Arriving in Ponyville in the dead of night had made things slightly difficult for Applejack. Though the others had all simply changed trains at the large station, she’d planned to stay in Ponyville, and had to talk to the local Apples. This involved waking them up, and an oddly familiar stallion named Sundowner had been less than enthused about it, even after he recognised her and Apple Bloom from the telegram they’d gotten from Appleloosa.
The sudden appearance of Pinkie Pie hadn’t helped matters. She’d said something about not wanting to be alone because all the others had their sisters to be staying with, and she was lonely so she’d gotten off the train and returned to Ponyville to be with Applejack. When exactly she’d gotten off the train was unclear, and even Pinkie couldn’t explain how it had happened after she’d calmed down. It had taken Sundowner clearing his throat several times, and a knock on the back of the head from Applejack, to accomplish that.
Eventually, he’d agreed to let them all sleep in the barn until something more permanent could be worked out. Despite her earlier energy, Pinkie had almost immediately fallen asleep, snoring loudly enough to keep the others awake. Apple Bloom eventually managed to get to sleep as well, but Applejack stayed up all night. Eventually, she stepped outside to practice with her crossbows. She wouldn’t have a range set up right then, but shooting apples would probably work fine.
Sundowner was out as well. “Pinkie’s snoring?” Applejack asked, laughing slightly. “Nah, that barn’s been built pretty well. Ah can barely even hear her.”
“True enough,” he replied. “It’s been standing for the last three hundred years, and it was always built that strong. That’s what a family’s love can do.” He looked away from the stars and turned to the human. “We still have the photo album. There’s a whole dynasty in there...”
“If’n ya don’t mind, could Ah have a look?”
“There wouldn’t be much to see, for an outsider. But Ah s’pose there’s no harm in it. Wait here.” He went back inside the house, and to keep herself busy, Applejack loaded an arrow to her right hand. Shooting the apples probably wouldn’t endear her to Sundowner, and they probably weren’t ripe in the first place, but she could make out an empty branch on one of the trees. She steadied her aim with her left hand, focusing on the branch...
“What’re ya up to?” Sundowner asked, having appeared from nowhere. Applejack started, her aim going off completely and striking an apple on the tree. The impact knocked it loose and down to the ground below. “Hm. Not a bad shot,” he said.
“Ah was aiming for that branch there,” she replied, “and then you startled me. ‘Tain’t a nice thing to do, or a safe one. Coulda turned an’ hit you.”
“Well, ya didn’t, an’ that’s what counts. Here’s the album.” He picked up a book off his back and handed it over. ‘The History of the Apple Family,’ it read on the cover. Applejack opened it up to a random page, and Sundowner directed her towards the photo from the original barn-raising. There were almost twenty ponies there, all of them somewhere on the spectrum between red and green in both their coats and their manes. The one that caught her attention the most was front and centre, with green eyes, an orange coat and a Stetson hat.
“Is that...?” she asked.
“Applejack. One of the finest Apples who ever lived. Died in the Great War, but she left a lot behind. Lots o’ Apples named Applejack for her.”
“But Ah’m Applejack. I mean, it even looks like the same hat...” She took off her own hat, but Sundowner just shook his head.
“It’s been three hundred years. And not everything has to be significant. Coincidences just happen, and there ain’t nothin’ to ‘em. C’mon, get some rest.”
“Coincidences, huh,” she replied slowly as she closed the book. Sundowner took it back into the house as she lay against an apple tree, pulling her Stetson over her eyes.
~~~~
The Days After
Act Two: Friends We Haven’t Met Yet
~~~~
Applejack slowly became aware of someone standing over her as she woke up. She yawned loudly, stretching her arms into the air and rubbing her back against the tree she’d fallen asleep on. “What can Ah do ya for?” she asked as she pulled her hat up.
The grey Unicorn looked her over, as if trying to make something of her. Then she cleared her throat. “I’m with Ponyville’s local Watch. I want to know if you’ve seen another human around.”
Applejack stood up. “Hold on, now, it’s not like we’re all related just ‘cause there ain’t many humans ‘round these parts. Ya can’t just ask me questions like that.”
The Unicorn was taken aback. “I’m sorry if it seems impertinent,” she said, looking away slightly. “But I’m still wondering if you’ve seen somepony... or someone, rather, with pink hair.”
“Check the barn. There’s someone called Pinkie Pie in there.”
“I already did, and she’s not who I’m looking for. I meant someone with straight hair, a lighter shade of pink. She lives here, and she left a couple of days ago. Hasn’t come back, and with all of you others coming here instead...”
“Like I said, we ain’t all related,” Applejack repeated. “...Though, Ah think Ah did see someone like that. She was up in Canterlot, but we didn’t talk all that much. Could still be there for all I know. Sorry Ah can’t help ya more.”
“Well, you helped me more than the two in the barn. Thanks.” As the pony walked away, Applejack wondered just what that was all about. ”Coincidences just happen,” Sundowner’s voice told her in her mind, and she smirked to herself. “Ah guess yer right about that.”
“Who are you talking to?” Pinkie asked, appearing out of nowhere behind the tree that Applejack had been sleeping against. “Was it that Unicorn from before? She asked me a bunch of questions, but she didn’t seem happy with my answers. What’s up with that, anyway? It’s not like we’re all in some kind of human club together. I mean, I’d never even heard of you or your sister before. She’s a really nice girl, by the way. You raise her yourself?”
“Uh... no?” Applejack replied. “Ah had help from the Appleloosa branch o’ the family. Though, before we met them, I’m not sure...”
“Really? When was that?”
“A year ago, give or take.”
“What a coincidence! It was only about a year ago that I threw my first party, though it was so good that you’d swear I had a knack for it before! Why can’t I remember anything like that? It’s so weird! Maybe we are related and we just don’t know it!”
“Coincidences happen,” Applejack repeated, forcing out her drawl even harder. “Sundowner told me that. There was another Applejack about three hundred years ago, apparently.”
“Maybe there was another Pinkie Pie back then too! And another one of Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Twilight Sparkle, just like at the café!”
“...Somehow, Ah seriously doubt that.”
“Really? Oh well. What are we gonna do today?”
After breakfast, the three humans headed into Ponyville proper. Applejack had wanted to paint up a target range, but Pinkie wouldn’t put up with being alone for the whole day. Sundowner promised he’d work something out while they were out, and that ended the argument.
As soon as they’d entered Ponyville proper, the first thing they noticed was the divided city. There were walkways between the upper city layers, but there was still sunlight down below. Pinkie literally bounced between the two layers on a whim, somehow, while walking through the streets. After the first few minutes, the Apple sisters decided not to pay it any mind, and that was about when Pinkie stopped.
She started playing with her yo-yo instead, idly flicking it around her hand as she walked. Apple Bloom kept watching it, enraptured to the point of bumping into a few ponies. Applejack eventually had to take to pushing her around to keep her out of trouble. Ponies were staring at them, and though they eventually turned away, their voices kept coming as well, wondering about the humans and their relation to the one they used to have, whether they were safe to have around, and suchlike things.
Applejack tried to ignore them, but it seemed like the rumours were following them around like a miasma. The only time it stopped was when Pinkie Pie ran into a sweet shop to buy three toffee apples. I figure our bits are as good as anyone’s, but it’s still kinda annoying...
A loud scream came from the street below, and Applejack shrugged it off as just someone overreacting when Apple Bloom tugged on her sleeve. “Look, sis!” she shouted, and Applejack turned to see a large black dog, saliva dripping from its jaws, charging down a passerby. As it tackled the pony and was about to rip out their throat, Applejack drew her crossbow and fired a snap shot, glancing off the beast’s shoulder.
It was enough to get the dog’s attention, but it turned to Applejack instead, snarling and jumping into the skyway to attack her. She tried to reload, but she knew as she reached for the arrow that she’d never make it in time. Apple Bloom suddenly stepped in front of her, bringing both her axes down on the dog’s head. It whimpered quietly, spraying black blood all over before it all dissipated into nothingness. As the two sisters pulled themselves together, everyone fell silent as howls started to erupt from all over Ponyville. There were more of the dogs... no, hounds out there, and they were angry from the death of their brother. “Get ready for a fight, girls,” Applejack said as she loaded both her bows. “This is just getting started.”
Pinkie flicked her yo-yo around a few times before reaching into her pocket and bringing her right hand back out with a clawed gauntlet around it. Thusly prepared, she jumped off the skyway and started running towards where she heard a scream coming from. As she turned around a corner out of sight, Applejack tried to run after her to stop her from splitting up, but she heard a growl from behind her and immediately spun around to see a hound on her own trail. Lining up the shot as it ran towards her, she fired just in time, shooting it through the eye and killing it.
As it disappeared like the other, a second hound jumped her through the smoke cloud, tackling her and biting at her throat. Somehow, she pushed it away, and it only grazed her, leaving a trickle of blood. It was mostly hidden by her neckerchief, but the hound smelled it and tried to bite again. Quickly, Applejack threw it off her to the side, shooting it at point-blank with her still-loaded bow. Looking around to make sure she wouldn’t get blindsided again, she reloaded both bows before running towards where she’d seen Pinkie Pie go.
A sudden blast of magic tossed a hound off the skyway in front of her, but it ignored her in favour of the slate-grey Unicorn from before. It leapt at her, but she was faster, charging a spell in her horn before goring the hound in the neck with a quick movement and releasing the spell directly into it. It died like the other three. “Hey!” Applejack called out. “Ah need a hand down here!”
The Unicorn jumped down to meet her, looking around for any other threats. “Explain on the way. There’s still more of them out there,” she said. “You’re Applejack, right? Your sister went this way. Not sure about the pink one, but I don’t think she’s in any trouble.”
“Apple Bloom!” Applejack shouted as soon as she heard of her sister being separated. “Where’d ya go?! We need to stick together!” The sound of another hound yelping and dissipating came from a nearby corner, where Pinkie was dispatching a hound with her gauntlet. “Pinkie! Where’d mah sister go?! D’you know?”
Pinkie stopped for a moment, turning her head sideways. “I think she went... wait, what’s that?” She pointed at a shadow on the wall that seemed larger than necessary. There was nothing casting it from the skyway, and the two humans and Unicorn turned to face it. Suddenly, the shadow jumped off the wall and attacked, filling out into a Grim Reaper-like figure that slashed its scythe at Pinkie’s throat. She leaned back to avoid it, losing a lock of hair from her fringe. The reaper cackled and returned to the shadows. The Unicorn cast a light spell, trying to strike at it, but it just cackled again and flew away.
A group of howls from nearby caught the group’s attention, and they ran for the source, Applejack vaulting off an overturned market stall to reach the skyway. A group of ponies came charging through, screaming in panic as two hounds gave chase. Applejack quickly dispatched one as Pinkie threw out her yo-yo at the other, the saw blades inside splitting out to cut through the hound like paper. As it returned, the reaper attacked again, but was knocked to the ground by Applejack, who saw it approaching Pinkie from behind and had jumped off the skyway to tackle it. It cackled and returned to the shadow before retreating under the Unicorn’s assault, and Applejack dusted herself off as she stood up after suddenly not being on top of anything but a shadow.
Another scream came from nearby, but this one sounded more familiar to Applejack, and she immediately charged in its direction. “C’mon, we can’t leave her alone!” the Unicorn shouted, pointing with a hoof before sprinting after Applejack. Pinkie followed, finding Applejack standing over her bleeding sister and dispatching another hound from point-blank. Immediately, she picked her sister up, looking at the bite wound in her right arm and taking off her neckerchief to bind it. A cackle came from behind, and Applejack immediately turned and pulled the trigger.
Nothing happened. She hadn’t reloaded before helping her sister, and the scythe was headed straight for her neck. The Unicorn said something under her breath, along the lines of ‘not today’, and cast another light spell right at the core of the reaper. It screamed and pulled apart, the pieces flying into the sky with nowhere else to go under the harsh light. The scythe continued on its course, though, striking Applejack in the shoulder before it fell to the ground.
The injured human followed it, grabbing the wound with her other hand and dropping both bows. She grunted in pain as she tried to stand up without her arms for balance. “Sis!” Apple Bloom shouted, running up and trying to hold her steady.
The Unicorn cast a spell, then shook her head as it ended. “I think that was the last of them,” she reported before collapsing from the mana burn. Pinkie Pie ran to help her up, but she waved the human off. “I’m fine, I can still walk,” she said. “You’d better come back to the Watch office. There’ll be other injured ponies there, most likely, but we should at least be able to patch you up.”
~
Because it was only a few days after the winter solstice, it was already dark by the time that the humans left the Watch office. The Unicorn, who had revealed her name as Aster, had vouched for their role in the fracas, allowing them to leave that night. “You shouldn’t have too much trouble now,” she told them. “I mean, you kind of saved the town from a few unnecessary deaths.”
“Is that what it takes to get some respect around here?” Applejack asked.
Aster was unfazed by the direct question. “This is predominantly a pony town. Others aren’t taken too well here. But you’re established with the Apple family, so that’ll give you a starting point. What about you?” She turned to Pinkie Pie. “Have you got anything you can do here?”
Pinkie Pie took a deep breath, then started, “Well, usually I just roam around to different places and lodge with somepony who doesn’t ask for too much money, and I use their kitchen to bake cakes and such for parties which I throw for anypony who’ll pay me around the town, and I’m never hurting for a party because there’s always so many foals around and parents know that Pinkie Pie will never disappoint with her parties...”
Aster started to tune her voice out at that point, turning back to Applejack. “Well, in that case, you shouldn’t have too much trouble. Just don’t cause any.” The human nodded slowly.
“...and then I said, ‘Oatmeal? Are you crazy?!’ I mean, I love oatmeal raisin cookies myself, but oatmeal on its own...”
“I don’t use my equipment on ponies,” Applejack said. “And I can handle myself living close to the Everfree Forest. Maybe I’ll even stop another attack before it happens, if those... things came from in there.”
“...so I wound up recruiting thirty Neighponese and an airship for an elaborate prank...”
“I don’t know... There’s a lot of strange things in there, but I doubt it’d be anything like this.”
“...and by the end of it, I think we actually had gone back in time, but thankfully the bananas helped us all get back safely. Oh! Are we all going to be sleeping in the barn again tonight? With everything that happened today, I didn’t find anyone to lodge with...”
“I’m sure somepony would be willing to put you up if you were willing to pay. Or...” Aster trailed off, debating whether she should make an offer herself. Eventually, she nodded and said, “I’ve got a spare bed. I can put you up for a night. Consider it a thank-you for helping save lives today.”
“Hooray!” Pinkie shouted. “Well, I guess we’d better split up here, since I’m going with Aster. See you tomorrow, AJ!” She walked off with the Unicorn before Applejack could protest that even her own sister didn’t get to call her AJ. Sighing, she walked off back to the farm.
Sundowner nodded as she walked up. “Bloom’s already here. We only have one guest room, so I hope you don’t mind sleeping in the same bed.” He started to turn back towards the house.
“Hey, Sundowner.” He turned back over his shoulder. “Did you see anything coming from the forest today? There was a problem in town, and the Watch thinks it might have come from out there.” He shook his head and returned to the house, pointing out the guest bedroom. They didn’t come from the forest, and they just disappeared when we killed them... What were they?
~
Another pair of humans arrived on the train the next day. On some instinct or another, Pinkie dragged Applejack to see them arrive, and Aster followed them when she felt the magical presence given off by Twilight. “Gotta say, Ah’m surprised ta see you again,” Applejack said. “What are you doing here, anyway?”
“I don’t expect you to accept, but...” She looked at the bandaged wound on her shoulder. “What gave that to you?”
“Some big black thing that disappeared when it died. Came with a buncha these dogs, too. Why d’you ask that?”
“I know what those things are. And unless I miss my guess, all of Equestria is in danger of being overrun by them.” Aster looked at her questioningly. “They’re monsters controlled by a being named Azazel. He seeks to conquer Equestria once again, and I need your help in stopping him.”
“Why me?” Applejack asked.
“Not just you. Remember at the café? I need the help of all six of you. But since you’re here, and so’s Pinkie Pie, that makes it four already. If you’re willing to help, that is.”
Applejack looked away. “Ah really don’t know, uh...”
“Call me Twilight.”
“Twilight, Ah just don’t know. If you’re right, and there’s more of those things out there, then Ah gotta protect mah family first and foremost. Besides, I don’t know if there’s even a plan yet besides just stopping the hounds. If we can’t stop them coming, only delay them, then six of us won’t be enough for that. Ah need to protect mah family. I hope ya’ understand.”
Twilight drooped slightly, but nodded. “I understand, Applejack. You do what you have to.” She turned to Pinkie Pie. “Are you established here too?” she asked.
“Nope!” Pinkie smiled widely.
“Are you willing to come with me?”
“As long as there’ll be parties!”
Twilight laughed at the exclamation. “I’m sure there’ll be time for a party.”
“Celebrate because you’re alive, Twilight,” a Pegasus said behind her. “That’s reason enough.”
Pinkie was immediately distracted by his ornate golden armour, but then parsed what he’d said and internally agreed. “I like you!” she chirped. “What’s your name?”
“Cloud Skipper. Don’t bother learning it; I’m not staying long. I’m looking for somepony named Aster Helix. Do you know where I can find her?”
“I’m Aster Helix,” Aster said. “What do you want from me? I’m just local Watch, not even with a rank...”
“I know why you joined the watch, Aster. Ex solis invictus.”
Aster didn’t respond right away, trying to figure out what he’d said. When the white Unicorn stepped out behind Skipper, she finally nodded. “Come with me,” she said, leading them away from the platform.
Twilight turned to Pinkie Pie. “So, Fluttershy’s going to stay here with her animals, and Applejack’s got family to protect... Looks like I’m no further along, but at least I know where to find them. Do you know where the others went, Pinkie?”
It was Pinkie’s turn to droop. “No, I’m not sure,” she said. “But don’t you have magic? Maybe you can find them again. Right?”
Twilight slapped her forehead. “Magic... Why didn’t I think of that? Thanks, Pinkie.”
“No problem! Where are we going?”
Twilight focused for a little while, then opened her eyes and pulled a bit out of her pocket. “Manehattan, or Las Pegasus. Call it.” She flipped the coin into the air, letting it fall without any magic.
“Actually,” Skipper said as he returned, “there were a few ponies I wanted to meet in Trottingham. There’s a group of Thestrals there, and they’re probably up for Lunar Guard. Las Pegasus is just past there, so if we’re all going together, we should look there first.” The coin fell to the ground without being called upon, and he picked it up. “It was heads, by the way.”
“Where are Shining and Aster?” Twilight asked.
“Still working some details out. I figure he’ll probably stay here. There was another family I wanted to look up in Trottingham, by the way, and they’ll know I’m Day Guard by my armour. If they don’t trust that, I can prove it to them.” He gave the coin back to Twilight. “Actually, if we’re going together, you might as well remember my name. What’s yours?”
“I’m Pinkie Pie, and I love making new friends! Even though I don’t see many of them again, but if you’re a nomad like me, then I’m sure we’ll see each other a lot, Cloudy!”
Pinkie rambled off into her own little world again while Skipper mumbled something about not wanting to be called ‘Cloudy’. Twilight laughed at the spectacle. That’s my Pinkie Pie, she thought. Even if you don’t remember me, I remember you, and you’re just as I’d hoped.
“The next train to Trottingham leaves in a few minutes,” Shining said as he walked back to the group. “I’d suggest you all get a move on. Where’s Midnight?” Skipper headed back into the train, saluting. "Right, he’s got that under control...”
“Shiny,” Twilight said, bending down slightly to his eye level. “Are you sure about this?”
“Somepony has to protect Equestria. It might as well be the Day Guard, even if it’s not the Guard I remember. They all remember their oaths.”
“And if they don’t?”
“Aster’s family still remembers theirs. With any luck, there’ll be enough. Celestia and Luna are here, too, so they’ll help us. The Guard were mostly ceremonial anyway, and we all knew it...”
Twilight nodded. “Alright. I’ll leave that to you.” They hugged for a few seconds as Skipper led Midnight off the train and towards the other platform. “See you around. Oh!” She suddenly stood up and turned to Applejack and Fluttershy, who were still hanging around. “I want you to have these.” She pulled a pair of crystals out of a magical holding space.
“What are these?” Applejack asked.
“Communication crystals. It’ll be easier for me to keep track of you with these, and if you need me, you can just call.”
“Oh, um... thanks,” Fluttershy said. “I’ll... just be going now.” The last part was nearly impossible to hear under the whistle of another train.
Twilight laughed again. So that makes four that I’ve found. But Rainbow Dash and Rarity seemed aggressive back in Canterlot... Will they want to come with me? Will I have time to convince them?
“Twilight, what’s keeping you?” Skipper called. “The train’s about to leave!” Twilight snapped out of her thoughts and ran to join him, towing Pinkie Pie along.