The wedding was only four days away now. Rarity had made Applejack's dress, just had she had imagined it, and Gray's suit was simple but still very handsome on him. The cake Pinkie Pie was working on was eight tiers tall. It was a thing of beauty, pink with violet trim. Fluttershy had managed to get the birds to separate themselves into specific ranges and sing several different parts. The day had been rough for every pony, and they were grateful when night time finally rolled around. Gray had taken to sleeping in the same bed as Applejack where he could hold her close.
In the middle of the night, Applejack woke. Something wasn't right. She slid out of Gray's arms and to the window. She couldn't see anything but she could still feel that uneasy sensation in the pit of her stomach. She walked quietly outside and looked around. Still nothing. It wasn't cold out, but she still had goosebumps. She heard some one come out of the house behind her.
"You feel it too?" she asked.
"Yes." said Gray's voice.
He walked up beside her and scanned the orchard with her. Something was very wrong here. It was a minute or two before Big Macintosh, Grannysmith, and Applebloom joined them.
"What is it?" asked Applebloom. She felt it too, but she didn't know what she was feeling.
"Danger." said Big Macintosh, his eyes narrowing.
"Ain't nothing hurtin' this here orchard while I'm still kickin'." said Grannysmith as she popped her neck and hip.
As if on some sort of cue, gleaming eyes seemed to appear in between the trees. They were everywhere. The eyes seemed to spawn from the gloom. They were advancing, and quickly.
"Big Macintosh! Run! Get Help! I'll stray here and protect them!" yelled Gray. Big Macintosh snorted and lowered his head. The last thing he said before he ran forward and broke the line was "Eeyup!"
The creatures tried to stop him, but he plowed through them like a hot knife through butter.
When he was out of sight, the beasts began to advance on the others again. Applebloom hid behind Gray as Applejack and Grannysmith took strong stances on either side of him.
One of the creatures rushed forward toward Grannysmith. With agility surprising for such an old pony, she turned herself around and slammed her legs into the beast's face. It was rocketed back into it's fellows with much thumping and grunting.
Instead of just eyes now, glistening fangs seemed to materialize under them and a horrible snarl was echoed around the orchard. Gray knew what was going to happen. "Applebloom, Applejack! Get inside!" he yelled. Applebloom obliged but Applejack stood firm.
"No way partner! We're in this together." she said, putting her hoof next to his.
The beasts charged. Applejack slammed the closest one with her hooves, Gray head butted another one, and Grannysmith did an impressive back flip kick. Soon, they were each fighting about three of the beasts each. Claws flashed, hooves swung, and fur shimmered under the moon light. Applejack finally got a good look at one. They were hideous wolven creatures with elongated snouts and pure yellow eyes.
It seemed they were going to be overwhelmed when Big Macintosh arrived with the cavalry. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy slammed into the main group of the wolves, scattering several of them. Pinkie Pie and Big Macintosh came in from the back and slammed into the group. Rarity and Twilight were flinging large stones at the wolves, slamming them almost as hard as Pinkie and Big Macintosh.
They started to scatter in all directions. They were all gone from view except a few when a very large one shouted over it's shoulder, "We'll be back! You've not see the last of us!" and disappeared.
Every one checked on each other. There were scratches and some bruises but nothing serious. Applejack hugged Gray tight and he returned the hug.
"Those punks said they're coming back. We should be ready for them." said Rainbow Dash, slamming one of her hooves into the other.
"Wait! We can't just go on fighting if we don't know why they're attacking. We should see if we can reason with them." interjected Twilight.
"I think its pretty clear what they came for and they ain't gettin' it." said Applejack, stamping her left hoof. "If those varmints want us, they'll have to take us, and we ain't goin' down with out a fight! Who's with me?"
Gray, Grannysmith, Big Macintosh, Applebloom, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and even Rarity raised their hooves and shouted "Aye!"
"Not you sis." said Applejack firmly.
"Aw! But I wanna help protect the orchard!" protested Applebloom.
"I can't have you runnin' against those things. They're too big for you and would gobble you up in one bite." said Applejack.
"Eeyup." agreed Big Macintosh.
"I know you wanna help, young-un, but if something happened to you... Celestia forbid." said Grannysmith, laying a hoof on Applebloom's head.
"Rainbow Dash is right. We need to set up a perimeter and defenses for if that loathsome herd comes back." said Gray. He was already pulling the wagon along behind him and getting ready to set up a barricade of some sorts.
"Fluttershy?" said Applejack, turning to the floating pegasus, "Could you take Applebloom somewhere safe? I don't what her to get hurt."
"I'd be happy too." said Fluttershy. She turned to Applebloom, "Come on Applebloom. Lets go some where safer."
A dejected looking Applebloom sat on Fluttershy's back. Applejack watched as she and Fluttershy faded into the distance, then she turned and began to help the others ponies who were setting up hay bails, other wagons and even the plow with the bladed pointing toward the outside. Anything that ran into that blade would receive a horrific laceration.
It had been about an hour after the first attack that they finished their barricades. Pinkie held a heavy brick in her hoof, Rainbow Dash had a long heavy pole in her hooves, Applejack held a hefty frying pan in between her teeth, Gray had set up a small catapult loaded with old cinder blocks, and Rarity and Twilight stood on the roof with several large objects she could use as projectiles with their magic. Grannysmith was wearing a heavy war helmet and hardened cleats. Big Macintosh didn't even pick up a weapon or any armor.
Another hour passed. Everything was tense and there was no sound. The wind blew slightly and the leaves of the orchard rustled.
"Here they come." breathed Grannysmith.
Eyes began to appear in the trees. Rainbow Dash dropped her pole and her jaw went slack. There were almost five times the amount that attacked the first time.
"Ready!" yelled Gray. The wolves began to advance. "Aim!" shouted Applejack. The wolves began to run at them now. A small bead of sweat ran down Applejack's face. "FIRE!" bellowed Gray and Applejack at the same time.
Rocks, cinder blocks, a few bowling balls, and a dumbbell slammed into the ranks of the wolves. Several were felled, but the others kept running under the moon light.
"FIRE!" screamed Grannysmith.
More ex-strenuous items flew into the air and pelted the wolven ranks. Fewer fell this time. Rainbow Dash flew low over the horde and whacked several wolves, knocking many of them down. A wolf attempted to grab Rainbow Dash but merely scratched her. She flew high into the sky and landed with her friends. The wolves were just about to the barricade. Applejack, Grannysmith, Big Macintosh, Pinkie Pie, and Gray tensed.
A resounding CRASH echoed as the wolves slammed into the wall of junk. Several screamed out in pain, obviously having run into the plow blade. The rest poured over the wall and the fight began. Thunks from Pinkie's brick, clangs from Applejack's frying pan, ringing, like a bell, from Grannysmith's helmet being rammed into people, Thwacks from Rainbow Dash's stick, and thumps and crunches from Big Macintosh and Gray donkey kicking the wolves. There was snarling and scratching and biting. Pinkie Pie had a black eye, Rainbow Dash was scratched extensively along her hind quarters, and Big Macintosh had a bloody nose.
They continued to fight while Rarity and Twilight dropped more heavy objects on the wolves. Gray now had a long gouge on his shoulder, and Grannysmith had several bite marks on her back legs and back. No one stopped kicking and swinging. The wolves seemed to be thinning but they were not giving up.
Suddenly, there was a loud whistle from in the distance. Rarity pointed and shouted "IT'S FLUTTERSHY!"
Fluttershy rammed straight into the fray, punching and kicking, flailing all of her limbs, even snapping her tail and wings back and forth, thwacking any wolf that got too close. The wolves began to retreat, whining and yipping. Several lay on the ground, unconscious or dead. Fluttershy stood in the middle of the group, panting and gasping for air. The others started to tend to each other. Applejack ran to Fluttershy.
"Fluttershy! Fluttershy, wheres Applebloom? Why aren't you with her?"
"T-that's w-what I came t-to tell y-you. Applejack, They d-disappeared. Sweetie Belle, S-scootaloo, and Applebloom. I turned my back for j-just a second and they were gone. Oh, Applejack, I'm scared." said Fluttershy, clutching to Applejack.
Gray limped over to them.
"Whats wrong?" he asked, seeing their expressions.
"Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo are missing. I'm afraid they might have tried to come back here to help." said Applejack, staring up into Gray's eyes.
He was about to hug her and tell it would be okay, when he heard a distant scream. Everypony looked toward the sound but could see nothing. Despite his injured leg, Gray bolted over and out of the barricade.
"Gray! No, wait!" yelled Applejack
Gray didn't not hear. He pumped his legs as fast as he could. The screaming continued. That was definitely Applebloom's voice. Gray found in him a new energy and he moved even fast. He was just about to the Everfree forest when he saw them. A small hoard of about fifteen of the wolves. Gray neighed in rage and charged them.
"GRAY!" screamed Applebloom.
"HELP US!" bellowed Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo.
The wolves turn and attacked. Gray rammed straight into them, pushing some to the side and trampling several others. One of them jumped on his back and bit deep into his neck. He shook it off and slammed his hoof down on it's chest. There was a sickening crunch, but there were more wolves to deal with. A jagged set of claws slashed Gray across the face and another set deep into his haunches. He bucked and set a wolf flying. Another wolf jumped onto his back, but he was ready this time. He bucked the Wolf straight off and continued to kick and punch.
Finally, the wolves began to run for the second time. Gray ran to the young fillies and collected them, then pelted back to the orchard. Applebloom had a hard time holding on. She looked at her hoof to see it was covered in blood. It wasn't hers that was for sure.
The others were waiting for them. Gray trotted into the clearing and lay down to let the fillies off. In the light he looked so much worse.
Applejack rushed forward and held Gray. Was he going to be okay? She took a cloth and wiped some of the blood off of his face. He smiled up at her. "We won." he said weakly.
"Yes. Yes we did." said Applejack. She was crying now.
He took her hoof in his and kisses it. "You'll take care of yourself, won't you?" he asked.
Applejack tried to laugh. "What do you mean? We'll be married in a few days. You'll be right there beside me." she said, desperately trying to keep the tears out of her voice.
Gray looked at the others.
"Grannysmith. I was hopin' to one day be able to just call ya Granny. " he said. Grannysmith let a single tear run down her face as she smiled at him.
"Big Macintosh. You're everything a pony could ask for in a brother. Please. Take care of your sister." he smiled at Big Macintosh, who smiled, his eyes wet.
"You five." he said, addressing Twilight, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash, "Love your friend. She is yours and you are very lucky to have her."
All of them were crying now.
"But..." said Applebloom, coming up to him and looking into his eyes, ".....but you can't go. What about Applejack? You was gonna marry her! You was gonna make my sister happy! How can you just leave her like this?!" cried Applebloom, sobbing onto Gray's blood soaked chest.
"Hey now, shh shh shh." said Gray, brushing her hair back a little. "It'll be okay. You'll see. You just be strong like I know you are. Same to you two." he said Addressing the other two fillies, who were now bawling. They sniffed and rubbed their eyes, then nodded. "That's my girls."
Gray's eyes wondered back up to Applejack. She stared back down into his eyes. Those lovely, deep sea blue eyes. She played with his soft, golden blonde hair.
"Applejack.." Whispered Gray.
"Yeah?" said Applejack, her eyes still steaming.
"I have to go now." he said. Applejack began to sob. Gray put his hoof under her chin and said "Shh. Its okay. I want you to know. That I love you. I will always love you. Nothing can change that. Not the age of time. Not the turning of the earth. You are the apple of my eye."
Applejack said nothing. She leaned in and kissed him.
When she pulled away, he lifted a weak hoof and pointed to the sky.
Applejack and the others looked up. It was the constellation he had shown her on the night of the dance. The Pegasus of Wonder. Applejack thought she was crying as much as she could. She was wrong. She sobbed harder than ever before and held Gray close. He lifted his mouth to her ear and whispered the three words that meant the most to them.
"I love... you."
And with one final sigh, Gray passed on.
"no. No!" screamed Applejack. She held his limp form close to her and cried into his chest.
The others stood around her and wept in silence. He had been the first one to truly touch Applejack's heart.
and he was gone.