll split up. Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Spike can go to the Secret Library to recover the information that was lost. Twilight and I are gonna pay a visit to Captain Armor."
Applejack and Twilight limited their suspicious getup by taking off all their clothes, but the bandages had to remain. The other group on the other hand, were somehow persuaded by the fun-loving pink pony to dress up in sneaking spy outfits, knowing well that would call too much attention to them.
Yet when they emerged in the hallway, no guard or servantpony paid any focused attention to them. One passing servantmare asked about their getup, but Pinkie Pie replied that Fluttershy, Spike, and she were trying out Rarity's new fashion. Blissfully, the questioner trotted away, as she didn't want to question the whims of her Diamond Princess.
From hereon, the two groups went their separate ways. The Applejack and Twilight remained cautious, occasionally looking behind their backs as they made it outside in the Crystal Heart Courtyard. Even in the middle of the night, the Crystal Heart glowed and hummed beautiful, and its dull light reflected on nearby structures to create a twinkling effect reminiscent of a clear night sky.
Based on the information of a crystal pony guard who patrolled the area, the army station where Captain Armor resided in was located no too far towards the northwest. He mentioned a curfew, but with Applejack and Twilight being the Esteemed Guests (and with Twilight lying that they had important information to relay to Captain Armor), he allowed them passage with a forced smile. After all, they were granted special privileges to wander around anyway.
As expected with a curfew, the entire city emerged before the mares deserted. Aside from the two sets of hooves striking the crystalline streets in their patterned trot, the borough they travelled through was almost deathly quiet. The glowing crystal lightposts were on, but no other pony besides Applejack, Twilight, and the occasional guard were present to make full use of the lights of the night. Surely most ponies would have already been asleep despite the incident at the Castle, but such things should at least have them awake and peering out from the windows. None of that were present, and only once or twice did they spot a home with the candlelight glowing past the window.
There was a little more activity at the army station, if one could call it that. It was small, housed a few rugged barracks, and a central yet modestly grandiose command center topped with a flag pole that flew the colors of the Empire. Four spike-like posts defined the boxy permitter at the corners and yet there were no wall or fence structure. For an entrance, all there was a guard box and that same yellow unicorn stallion that had escorted Fluttershy to the infirmary where her friends lay. Comet Tail roused from his half-slumber from his stool, and stood on all fours ready, if necessary, block the mares from entering with force or at the very least with words and persuasion.
"State your business," he said.
"We're here to see Captain Armor," said Twilight.
"Captain Armor is very busy sorting out the details of the incident. If you wish to leave a message for him, I will be more than happy to give it to him."
"This is gettin' us nowhere," groaned Applejack. She pushed aside Comet Tail, who, without any surprise, allowed the orange pony to step past the line. A magenta barrier briefly glowed when her snout made contact. Figures. It was a standard defense spell cast against ordinary ponies.
But Applejack was anything but ordinary. Summoning her Sword of Truth from her golden necklace, she sliced apart the barrier much to Comet Tail's shock, and then made a run for it with Twilight following closely behind her. The unicorn stallion cried "Halt! Halt!", to no avail, and he then blew a whistle to rouse the other guards from their slumber to stop the intruders.
The commotion was loud enough for Captain Armor to step out of the command center with a mildly annoyed expression, and he immediately came face to face with the two mares who stopped before him. A few crystal pony guards and unicorns surrounded Applejack and Twilight, and Comet Tail stood ready to relay any issuance of Captain Armor's orders to the others.
"We mean no harm," said Twilight. "We just want to talk to Captain Armor."
Armor looked at Twilight, and then at Applejack's katana. He looked back at Twilight, and he could only assume that if he were to even attempt to take down the two mares, the situation would turn very ugly, and he already had too much worry about right now.
"At ease," he told his subordinates. "Soldiers, back to you bunks and rest. Sergeant Comet Tail, return to your post and stand by."
"Yes, sir," said the yellow unicorn before he headed off.
"And you miss," Armor said to Applejack. "I would like for you to put your sword away before we can talk."
Applejack reverted her katana back to its golden necklace form.
"So," Armor began. "What is it that you wish to tell me?"
"Shining Armor," said Twilight. "It's me."
"You must be Twilight Sparkle, am I correct?"
"Not just Twilight Sparkle; I'm Sparkle, your little sister."
"Come again?"
"Please remember Shining Armor. We lived in Unicornia. Our father is Night Light, and our mother is Twilight Velvet."
"You must be confused. Perhaps the terrorist attack was too traumatizing for you, and I must say I am sorry. Please, return to your guest quarters in the castle. I'll make sure a doctor is sent over evaluate your mental condition."
"How could this be? Aside from Trixie, you were my best friend. How could you not remember? Shining Armor, why can't you remember?"
"Well, I..."
His simple and direct words struck her down hard, and painful. This stallion before Twilight's eyes treated her like a stranger, a mild nuisance even. The purple unicorn, shocked with disbelief, couldn't handle what she had just heard, and turned around to hide the tears flowing from her eyes.
"Oh, I'm sorry," said Armor. "I didn't mean to..."
"Didn't mean to?" Applejack cried. "Didn't mean to? You may be the most handsomest stallion I've seen so far, but I would never forgive anypony who makes my friend cry."
"It's the truth! I don't know her!"
"Then you must at least know me, Shine-boy. I'm Applejack, a rebel from the Apple Clan. You saved me from a gang of thugs in Hollow Shades. You and I went on adventures blowin' up Gaea's military installations. You broke me out of Rock Prison, one of the worst hells on the continent. You told me that we were going to look for the Elements together! I waited months and months for you, and now you just plum forgot about me as well?"
"This has all been a misunderstanding. Both of you have mistaken me with somepony else. Both of you, please leave. I don't wish to use force to escort you off the premises."
"If you can't remember," said Applejack with the jewel in her necklace glowing, "I'll make you remember. Element of Truth, I command you to--"
"What's going on?" asked Shimmer right as she stepped out through the doorway. Without her helmet and armor, the mustard yellow unicorn appeared amicable, if not attractive. Her wavy red and yellow mane flowed down towards her right side and the back of neck, barely brushing on the transparent silk and lace lavender robe that did little to obscure her body or her Destiny Glyph of a red sun, but with less grandeur of that of Sunny's. She almost approached both Applejack and Twilight, but instead Shimmer found herself shifting very close to Captain Armor. A hint of jealousy and anger sparkled in the unicorn mare's eye, but seeing Twilight sobbing and Applejack fuming, she retained her composure while casting a cold glare upon the two intruding mares.
"Sunset, I have this handled," said Armor.
"Oh, Shining," sighed Shimmer as she stroked his cheek and chin. "You're a heartbreaker with all the mares, even when you don't know it."
"Sunset?" Applejack said. "Shining? Why the hay are you two chummy with each other?"
"It's really none of your business, Esteemed Guest. Shining and I are close friends, and how dare you two try to claim him when you don't even know him."
"Isn't that what you're doin', Miss Lieutenant?"
"Ladies, please stop," said Armor. "Lieutenant Shimmer please back down."
"Sir, we have another incident of a pony going berserk," Come Tail reported in. His appearance was a welcome providence that stopped the tension between Applejack and Sunset Shimmer, giving Shining Armor a chance to finally breathe a sigh of relief for at least a moment.
"At this time?" said Shimmer, and with a glow of her horn, her transparent robe vanished to be replaced with her light blue and platinum crystal armor.
"Captain," she said, "permission to intercept the berserker?"
"I'll come with," said Armor. "Sergeant Comet Tail, do you have the coordinates ready?"
"Transferring coordinates sir," said Comet. "Coordinates locked on."
"Good. Come with me Sergeant should things get messy. Let's move out!"
In three distinct flashes, Armor, Shimmer, and Comet had vanished, and the quietness of the city had resumed. Twilight's sobbing had reduced to a low murmur, with the occasional hiccup here and there. With her friend still in her saddened state, Applejack's anger had dissipated, and she went over to wrap her foreleg around the unicorn's shoulders.
"Let's go back to the castle, Sugarcube," said the orange pony. "No use standin' around here with Shining goin' gaga over Sunset Shrew. If anythin' I think these unicorns brainwashed him."
"You might be right," sniffed Twilight and she finally dried her tears. "And I want to get to the bottom of this."
"You plannin' on somethin', Twi?"
"I have to observe my brother closely and see if there was a spell cast on him."
"You're gonna do it now?"
"I am. I also locked on to their coordinates, but wherever they're at, it's pretty far. Applejack, do you think you can teleport with me?"
"I'm not sure if my Element can do that."
"What I meant is that you'll have to come with me when I initiate the teleport spell. It's a lot different from Spike's teleportation magic, so you might fell some... sensations."
"It's all safe, right?"
"I'm sure your Element will protect you during the transport. So you want to do it?"
"If it's to tell Shine that he should not make his sister cry, then I'll do it with you. And I'll give Shimmer a piece of my mind as well."
"Good. Now, hold my hoof."
"You serious?"
"It's my first time as well... with an earth pony."
"Well, okay."
With a unicorn, this would be Applejack's first time. She hadn't gotten used to teleporting with dragon magic, and if Twilight says it was different, then she wasn't exactly looking forward to it. Applejack had braved many dangers in her journey, even before she met Twilight, like thrusting herself in the murky waters of a swamp or falling unconscious into a deep chasm.
Yet her body could not stop shaking. Teleporting was a dangerous and uncertain affair for earth ponies, but Applejack was finding it difficult to simply reach out her front hoof and lock it with the hoof her unicorn friend's.
"Applejack, we don't have to do this if you don't want to."
"I have to do it, Twi!"
With one thrust, Applejack linked her hoof with Twilight's, and she gripped it as firmly as possible. Her body finally stopped shaking.
"I'll try to be gentle," said Twilight. "Relatively speaking."
Together, the earth pony and unicorn took a deep breath. After a moment, there was an instantaneous bright flash. They were gone.