//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: Changing Times // Story: Earth Ponies Can Cast Spells Too // by Paulicus //------------------------------// Applejack lay by the fire, listening to the soft rhythm of Twilight's breath as she slept. Rainbow Dash had taken the first watch and was out surveying the area. It had been a taxing day, and by all rights Applejack should've been sleeping off her exhaustion like Twilight. It would be her turn to stand watch soon. Her brain wouldn't let her sleep, though. Her thoughts were focused on what lie ahead. She sighed, idly tracing her hoof along the faintly glowing runes adorning her foreleg. It had barely been three months since the fey first began appearing in Equestria, yet so much had changed. Before, if somepony had told her she would be spending her time searching for and banishing dark creatures from another world – especially if they told her she'd be doing so wielding powerful spells – she would've burst out laughing. Funny how life sneaks up on you... It all began during the Appleloosan spring harvest. Applejack's cousin Braeburn had become something of an Apple-family celebrity after successfully planting apple trees in Equestria's southern desert. However, their orchard was still young, and the small crop of apples it produced wasn't enough to keep the growing frontier town fed. Applejack had been more than happy to help. After all, Sweet Apple Acres was well-established, and the Ponyville Apples almost always had a surplus. All that was left to work out were the details. Applejack chose to use the opportunity to visit her southern kin. After a warm welcome, Braeburn offered to show Applejack their newest fields, which she eagerly accepted. “It sure is a beautiful sight,” Applejack said, surveying the saplings that would one day tower over the ponies. “I'm still amazed that y'all managed to get apple trees to grow in this heat.” Braeburn beamed with pride. “It wasn't easy, but you know the saying, 'An earth pony never quits.' We're living proof of that.” “You always were the stubborn one,” Applejack said playfully. “Really? From the stories I've heard, you're a pretty strong contender for that title.” Braeburn snickered. “Oh hush, you.” Applejack smiled and swatted his shoulder. “Tell me about Bloomberg. Is he okay?” “He's just fine, no need to fret. He's even a contender for one of the highest-producing trees on the farm! A tough one, just like you said.” “Glad to hear he's taken to the weather down here,” Applejack said, admiring the orchard. Applejack turned abruptly. She though she had seen movement at the edge of her vision, but before her lay nothing but trees and soil. “Something the matter, cuz?” Braeburn asked. “I thought I saw something...” Applejack scratched her head. “Probably just one of the guards.” Braeburn shrugged. “There's no shortage of rustlers and thieves in these parts. A few ponies watching the orchard is usually enough to scare them off though, I wouldn't worry none.” “If you say so.” Applejack relaxed and continued walking with her cousin. The last thing she remembered was a loud 'thwack' and the ground rushing up to meet her. Applejack awoke with a groan. Her head was pounding, and she could hear a muffled voice nearby. Shakily, she forced herself to her hooves. “Whoa there! You shouldn't be standing, you took a nasty blow to the head.” “Ugh, what happened...” Applejack rubbed her head, only to find blood staining her hoof when she pulled it away. “Whatever it was, must've rattled you a good bit, darlin', I just told ya.” The stallion's voice almost sounded amused. He placed a steadying hoof on Applejack's shoulder. “One of the other workers found ya out here and ran for the doctor. He should be here soon.” Looking around, Applejack realized that her cousin was missing. “Braeburn! Where's Braeburn?” “Don't you worry, miss, the deputy's chasin' him down as we speak. Saw some desert critter carryin' him off thataway.” The stallion pointed deeper into the desert, away from town. “Dusty Chains always gets his man.” “Braeburn!” Applejack broke away at a full run. “Miss! You need to wait for the Doc!” Applejack burst into the open desert. Her thoughts were racing to figure out what happened, but to no avail. She just knew she had to help save Braeburn. She spotted them within minutes. A large, gray-skinned beast on two legs was fending off a small group of ponies with a large ax. One of them already lay crumpled on the ground nearby. Applejack could see Braeburn's limp form hanging from the creature's shoulder. One of the deputies, a dust-colored unicorn, was trying to bind the creature with his magic. Applejack saw magical rope coil around the creature's limbs. She saw walls and domes of pure force conjured around the beast, but it was all in vain. The beast tore through the magical restraints with a single, effortless swing. It grabbed another pony and tossed them aside. Applejack could hear a low, scratching sound over the din of combat, almost like the beast was laughing. “Braeburn!” Applejack shouted, pushing herself as fast as she could. It seemed that the stallion in the orchard was right, however. Applejack's vision began to blur, and she saw the familiar sight of the ground impacting her face as she fell once again. For the second time, Applejack awoke in pain. This time, however, she was lying in a comfortable bed. She could feel the bandages clinging to her mane as she turned her head. She was in a cozy room with a wooden floor and white-curtained window. A small yellow mare in white scrubs was looking for something in one of the various cabinets lining the walls. Applejack tried to speak, but what came out sounded more like a groan. The yellow mare jumped. “Oh, you're awake! Good, that's good... I should get the doctor then.” She made for the door. “Wait,” Applejack said, her voice hoarse. “Where's Braeburn?” The nurse paused and looked at the floor. “I... I'll get the doctor.” She hurriedly left the room. Applejack didn't have to wait long, as a blue pony in a white coat entered soon after. He leafed through folder while talking. “Applejack, right? You're awake, that's a good sign. You sustained some minor head trauma. It wasn't too serious, though I really must caution against running off next time, you could've made things much worse. We patched you up and gave you some – ” “Doc, what happened to my cousin?” Applejack's voice was thick with worry. The doctor looked at Applejack solemnly. “Braeburn? Well... I'm afraid – ” There was a knock a the door. An expression of relief washed over the doctor. “That would be your visitor.” In stepped a unicorn sporting a leather vest and a silver star. Applejack recognized him as the deputy from earlier. He had a dusty coat, chocolate-colored mane, and a pair of manacles on his flank. He introduced himself as Deputy Chains. “You were there, Deputy. Please, for the love of Celestia, tell me where Braeburn is!” Applejack's voice was tense. The stallion removed his hat and lowered his eyes. “I've never lost a perp before, miss, not a one. I know a dozen different spells for catching lawbreakers. But this... I don't know what to say. I couldn't do a damn thing. That monster tore right through my spells, just ignored them like they weren't even there. We tried to take the bastard down, really we did, but it was freakishly strong. It snatched up Deputy Givens, too. Took 'em both and ran off into the desert. We tried to track it down, but the trail ran out and there was...” The deputy looked directly at Applejack with misty eyes. “Blood. So much... I'm sorry.” Applejack's faced paled. She said nothing. She just cried. One month later... It was a typical morning at Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack was in the western orchard, working on her chores for the day. Big Macintosh was elsewhere, tackling the large crop of apples that needed harvesting. The sky was clear, and the sun shined brightly. In spite of this, Applejack felt no warmth on her coat. She heaved, the sound of apples falling neatly into the arranged baskets bringing none of its usual satisfaction. She felt the familiar ache in her muscles that came with hard work, but instead of putting a smile on her face, it simply made her tired. The sweat matting her coat brought nothing but a cold chill with the breeze. It had been that way ever since – Applejack shook her head, mentally chastising herself. "Ain't no use thinkin' about that, I got work to do," she thought to herself, grabbing the now-full baskets and placing them into her cart. But try as she might, thoughts of Braeburn and the creature that took him kept trying to force their way in. "I need a distraction... I'm already ahead on my chores for the day, s'pose it wouldn't hurt to take the afternoon off. Maybe Twilight can help, she's always going on about some new book or other." Applejack dropped her cart off at the barn and walked into town, taking time to relax in the shade of a maple tree and listen to the birds singing on the way. “Howdy, Spike,” Applejack said when the dragon answered the door. “Hey, Applejack! Twilight's in the kitchen, but she should be right out. Have a seat!” Spike pulled out a chair by the table. “Mighty kind of ya, Spike.” “No problem! Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to my Lava Sapphire Nachos.” The young dragon licked his lips. “Heh, you dragons sure do love the spicy stuff,” Applejack said, forcing a smile. “You know it!” Twilight emerged from the kitchen a few moments later, levitating a tray of daffodil sandwiches. “At least turn on the fan, Spike, those fumes are noxious!” Applejack heard Spike say something about ponies and weak stomachs. “Applejack! How convenient! I'm glad you're here.” Twilight set the tray on the table, offering them to her friend. “I've been looking into the"–she paused a chewed her lip nervously for a moment–"Appleloosan incident a few weeks ago, and I've uncovered a disturbing trend.” “Have ya now?” Applejack fidgeted in her chair. “I just don't know if I'm comfortable talkin' about it yet, Twi.” Twilight looked concerned. “I understand, and I'm sorry, but I wouldn't bring it up if it wasn't important.” Applejack sighed, then nodded. “The creature's interaction with Deputy Chains' restraining spells intrigued me. I wrote to him, and from his description it didn't seem like the creature simply overpowered his magical restraints, more that it completely ignored its effects. Needless to say, I found that idea fascinating. I'd never heard of such a thing.” Twilight turned to search one of the library's shelves, grabbing a book with her magic and presenting it to Applejack. It contained scribbled characters she didn't understand, and an illustration of a blue, breezie-like creature with six legs and compound eyes. “After some research, I found a reference to creatures called 'Fey' in Pre-Equestrian lore – far older than the Princesses – that supposedly had some form of innate immunity to unicorn magic. It says that they came from another dimension that roughly translates to 'First World.' The tale even suggests that changelings descended from them, if you believe that sort of thing.” “This is all real interestin', Twi, but what's your point?” Applejack said impatiently. “The point is that other Fey-sightings have been occurring around Equestria.” “What?!” Applejack's eyes opened wide. “You mean there's more than one of those monsters runnin' loose?!” Twilight nodded. “So it seems. It started out slow, but in the last week alone there have been reports from Vanhoover, Baltimare, and even Trottingham. The specifics vary, but in all cases the creatures completely bypassed the present unicorns' magic. In one case, ponies witnessed the creature actually coming through some kind of portal, which I suspect led to this 'First World' the fey are supposedly from.” “Landsakes!” Applejack said, a look of shock on her face. “Why didn't y'all mention that to begin with?!” “Sorry, I thought you should have some context first,” Twilight said. “I don't want to alarm you, but Princess Celestia is starting to worry that these incidents are increasing in frequency. And unfortunately, I don't see anything to contradict that.” Applejack silently fumed for a moment. If other ponies were suffering the way she had... she couldn't let that happen. Something had to be done. “We can fix this, let's gather the Elements and – ” “I'm afraid they won't help us this time, at least not yet.” Twilight's statement cut through Applejack's resolve like a knife. “Without knowing the cause of this outbreak, the most we could do is take care of each incident one-by-one... but that will quickly become untenable if we keep seeing more of them.” Applejack sat, dumbfounded. “There must be something we can do.” Twilight grinned. “Don't worry, Applejack, I may not have had any luck discovering why this is happening, but I do have a plan on how we can defend ourselves.” Applejack ears perked up, one eyebrow rising . “...I'm listening.” “It's well-known in mage circles that earth ponies and pegasi have their own forms of magic.” Twilight relaxed, settling into her familiar lecturing routine. “Earth ponies are tied to the land, while pegasi control the skies and weather. However, both pony races lack a horn, which is what allows unicorns to focus and direct their magic in specific, controlled ways.” “I don't see how this helps us with the fey problem.” “I'm getting to that,” Twilight said, slightly annoyed at the interruption. “From what I've been able to gather, this 'First World' is some kind of primeval garden, similar to the Everfree Forest – though hopefully less dangerous. My hypothesis is that earth pony magic, being tied to nature like these fey creatures, might actually be able to affect them in meaningful ways, possibly even returning them home. What they need is a 'horn' of sorts, some way to focus and direct those energies so that they can cast spells themselves –” “Hold on there, sugarcube,” Applejack said, holding up a hoof. “Earth ponies casting spells? Now that's just plum crazy. I don't see much of that happening any time soon.” She tapped her forehead where a unicorn's horn would be. “Oh, don't be so sure, Applejack.” Twilight's eyes sparkled with excitement. She levitated a piece of paper from her desk and placed it in front of her friend. On it was a sketch of a pony, parts of the body covered in intricate, flowing designs. “When I was a still a student in Canterlot, I wrote a paper on the theoretical feasibility of imbuing magical energies within runic inscriptions for future use.” “Uh... come again?” Applejack said, arching an eyebrow. Twilight rolled her eyes. “I was studying how to store spells to use later. Originally the idea was to store them on scrolls, but my research suggested that placing the runes in close contact with the body might be more efficient. It was all highly theoretical, of course. I ended up studying friendship here in Ponyville instead, so I never followed up on it.” “Uhh...” Applejack swallowed a few times and tried to gather her thoughts. “This is a lot to take in, Twi... But, let's say all this does work. Why me? There's gotta be another earth pony out there more suited to learning all this magic rune business.” “Well, you're right about there being earth ponies around town that are more academically-oriented. However, this is going to be a difficult task. It'll take a lot of close work and dedication, and I already know you have those qualities in abundance.” Twilight reached across the table and touched Applejack's hoof to emphasize her point. “And, with all that I've learned here in the last few years, I believe that the magic of friendship, and the fact that you bear one of the Elements of Harmony, will prove invaluable in helping you learn to harness your inner magic.” Twilight settled back into her chair and picked up her sandwich. “Plus, can you imagine how hard it would be to get Pinkie Pie to sit in one place long enough for me to explain runic theory?” Twilight chuckled. “Heh, I guess you got a point there.” Applejack thoughts drifted back to that day in Appleloosa. She thought of her lost cousin Braeburn, and of the countless other ponies that would suffer similar fates if these creatures ran loose through Equestria... Applejack couldn't let that happen. “What do you say, AJ? Will you at least try?” Applejack nodded with determination. “I'll do it.” The next few weeks were a blur for Applejack and Twilight alike. Big Mac and Applebloom were able to tend the farm while Applejack spent her days at the library. Half of her time there was dedicated to learning magical theory from Twilight, including how to translate spells from intrinsic flows of magical energies into complicated runes that she laboriously practiced painting onto parchment. The rest of her time was taken up by Twilight testing and measuring her with Celestia-knows-what kind of equipment, all so that Twilight could better understand earth pony magic and how to adapt her runic theory to work with an earth pony instead of a unicorn. Applejack was fiercely dedicated to her studies, but that dedication made patience difficult. She kept thinking about Braeburn, and what other tragedies might be happening while Applejack was sitting in the library with Twilight. Still, she knew her friend was right. Applejack just hoped that all this would be worth it, and that they would be able to make it work in time. The Dark Fey, as they came to be called, were becoming more common. “Alright!” said Twilight, setting down the chalk she'd been using to demonstrate the finer points of rune construction. “How are you feeling, AJ?” Applejack squinted at the paper in front of her, comparing her design to the one Twilight had drawn on the board and the others scattered about the table in front of her. “Y'know, I'm thinkin' that I'm finally starting to get all this.” She looked up at Twilight and grinned widely. “Heck, I just might be ready to give it a go!” “Great!” Twilight levitated a paintbrush with her as she approached Applejack. “We've been practicing on paper up until now, but as you already know, these runes will need to be directly applied to your body in order to maximize the flow of magical energies.” As she spoke, Twilight brought out a mortar and pestle, and ground up a few herbs before mixing them with the dye. “I had to import these from the Dragon Isles. They weren't cheap, but they should serve as excellent magical conductors, and they're hard to wash off – perfect for our needs.” She dipped the brush into the finished concoction and brought it to Applejack's shoulder. “I'll help you get started, though you'll want to practice applying this yourself. If we're lucky, we'll be able to prepare a levitation spell that'll make the job easier for you... there.” Twilight stepped back to admire her handiwork. The rune was a small one, designed to replicate a simple light spell. It consisted of seven vines radiating from a central point in a branching pattern, forming a circle about the size of a butter knife. “What do you think, AJ?” Applejack walked to the mirror for a better look. She nervously checked the branching, the angle of the runes, and made sure the serifs were properly located. Applejack knew that these details could mean the difference between a successful spell, a dud, and a dangerous mishap. Her first attempt had been more towards the 'dangerous mishap' end of the spectrum. It was, as Twilight put it, “unexpectedly exothermic,” and she had not been happy about losing some of her favorite books. “At least she's got some practice with that fire-extinguishing spell now,” Applejack thought. Finally satisfied, with the design on her coat, she nodded and turned back to Twilight with a grin. “Looks good to me! What say we give it a shot?” Twilight nodded in agreement. “Now, channeling your magic can be tricky. Unicorns learn to visualize their magic from a young age, but you being an earth pony, I have something slightly different in mind.” She slowly began to pace around Applejack, looking for signs of magical activity. “Close your eyes. I want you to picture one of your favorite places on the orchard. Remember all the little details. The rows of trees, the wind in the grass, the clouds in the sky... make the image as real as you can, pretend that you're actually there now...” Applejack did as instructed. She remembered a hill in the western fields of Sweet Apple Acres where she would often watch the sunset or gaze at the stars. She remembered the evening chill, the dew forming on the grass as the sunlight waned. Applejack pushed her energy into the design on her shoulder, willing it to work... But it didn't. Applejack tried again. She visualized the orchard, saw herself walking between rows of apple trees swaying in the breeze. She focused all of her mental abilities on recreating the scenes and feelings that she felt after a long day tending the land – tired but satisfied, hyper-aware of the elements around her, as if she were one with the world. Applejack lost track of how long she stood in the library, pretending to be out in the sun and trees… She almost forgot that she still was in the library. No matter how hard she tried, though, there was no magic in the rune on her shoulder. Applejack sighed and opened her eyes, disappointment plain on her face. “Sorry, Twi,” she said. “This all sounds nice in theory, but maybe that's all it is.” She scuffed her hoof on the floor, looking downward. Twilight sat on her haunches in the corner, hoof to her chin in concentration. Applejack was almost ready to turn and leave when Twilight gasped in revelation. She grabbed Applejack, wearing barely-contained grin, and pulled her out the door. “Come with me!” Twilight led Applejack away from town, towards Sweet Apple Acres. She led them into the orchard, between the rows of apple trees and away from any distractions. Finally, she turned to face her friend once again. “Set and setting! I should've thought of this sooner. How could you cast your first spell in that stuffy old library?” She sat and rubbed her hooves in anticipation. “Let's try it again, AJ.” Applejack gave a furtive groan, but complied. She closed her eyes, kneaded her hooves in the soil, listened to the leaves on the trees, and felt the wind on her muzzle. She could feel the energy in the world around her, almost as if everything were coming to life. Perhaps this might work after – Twilight's gasp interrupted Applejack's tranquility. Her eyes shot open to glare at Twilight for breaking her concentration, but she immediately noticed the glow emitting from the light rune. She gaped, seeing the green light weave it's way out from the center, filling in the seven branches as it went. No sooner had the entire glyph filled than the light broke away, coalescing into a small translucent sphere that floated above Applejack's head. Twilight squealed with glee, clopping her hooves. “Omigosh omigosh! It actually worked!! I mean, the theory was sound, but to actually see it in person... What a breakthrough!!” Twilight's speech continued to hasten until she trailed off into a series of high-pitched squeals and giggles, clearly satisfied with the results. Applejack, on the other hand, abruptly fell to her haunches, staring dumbfounded at the ethereal orb above her. After a few moments, her muzzle was split with what was possibly the widest smile she had ever worn. A childlike giddiness rose up from deep inside, and she found herself unable to keep from cheering and laughing along with Twilight. “Magic... Magic! I... I just cast a spell!” Applejack cried, tossing her hat into the air in jubilation. After a few minutes of excitement, the duo calmed themselves enough to speak. “Fascinating,” Twilight remarked, staring at the glowing light. “It seems that without a horn to latch onto, the light spell simply follows the user in a convenient location. How unexpected!” Applejack sat staring at the orb, occasionally raising a hoof towards it like a cat playing with a hanging thread. “Come on, Applejack,” Twilight said, the grin still adorning her muzzle. “Let's get back to the library, there's still plenty of work to be done.” Applejack woke with a start. She felt something touch her shoulder and turned lightning-fast to face the threat, a rune on her face glowing red. “Whoa there AJ, it's just me! Don't shoot.” Rainbow Dash said, putting her hooves up in mock surrender and smirking. She wore a loose canvas scarf around her neck, useful for keeping the desert sands out of one's mouth and nose. A fresh bandage from earlier that day obscured part of her mane. The flying goggles sitting on her brow had left a conspicuous area around her eyes devoid of the crimson dust they had become accustomed to. Applejack rubbed her eyes and glanced around. She must've fallen asleep, at least for a little while. Wisps and embers were all that remained in the fire ring. Applejack could feel the chill of the night setting in. “Good thing you've got me watching your back! If I was one of those Darklings, you would've been toast!” Rainbow Dash said, still smirking. She fluttered over to the wood pile and tossed a few sticks on the fire. “Don't worry, the area's clear. I double-checked during my rounds.” The pegasus settled in to her bedroll and closed her eyes. “It's your turn to take watch, by the way. This pegasus needs her shut-eye.” Applejack stood with a groan and stretched. After a few moments shaking off the last vestiges of sleep, she muttered to herself, “Guess I'll go walk the perimeter,” though Rainbow Dash had already added her soft snoring to Twilight's gentle cadence. Once away from the fire, Applejack's thoughts inevitably returned to the day's events. She meandered through the rocks and sagebrush, keeping one eye open for shadowy threats and reflecting on the path that had led her here. The day was scorchingly hot, Celestia's sun bearing down on them from above. They had rested to avoid the worst of the midday heat, but even in the late afternoon it was uncomfortably warm. A gentle breeze passed through on occasion, drying their sweat but coating them in fine sand. Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash were scouting out Equestria's southern desert for a particularly troublesome fey that had been spotted in the area. Applejack suspected it was the same creature responsible for Braeburn's death months prior, and she longed for revenge. Rainbow Dash had taken to the skies, scanning the surrounding area for signs of their quarry. The two earthbound ponies would occasionally catch glimpses of her rainbow contrail against the blue sky above. After four days on the trail, Applejack was missing her home fiercely, though she didn't show it. She still helped on the farm when she could. However, as the most experienced of the new 'Rune Mages,' as they had come to be known, Applejack was often called away to help new trainees or deal with particularly dangerous fey. For reasons Applejack herself couldn't quite understand, nopony else had quite managed to reach her level of mastery over Twilight's new runic theory. It could be related to her connection to the Elements of Harmony, but it wasn't an important enough subject to spend limited resources studying. Even though Applejack's family was very understanding of her absences, it caused her no small amount of heartache to be away from home so often. The fey problem had only grown worse, just as Twilight had predicted. Luckily, the First World activity was largely confined to Equestria's border regions. In order to combat the menace, Princess Celestia had ordered the formation of elite squads throughout the land who guarded and watched over their assigned areas. These squads typically consisted of at least one of each pony race. The pegasi served as effective scouts, finding the elusive fey and directing their squads to their location. The unicorns were invaluable for their general magical expertise, typically had excellent command of group tactics, and helped track the Dark Fey. Finally, the new earth pony Rune Mages were invaluable since their magic was actually capable of affecting the fey in meaningful ways. Once the creatures were subdued, it was their job to banish them. A thunderous crash broke Applejack's reverie. She exchanged a concerned look with Twilight before they both took off towards the sound. As they rounded an outcropping of rock, they spotted Rainbow Dash frantically trying to avoid the gaping maw of a large worm-like creature. It was covered in purple scales, with a mouth framed by three toothy protrusions. A trio of black tentacles extended from deep within its maw, and it was using these appendages to attack Rainbow Dash. The pegasus dodged and weaved, trying to get clear of the creature's massive body. The worm moved with odd grace for such a large being, diving effortlessly in and out of the desert sands. Whenever Rainbow Dash made for an escape, the worm quickly maneuvered to block her path. “A Tatzlwurm!” Twilight said, “We have to be careful, these creatures are extremely dangerous! Their scales are harder than rock, and they have a poisonous – ” “I'm a-comin' Rainbow Dash!!” Applejack charged directly towards the massive purple worm attacking her friend. “Applejack, wait! We need a plan!” Twilight said in exasperation, chasing after her friend. Rainbow Dash looked relieved at her friends' approach. However, the distraction was all the Tatzlwurm needed to wrap one of its slimy tentacles around the her leg. She gave a cry of surprise as she was yanked out of the air towards the worm's massive three-sided maw. “I don't think so!” Applejack yelled, the sweeping runes of fire on her face glowing red. Applejack felt the familiar sting of heat as the air around her began to sizzle and distort. The red glow emanating from the stylized flames near her eye flashed into a ball of fire, splitting apart and sending a trio of flaming bolts towards the Tatzlwurm, striking near its eyes. Applejack grinned. She might not be able to cast teleportation or shield spells, but when it came to brute-force magics like pyrokinesis, she shined like Celestia's sun. Twilight had deduced that earth pony magic was more closely tied to primal elemental forces, rather than some of the more esoteric spells unicorns were capable of. At first, Applejack preferred more predictable elements like ice or earth spells, but once she gained better control over her magic, she had developed an affinity for fire. Twilight insisted that the fine control required meant the targeting rune had to be placed near Applejack's eyes. Rainbow Dash described them as “wicked cool,” and said they looked like Spitfire during a race. Personally, Applejack thought they made her look ridiculous. She couldn't argue with their effectiveness, though. The Tatzlwurm let loose a horrible scream, forcing the ponies to close their ears to shut out the cacophony. Rainbow Dash was violently tossed away as the beast writhed from Applejack's fiery barrage. The Rune Mage quickly became the beast's new target. “Whoa nelly!” Applejack skidded to a stop as the Tatzlwurm matched her charge, Twilight joining her shortly thereafter. The giant worm was bounding in and out of the sands as like a dolphin through the seas. Both Applejack and Twilight could feel the tremors growing stronger as it approached. The two ponies turned and ran. “Sure, let's just run in shooting,” Twilight yelled sarcastically over her shoulder as they ran. “Great plan, Applejack!” “I had to do somethin'! We couldn't just sit around while Rainbow got eaten!” “Rainbow Dash can fly,” Twilight said, weaving between rocks and bushes. “She stood a better chance than we do, especially without any sort of plan!” “I had a plan! Shoot it with fire!” “That's not a plan!” Twilight shook her head. “Ugh, some ponies! Now listen up! I have a real plan...” Twilight quickly explained her strategy, and the duo separated. Twilight shot a few bolts of magical energy, capturing the Tatzlwurm's attention. She led the creature in a wide arc, pelting it with more spells to keep it focused on her. Meanwhile, Applejack made for a particular outcropping nearby. She quickly climbed up, reaching the top in moments. If she'd had the time, Applejack may have taken a moment to appreciate the farm life that had kept her so fit, but there wasn't a second to spare. Applejack looked down and saw Twilight leading the Tatzlwurm back towards her position. She focused her energies into the levitation glyph inscribed on her body, pouring everything she could muster into the spell. Applejack felt her magic grasp some of the rocks below, ones that Twilight said were holding the structure aloft. If Applejack could loosen the stones at the right time, they might bury the Tatzlwurm in the collapse. Below, Twilight's horn glowed and she teleported past the outcropping. She cast another spell, surrounding herself in a shell of magical force. The intention was to slow the beast long enough for Applejack to strike. The worm burrowed through the sand, bursting forth directly in front of the stalwart unicorn. Its tentacles bounced harmlessly off of Twilight shield. Applejack's brow furrowed as she tried to loosen the stones below her. Beads of sweat ran down her face as she put everything she had into her levitation spell. She watched from above as the Tatzlwurm pressed the attack, this time putting the full weight of its body behind its massive jaws. Finally, she felt the rocks slip and fall. She leaped back towards solid ground, watching with satisfaction as the rocks tumbled down, heading straight for the giant snake below. The Tatzlwurm's jaws were clamped onto Twilight's shield, small cracks beginning to form in the magical sphere. The unicorn inside focused all of her energy into maintaining it. The stones fell, impacting the Tatzlwurm and pinning it to the ground. At the same, Twilight's shield shattered. The impact of the stones caused the Tatzlwurm to momentarily recoil, but it quickly made one last lunge for the meal before it. Twilight, momentarily dazed by the lost spell, was wrapped up tightly in the Tatzlwurm's slimy black tentacles. “Twilight!” Braeburn's limp body flashed through Applejack's mind, fear turning her stomach into a knot. However, just as the worm began to drag Twilight into it's waiting maw, Rainbow Dash appeared next to the beast, her hoof sinking directly into the creature's eye. The beast roared, loosening its grip on Twilight. The distraction was enough for Twilight to get off a single spell. Her horn flared, and she disappeared from its grasp. “Attagirl, Rainbow.” Applejack sighed with relief. Rainbow Dash hadn't simply flown in from afar to save Twilight, she had literally appeared in the air right next to the worm. Or so it had appeared. Applejack knew that Rainbow Dash had just made excellent use of one of the few rune spells developed for pegasi. Pegasus magic was just as distinct as earth pony magic was from a unicorn's, so it required just as much work to understand and develop rune spells for. Their magic wasn't particularly effective against the fey that had been invading Equestria, so there hadn't yet been much research on the subject. However, given the pegasi's affinity for air and weather, there had been at least one unique and, as Rainbow herself put it, “awesomesauce,” spell developed for the airborne pony race: Invisibility. Applejack was joined shortly by Twilight and Rainbow Dash. The three breathed a collective sigh of relief, glancing down at the Tatzlwurm as it struggled to free itself from the rock slide Applejack had caused. “Great timing, RD!” Applejack said, patting her friend on the shoulder. “And great job with that new spell!” “Thanks.” Rainbow Dash smiled. “I'm still nowhere near your level though, took me a few tries to actually get it to work. I'm glad I did, though!” “Me too. I don't want to think what would've happened if you hadn't shown up when you did.” Twilight shuddered. Rainbow Dash chuckled. “No need to thank me, it's all – ” Her response was cut short as rumbling sound came from below, followed by a loud roar as the Tatzlwurm broke free of its rocky prison. It slammed into the remaining rock, sending the three ponies hurtling towards the ground below. Applejack landed hard. Breathless and dizzy, she struggled to her hooves. Looking around, she spotted her friends nearby. Rainbow Dash had been knocked unconscious, blood soaking part of her mane. Twilight sat nearby, desperately trying to free her hind legs from the rubble. “Applejack, look out!” She pointed towards the now-demolished outcropping. The Tatzlwurm towered above them, freeing the last of its body from the rubble and ready to pounce on the helpless ponies. Applejack's muzzle pulled back in a snarl. She planted her hooves and lowered her body like a Timberwolf ready to pounce, hair on her hackles rising. Waves of angry red and orange replaced the green of her eyes. “NO!! I've had enough of you! You... overgrown varmint!” She poured all of her rage into the runes on her body. Magical energy coursed through her, bolstered by her desire to protect her friends. Powerful light emanated from multiple glyphs as Applejack focused all of her power towards the giant beast before her. All around, large boulders began to rise up, shrouded in an orange glow and hurtling towards the Tatzlwurm. Fiery energy poured from Applejack's face, and the boulders began to glow red-hot. Countless stones rose from the earth around the worm, mixed with growing waves of fire. They pelted the creature, stunning it. As the fire raged, the stones began to flow like water, coalescing into a rush of molten rock that overtook and encased the Tatzlwurm like a giant statue. Twilight's legs were free, but she didn't move. She sat, staring slack-jawed at Applejack as the earth pony fell to her knees from exhaustion. Finally, Twilight realized she had been freed and rushed over to Applejack. “Wow, Applejack!” she said with concern and wonder. “That was amazing!” “Shoot, Twi, weren't nothin',” Applejack said through heavy breath. “Just helping my friends is all.” She managed to turn her up toward Twilight and smiled. “No, really,” Twilight responded, helping Applejack to her hooves. “That degree of direct control of elemental magic is extremely rare, even among unicorns! Ooh, this raises so many questions!” Twilight's natural inquisitiveness was beginning to take over. “That's real interestin', Twi, but we should really make sure Rainbow Dash isn't hurt too bad,” Applejack cut in, motioning towards the unconscious pegasus. “Looks like she took a good hit to the head.” Twilight's eyes opened wide with concern. “Oh! You're right!” She dashed over to her injured friend, Applejack close behind. Luckily, Rainbow Dash quickly came to. Twilight was able to use her magic to alleviate the worst of her friend's injury. She excitedly explained the events of the past few minutes while Applejack cleaned Rainbow Dash’s injury and wrapped her head with a bandage. “Sure sounds impressive,” Rainbow Dash said once Twilight had finished, though she couldn't muster much enthusiasm. “I'll have to keep my eye on you, AJ. If I don't you might end up beating me one of these days!” Rainbow Dash grinned. “Oh, hush,” Applejack responded, playfully swatting her now-recovered friend. “I think it's about time we set up camp ya'll, we all need a good rest.” Applejack must have gotten lost in thought, as she found herself back at camp, finished with her rounds. Checking the moon, she saw it was just about time for Twilight to take over. Applejack sat for a few minutes longer, staring at the stars and wondering about the turns her life had taken. She felt an odd mix of excitement for the possibilities of the future, and of nostalgia for the simplicity of the past. Finally, she felt the siren song of sleep calling to her. She gently woke Twilight, placed a few more logs on the fire, and settled in for sleep. She needed her strength – there was still a monster to kill.