For the past few weeks, Ponyville has been in shambles thanks to a super being known as Tirek. With help from a convinced Discord, all the inhabitants of Equestria had their magic drained to fuel the centaur’s strength. It was with the combined strength of the Mane Six and their newfound power from the Tree of Harmony that sealed him away.
The damage will take a long time to fix both physically and mentally. In the destruction, The Ponyville Library was destroyed and only a precious few of the books that were checked out prior to its destruction survived. Construction crews are being stretched thin as the destruction was global.
Feeding them was another problem. Ponies have money to spend on food, but food wasn’t there for the most part. The main food markets brought very little of their harvests. Even Sweet Apple Acres didn’t bring as much a yield as usual, but they still had an asset on their sleeve.
As in any trade, marketing is key. Worried about Cosplay in light of recent events, Chelsey, Zipper and Diver came to Ponyville to check up on him. They were still a little shaken after receiving back their magic essence like the others, but not too badly. They stayed behind to help out at Sweet Apple Acres. When one of the ponies in town noticed the three and Cosplay, she brought over her friends to watch them do a street performance. As more and more came, Cosplay stopped the performance.
“If you are going to watch us perform, buy an apple!” He remarked.
At a rate of 4 bits per pony buying an apple, the stand made enough money to buy new apple seeds in one day. Having enough supplies keep up with the demand was another challenge, though. Zipper ran across the acres and back with a total count of the remaining trees; around 1,954 trees.
“That’s not a good number is it?”
“...Nope.
Things became a little more complicated when Applejack left with the rest of the Mane Six to a destination sent by the Castle of Harmony while Sunset Shimmer was asked by Celestia to meet with her. After two days, all trees with readily available apples were exhausted. Cosplay’s circus pals had to learn a few skills. Chelsey, roughly the size of Applejack, strained a few muscles pulling the plow with Big Mac supervising her. Zipper helped Cosplay and Winona with herding the cattle. Diver helped with making the apple cider with Granny Smith. Cogsworth, inside the mech Galgameth, uprooted demolished trees and placed them into a salmon spawning ground.
A little further north from the Badlands, a very loud buzzing sound was heard as an army of Changeling drones clustered together around a large object. Aside from indications of a tail, legs, and hands, the object was indistinguishable. A series of lights came in and out of the cluster before accumulating in a massive pulse. The sky rained with changelings as whatever creature they were attacking continued it’s journey, leaving footprints and tail draggings.
Over at the towers of Canterlot, Sunset walked into the throne room where Princess Celestia awaited.
"You wanted to see me, Princess Celestia?" Sunset asked.
"Sunset Shimmer, I have heard from Twilight a lot about you feeling troubled lately." - Celestia walked down from the throne - "Please, tell me what troubles you.
"I feel... left out..." - Sunset moved her head down - "With Twilight and the others gone..."
Celestia's wingtip raised her former student's chin, "Because Twilight and her friends are still connected with the Elements of Harmony, they go to where the Castle of Harmony calls them. But fate may have another journey for you."
"How?" Sunset asked.
"Follow me..."
Celestia took Sunset Shimmer to a part of a castle that she has never seen before. Inside were a series of incomplete stained glass windows and a table with a book on top.
"Sunset, do you recall the lecture of The Oracle?" The Sun Princess asked.
"The one who can foresee the future?" - Sunset moved trotted to her side - "I personally thought she was a legend." - She notices her former mentor silent - "She's real?"
"Indeed, my friend." - Celestia opened the book, revealing sketches of windows that are currently on display before moving to more unfinished ones - "And she still communicates with me in my dreams. Whatever I see then I draw or add them." - She then points to the unfinished stained glass windows - "when the events have fully realized, they are displayed in the hallway."
"Is that why Spike is shown on the stained glass window when you said that only Twilight alone can save the Crystal Empire?"
Celestia nodded - "fate works in mysterious ways."
The Alicorn turned a page to the point in history when Sunset is expelled, to her being forgiven by Twilight, to even Night Dancer's passing.
"You knew Night Dancer will die," - Sunset glared at her mentor - "and you never acted?"
"One of many I never acted upon" - Celestia lowered her head in shame - "I cannot interfere with time itself, and even if I would, Night Dancer would die by other causes."
Sunset teared up, "Why do you show me this?"
"Because..." - Celestia wrapped a hoof around her student - "I have had a recent vision..."
Turning a page revealed a series of sketches, the most amazing of which showed Sunset Shimmer being ascended as a pair of wings sprouted from her back. The present tense Unicorn smiled when she noticed something of an oddity. It was a Hipparion holding the decapitated head of a Pegasus while being surrounded by a new set of the Elements of Harmony.
Celestia, noticing her student's worried expression, answered, "I have only seen a glimpse of this, it may not be what it appears."
Sunset immediately hugged her mentor, her mentor doing the same before walking away towards her tower.
Another day passed by. The seeds are firmly planted in the ground. But it would take quite a while before the trees grow in place of the destroyed ones. After planting the last seed on the ground, Applebloom wiped the sweat off her brow. Cosplay patted the ground as his friends came up to him as well as Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo.
“I can see why you like to work here. It’s a great workout!” Chelsey complemented.
“Butwestilhaveaproblemwiththelackoftrees, whichmeanslackofapples, whichmeansfewerpeopletofeedto, makingallthishardworkimpossible!” Zipper quickly explained.
“Stop whining!" - Cogsworth remarked - "They have problems like this in the past. Besides, the only thing that is keeping us from losing it is that we are feeding our friends too.”
“Darn tootin’ young un!” Granny Smith replied as she slowly walked towards the sweat covered children. “Back in my day, ponies settled more with less. Nowadays, ponies want everything. Tv, video games, internet. Spoiled bunches, no offense…”
“None taken.”
Granny Smith continued her afternoon walk.
“Unless you Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon.” Scootaloo whispered, resulting in a good chuckle from Sweetie Belle.
Granny Smith’s comment did give Cosplay an idea.
“Hey Applebloom," - Cosgrove turned to Apple Bloom - "weren’t you working on a growth potion for the science fair?”
The cream colored filly began to grasp at what he is thinking. Motioning the group to the clubhouse, she placed a book on the table and began to recall the steps she took before the incident with Tirek.
“Ah will need these last few items; an eggshell of a bluejay, a few drops morning dew, and a patch of mint leaves.”
As Apple bloom spoke the remaining ingredients, the other ponies gathered said materials in the around the farm. Mixing them in a brew, they looked in awe as the potion had a golden glow to it. Scootaloo placed a small apple next to the potion. Filling a small dropper with the potion Apple bloom carefully placed a drop on the apple. The group looked closely at the apple before it grew to twice its size.
Small scale down, they applied one drop for a planted seed and found a sapling popping out the ground. They then added a drop to three more seeds just to be safe. While it would take time, the trees should be able to grow faster now. Making a rope fence around the new batch of apple trees, they labeled a sign as “Big Apples.” Diver looked up to the sun as it slowly drifted toward the west.
“Guess we will see you tomorrow then?” The merpony asked
Cosgrove nodded before he, Cogsworth, Chelsey, Zipper, and Diver made their way out of the farm.
As the sun finally set and the moon was high in the sky, the saplings became full grown trees. As they have labeled in the sign, the trees are slightly larger and have more apples at ready. One grows too fast and falls on the ground. A fruit fly lands on the succulent apple and begins to ingest as much as it could. The fly grew twice its size. It buzzed away as more fruit flies gathered around. Suddenly the fly was caught by a praying mantis. Spreading its wings, it carried the victim over to its mate. Passing the meal over, she consumes it while he deposits its seed. The male does not notice that the female is now four times as big as the male when she begins to devour him. Too heavy to fly, she lays her eggs while consuming any fruit fly flying too close to her.
At a river close by, a fisher pony pulls out a net, only to find a small trout. He gave a huff when a large salmon plopped on his boat. He gives a confused moan as another large salmon plops onto his boat. He turned to the second fish as tens more of large fish began hopping onto his boat. The weight of so much fish was too great to support the boat. The stallion tried to swim to the surface as he saw a something… gigantic swim by him. When he caught his breath, he saw a large mound of water ahead.