//------------------------------// // Chapter 12 // Story: The Space that is Knocking on You // by ZachWebbEX //------------------------------// "The Space that is Knocking on You" ''Chapter 012: Gathering a Crowd'' "Your brother is sick, what?" asked Lyra as she was told the news by Twilight. "Yes, Zecora, that zebra that you just saw leaving, informed me about this earlier, I just do not know why Princess Celestia did not inform me with a letter!" said Twilight frantically. "Don't worry, Twi, I am sure that everything will be okay, you know how tough Shining Amour is!" said Spike trying to cheer up his friend. "That is terrible news, forget the training, I will help you, what do we need to do?" asked Lyra with a concerned tone. "Well, I am not entirely sure about all of the details, but Zecora told me that she can make a cure for whatever sickness Shining Armour has come down with." said Twilight. "How does she know about this if you don't?" asked Lyra. "Zecora travels between cities keeping eye on those that are sickly, she is kind of like a traveling doctor, and a good friend to rely on." said Twilight. "Zecora told me that she needs some ingredients for a brew that she is throwing together for Shining Armour, but I have to go fetch them, she is too busy tending to other sick ponies." continued on Twilight. "What are these ingredients?" asked Spike. "Yes, if we know what they are, we can get them quickly, and save your brother too!" said Lyra trying to cheer up the purple-coated mare. "Zecora told me that she requires, three onyx jade flowers, two draconic herbs, and seven ring-coated gems the make the ingredients for the brew to cure my brother." said Twilight. "Onyx jade flowers, draconic herbs, and ring-coated gems, where would some pony find something like that?" asked Lyra with confusion. "Zecora gave me an overall direction of where I could find these pieces, but their is one problem, they are all the way in Appleloosa." said Twilight with distress. "Appleloosa, that is a good distance away!" said Spike. "How do we even get their?" asked Lyra. "Well, I have been their before, with Applejack, so she will be the best pony to see in this situation." said Twilight. "Okay, then let's go to Sweet Apple Acres and find her!" said Lyra. "Yes, that sounds like a good plan!" said Twilight as her, Lyra, and Spike headed out of the library. They ran as fast as they could down a long winding dirt road that coasted east of Ponyville, surrounded by flowering trees and fruit-bearing trees. The scenery around Sweet Apple Acres was very beautiful and serene. "So, we should find her somewhere around here." said Twilight in a hurry. "Hey, wait, their is an old green pony over their in that apple orchard, let's go ask her!" said Lyra. "That is Granny Smith, she should know where Applejack is!" said Twilight with joy. The three ran over to Granny Smith's location. "Daggonitt, at this rate it will take me forever to count all of these darn apple trees!" said the old green-coated pony with frustration. "Granny Smith, we need your help!" said Twilight frantically. "Oooh, Twilight, how are you on this beautiful day?" asked Granny Smith cheerfully. "Not too good, my brother, Shining Armour has come down with a flew, and I need to get to Appleloosa to find the necessary ingredients for a cure and I need to find Applejack for this." said Twilight. "Oh, umm, let's see, last time I saw her, she said she was headed over to the Carousel Boutique to fetch something for Rarity." said Granny Smith. "Really, thank you, oh how long ago did you last see her?" asked Twilight. "Only about twenty minutes ago, if you hurry, I am sure that you can catch her." said Granny Smith. "Alright, let's go!" said Twilight as Lyra and Spike followed suit. "So Applejack is supposed to be with Rarity right now, according to that old pony anyway." said Lyra. "Yes, the Carousel Boutique is not too far from here!" said Spike. "Let's go, we should be their soon!" said Twilight. "Couldn't we just teleport their?" asked Lyra. "Yes, but that would take some time to prepare with three of us, it would just be quicker to travel by hoof!" said Twilight as the three continued running to their location. "What about the rest of your friends, are we going to take them too?" asked Lyra. "Yes, that would be a good idea, just in case we run into trouble, but our top priority right now is too find Applejack first." said Twilight. The three continued along their way through the western side of Ponyville until they arrived at the Carousel Boutique. "Alright, we are here, let's go find Applejack!" said Twilight as she knocked on the door. "Carousel Boutique, come on in!" said Rarity as she was finishing the designs on one of her dresses. "Oh, Rarity, have you seen Applejack, we need her?" asked Twilight. "Yes, she was here about a few minutes ago, but she told me that she was going to spend some time with Rainbow Dash in the park, what is the matter, dear?" asked Rarity. "Listen, my brother has fallen ill, and we need to head to Appleloosa to find the cure for him, Zecora told me this herself, come, I will explain the rest later!" said Twilight. "Of course, I was just setting up shop anyway, I will be right behind you." said Rarity with haste. Rarity closed up her shop and proceeded to follow Twilight, Lyra, and Spike as they headed towards the park where Applejack and Rainbow Dash were to be. "I cannot believe someone as strong as your brother fell ill, how come you were not informed of this sooner?" asked Rarity with confusion. "I don't know, I asked Zecora that same question, but she had been on an assignment in Canterlot and she caught wind of my brother's illness, that is how she told me!" said Twilight as the four continued on their way to the park. "I see, well don't worry, we will find the others and get to Appleloosa as quickly as possible!" said Rarity reassuring her friend. "Thanks Rarity!" said Twilight. "Hey, there is the park!" said Lyra as the four arrived at Cornerstone Park. "Okay, let's search for Applejack and Rainbow Dash!" said Spike as he started looking around. "I see a lot of ponies, but none of them are who we are looking for." said Lyra. "I don't see them either!" said Twilight. "Wait, I see Fluttershy, she is watching the ducks swim in the pond." said Rarity. "Let's go ask her!" said Twilight as the four raced over to her location. "Umm, don't swim too fast baby ducks, or you will get dizzy!" said Fluttershy in her soft-spoken tone. "Fluttershy!" yelled Lyra as her and the others arrived at her location. "Oh goodness, what is wrong?" asked Fluttershy with concern. "Have you Seen Applejack and Rainbow Dash?" asked Rarity. "Umm, well, I did, but they left with Pinkie Pie, I think I head them say that they were headed towards Sugarcube Corner." said Fluttershy. "Why, umm, is something wrong?" asked the pegasus. "Yes, Twilight's brother is sick, we need to find Applejack so she can help us!" said Lyra. "Okay, I will come too, Angel, let's go." said Fluttershy as her loyal bunny followed her. "Sugarcube corner, you said, are you certain?" asked Twilight. "Yes, I was hanging out with Pinkie Pie when they arrived, Applejack and Rainbow Dash offered us to come, but I wanted to watch the baby ducks swim in the pond, so I decided to stay behind." said Fluttershy. "Alright, let's hurry!" said Twilight as the group rushed towards the location of Sugarcube Corner. On their way to Sugarcube Corner, Lyra noticed BonBon and Trixie out of the corner of her eye coming out of a store together. "Yo, you two, come here!" yelled Lyra. "Oh, hi Lyra!" said BonBon as her and Trixie emerged from the store. "I see you two are finally getting along better." said Lyra. "Yes, me and BonBon were shopping after you left, what is the matter?" asked Trixie. "Just follow us to Sugarcube Corner, we will explain on the way their." said Twilight as she started explaining the situation to BonBon and Trixie as well. "Damn, I am sorry to hear that Twilight, but we would be glad to help!" said BonBon. "Right Trixie? asked BonBon to the magical mare. "Oh, why, yes, of course!" said Trixie. "Their is Sugarcube Corner, Applejack should be in their with Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie!" said Twilight. The group walked in to the store and immediately noticed Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie. "Oh, their they are, I found them!" said BonBon with glee. "Now, this is how you make a killer cupcake!" said Pinkie Pie giggling. "Umm, Pinkie, that sure is a lot of sugar!" said Rainbow Dash trying to settle her friend down. "Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash!" yelled Twilight as she ran up to them. "Howdy Twilight, how is everything going?" asked Pinkie Pie. "Where is Applejack, I need to find her!" said Twilight as she began to grow more and more upset. "Oh, she went to the northern exit of Ponyville to relax for a while, why?" said Pinkie Pie. "You two follow me, I will explain the situation." said Twilight. "You got it!" said the loyal Rainbow Dash. "Fuck, still no Applejack!" said Lyra. "Don't worry Lyra, Pinkie Pie did say that Applejack was at the northern exit, so odds are, we will find her their." said BonBon. "I agree, but we do have to hurry!" said Rarity. "Oh no, your brother has fallen ill?" asked Rainbow Dash as all of the ponies were headed to what they hoped to be Applejack's location. "Yes, and Zecora told me to gather up all of my friends in order to come find you all!" said Twilight. "I see, then I will use my super speed to hurry their in advance, you guys just keep going at your own pace, if she is not their, I will fly back to tell you." said Rainbow Dash as she started to fly faster. "Good idea." said Spike. "Okay everypony, let's keep heading north, Rainbow Dash will inform us if Applejack is not their." said Twilight as all of the ponies finally arrived at the northern exit of the town. "I found her, I found her!" said Rainbow Dash as she swooped in a grove of trees. "Alright, let's go!" said an excited Lyra. "Umm, yeah!" said Fluttershy. "Goodness, why is everypony stirred up?" asked Applejack who had awoken from a peaceful nap. "I have some news, and you are the mare that we need for the job!" said Twilight. "Twilight's brother is sick Applejack, and we need you to lead us back to Appleloosa to find the ingredients for a brew to cure him!" said Rarity. "Darn, sorry to hear that, but why do you need to head all of the way to Appleloosa for, can ya not just find the ingredients here?" asked Applejack. "No, Zecora told me that these ingredients can only be specifically found near Appleloosa, listen, the ingredients are three onyx-jade flowers, two draconic herbs, and seven ring-coated gems!" said Twilight. "Oh, you are right, only those ingredients can be found near Appleloosa, well hoot darn tootin' we need to hurry as fast as we can!" said Applejack. "Hmm, I cannot believe I am helping Twilight now, but I probably do not even have to go, now would be the best time to turn back." thought Trixie to herself. "I mean her brother is suffering, but I just, cannot do it, what Lyra told me, I cannot hurt her anymore, damn Trixie, what happened to you!" said the mare to herself quietly. "Trixie, are you okay?" asked Lyra. "Yes, I am fine, but we do need to find Twilight's brother!" said Trixie. "Yeah, I bet, bitch!" thought Rarity to herself. "Okay, everypony, let's head to the train station that is just a few miles away, let's go!" said Applejack. "Thanks everyone for tagging along, with all of this help, I know everything will turn out just fine!" said Twilight with joy. "Why, why am I doing this, she has made a fool of me my entire life, and yet, here I am helping her now!" said Trixie to herself quietly again. "That fucking mare, everyone else I am cool with now, but Twilight, I still hate you, I still fucking hate you!" continued on Trixie as she smiled. "I fucking hope that your brother bites the dust." thought Trixie as she could not let go of her grudge against Twilight. "I will just pretend to help, to avoid any trouble, besides, I do like Lyra, so I will do this for her, not you Twilight." said Trixie quietly. "Don't worry brother, we are coming to save you!" said Twilight as the group ran along their way towards the train station. -To be continued...-