The Black Apple

by Duke of Canterlot


Spike At Your Service

Tirek was overjoyed when he saw Twilight's severed head. It was currently resting in a wicker basket.
Apple Bloom was certainly his daughter. He was afraid that Cherry Blossom's choice to stay with those farmers would have made Apple Bloom dull, but rather she was an unexpected force of destruction. No pony saw it coming.

"I am proud of you", said Tirek to his daughter.

"They are all fools. Twilight thought she could outwit us so damn easy. It's kind of funny."

"They're desperate. All of them. The only emotion any pony can feel now is fear."

"Why didn't they just let me do what I was originally doing? I was killing the undesirable and the worthless. I was making Equestria a better place. If they didn't lock me up in Tartarus, ah would have never become an alicorn since ah would have never met you."

"You're now helping them under your rule. Princess Twilight learned that sometimes killing is necessary - too bad, she got killed in the process."

"The only thing every pony should learn is that ah always get what ah want."

"As long as I get what I want."

"What if what we want is different?"

"Let's hope that isn't the case."

Apple Bloom shuddered. Despite all of her underhanded tactics which led her to defeat so many ponies, Tirek was a powerful centaur with alicorn magic. He could rip Apple Bloom in half without having to steal her magic. Tirek could kill Apple Bloom if he felt it was necessary.

Tirek didn't want to mess with his daughter too much. She was a clever sociopath. She was probably making a list of Tirek's weaknesses: particularly his temper and his uncontrollable lust of power. They were both things the alicorn filly could use against him. Apple Bloom would have killed Tirek, if she felt it was necessary.


Spike cried and cried when he saw Twilight's severed head. He felt responsible for her death. Spike should have just stayed dead. He hated himself. Spike felt utterly useless. He heard Apple Bloom's message. Any pony caught trying to kill him would be killed by her.

If the careful and strategic-minded Twilight couldn't escape Apple Bloom's watch, no pony could. Spike wouldn't be killed as long as Apple Bloom forbade it.

In normal circumstances, Spike would have been grateful that he was protected from murder. However, this was a monster who didn't care at all about him. A monster who would rather have him alive than Princess Celestia or even Princess Twilight...this gave Spike an idea, there was something he needed to do.


Zecora knew there had to be some sort of spell out there, something that could bring more back to life than four. She looked through book after book, trying to see if there was another spell which could help Zecora find the one she needed. Perhaps, she could become Equestria's resident resurrector. Yes, she could. But when something seemed to good to be true, it really was.. but trying to find the improbable was better than resigning to the reign of the Black Apple.

Zecora heard a knock on the door. She wondered if Apple Bloom knew what she was up to. Zecora wouldn't be surprised. The little alicorn filly seemed to know everything. Zecora cautiously approached the door, but then she heard a familiar voice, "Zecora, we need to talk."

Spike? Oh, he must have been incredibly heartbroken over the death of Twilight... poor little guy.

Zecora opened the door and saw that Spike was at the door, holding a gun.

"What are you doing", asked Zecora.

"I am going to bring Twilight back to life", said Spike with tears in his eyes, "I need to do this."

"You may not need to", said Zecora, "I am trying to see if I can expand the spell's reach. Maybe more can be brought back to life than four."

"Maybe you can bring me back to life if you figure it out, but for now, better Twilight than me."

"Are your sure you want to do this?"

"Yes", responded Spike, "I am sure. Without Twilight, I would have been nothing. She helped me through everything. She deserves life and I deserve death."

"What if I choose to bring Celestia back to life instead of Twilight?"

"That's a risk I am willing to take."

Spike put the gun to his head and pulled the trigger.

The baby dragon died a second time.

Zecora sighed. If she was a better zebra, she would have done more to stop Spike from killing himself. However, this is what he wanted.

Zecora wanted to bring Princess Celestia back to life, but she couldn't let Spike die in vain like he did. Twilight was extraordinary in so many ways. She might have failed in defeating Apple Bloom, but perhaps she could succeed when resurrected from the dead.

Zecora prepared the resurrection brew and said, "Twilight Sparkle."


Apple Bloom flew around her castle without a care in the world. She was the best pony to ever exist.
As long as she and her father cooperated with one another, there would be nothing to stop them from ruling Equestria with an iron hoof. This was certainly survival of the fittest, the way the world was meant to be.

One sight would change that sense of complacency. Apple Bloom noticed that the severed head of Twilight had gone missing.