Chapter 2: Age Ain't What It Cracks Up to Be
Pinkamena returns to reading and says, "Hmm seems like Applejack and Granny Smith swapped ages."
"Well that is strange. How could that happen?" Golden Heart asks his sister in bewilderment.
"Well I think somepony cast an ageing spell and poof, it happen but not even that spell can make me old or young or any other kind of aging thing out there or anywhere."
"Ok."
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It didn't take long for Apple Bloom to tell Big Macintosh as to what happened. The stallion informed Twilight and Ben who rush over to Sweet Apple Acres with the rest of their friends. Twilight looks shocked as she saw her good friend and her grandmother, one is old and the other is young and youthful.
"How did it happen," Twilight ask Applejack in shock and disbelief. How is it that her good friend is now an old mare with Granny Smith young again?!
"Ah don't know, Twilight! One thing, something hits us, an' 'de next, we became like 'dis!" Applejack exclaims frantically. She fell asleep for a moment until Big Macintosh nudge her awake. "Yew've gotta help us! Ah don't know why this happened!"
"I don't know........ I think I'm enjoying it very much." Granny Smith remarks with a light chuckle, liking her young look again. It's good to be young again.
"Granny," Apple Bloom scolds her grandmother. Applejack is an old mare and Granny Smith doesn't seem to think that it's a big deal!
"Okay. But there's one thing I know it can help us." Twilight said thoughtfully. She is referring to a spell that she herself once tried to use to restore Applejack's crops but it failed due to the Superior's magic. Maybe the Alicorn can use it to restore the two ponies to their rightful youths.
Applejack gulped, "Are yew sure?"
"It will be fine. Besides, the only magic that blocked me is the Superior's magic when he invaded your crops; But not this time."
Twilight's horn glowed in purple. She then fired at both Applejack and Granny Smith. They puffed in the smoke. For the moment later, the smoke dispersed. Something then happened that had shocked Twilight, her friends and family.
"What; No way!" Apple Bloom exclaims in shock. Her sister and her grandmother are still the same age from the transformation?!
"It didn't work?! I don't get it! Twilight had been practicing on Age Spell for so many times since Trixie's left." Spike points out in shock. It's true. Twilight has been practicing on the spell after Trixie's defeat from the Alicorn Amulet incident. So why isn't it working after all that practice?!
"How could A.J. still be an old mare and Granny still be young?!" Rainbow asks in shock and disbelief. Admittingly, the Pegasus pony finds it amusing to see her friendly rival old but not cool when there's no way to complete against her like this!
"There must be an explanation!" Rarity exclaims in concern.
Fluttershy gulped, "You don't think it's the Superior again?"
Ben shook his head while pointing out to Fluttershy, "Hardly. Pranking on his enemy is not his hobby."
"Then, what is," Pinkie ask Ben frantically.
"I don't know. We need more help."
Twilight thought for the moment then spoke up, "I think I know who might help."
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Twilight and her friends took Applejack and Granny Smith to Zecora's hut. Hopefully the zebra could figure out the mystery as to what has happened to these Apple family members.
"Oh My Mystic beneath my eyes, this is the strangest yet incredible power I ever seen." Zecora said, checking the two ponies out carefully and seriously.
"What's 'dat supposed 'ta mean?" Applejack ask Zecora in worry.
"Does it do anything wit' ''de Superior's Dark Magic?" Apple Bloom asks Zecora in concern. Because if the Superior ends up being behind this, that creep is going to pay!
Zecora shakes her head, explaining, "It is not, dear Apple Bloom. This Magic is too pure Light, no sign of Darkness."
"Pure Light, and no Darkness? What's that supposed to mean?!" Rainbow asks Zecora, not quite understanding.
"Does this mean....... Someone's magic is stronger than hers?!" Ben asks Zecora in surprise. Something has cast a spell which is more powerful enough to keep Twilight from changing AJ and Granny Smith back?
"Who and what kind of pony could prevent mommy's helping?" Nyx ask in concern.
Spike crossed his arms, remarking, "We'd better hope it's not that stupid Alicorn Amulet again."
Zecora giggled, "No, no, my friend. This is most unlikely of that since I hidden it very well. But I do know what you can do next."
"Going to the 'End of Equestria' to find ingredients?!" Pinkie gasps in shock. She recalls Twilight and her family's vacation in that place and wonders if they gotta go back there again.
"PINKIE PIE," Everyone else exclaim to Pinkie in irritation.
"That is not funny!" Fluttershy squeaks a bit. That idea doesn't sound funny in the least!
"Besides, Sir Jeff the Gentle informed us that they are still rebuilding Valley of Peace." Rarity reminds Pinkie. It's true. The Mystic Ponies are still at their task of rebuilding the Valley of Peace so it's impossible to go there to look for any ingredients, thus disturbing the work progress.
"Anyway, what can we do?" Nyx ask Zecora in worry. There must be something that can be done to help her friends.
Zecora spoke mysteriously, "Seek one who guide and help you through the dark trial and journey to the 'End of Equestria'."
Twilight knew what Zecora meant: a visit to Mystic Tao and his family is indeed in order.
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At the Golden Oaks Library, Twilight called Mystic Tao over. After she explained the incident to him, Tao got to work. He held his pendent with a brown rope in front of him as he swung it gently to the two age changed mares, mumbling, "Yu Mo Gwai Gwaai Fai Di Zao; Yu Mo Gwai Gwaai Fai Di Zao! Yu Mo Gwai Gwaai Fai Di Zao!"
Both Applejack and Granny Smith's body glowed in mysterious white light. Everyone gasped in shock.
"What was that?" Ben asked Tao in shock.
"That, Ben........is someone playing the Mystic Magic!" Tao explains, narrowing his eyes. The reason why this happens involved Mystic Magic.
"What," Mostly everyone gasps in shock.
"That's why I can't cure both Applejack and Granny Smith. Mystic Magic beats Equestria Magic." Twilight groaned in disbelief, "How did I not see that?!"
"It's not matter of what. It matter of who did it?! Dragon Kick! Did you use your Age Spell on them?!" Tao scolds his nephew who came along with Mighty Heart and Jade.
"Not me, Uncle. I was busy with my archaeology work." Dragon Kick protests innocently. He was busy with his archaeology work to cast any spells recently.
"Mighty Heart," Tao snaps to the next Mystic Pony suspect.
"No, sensei; I was studying with Magic Spell." Mighty insists to Tao.
Mane Six, Ben and Tao's family gasped, and even Nyx and Jade gasped in realizing. There can be only one Mystic Pony left and the last two knew how this incident could've happened.
Everyone but Jade and Nyx exclaims angrily, "JADE!"
Jade gulped, "Look! I can explain it!" Not good. She's in trouble for something that the filly didn't mean to do at all!
"Wait! It was me!" Nyx exclaimed. Everyone looked shock and surprised to hear that. "I'm the one who asked Jade to perform the Age Spell."
"For what," Twilight asked Nyx. She knew that her daughter knows that her mother doesn't want to risk using the Age Spell on any ponies so what happened must've involved an accident.
"We would have tested on the plants that you've been practicing on if it weren't for someone trying to scare Jade off." Nyx explains, giving a glare to Phobos.
"Hey!" Phobos protests innocently. "I didn't mean to scared Jade okay?! I was trying to get my gem back that Spike took!"
"It doesn't matter. At least, there's a good explanation." Ben said, relieved that Nyx and Jade didn't meant any harm. "In fact, Tao can change them back for good."
Jade gulped, "There's the bad news coming in. The Age Spell I do is actually not only a delay time set but permanently."
"Meaning," Applejack ask, not liking where this is heading.
Mighty said seriously, "It is difficult for us to revert you back."
"Noooooooooooo," Applejack screams in terror. She is like this forever!?
Granny Smith, on the other hoof, squealed in glee, "Yeeeeeeeessss!"
"Not quite. For I have an antidote," Tao said gently, much to Applejack's surprise and Granny Smith's dismay. The new young mare wanted to be this way for a while now. No fair!
"That's good, uncle. Bring it here." Dragon Kick said to Tao with a smile.
Tao, however, spoke some bad news, "I can't."
"Why," Ben asked Tao in shock, wondering what's wrong.
"I cannot perform it without my ingredient, especially one utmost important ingredient." Tao explained. Everyone looked at him as he reveals what the ingredient, "The blood of a Vampire Pony."
"WHAT," Mostly everyone else gasps in shock and horror; 'Blood of Vampire Pony'?! That's hard to come by!
"Uncle, why didn't you do it early," Dragon Kick asked his uncle in frustration.
"How do I know of this if Jade had told us about it," Tao scolds his nephew, pointing out that he wouldn't knew earlier if Jade haven't told him earlier.
Twilight groaned, "This is unacceptable. The only ponies we know like that of are Princess Luna's Royal Guards. But they had left for duty."
"Not to mention Fluttershy was Flutterbat." Pinkie said, reminding ponies of Fluttershy's short time as a Vampire Fruit Bat.
"Which was unfortunate," Rarity adds with a sigh.
"What about the Vampire Fruit Bats? They might work well." Fluttershy said, giving out another opinion.
Mighty Heart, however, shook his head, explaining, "I'm afraid it doesn't work that well. It must be a Vampire Pony's blood to perform the antidote."
Rainbow groaned, "How are we going to do it? And who else is a Vampire Pony?"
"Well, there is two that we Mystic Ponies know of. One is NeoVamde, King and Lord of the Underworld Monsters, and another," Mighty Heart gulped, fearing the second opinion, "Myotis........"
Spike gulped, "Who are they?"
Tao explains to his friends seriously, "NeoVamde, Lord of the Underworld and the Night is one of the two Fathers of the Vampire Ponies; he had ruled his Underworld and Monsters for many years. For him, he must protect his colony from the hatred and anger of the Light and Mortal Ponies, for they do not understand of their hearts. And of course, he is the holder of Element of Moonlight."
"What about Myotis?" Nyx ask, much to Mighty Heart's fear.
"Myotis is one of Dark Mystic's Black Strategists Five. He is the most cruel, ruthless, monstrous and evil Dark Mystic Vampire Pony that we ever face. His plan and terror........ know no bounds as Grimmore's might." Mighty Heart said seriously.
Hearing that part made the good guys worried. They knew that Myotis won't be easy to convince to get blood from easier.
"In other words, they're impossible to find?" Ben asks, making most of the gang looks down in sadness. Looks like the antidote will never be made.
"Maybe," Dragon Kick said with a sigh. Suddenly he gasps, having another thought. Yes, it could work! "Maybe there is someone we can find."
"No! We are not going to do it!" Tao snaps stubbornly and annoyed, crossing his upper fore legs.
"Uncle," Dragon Kick scolds his uncle. Why must Tao be like this?
"That Vampire Pony is nothing but trouble. I will not seek his help." Tao snapped stubbornly to Dragon Kick.
"Who is he?" Ben asked Tao curiously. Why is the old Mystic Pony not wanting whoever Dragon Kick is thinking of?
Dragon Kick explains, "Son of Myotis: Terrorcreep."
"How could that be good when you mention Myotis being the bad pony?" Spike asked awkwardly to Dragon Kick. If Terrorcreep is indeed Myotis's son, then won't getting his help be would be trouble?
"Maybe....... but Terrorcreep is a very reliable and good ally. He sided with the Light for many centuries, even though he's quite........creepy and terror......." Dragon Kick explained, shuddering a bit.
"Does that scare me?" Rainbow asked dryly. After all, she dealt with Pinkamena for years and finally gotten over her fear of her. The Pegasus pony isn't worried about this Terrorcreep vampire pony.
"If that's the only way, then we find him." Ben said seriously Tao remained silent. The idea of asking Terrorcreep for help is still unsettling to him. "Come on, Tao, he's the only one who can help us. Please. Applejack is our friend. And besides, she can't fight in this state when the next battle comes."
Tao sighed, "Very well. We will find him. Don't make me regret working with someone like him."
Nyx sighed, "Thank you, Mr. Tao. Where can we find him? Is he with Azure Phoenix? If we asked him nicely, he would let us get him."
"Nyx........ Don't get too comfortable. Azure Phoenix may have given you and the Cutie Mark Crusaders the chance for improving the skills to him, but it doesn't mean that he's gonna be pleasant. You remember what happen to Twilight Time?" Twilight reminds Nyx of the incident with her friends.
Nyx groaned, "I really hate to see his bad side. But at least, he didn't lose it in front of us. He was actually testing you, mommy."
Twilight sighed, "I guess so."
"Not important." Tao suddenly said. Everyone looked confused. "For we know where he is. Twilight, Spike, Jade, Apple Bloom, Pinkie Pie and Rarity, stay with Applejack and Granny Smith. Ben, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Dragon Kick and Mighty Heart, with me, we've got Vampire Pony to hunt."
With that, the ones with Tao heads on out to find Terrorcreep, leaving the others alone; Apple Bloom pauses before saying, "Geez, Twilight; now Ah done see why yew didn't wish 'ta use 'de Aging Spell before."
"Yeah, I know." Twilight said seriously. "I can only hope Terrorcreep will listen."
"Yeah, hopefully. Yew hear 'dat Granny Smith? We'll be back 'ta normal in no time." Applejack said with a smile. She waits for an answer but none came, "Uh, Granny?"
"Uh oh; don't look now but we're down one pony." Spike yelps a bit. Sure enough, the gang saw that Granny Smith is gone, flown the coop.
"Oh no, no! Don't tell me she galloped off!" Rarity gasps as the group staying behind rush outside.
Upon arrival, Nyx saw Lyra and Sweetie Drops, calling out, "Lyra, Sweetie Drops! Did you see a green cowpony running by here?"
"Oh, you mean the one who roped Caramel?" Lyra asked with a smirk as she motions to Caramel who is caught with a rope tying his own legs. "Yeah, she rushes by here and performs some cool tricks."
"Mentioned something about not wanting to be old ever again," Sweetie Drops remarks with a light chuckle.
"Oh, horse feathers! We got a runner!" Nyx groans a bit. Granny Smith has galloped off, not wanting to be old again!
"Okay, nopony panic okay? We will split off into two groups. Nyx, you, Spike, Jade, Pinkie, Rarity and Phobos comes with me and find the rest of the CMC." Twilight said in concern.
"Right, hopefully they can help us find the young Granny faster!" Pinkie exclaims with a nod.
"Applejack; You and Apple Bloom go get Big Mac and Tough." Twilight said to Applejack with a nod. "You think your group can look for her in your...well...condition?"
"Shucks, sugar cube, Ah can do it or mah name ain't...ain't..." Applejack mumbles a bit. "Darn nab it. Ah is losing mah memory."
"We've got to hurry and find Granny." Rarity said seriously. "And before this get worst or before Ben and the others get back."
The gang goes into separated teams. They don't got a moment to lose!
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Tough Apple was sitting in his own place, minding his own business playing his banjo Joe, and drinking some fine apple cider in a mug. The day was good, nothing seem to be wrong with the picture.
"TOUGH APPLE/COUS," Well almost nothing could go wrong, as Tough notice Apple Bloom, Big Mac, and some old orange mare running up to him.
"Tough, we need yer help! Have yew seen a mare who looks almost like Granny Smith wit' her apple pie cutie mark, but younger by 20 go by?" Apple Bloom asked off if her cousin happen to see Granny Smith pass by here.
"Shoot, sure did. Heck, if Ah wasn't with my darling Feathermane, she be a keeper. Who is she anyway?" Tough nods his head in recalling who he saw while not knowing who it was he ACTUALLY saw.
"That's Granny Smith, but she was turned young again!" Apple Bloom points out the shocker of who her cousin really saw.
Suddenly, Tough Apple spits out his drank cider drink out from being surprised by this, "Cough-Cough! WHAT?! Granny was 'dat young, beautiful mare....Hugh. Imagine 'dat; must've gotten some fancy aging cream ta pull off dat look." Tough was bamboozled to believe what he saw, Granny Smith as a young mare, now ain't that the strangest thing to see.
"It ain't cream, but magic, Tough." Apple Bloom shook her head to the last thought; Granny was magically turn young, not using anti-wrinkle age cream product stuff.
"Eeyup; an' we need ta find her!" Big Mac nods his head in stating this fact.
"So can ye help us or not?" Old AJ issued off in wanting some help here.
"Question, who are ye and why do ye look like mah cousin Applejack, but all prune and wrinkly?" Tough asked who the old orange looking mare was that remind him of his cousin Applejack, again, not knowing who he was ACTUALLY speaking to.
"Why you....WHIPPER-SNAPPER; Didn't Granny teach ye to respect elderly!" Applejack snaps furiously to Tough for that comment.
"Tough, see that mark on her flank," Big Macintosh said, making Tough nods. "Well like Granny Smith who is younger, the same thing happened to Applejack, but the opposite."
Then Tough once again was drinking his cider, only to spit it out in due shock from hearing this news, "WHA; Dat's AJ? But she looks so ol..." He was going to say AJ looks old but was cut...
"Don't say it!" Old AJ issued off with a mean stern face to not be called old, she's been told that enough as it is.
"Ooooll...." Tough was still stuck in between saying such a word since he was having trouble in how to address the manner.
"Toooough," Old AJ made a serious face in not wanting Tough to finish that sentence.
"Ooooolll...." Tough was still stuck on that subject while looking a bit nervous to how to finish his word if not use 'old' like he would have.
"Ye still stuck on dat word, ain'tcha?" Old Applejack issued off annoyed that her cousin can't stop unless he says old in the sentence.
"Yeah, she's real old, 50 years older." Apple Bloom just went to say that while getting a glare from AJ. "That's why we need help finding Granny now." She explained what they be doing here.
"Well okay, last I say, she was heading ta town." Tough finally was allowed to speak and gave the info he knew of seeing a young Granny pass by.
"Then we gotta hurry!" Big Mac issued that the family gotta hurry along then.
"Hey Justin; Here boy," Tough Apple stood off his rocking chair to whistle a familiar critter with the Apples.
"Moouurraarrughhh," Suddenly, Justin the MechaBull charges in to stop a few feet away from the Apples. It was wagging its tail in awaiting what they needed the mechanical creature for, it's been doing lots of farm work after its trip to the End of Equestria with Tough and the Sparkle family.
"Get in 'de cart!" Tough issued this from bringing a cart around back to attach it to Justin for transportation. "Quick fella, ta de other side of town, and step on it!" As Tough sat in the driver sit, he gave out the direction order to the MechaBull while his family got in the cart.
"Mouuarrrughhh," Justin let off a roaring cry before charging off with its max speed to help the Apple Family reach town to help find Young Granny Smith.
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"Granny Smith; Granny Smith," Twilight calls out as she, Spike, Pinkie, Rarity and Phobos run through town, looking for the younger Granny Smith.
"Gra...wait, what is her real name?" Phobos asks the others confused. "It would be awkward to call her an old mare name when she's younger."
"Does it matter?!" Spike asks Phobos in concern. He looks around and realized that two fillies are missing. "Wait, where's Nyx and Jade?"
"They said something about running off to find Tao's group, felt guilty about the whole thing." Pinkie explains to Spike happily. Twilight sighs and hopes that her daughter knows what she's doing.
Eventually, the group found Sweetie, Scootaloo, Twist, Dinky Doo and Pipsqueak, along with their newest members: Harmony Song, Blaze Leo, Midnight Moonlight, Ace Swift, Aurora Borealis, and Iris Heart Shield. Twilight spoke up, "Scootaloo, Sweetie; Have you and your friends seen a young green wild mare that got the same Cutie Mark like Granny Smith?"
"Oh yeah. I saw her. She rushed by a few seconds ago." Pipsqueak said with a chuckle. "She kinda reminds me of Granny Smith."
"That's because that is Granny Smith!"
"Huh?" Ace Swift asks confused, "Can't be. She's old."
"Jade accidentally switched her age and Applejack's thanks to Nyx and Phobos." Rarity explains, making Phobos groans a bit. "Tao and his group are looking for the antidote but Granny Smith has galloped off!"
"No problems! We will help look for her!" Scootaloo exclaims with a grin. "This will help us find our cutie marks!"
"Right! We could be Cutie Mark Crusader Pony Finders." Sweetie said thoughtfully, thinking up another way for her cutie mark.
"YAY; CUTIE MARK CRUSADER PONY FINDERS," The CMC members cheer on wildly.
"If the spell is an Aging spell, my aunt knows it." Harmony Song comment. "And..."
"Hey, losers," A familiar voice is heard, making the good guys groans a bit as they saw Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon nearby. The leader sneers, "What are you doing now? Looking for gophers?"
"Can you at least leave us alone for now?" Twist asks Diamond in irritation. "We got a problem enough as it is."
"Right, Granny Smith has run off and we gotta find her." Pipsqueak explains in worry.
"Oh good; the old lady has finally lost it!" Diamond Tiara laughs evilly, making Silver Spoon laughs along though she did so reluctantly. "Maybe if we're lucky, she could end up in a ditch."
"Diamond, that's enough!" Twilight exclaims to Diamond Tiara, scolding her. "Bad enough that you practically made Nyx's friends bring you, Silver and a few foals over for Twilight Time when you wanted to be near royalty, but making fun of somepony's grandma isn't right. Now apologize."
"Maxin!"
The ponies yelps as Maxin appears, growling, "Yes, Miss Tiara?" Not good. Looks like Diamond Tiara wants him to teach Twilight for saying what she said about and demanding to apologize.
"Creepy Anima," Aurora Borealis cries out loudly, much to the concern of the others and the confusion of the bullies and the bodyguard.
Suddenly Creepy Anima appears, showing off his fangs and asking, "Yes, Aurora?"
"Oh Equestria! Look at that guy!" Silver Spoon gasps in horror as she and Diamond Tiara looks horrified at the sight of Creepy. "He's creepy!"
"So what? He's a dork! Get him, Maxin!" Diamond Tiara remarks, trying to send Maxin to deal with this newcomer.
Maxin grunts a bit, preparing to stomps Creepy Anima...that is until he flicks his snake tongue and hiss, "BOO!" This causes the bodyguard to scream out as the girl bullies froze right there. Maxin Talos yelps as he runs away.
As Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon snaps out of it, Creepy smirks as he whispers, "This is the part where you two run away." The two bullies nod as they run off, screaming like fillies. "And don't come back unless I am not around; ha ha ha!"
"Wow! That was awesome, Creepy!" Dinky exclaims to Creepy in amazement.
"Yeah, you aren't so bad after all!" Scootaloo remarks with a smile. Creepy Anima doesn't sound like a scary pony after all!
"Well, you should thank Aurora for sending me." Creepy Anima said with a smile, nodding to the meek Aurora who smiles at her friends.
"Oh, it's nothing, really. I didn't want to see my friends get beaten or terrorized." Aurora said with a giggle.
"Oh, hey Creepy; Listen, Granny Smith has turned young again thanks to a messed up spell and run off." Blaze Leo explains to Creepy Anima. "Twilight and her group want us to go look for her."
"Well then, I will get some of the family." Creepy Anima remarks with a smirk. "We will find that mare in no time."
"Right before she hurts somepony or herself trying." Rarity said in concern, worried about what trouble that an old mare like Granny Smith could get herself into.
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Tao led his group to Sweet Apple Acres and to a familiar apple orchard. Rainbow in disbelief ask, "You're telling me that Terrorcreep lives in Applejack's apple farm that filled with Vampire Fruit Bats?! Is he the one who set Vampire Fruit Bats into invading Apple Farm in the first place?"
"So why does he lived with the bats?" Fluttershy ask Tao curiously.
"No, Rainbow Dash; Terrorcreep is forbidden because he is a Mystic Pony." Tao explains that Terrorcreep wasn't responsible for the Vampire Fruit Bat incident. "Terrorcreep seeks peace and quiet for strategy, studies and living in the dark. But to get his help, we must be careful for his challenge. We must answer his wisdom of riddles. Or there will be consequence.
"No kidding." Jade remarks dryly. The others look startled as they saw Jade and Nyx arriving on the scene.
"Jade! You and Nyx are supposed to look after Applejack!" Mighty scolds Jade. He and the others are unaware that Granny Smith has made a run for it and that the others are looking for her right now.
"It's my fault that made Applejack old. I want to help."
"Me too," Nyx said with a nod. Of course, she doesn't want to let Tao and the others know as to what happened just yet.
Well, the others had to admit, Nyx does has a point. She and Jade are taking responsibility for the incident. Turning back to Tao, he asks, "So, what kind of consequence?"
"Blood......... One who failed to answer the wisdom and riddle of his," Tao said seriously, much to the shock and horror of some of the others.
Everyone gulped in fear. Rainbow screamed, "He's a freaking real Vampire Pony! We're doomed!"
"Aieyah," Tao scowls as he whacked on Rainbow's head. "Terrorcreep only need the blood when he really needs it. Besides, he still eats apples for supplies."
"That's good news. One thing I hate that guy." Jade remarks, shuddering a bit. She sure hates to get on Terrorcreep's bad side...definitely on what 'side' that would be.
"But I hate to ask. What and why would Terrorcreep challenge the one who must answer his riddle?" Nyx ask Tao in concern.
"Trust me. He likes to see the power and intelligent of he or she; That Terrorcreep will answer the one who has the power of wisdom and intelligent to outsmart him."
"Piece of Cake," Ben remarks with a shrug. He and his friends have done the impossible before so this could be a big problem, right?
Mighty sighed, "Without the help of books or Elements," In other words, no cheating using knowledge!
"That's not fair!" Rainbow groans a bit. How will she and her friends outsmart Terrorcreep without books or the Elements (the main six are still in the tree at this point)?
"Said to somepony who cheated me in mahjoing," Tao snaps to Rainbow, reminding his friend as to how she cheated him before.
"Sensei, not now," Mighty said to Tao in concern. Now is not the time for arguing, they got a situation at hoof here.
"He's right. I hope that Mystic Vampire Pony is worth our time." Ben said in concern. He needs the blood to help his good friend and her grandmother before it's too late.
"He will be. Come, let us find him." Tao said as the group heads off to their destination: Terrorcreep's domain.
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Soon the Apple Family was rushing when Justin came to a complete stop for some reason.
"Why'd we stop?" Old AJ yelped off to complain in why the group stop, they couldn't have reached what they were going to find Granny Smith already.
"That's why!" Big Mac points to a street sign that read 'OTHER SIDE OF TOWN' & 'STEP ON IT' were names of street corners, oh boy.
"We gotta hurry! We need to find Granny quickly!" Apple Bloom issued off in concern that the family need to move quickly.
"Okay, let’s split up!" Tough issued as he, Big Mac & Apple Bloom got out of the cart, the senile AJ was about to follow, but... "Eh, AJ, better stay with Justin, ye ain't gonna cover enough ground in yer old age." Tough spoke in gently putting this fact that his cousin is old and her body might not be in the best shape to go on long searches.
"Hmph, I maybe old; But I can still whip things into shape and get things moving quicker than ye think." Old AJ huffs at that claim she's too old to turn around in being insulted, "Whack!" Course she accidentally whip her tail near Justin's behind, a bad move.
"Mouuarrrrughh," Justin the MechaBull took that as a command to go and was rushing off with a fast pace.
"WOOOOOH-NEEEEEELLEEEEEEEEE," Old AJ yelps from losing her balance in the cart, now she was in a runaway cart with a mechanical bull rushing off without a driver at the rope.
"'Dat ain't good!" Apple Bloom spoke in staring with wide eye worry, this didn't sit well with the family.
"Nnnope," Big Mac slowly responded in seeing this didn't seem well at all.
"Great. Now we gotta find young Granny Smith & Old AJ before things get any more whacky." Tough rolled his eyes in seeing that the family got TWO differently aged ponies to look forward; just peachy perfect is what this ironic moment is calling.
Soon the Apple Family members ran off to help find both the young Granny Smith & old Applejack before things get anymore complicating than they already are.