“Hey King Sombra, hey sis.” Applebloom trotted toward the two as they walked toward the farm. Sombra looked down at her for a moment, before turning his attention to Applejack.
“Hey sis, you off to school?” Applejack smiled warmly and picked up her sister, spinning her as she brought her into a hug. Giggling, Applebloom was soon let go, and then nodded, beaming widely.
“Ya’, we’re gonna show off our project. We might even get our cutie marks!” Applebloom bounced around for a moment, before blinking and waving goodbye. Turning, she began trotting toward Ponyville once more. Applejack smiled, shaking her head as she turned to Sombra, putting a hoof on the tree.
“Now ah dun know how much of a help yah can be, what with this being an apple farm an’ all. But maybe yah can help reduce tha’ work required to buck all the apples. There’s only three of us, an’ the work can get a little too much at times.” Applejack waited as Sombra walked forward, and put a hoof on the tree, narrowing his eyes.
“Give me a moment,” he spoke, turing as his horn sparked to life. Crystal erupted from his feet, quickly forming a table and a chair. Sitting down, Sombra levitated his tools out of his saddlebag, and began to write. Applejack leaned over, and tilted her head. While she had no idea what the complex formula were for, Sombra seemed to be solving them quite fast.
“It is theoretically possible,” he muttered to himself, narrowing his eyes as he peered at the paper. Tilting his head, he picked up a blank piece and began to sketch a few circles, creating different designs for each one. Growling, Sombra lifted the paper up and set it slight, burning it, and tried again. Peering at one, he placed the circles to one side, glancing to the paper with the formulas once more.
Sombra stood up, picking up the paper and quill and placing them in his saddlebag, the crystal shattering with a quick spell. Sombra approached the tree, and quickly carved a rune into the bark on the side, different from the one he had been peering at. Sombra put his hoof to it, horn sparking to life. Turning, he looked to Applejack.
“Buck the tree as per usual.” Sombra waited as Applejack shrugged, and turned around, doing as he asked. Within a moment, the basket was filled with apples. Sombra looked toward the rune, nodding as he pulled out the piece of paper, and looked toward the rune. Pulling out the quill, he added a single line to the drawing, holding the paper in his magic flat. Sombra turned to Applejack.
“You are aware of the dimensions of your fields, yes?” Sombra waited as Applejack nodded, knowing she had walked them many times. Sombra turned back to the circle, and then walked over to Applejack.
“Lift up your back hoof,” he spoke, holding out the quill as he waited. Applejack raised one, and watched as something was drawn on her hoof. Putting it down, she raised the other as Sombra also put the same rune on it. Stepping back, Sombra lowered his horn to the ground, and a large pulse of magic went out. Applejack turned, watching many crystal baskets form exactly where the straw one was under every apple tree.
“Alright, try bucking a fresh tree.” Sombra stepped back as Applejack moved to the next tree in the line, and turned, bucking like normal. At first the tree responded normally, however when she tried to remove her hooves she felt a draining sensation, and decided to keep her hooves on the tree. Glancing beside her to a unbucked tree, she saw a line of crystals race down her tree, and connect to the new one. After a moment, that tree flinched, and a line of crystals emerged from it, going to the next tree as Apples began to fall.
“Well don’t that beat all, what’s up with those crystals though?” Applejack took note of the strain slowly eating away her strength as the trees began to harvest apples without her walking to each one. As she removed her hoof, she breathed out slowly, and quickly went over the work required to buck a tree, compared to the drain of Sombra’s spell. They were about the same, but one was certainly faster.
“The spell is transferred from tree to tree by a current sent by the growth of the crystals. They shatter and vanish soon after you cease the spell.” Sombra paused, and nodded as the line of crystals shattered. Applejack watched as he quickly drew a copy of the circle and handed it to her, which she put in her saddlebags.
“Well, ah gotta say Sombra, thanks a bunch. This’ll really come in handy during cider season.” Applejack smiled warmly as Sombra nodded, following her toward the exit of Sweet Apple Acres. Surprisingly, four ponies were waiting for them.
“Applejack, Sombra, over here.” Rainbow Dash smirked, hovering in the air so she could admire the effect behind her for a little bit. As tired as she was, her buzzing mood provided more than enough energy. Rarity and Fluttershy were holding items. Pinkie Pie giggled and bounced for a moment before blinking and forcing herself to stay still.
“These are just the final crystals. I was not sure if you wanted them, or more.” Rarity bowed slightly as Sombra took them, and put them in his bags.
“I do not require any more gems.” Sombra looked blankly at them, devoid of emotion. Rarity smiled gently and nodded, stepping aside as Fluttershy held out what looked like a box of leaves.
“T-These are special tea leaves. I-I heard you have been having sleep problems, and thought these might help. I mean, if that’s okay with you.” Fluttershy held out the box, and Sombra levitated it over, opening his mouth as he gazed at Fluttershy.
“I am highly doubtful tea can help with my problem, but I shall attempt it regardless.” Sombra put the box away as Fluttershy nodded, and all but her gave him a warm smile. Sombra looked between them, and breathed out, looking toward the setting sun. All turned as running was heard, and Spike appeared from the direction of Ponyville.
“Twilight’s teleporting back at the front of the castle in 10 minutes. I’ve been looking for you everywhere.” Spike pointed toward the castle, and all shared a smile.
“Let’s go welcome back Twilight.” All except Sombra turned and began heading for the castle. Sombra paused for a moment, watching them walk together.
“Sombra, you coming?” Rainbow Dash turned, and all glanced back, raising an eyebrow. Sombra once more looked toward the setting sun, before turning and following them.