//------------------------------// // Chapter 7 // Story: Tranquil // by bahatumay //------------------------------// Early the next morning, Applejack arose and headed out the door. She retrieved traveling rations from the kitchen (who still had a standing order from Luna to keep her comfortable), gathered what other supplies and clothing she needed, and headed out the side door. She sighed, looked back one last time, and then prepared to descend the staircase. “You make your choice, then.” Applejack jumped, and spun around to see Luna. She had been almost invisible, standing in the shadows against the wall and behind the pillar. She stepped forward, smiling sadly. “When do you sleep?” Applejack demanded. “That is unimportant,” Luna said. “What is important is that you are prepared to accept the consequences of your choice.” Applejack rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Look, I made my choice, and I know what I'm doing, so don't even try to…” Her voice trailed off as she opened her eyes and realized that Luna was no longer there. Had Luna ever been there? Applejack shook her head. She pulled out the section of map she had copied, oriented herself, and began to walk through the rain. From her position high up in the tower, Luna watched her leave, and then sadly returned back to her room. * * * Twilight and her friends had sprinted all the way to the castle. Now they faced their fiercest challenge yet. Two Lunar guards barred the entrance to Luna's room. Their sharp fangs and slitted pupils unnerved even Pinkie Pie. “State your business,” the Lunar Guard on the right said. “We're here to see Princess Luna,” Twilight said. “We can’t let you in,” the Lunar Guard on the left said. “Her majesty is sleeping.” “Well, her majesty is my only hope to get my friend back,” Rainbow Dash snarled, her anger overcoming her apprehension, “so you’d better step aside or-” Twilight forcibly pulled Rainbow back down to the ground. “We’ll wait,” Twilight said firmly, “but it is fairly important. It’s about one of the Elements of Harmony.” “Please,” Fluttershy added. Both of the guards tensed slightly. That was a matter of national security. It might be worth the wrath of a princess for that. They looked at each other and nodded. One opened the door and slipped inside silently. From inside, they could hear whispered noises, and then Luna’s voice. “No, I am awake,” Luna said, pushing herself up and poking her head out of the door. Then she saw who was waiting for her, and she took the tiniest of steps back. “Upon further reflection, perhaps I am still asleep,” she said softly. “Princess Luna!” Twilight bowed with all of her friends. “We need your help,” Rainbow said. “Where’s Applejack?” “Applejack…” Luna said hesitantly. “She was here as my guest.” Twilight reared up happily. “Told you she was safe!” She turned back to Luna. “Where is she now?” “Gone,” Luna said hesitantly. “What?!” Luna tapped her hooves together and looked away. “She may have found out about the Lake of Tranquility, and-” “What?!” Twilight teleported to land in front of Luna’s face, glaring daggers. “You told her about the Lake?” she demanded. The guards stepped forward, but Luna waved them down. “We did not mean to,” Luna defended herself. “She found the book on her own; and as of yet our distraction skills are still rusty after a thousand years of solitude.” “What's so special about a lake?” Pinkie asked. “And what's wrong with tranquility?” Rarity wondered. Wasn't peace what Applejack was looking for? “It is a lake that makes ponies forget everything about something hurtful,” Luna explained. “Everyth-?” Rarity's eyes widened in horror at those implications. “But… no! Everything, that would... No! You have to take us there! Immediately!” “No need,” Twilight said quickly. “I know the way. But we have to run! We have to get there before she does!” * * * Applejack was no stranger to working in harsh weather. This cool rain on the top of the mountain was barely slowing her down. She pulled her poncho tighter and continued walking. However, one pony can travel much easier than a group of ponies. Twilight and company were only an hour behind, but they were having trouble following. Twilight led the way quickly and efficiently, but the rain and slick paths made travel slow. To further complicate things, the trees were too thick for flying, and getting high enough to fly over them meant that fierce mountain winds would buffet any pegasus who tried, so Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were forced to the ground (much to Rainbow’s displeasure). “How much further is it?” Rarity asked, holding a hoof in front of her eyes. She wished she’d thought to bring a scarf. “It’s almost a day’s journey,” Twilight answered. “But Applejack has a head start! We have to keep moving!” * * * Applejack arrived as the moon was rising, that magical time when it was neither day nor night. It was a beautiful lake, really. It was smooth and clear and flat as a mirror. It reflected the moon and stars on the inky black sky, and it would have been a perfect place for any picnic. Most of this beauty was lost on Applejack, who was weighed down under the burden of what she was about to do. She shrugged off the pack and pulled out a goblet from one of the side pockets. She stared at it for a moment. She had taken it from the kitchen and it was much fancier than she was used to, and its golden body gleamed in the moonlight. In its reflection, she could see- She spun around quickly, but Luna wasn't there. Perhaps it had been a trick of the starlight. She turned back towards the lake, dipped the goblet in and brought it out, brimming with the cursed water. Applejack looked down at her goblet, and frowned. Memories flew through her head. Happy memories, of Rainbow Dash and her doing things together. And then she made her decision. * * * Twilight burst into the hauntingly familiar meadow, looking around desperately for her friend. There, in front of her, sat Applejack, still looking into the lake. And beside her on the grass, an empty golden goblet, resting on its side.