//------------------------------// // Sweet Apple Acres // Story: The Lost Flower // by Silver Letter //------------------------------// The land of Sweet Apple Acres came into focus. It was hot out and the sun baked the nearby stacks of hay beside the road. Several cows wandered near Twilight and Spike, munching slowly on grass and staring at the pony who appeared in a sudden flash of light. They weren’t interested for long and returned to eating as Twilight regained her balance and her sense of direction. “I guess Starlight overshot her teleportation,” she said, seeing that her friend wasn’t around. She looked over her shoulder at Spike. He was coming to, rubbing his eyes with his scaly fists. “Ugh…what happened? Did I faint or something?” he said. He then yawned. “It looked like you were being overcome by a spell or at least that’s what it seemed to me,” Twilight said. “Starlight isn’t here. Let’s go to the farm.” She galloped over to the red barn where the Apple Family lived. The scent of apples permeated the air and activated Twilight’s weakness for the tart fruit. As the house came into sight, she could see her friend, Applejack, the pony with her distinct brown hat. To her surprise, Starlight was also there and the two were talking. They fell silent as she reached them. Twilight could easily see that things have turned out okay for now. She hurried and gave Starlight a hug while Spike jumped to the ground. “Twilight, is everything alright? I heard from Starlight that you two fled the castle,” Applejack said, relaying the terrible news. Twilight broke her hug and her face turned somber. “Yes, that is true. We received a dire letter from Princess Luna urging us to find a safe place and this was the first area that came to mind. I just hope that I haven’t put your family in danger too.” Truth be told, Twilight at times wanted to just cry at that thought of putting her friends in harm’s way. Every time that she had done something like that, she felt herself pushed towards the brink, her head filling with shame and regret that few ponies could get her to stop. But now was not the time for that. “Things will be fine. I trust that you’ll do the right thing. But for now, let’s go inside. I’ll get you all some cider. You all look so very shaky,” Applejack said. The others followed her inside the house. It was quiet inside save for the chiming of a clock which pointed to fifteen after ten and Granny’s squeaky chair that moved back and forth as she slept. Spike stretched, cracking his joints as he climbed on the couch. “Are you okay, Spike? I forgot to ask with everything that’s happened,” Starlight said. She was sitting in a chair, her head resting on her hooves like a young foal. “I’m totally fine. I just kind of felt like it was a midnight after a ten hour marathon of dusting books,” he said. “Like that ever happened,” Twilight muttered. Applejack came from the kitchen, carrying a tray of mugs. “I got us all something to warm us up,” she said excitedly. “Starlight, you haven’t had my cider yet?” The mare shook her head. “Well, that ought to change right now. Here you go.” Starlight accepted it graciously. “Thank you, Applejack.” She sipped hers while Spike chugged the piping hot drink down, the heat not affecting him much at all. “The spices really puts me in the mood to take a nap,” he mentioned. “It would be best to avoid that for now,” Twilight suggested as she looked at him warily. They didn’t talk much, letting themselves relax. There wasn’t much to say anyway. Apple Bloom went to camp recently with her friends and Big Mac was taking a load of pies somewhere. After a brief quiet, there was a commotion outside like a storm suddenly started brewing. Twilight saw the wind pick up, whipping the trees near the house. Something made a heavy thud and the ponies got to their hooves. “I think I know what that is,” Twilight declared. They all went out save for Spike, and saw a royal chariot made of black metal and royal purple velvet. Two of Luna’s royal guards, their bodies clad in their sharp armor, stood at the ready as Luna herself descended down. The wind calmed seconds later. Twilight stood while the others bowed graciously to the princess. “Thank you for your swift arrival,” Twilight said. “Where is Celestia?” Luna wore a deep frown that looked rather comfortable on her regal face. “The situation was of such a time sensitive nature that I could only tell my sister that there was an emergency only I could deal with. She remains at the castle.” “Is there a new threat to Equestria, princess?” Applejack inquired nervously. “I cannot truly say what it is but I could see it happen in my dreams. The one responsible was creating a path as obvious to me as the fields of devastation left after an uncontrolled tornado…and it was headed straight for your castle, Twilight.” “Straight for me?” Twilight said. She was appalled at the very thought like she had received a devastating insult. “What was this pony or creature doing? Using some kind of magic against us?” “I can only assume such things about the intent but I know it is a mare who wields the magic that is putting ponies to sleep. It is the way they look…they are not under a spell or a trance. I recognize pure sleep when I see it. In the dream world, ponies have come in greater numbers than I’ve ever seen during the day.” Twilight was in full scientific mode now. She had to know exactly what kind of spell this mare was using and where she got it from as well as how it worked. It wasn’t any different than her fascination with cutie mark magic or Starlight’s ability to strip them from ponies. But she still had things to ask the princess and she needed the answers now. “Princess, they told you who did it to them?” she said. Luna shook her head. “Nopony at first knew who did this. In fact, none even remembered much about the incident. They didn’t see anypony cast a spell. But I did find two exceptions.” She turned around and went back to her chariot. Twilight noticed two large lumps covered by some kind of black fabric behind Luna’s seat. Luna levitated one of the sheets to reveal Fluttershy, fast sleep. “I can’t believe it. She put Fluttershy to sleep too?” Starlight said. To her, this mare sounded unbelievably powerful, even by her standards. She had never heard of a magic that could put ponies to sleep without them at least being confronted by a spell. She silently took a deep breath. “Not just her, I’m afraid,” Luna said sadly. She lifted the second to reveal Rarity, the white unicorn looking more peaceful than ever compared to her normal hectic self. A trail of drool ran down her cheek. “What about the others?” Twilight said. She was inflamed at this point, assuming a near charging posture, her eyes narrowed and her muzzle scrunched tightly. “I managed to contact Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie in time as I had with you. They have fled Ponyville and I assume have reached places of safety.” “Shouldn’t they rejoin us?” Applejack said. “Maybe at Canterlot?” “I’m not sure,” Twilight replied. She turned to Luna. “Princess, you saw this from the dream world?” Luna nodded. “At least a hundred ponies have fallen asleep. I spoke to Rarity and Fluttershy and they had the same account of this pony, pink with short blonde hair. She had a crystal hanging around her neck which I believe is the source of her power. By merely looking at it, they slipped into the dream world.” This wouldn’t be the first time that Twilight had encountered a being that had the power to control others with a magical crystal but something about it gave her the feeling that this pony had a different agenda than the many others she faced before. “Spike started to fall asleep moments after you sent us that letter,” Twilight recalled. “He didn’t see her nor did I. Why were my friends not affected until they came into contact with this mare? And why was Spike?” “Considering few ponies saw anything out of the ordinary, this magic must radiate far enough to end a pony’s consciousness before they realize it. Our friends must be protected by their innate powers. What other explanation do we have?” Starlight said. She was trying to focus like Twilight was but this was something that was obviously straining her mind, capable as it was in sorting the magic artes. It reminded her of her own magic, the forbidden spell that tantalized her for so long, as much as she would rather sweep it from her memory. It was still ever present. “But even that didn’t stop Fluttershy and Rarity from being put to sleep,” Twilight said in frustration. “It means that we could be affected too if we try and stop her. And yet, she knew where I lived and when I would be there. She must be able to sense my magic and must be using it to try and find me.” Nopony knew what to say. The weight of the situation was very apparent to all of them. And as always, Twilight must balance her responsibilities, her royal duties and the element of magic inside her, against her fear of the unknown. She was afraid in the past. She was terrified of the Everfree forest the first time she saw it. Apprehensive to face Lord Tirek and his rampant devastation. Now, another foe was within her borders and she was near clueless on how to stop it. Princess Luna returned to her chariot after the two mares were laid on beds in the house. She ordered the two guards to prepare to fly. She was going to return to Canterlot. The task of defeating this magic user would be up to Twilight, according to her. “Are you sure you must leave? We could use another princess by our side,” Twilight said, her pleaded. She looked up at the tall Alicorn whose nightly face was cut by another frown. “I’m afraid I can’t stay. I don’t know how I would fare against that magic. For now, I’ll take a hooves off approach. Both of us sisters agree that you can handle this on your own. This is your kingdom after all. The last thing a princess will allow herself to suffer is an occupier,” Luna said. With that, she departed into the sky, her chariot entering thick clouds and disappearing. “I guess that’s that,” Applejack said. Her left forearm crossed over her right as she stood. Starlight went over to Twilight and put a hoof on her shoulder. Twilight turned and looked in her new friend’s eyes, two drops of pure blue. Her touch was relaxing and the dense thoughts already began to fade from Twilight when they were running through at top speed as it always had before during a crisis. Her ability to deal with them often varied at times from knowing exactly what to do and how to implement it from almost suffering a complete breakdown. But when she looked in the calm eyes that she often envied in others, she is again reminded of why she always had friends by her side. Things were going to happen as they needed to. The two powerful magic users could sense that if they were going to have a showdown with this mare, it would be in Ponyville. She wasn’t coming to Sweet Apple Acres nor would she chase Twilight across Equestria. Yet, Twilight couldn’t hide forever and the mare surely knew that she would return sooner or later. They only now had to prepare themselves for what was coming. If there was any plan to be made, they were confident that they would find it as they pondered in the living room. Applejack was making dinner in the kitchen, hurrying to get it done so the two of them would have “something in your stomach to fuel your magics” as she said. Amongst the sounds of clattering dishes, Granny was awake and asking questions. Who was Starlight? Where did she come from? Was she one of Applejack’s friends? After her questions were sufficiently answered, she decided to get up and offer them some cookies. As her elderly knees took her to the kitchen at the speed of a rusted wheelbarrow, the two of them could only wonder what kind of dreams the old mare had and if she could talk to Fluttershy and Rarity too. Applejack put a couple bowls of hot grits on the table and called them to come eat. The ponies filed in and sat down. Each spoonful took its time, but not because it was hot. “I am still willing to go if you don’t mind,” Applejack reminded Twilight as they ate. Twilight thanked her but said no again. She wanted Applejack and Spike, who couldn’t withstand the power of this mare, to stay behind and watch over the others in the guest bedroom. Applejack was right. Eating did help to make Twilight feel less like the stress would make her throw up. Starlight was ready, headstrong as always, to see this mare with her own eyes. She went outside. Twilight teleported next to Spike, who was sitting near Granny Smith by the couch, and pulled him closer with one hoof. “I’ll be back soon. Be sure to be helpful around the house while I’m gone, alright?” Her voice was loving but with a stern edge too. Spike always had to be reminded to be on his best behavior as he was still very young. “Don’t worry. I know how things are done around here,” he said. She gave him a kiss on his wide forehead. His scales were still warm. Outside, she went over to Starlight. They gazed over the horizon at the afternoon sun, blending the green and red of the orchards with its golden light. Gnats surrounded them but all was beautiful.