Twilight sat at a small coffee table with bags under her eyes in the middle of the main room of the library, a dead look upon her face, a large mug of nearly-finished, cold coffee and a notepad filled with many details resting next to her. As hard as she tried, she went over what Sapphire had just told her.
Sapphire, who was currently wrapped in a blanket with Steel, had woken up poor Spike from his sleep due to her whimpering, shivering and eventually, screaming in her sleep and unsure what to do with the mare he didn’t recognize, went and woke up Twilight who immediately came down with a tumble and woken the mare up.
With a collection of coffee for the two mares and a gem for Spike who had gone upstairs not long after being woken up a few hours ago to finish off his ‘beauty sleep’. Sapphire explained to Twilight her nightmare in as much detail as she could remember from it to the point of the large Alicorn resting her horn against her forehead. The amount of detail in the explanation was unnerving and sent chills down Twilights spine at just the thought of the dark beings.
“This…” Twilight looked over her notes. “This is quite a nightmare… I’ve never heard of anything like this before. If it is alright with you, I’d like to send this off to the castle for Princess Luna to have a look at later today when Spike wakes up.”
“Who’s Spike? And why do you have to wait for them?” Sapphire asked before taking another sip of her caffeinated beverage that had hardly been touched over the few hours of them talking. Noticing the coffee wasn’t hot anymore, she chugged the rest down and couldn’t help but smile blissfully as she finished the drink.
“Spike, My number one assistant, is the little dragon who brought you that coffee earlier. Why I have to wait for him, is because of his Dragonfire. He can send my letters straight to the princesses without much waiting. If I was to simply mail it, the letter would take days to even get to the castle.” Twilight then winced a little at the sight of Sapphire chugging her cold coffee and couldn’t help but wonder inwardly how anypony could drink coffee cold.
After her blissful experience of cold coffee, she looked to the window and noticed the sun was up. “I guess that would make sense then.”
“Does all Dragonfire send items to certain locations?” Steel suddenly asked which caused Twilight to raise a brow at the question. “It-“ She immediately cut herself off and thought about the question. “Actually, I’m not sure… I’ve never done any study on that now that I think about it.”
“What about ponies?”
The sudden question and thoughts about ponies being affected by dragon fire began to rack her mind and the thought made her a little squeamish with the thoughts on how it would feel. “I’m not sure…. “
“Do you think you can let me know when you find anything out? I’m interested on what Dragonfire could do.”
“I will try.” Twilight replied unsure before looking out the window. “Well, I believe we should start moving.”
Sapphire looked back at Twilight curiously. “Why?”
Twilight just smiled. “We have to introduce you to your new home: Ponyville.” She then happen to catch a smell in the room and couldn’t help but scrunch her nose a little. “After we have a shower first, get ourselves cleaned up for the day.”
Both empty cups were shrouded by Twilights magic and were levitated towards her as she stood, turned and made her way into the kitchen. Not long after, she returned and stopped at the base of the steps. “Would you like to go first or last?”
Sapphire glanced at the top of the stairs for a moment before looking back to Twilight. “You go first.”
“Okay, I will let you know when I am done.” She gave Sapphire a friendly smile before making her way up the stairs and disappearing from sight.
Sapphire sat there for a moment before looking around the room. There were so many things she didn’t know or recognize, and she couldn’t help but look in awe at the sheer number of items and colors. Then something crossed her mind which made her question out loud. “How did I get here?”
She felt the armor on her right foreleg jolt and light buzzing sounds followed. She looked down and noticed small objects had popped out of some holes that she swore wasn’t there before which seemed to angle themselves and then project a light in front of her. Looking up, she jumped from fright as Steels generated body projected itself for the first time for her to see.
“Don’t be scared, it’s just me.” The Maroon earth pony smiled at Sapphire who had pressed up against the couch and stared with wide scared eyes for a moment before calming down.
“Steel? Is that you?” She asked softly after noticing Steels voice and the pony’s lips move in sync.
Steel nodded with a bigger smile and sat down before looking to the side. “Well… Used to be.” Lyrin gave her this virtual body and a reason to stick to the lie she made yesterday, so she might as well make the most of it and eventually come up with a backstory.
“Anyway, you asked how you got here, right?” Steel looked back at Sapphire with a smile which was returned with a nod. “Okay, well what do you remember from last night, before the nightmare, back at the crater?”
Sapphire closed her eyes and went over what she remembered. “We were surrounded by some strange creatures in the middle of the crater. I remember a few of things making their way towards me while Spitfire, Soarin, and Twilight flew away.”
Steel butted in quickly before any assumptions could be made. “Just to let you know, they forgot you couldn’t fly and they turned back to come get you.”
“Okay.” Sapphire nodded and continued. “Then I remember one of the strange creatures launching themselves at me, glinting light from the tips of their… paws? My name being screamed out from above me, and then suddenly, a voice in my head telling me something. After that, nothing…”
Sapphire opened her eyes and looked at Steel who stood up and took a step forward, face showing curiosity. “Do you remember what it said?”
“I…” She thought hard, trying to remember, but what she was looking for in her mind couldn’t be found. “No, I don’t…” She said faintly.
Steel was silent for a moment before nodding, the answer already obvious to her. “I see. Well, what happened after you blacked out is pretty simple. I protected you and fought off what was known as a Manticore.” Sapphire nodded as she mentally linked the word to the creature to remember. “After that, I flew us both to the edge of town and waited for the others. Two flew off to where they needed to be and Twilight brought us here to her Library.”
“Library?” Sapphire repeated the word in question.
“It’s a location where large amounts of books full of stories, knowledge, advice, and even artwork are stored and borrowed by many for their own uses. The books, are what you see filling all the selves around you.” Steel motioned a hoof around the room and Sapphire lookd around the room with wonder. “Text from only recently all the way to even when the first book was even thought of so long ago.”
Steel then pointed her hoof at Sapphire. “And at one point, you will know how to read what is contained in these books.” Steels words just went over Sapphires head as she stood up and moved around the library, looking at all the books on the shelves. However, her little exploration was interrupted by a knock at the door and a number of voices from the other side.
Both mares looked at each other. “You open it.” Steel said first.
“Why me?” Sapphire asked back.
“Because I’m just a projection of what I used to be, you’re the one with the physical body.” Steel countered, motioning a hoof at Sapphire.
Steel had Sapphire there. She made her way to the door which was knocked on again and looked at Steel. “How do I open it?” She then felt her left foreleg raise and the fingers on the tip flipped out. Her hoof was forced to the handle and the fingers took hold, pulling the door open to four ponies, one older mare wearing a hat on her head and three younger ones who had big smiles on their faces. The older and one of the younger were both earth ponies, while the other two were a Unicorn and a Pegasus.
“Fillies… The younger generation” The voice in her head told her as she looked at the three smaller ponies before her attention was drawn to the larger.
“Howdy there miss, don’t wish ta be rude, but is Twilight here? These three are looking for a book to borrow before their class starts and we need ta get it as quick as possible.” The mare asked in a unique accent, but it seemed oddly familiar in a way she was unsure of.
“Um…” Sapphire looked back to the stairs for a moment before looking back at the group. “She’s currently busy, and I’m not sure how long she will be.”
The three fillies let out a long, sad noise before the little earth filly with a bow sprung up, speaking in the same accent as the older. “What about Spike?” The others seemed to regrow their smiles.
‘Awe, they’re so cute!’ Sapphire thought to herself before remembering Spike went back to bed. “He went back to bed. I accidentally woke him up a lot earlier than he is probably used to and went to catch up on what he missed.” She then lowered her head at the group, feeling guilty. “I’m sorry…”
“Maybe…” Steel said as her projection walked up next to Sapphire, gaining the attention of all five of them. “We can help you find what you are looking for? Just tell me what you need and we can all see if we can find it.”
“Well if ya can do that, we’d be mighty grateful of ya. Right girls?” The older asked, followed by the three fillies letting out a very loud “Cutie Mark Crusader Book Finders!”, which in turn made Sapphire and the older mare lower their ears to the noise. Steel motioned them to where the books were and the three little fillies followed quickly.
As Sapphire watched them go to the shelves, she heard the older letting out a little laugh. “Ah swear they’ll try anythin’ to get their Cutie Marks.”
“Cutie Mark?” Sapphire looked at the other mare with a curious look on her face.
“Yeah. You know, the mark on ya flank that you get when ya find what your special talent is?” The mare turned and showed off her three apple mark on her side. Sapphire curiously looked at her own flank and couldn’t help but frown very slightly at it as there was nothing there but her blue fur. The older took a glance at Sapphire’s and noticed it was blank.
“Wait…” The mare said as she got closer and took a good look at Sapphires side. “Ya… Don’t have a cutie mark?”
“I… guess not.” Sapphire said slowly before the mare looked at her. “Is it a bad thing that I don’t have one?”
“Well… No. But it’s very rare to come across somepony that doesn’t have their Cutie Mark at yer age.” The mare looked at Sapphires flank again. “Better not tell the crusaders about this…”
Before Sapphire could ask why…
“Tell us what?” Came a small voice which when the source was found, turned out to be the Pegasus of the group who happened to have a messy mane and tail. Almost instantly, she looked down at the blank flank in her view and went wide eyed with a gasp.
“YOU DON’T HAVE A CUTIE MARK?!” Three young voices shouted out in the room, the older of the group and Sapphire looked at the source of the other two and noticed that all three Fillies were point at both her and Steel before looking at each other.
“What’s going on down there?” Twilight asked from the top of the stairs as she poked her head out to find the group in her home. “Oh, hi Applejack, Applebloom, Sweetie, Scootaloo. What are you four doing here?” Her fur glistened a little from being fresh out of the shower and she had a towel around her neck. She looked more awake and refreshed now than what Sapphire saw earlier.
“Twilight!” The three fillies bolted up the stairs. “The two ponies down there, they don’t have a Cutie Mark!”
“Two? Applejack already has her Cutie mark.” She raised an eyebrow at them.
“Not Applejack, Twilight. The Blue one and the Maroon one!” Scootaloo said loudly and pointed at something.
“Scootaloo, isn’t that a little rude to ref- Wait, Maroon?” Twilight followed the pointed hoof to a sheepishly smiling Steel waving at her. “Oh. Wasn’t expecting all these ponies to be visiting the Library.” She said to herself before looking at Sapphire. “While I look after every pony, you can go clean yourself up.”
Sapphire nodded and made her way to the stairs, Steel had disappeared from sight without the others knowing.
“First door on the left” Twilight directed as she passed Sapphire. By the time Twilight reached the bottom step, she heard the bathroom door close. She looked at Applejack and the crusaders with a smile. “Now, how can I help you four?”
“We’ve already been helped, that pony over there was able to help us find the book we were looking for.” Sweetie bell looked over to thank their helper but blinked as there was no one there. “Hey… Where did she go?”
Up in the bathroom, Sapphire stood right by the door and looked around the room while saying to no one in particular “I have no idea what I’m doing…”
“Need a hand?”
Sapphire jumped from Steels sudden question as she was reminded she wasn’t alone. She looked around for Steel but with the lack of her projection, Sapphire could only assume she was back in the armor. “What do you mean ‘need a hand’?”
Steel corrected her question. “Sorry, I meant would you like some help figuring this out?”
“Oh… Um…” She looked around the room once again before smiling down sheepishly at her armor. “If… you don’t mind.”
The visor popped up over her eyes and she could see Steel smile at her from it. “Give me a second to shed the extra weight.”
As soon as the visor shut off, her armor gave off a sudden number of clicks and hisses before cracking loudly, causing all the plates that once covered her to come apart at the seals and drop to the floor heavily, including all of the armor on her left foreleg. On the right foreleg however, only the boot and the top half of her leg armor came off while the piece with the two disks spinning around her foreleg remained.
She shuddered a little from an uncomfortable breeze coming from the window which turned pleasant and refreshing quite quickly as it blew across her now exposed fur. It wasn't long before an unbearable odour came across her nostrils which made her scrunch up her nose and almost dry reach. She quickly sat on her haunches and covered her nose. "Oh... wow... What is that smell!?"
"That... " Steel said as she reappeared on the visor and pointed a hoof at Sapphire. "Would be you after four days without a shower or bath! The staff back at the hospital could only do so much with cleaning you up, but you do need a shower. A proper one."
"If I really smell like this, then I won't argue." She said after a moment of keeping her stomach down from the smell. "How come it's only now that I am noticing this?"
"The armor is airtight, so whatever odours your body had given off was all pent up until just now. Now do exactly what I tell you to do and after that, you should be fine. Also, don’t worry about getting that piece around your leg wet, its waterproof.” Steel gave her a big grin before the visor turned off and then dropped from Sapphires ear.
“Now get those front hooves of yours out of those boots and move over to the large bowl like object to your left. I’m gonna make your fur shine!” Steel didn’t say anything for a moment before happily bursting out with “And Smell like Coconuts!”
“Ah can’t believe she seems fine, even after all that has happened ta her. Ah mean, turning out fine after even a nightmare that bad is understandable, but finding out yer the cause of damage to that scale in the forest... Let alone only to come out of it unconscious..." Applejack trailed into deep thought, though understanding Sapphires state was straining her mind and she groaned because of it.
“I know, but I can’t help but think that it’s not true. It would be impossible for a pony to come out of that unscathed... right?” Twilight looked at her friend with a confused expression who only shrugged in return. Twilight then looked up at the clock. “She’s been in there for forty minutes. Wonder how she’s doing...”
Both Applejack and Twilight stood up. “Ah’ll leave ya be ta look after her, ah got ta get back ta the farm and help with the harvest. Lunch at the café down the road here later?” Applejack asked as she moved towards the door.
“Sounds like a plan, I’ll give her a quick tour and then come over.” Twilight waved as AJ left the library. Twilight couldn’t believe how quickly time flew after the Crusaders left for school and went into explanation about Sapphire. She couldn’t help but think she had only spent twenty minutes talking.
She made it to the top of the steps and noticed there was an unearthly amount of steam seeping out from under the door to the bathroom. She knocked twice and called out to Sapphire. “Are you alright in there, Sapphire? You’ve been in there for almost three quarters of an hour.”
She was just able to hear hoof steps move towards the door and heard it unlock, but she didn’t expect to get a facefull of steam and heat bombarding her, slightly stinging her eyes. She groaned a little and wiped her eyes before looking back towards the bathroom to see the fluffed up blue Pegasus with only one piece of her armor around her foreleg.
Sapphires coat had more color in it and come of it glistened with how fresh it looked. However that’s all Twilight could detail before snickering to herself after seeing Sapphires really fluffy face and mane.
Sapphire blinked at the snickering mare. “Why are you laughing?”
“She’s laughing because of how you look.... Fuzz butt.” Steel answered. “Check the mirror.”
She looked at her flank and noticed that her coat was much fluffier than she remembered before the shower. Then, with remembering what each object was in the room thanks to Steels direction and explanation, she got a towel and wiped it over the mirror next to her, revealing her fluffy self. “Oh.”
For a second, a mental image flashed before her mind of a very young and small Pegasus filly with her coat color, looking like the fluffiest little thing she had ever seen, reflected in the tall mirror. Behind the filly, was a tall pony with a near white coat, but the higher parts of the pony above the legs, were darkened and she could not see a face. Then, the image faded back to the reflection of her currently fluffed up face.
Twilight was able to calm herself enough to speak between snickers. “What have you two been doing in here?”
As Sapphire pulled herself back together by suddenly shaking her head, Steel answered the question. “We had finished cleaning her up and she stepped out of the shower, but before she could do anything else, a massive breeze came in through the window and somehow opened the door.”
Twilight nodded. “I remember hearing it open quite quickly. Then I heard it slam shut.”
Steel continued. “We ran for the door and closed it again, then closed the window. It stopped the wind, but that’s what turned her into fluffy here.”
Sapphire groaned. “Can you stop calling me that?”
Steel let out a sigh. “You’re no fun.”
Twilight finally stopped snickering. “That happened twenty minutes ago though. What have you been doing since then?”
Sapphire looked down at the clean pieces of armor scattered around her. “They smelt really bad, so we’ve been cleaning them with hot water.”
“Which would probably explain the heat wave that I felt when the door opened.” Twilight figured out loud with a smile. “Are they all clean?”
“They are. All that needs to be done now is to dry them, which shouldn’t take long if we open the window again.”
Twilight nodded. “It’s all part of you, so you know what’s best for them, Steel Guard. Now before we leave, there are two things which needs to be done. Firstly, we need to fix your mane and coat Sapphire.”
“And secondly?” Steel prodded as Sapphire looked over herself again.
“Who was that maroon mare that was with you both downstairs when Applejack and the Crusaders were here?” Twilight questioned. “They disappeared before we could even thank them for helping the fillies.”
Steel let out a chuckle. Suddenly, light projected from the device on Sapphires foreleg and Steels body formed in front of them. “That was me”
Twilight couldn’t help but do her little investigation, circling around Steels projection. Twilight stopped and stepped back as parts of Steels body were removed when she got between Steel and Sapphire. “What?” She then looked at the device which was projecting Steels body. “How?”
“Magic.” Steel then snorted twice again, but only received raised eyebrows. Steel let out a groan and lowered her head to mumble to herself. “This is going to suck.” She then acted like she was taking a deep breath and raised her head. “If you can, just accept this as is. It’d be difficult to explain.”
Twilight stood hesitantly for a moment, and both Steel and Sapphire could see she wanted to know more, but with Steel adding a please to the end, she let go of it. “Alright, I’ll leave it be. So this is what you look like?”
“Used to look like. Yes.” Steel corrected.
“Used to?”
“It’s a story for another time Twilight. Now, isn’t it time we got Poofy here ready?” Steel grinned before Sapphire Whacked the device on her leg against the edge of the bath.
“Ow!” Steel suddenly groaned as her projection sat down and covered her head before stopping with confused eyes staring at the floor. “Why did I say that… I can’t feel pain.”
“Possible Reflex?” Twilight half asked, half questioned.
Steel sat there for a little longer before shrugging and dropping the projection. “Probably.”
“Come on.” Twilight motioned as Sapphire moved over to open the window. They both moved into Twilights room and the Alicorn went to work, straightening Sapphire up for the days outing.
Sapphire sat at the table at a small cafe in town, looking around at the surrounding areas, going over the tour Twilight took her on, zoned out from the conversation between Steel and Twilight. Every so often, she would focus on the conversation and pick out certain things. From the sound of it, it sounded like they were discussing the use of magic and easy ways to use it.
The armor she wore felt weird, but she suspected it was because of it’s cleaning. However being no longer stained by dark patches, it look really nice and even had a nice shine to it as they walked around under the sun.
Her coat had also looked more healthy when she toured the town. Everytime she looked back at her exposed coat, she just couldn’t help but smile at it.
“Can I take your orders?” A waitress with a cream colored coat, light green mane and tail asked as she approached the table. Interrupting Steel and Twilights conversation which had drawn a number of stares from the other patrons, thinking either they themselves had gone insane as they heard voices that didn’t seem to come from anypony in particular at Sapphires table, or thought Twilight had cracked.
“We’re waiting on one more.” Twilight smiled at the waitress who nodded.
"Alright, you just call me over when you’re ready to order." The waitress informed Twilight.
As the waitress moved away, Twilight couldn’t help but look around with a concerned expression. Sapphire was able to notice her guides worry. “Is everything alright Twilight?”
Twilight had almost missed the question and looked at Sapphire. “You know the orange mare that was in the library this morning?” Sapphire nodded and Twilight continued. “We planned to have lunch together today and properly introduce you both to each other. I’m just wondering if everything is alright at her farm.”
Sapphire glance out of the cafe for a moment before making a suggestion. “Why don’t we go there and have a look?” However the suggestion was no longer needed as both Her and Twilight saw the orange mare in the distance.
“There she is.” Twilight smiled for a brief moment before noticing that the mares expression wasn’t a smile, but an apologetic frown.
“Applejack, is everything alright?” Twilight asked as her friend made it to the fenceline.
“Ah’m sorry Twilight, but ah can’t stay for lunch, Big Mac got a little to cocky and tried to carry more than he was used to and has strained the muscles in his back.” Applejack explained with a saddened look. “Ah have to get back and work harder to catch up with todays harvest, and I will most likely be working until tomorrow morning.”
Twilight stood up and looked at her friend. “I’ll help you if it helps speed things along.”
“No Twi, Ah don’t need the help. Ah can do this.” As she was in mid turn, Twilights magic stopped Applejack and held her in place before she could run off.
“Applejack, don’t you remember what happened last time?” Even if Twilight hadn’t stopped her, those words would have frozen Applejack on the spot.
“Do you really want to repeat what happened that day? Have you forgotten that lesson of friendship?” Twilight continued. She had her friend cornered, and Applejack could see that.
Applejack held her breath for a moment as memory flashed in her mind before exhaling out. “... Thank ya, Twi.” The magical hold released her and Applejack turned to her friend. “Could ya help me with todays harvest?”
Twilights smile grew big and she nodded. “I’d be more than happy to.”
Applejack then turned to Sapphire. “Can you also help me out? Ah know this was meant to be an occasion to introduce ourselves to one another, but my family relies on the harvests for a living. If ya can help us out, ya’d have the respect of the Apple Family.”
Sapphire looked down at her armor and the visor appeared over her eyes, Steel nodded at her before disappearing with the visor. Sapphire then looked at Applejack for a moment before nodding.
Applejack couldn’t help but smile as the two exited the Cafe and followed her to the farm at full gallop.
It didn’t take too long before they arrived at the farm. Twilight immediately went to work while Sapphire followed Applejack to some trees as asked to.
“Now, how goods yer buck?” Applejack asked out of the blue, catching Sapphire in a mental spin of meanings that assaulted her mind. “Wh-what?” Sapphire stuttered.
“Ya buck. Y’know, yer kick.” She couldn’t help but raise her brow and smirk a little at Sapphires reaction. “How strong can you kick?”
“I’m… not exactly sure.” Sapphire looked back at her hind legs and shifted them a bit.
“Well, give this tree a good ol’ kick, as hard as you can.” Applejack instructed and tapped her hoof on a spot of the tree nearest to her. “Try ta aim right there.”
“I think I see how this works.” Steel said into her ear as the visor came up and the tree was outlined in blue. “Okay, move over to the tree and turn around.” Sapphire did as instructed and got into position. “Now, bend your forelegs a little and lower yer head while at the same time, raising yer behind and tucking yer back legs into yaself.”
It took Sapphire a few tries but she was able to balance herself with the help of a small indicator that showed her ‘Center’. “Now, bend yer forelegs a little more and then push ya hooves forward while kicking them back legs out.” Following Steels example on the visor, she did exactly as shown and hit the tree with a solid buck.
Nothing eventful happened to the tree apart from some rustling leaves, however, the impact had a reverse effect and went through Sapphires entire body, stiffening her up and causing her to let out a squeak before tittering onto her side with an uncomfortable groan.
Applejack winced a little at the poor pegasus. “Okay… So buckin’ is out of the question. What about flight. You can fly, right?”
“She can, but only with my assistance at this point in time.” Steel answered. As always, she got the ‘pony looks around for sudden voice asking who said what’ in return.
A long sigh and a semi-groan was heard from Steel. “This is just getting old now… Anyway!” Steel burst out at the end before casually continuing. “The armor talks! That is all I’m saying on that subject. Back to the harvesting. Just tell us what we need to do, where to put the apples, and where to take them when the containers are full.”
Applejack had this dumbfounded look on her face before shaking her head. “Okay.. Basically, need all the apples brought down. Greens to deep reds. Put them into the bushels laid about the bases of the trees. Every tree that needs to be harvested has them, just need them filled and moved to the barn. Can ya’ll handle that?”
Before Sapphire could say thing, Steel answered. “It shouldn’t take long, we’ll have this entire section cleared in no time.” Sapphire went wide eyed and looked at Steel who was innocently swaying her backside back and forth in Sapphires view, looking like she was looking at Applejack.
Applejack grew a surprised expression, and she was planning to bolt straight for Twilight and bring her back to watch. “Alright, we’ll ah’ll leave ya too it. Ah’ll be very surprised if ya actually do finish this as quick as ya say ya will. Come to me if you have any problems or questions.” She smiled before turning and running off to where Twilight was.
“STEEL!” Sapphire almost screamed. “WHY DID YOU TELL HER THAT?!”
“Calm down.”
“I WON’T BE ABLE TO CLEAR ALL THESE TREES-”
“Sapphire!”
“IS JUST TOO MANY OF THEM! WHY WOULD YOU PUT ME INTO A POSITIO-”
“SAPPHIRE! SHUT UP!”
She stopped her vent and breathed quickly.
“Take a deep breath, calm yourself.” Sapphire did exactly that and calmed herself.
"Now, reason why I said that, is because of what we are both about to do.”
“Which is?” Sapphire retorted.
“Magic.”
…
…
...
“What?”
“No snorting?”
“Huh?”
“Well, every time you’ve said magic, I hear two snorts from you.”
“Can we get back on track please Sapphire?”
“Okay!” Sapphire held her lips shut tight.
“Now, close your eyes.” Steel began to instruct.
Only a few meters away from them, Applejack and Twilight snuck into one of the near by bushes to watch the two.
“Why did you pull me back here?” Twilight whispered.
“Y’know how ya told me about what she did last night with the manticores?”
Twilight nodded.
“Well, she… or whoever spoke, said that they’d have this part of the field done in no time.”
The realisation hit Twilight. “Oh, you think they’re going to do something we won’t expect.”
Applejack nodded. “Normally ah’d shrug it off, but with what ya’ve have told me, ah figure somethin’ll happen.” Before Twilight could say anything, Applejack held a hoof up to her own mouth to indicate it was time to keep it down as they looked towards Sapphire and Steel who just stood in the same spot, with Sapphire keeping her eyes closed.
“Now Sapphire, remember the discussion I was having with Twilight?” Sapphire nodded. “Good, well it was to get information and tips for new magic users.”
“What are you trying to say?” Sapphire questioned.
“You’re going to use magic to bring these apples down.”
“How am I-”
“Stop asking questions!” Steel stopped her and Sapphire just keep quiet. “Now, do what I tell you, if I’ve compiled my information right, this should work, ready?” Sapphire nodded once more, ready to be instructed.
“Okay, clear your mind of all things.” Steel monitored Sapphires brain waves and electrical pulses and was able to determine when to give the next instructions. “Open your eyes and look at your surroundings, take in what you can see into your mind.”
Sapphire did exactly that. She looked around and unconsciously engraving the image of the area in her mind. “Feel the area around you. Feel the energy surrounding you. The energy in the ground. Take it all in.”
Sapphires eyes began to faintly glow and Steel was able to quickly detect the change. She waited another minute before speaking. “Good. Now close your eyes and mentally envision your surroundings.”
She closed her eyes and the mental image came before her, looking exactly like what she just saw. “Good, now focus on the apples.”
Steel waited a little to give Sapphire time to set her focus. The contacts pressed against Sapphires forelegs under the main device began to take in her flow of magic and the disks on both legs began to spin up and glow blue.
At some point, Twilight had teleported a note pad to her and began to write down what she could see in great detail while Applejack just stared right at Sapphire.
“Now, picture a glowing ring surrounding the middle of each tree you mentally see.” In Sapphires mind, Rune circles foreign to her appeared around the midsection of the trees and her focus sharpened onto the apples. “Now, reach for them.”
The breeze around all four of them began to pick up, however only Twilight and Applejack could feel it. It didn’t seem strange at first for either of them until they noticed fallen leaves beginning to very slightly circles around Sapphire.
Twilights writing quickened as she looked with widened eyes while Applejack started to feel strangely excited.
“Now, when I say jump, I want you to open your eyes and jump as high as you can. When you fall, throw your right fore hoof at the ground. Ready?” Sapphire nodded and both disks spun even more and started to spark, the glow brightening between the disks. On the visor, a meter marked as ‘Magic Amplified’ filled to the 100% mark. Steel could detect Sapphires adrenaline increasing and her heart rate rising.
Steel waited a little more before suddenly yelling “NOW!” out loud. With in short succession, Sapphires eyes shot open, her iris’ glowing brightly, lowered herself and then launched herself into the air. All round Twilight and Applejack, rings with symbols encircled every tree around them. Looking back at where Sapphire was, Twilight saw a Rune circle form right under Sapphire, matching those encircling the trees.
She dropped her notepad and pen as Sapphire spun in the air and lunged her forehoof towards the ground below. Sapphire suddenly felt a lot of weight in her foreleg pulling her down to the ground very quickly and couldn’t help but feel scared. However, despite the fear, keep her eyes open and hoof towards the ground as it raced towards her.
“What…” Was all Twilight and Applejack could say as Sapphires hoof hit the ground, right in the middle of the circle Twilight and Applejack felt nothing through the ground, however the trees shook and all the apples within them fell from their branches and fell around them to the ground. However, the two hiding ponies didn’t expect a number of apples to bounce off their heads. They couldn’t help but cover their heads and groan from the fruity assault.
As the two peepers were being attacked by red and green fruit, Sapphire collapsed on the ground where she impacted, feeling drained. Steel came up on the visor. “Sapphire? You alright?”
“I don’t know…” Sapphire breathed out exhaustedly. “I just feel… So tired for some reason.” Her voice slowly grew soft.
Steel stared at Sapphire from the visor, a little confused. “Lyrin was able to still stand after using magic and not be affected by exhaustion, but Sapphire on the other hand… Wait… Why do I hear unspoken words?” Steel blinked and looked even more confused. “Are these words… coming from me? This happened before as well...”
While Steel grew more confused, Sapphire couldn’t help but pass out from the lack of energy to even stay awake. It took a while before Steel came out of the state of confusion, deciding to ask Lyrin about it later, and notice Sapphires state. Instead of trying to wake Sapphire up, Steel activated the AMG’s and with a little struggle, was able to get a constant flow of magic to allow her to hover above the ground.
Extending the metallic fingers, she began moving back and forth, collecting and relocating the harvest to the barn as instructed.
It didn’t take long for both Applejack and Twilight to get over their assault and look at the surrounding area. “Did she just…” Twilight began only to be immediately stopped by Applejack’s “Yep.”
Both stood up and scouted the area, noticing that every Apple in the area Sapphire was allocated, was in the bushels and surprisingly undamaged. Applejack had a look at each tree for any notable marks that could have been caused by the spell cast on them, but nothing was out of the ordinary.
An hour had passed before the two mares just stopped looking for things that stood out in the area, however they both felt like something was off. It didn’t take long before it hit them. All the Bushels with the harvested apples were gone from sight.
Then the realisation. They had both wasted time doing their own things instead of harvesting apples like they should have been. With a quick sheepish smile to one another, the bolted to their areas and began to work straight away.
The Sun was nearing the horizon as both Twilight and Applejack finished moving their last bushel of apples to the barn. They both sat down and were immediately greeted by Applebloom who had brought them both some food and drinks. Twilight didn’t realise how hungry she was until she heard her stomach growling after seeing the food being shared with her.
With a quick thank you from the two mares, Applebloom turned to make her way back to the house.
“Applebloom?” Twilight stopped the filly. “Would you happen to know where Sapphire is? The Blue pegasus that was here before, I mean.”
The filly turned and gave them a big smile. “The metal thing she was wearing told me that it was taking her back to the Library so she could rest. She looked like she was sleeping when they came to the house.” Suddenly, she started bouncing on the spot. “Oh oh! Did you know that the metal thing was the maroon mare we saw this morning!? Called herself… uh...” She stopped bouncing on the spot and had a funny look on her face as she tried to remember the name. “Seal Shard’er somethin’.”
“Was she really?” Applejack asked with a smile while Twilight laughed a little from the attempt to remember the name. “Well, ah hope ya thanked her for helpin’ you and the other crusaders out this mornin’.”
“Ah did.” Applebloom responded with a larger smile before an elderly voice called her inside. “Comin’ Granny!” She yelled as she ran back to the house, leaving Applejack and Twilight to themselves.
“So.” Applejack caught Twilights attention. “What’re yer thoughts about what ya saw today in the fields?”
In her mind, the Alicorn went over the days event. “Honestly, I’m already having my doubts. She claims that she isn’t who she has been mistaken for, but these facts about Sapphire, what I've heard from Steel Guard, and what they’ve both achieved already..."
“If there is somethin’ ya wanna say Twi, just say it. Not very good at figurin’ things out when ya say things that aren’t straight answers.” Applejack pushed her friend on.
Twilight stared at the horizon before sighing. “There isn’t anything I can really say about this. There is too little to go off of to even come up with a basic answer, which might only just scrape the surface of what’s really there.”
There was a long pause before Twilight spoke again. “For now, I think it’s better to let time take it’s course. It wouldn’t be wise to stay throwing things around about Sapphire when I know very little about her.”
“Eeyup.” A voice sounded behind them as Big Mac stepped out heavily from the barn.
“Darnit Mac, What’re you doin’ out here?! Ya should be in bed, restin’.” Applejack said as she stood up and looked at her brother, her words spoken in a tone made to sound like an order.
“Ah can move jus’ fine. So long as ah don’t do any heavy liftin’, ah’ll beh fine. Strained muscles, not a broken back.” Mac countered, which seemed to quickly change his sister's posture.
“Ah know…” Applejack sat down and lowered her head and ears. “Can’t help but worry ‘bout ya Mac. Specially when ya keep injurin’ yaself out there.”
Mac moved closer to his sister and used a forehoof to raise her head. “Ah may be stubborn at times, but ah ain’t stupid. Ah know my limits.” Those words seemed to bring a small smile to Applejacks face. “Most of the time.” She added as she hoofed his shoulder. Causing all three to laugh a little.
Twilight looked at the horizon as the fiery orb of the sky hit itself behind the horizon, the sky slowly growing darker as the night rolled in. “I should head home, make sure Sapphire is alright.” She gave the two siblings a goodbye wave before making her way out the farm.
“Thank ya again Twi! And give Sapphire our thanks when you can as well!” Applejack called out before Her and Mac made there way to the house where it smelt like Granny Smith was cooking up a storm of delicious foods.
The front door creaked open and Twilight entered the darkened main room of the library, being greeted by the sound of soft snoring from the couch to her right. Being as careful as she could be, she was able to close the door and lock up without creating too much noise and made her way upstairs.
As she entered her room, she was welcomed home by Spike who was wearing a black and white apron, running the duster over the place. “How did your day go, Twilight?”
“It was… interesting to say in the least, but tiring as well.” She lit the candle sitting on her bedside table. “Have you had dinner?” She asked, which was answered with a silent nod from the small dragon. “Good. I would have had to go down and make you something if you didn’t.”
Spike groaned and shuddered, remembering the last time Twilight made a meal for him. The memory didn’t last very long as it was interrupted by a dozen pillows attacking his face before floating back to Twilights bed. “Please don’t bring this up again, that was one time.”
“That was the only time.” Spike said under his breath as he pulled off the apron.
Just as Twilight made it to the light switch, she remembered something. “Oh! Spike.”
“Yes?”
“I need you to send this to the princesses for me.” She levitated over a letter with a cobalt seal on it instead of the usual medallion.
“What’s this for?” He asked as he took hold of the letter.
“Sapphire had a nightmare last night, and with this mornings talk with her, I wrote down some information that I felt Princess Luna would need to see it.” Spike just looked at the letter and shrugged. “Well, if she stops that ponies nightmares, I’ll be able to soundly sleep downstairs again.”
With a puff of his flame, he sent the letter off to the castle and laid down on his bed as the light was turned off. Twilight climbed into bed, said tonight to Spike who replied with a “Goodnight.” and blew out the candle, plunging the room into darkness, only slightly lit up by the moonlight from the window.
“Good evening Tia.” Luna said as she entered the throne room.
“Good evening Luna, I hope you slept well?” Celestia smiled as Luna approached.
“I did, it was a surprisingly restful sleep. I feel much better than what I usually do. Thank you for raising the moon for me tonight, I was afraid I was late to do my duties when I woke up.”
“I had a feeling you would have slept in. Glad to know you feel refreshed.” Celestia laughed softly as she stood up, a scroll levitating next to her. “This just came in by Dragon Flame. By the Seal, looks to be addressed to you. And I’m assuming it’s from the new princess.”
“As it usually is.” Luna added with a little laugh. “Thank you. I look forward to reading this.” Lunas magic replaced Celestias and the seal broke from Lunas magic.
“Have a good sleep, Tia.” Luna called out as her sister left the room. Opening the envelope, Luna was greeted by a number of pages erupting from the letter. “Oh by my sister’s Celestial Flank…” She said to herself loudly, looking at the mess around her.
“I heard that!” Her sisters voice sounded from the other side of the door, causing Luna to cover her mouth, trying to hold back a laugh. Calming down enough, she began to read the letter. What was once a smirk on her face, now resembled a concerned expression which quickly changed to a look of horror due to the letters contents.
She then turned her head and looked out of one of the stained windows to her side. “So, that's where you are...”