Chapter 4: Blame
The devastation became painfully apparent at dawn.
The town’s small clinic—one of the large brick homes which now had part of its roof missing—was overflowing with patients. Chairs and small camping beds were lined up outside for the less critically injured to have somewhere to rest.
Townspeople worked hard in the night to douse the fires and raise new awnings before the first light of dawn hit. From the guide ropes sheets were hung to make tent-like structures to provide some form of privacy for those resting without a home.
Twilight Sparkle observed this through the gap in the tent with Spike held close to her chest. The tent—located just to the side of the clinic at the edge of the shanty town—was hastily constructed from an assortment of different fabrics, some barely long enough to reach the floor and others with holes torn into the side. She sat on a creaking wooden chair in one corner as the Apple family huddled together around Applejack who lay on a small camping cot. She had yet to stir, but the doctors believed that there would be no lasting damage. There wasn’t even a scratch on her apart from a few dark bruises that had begun to form. An ice pack rested under her head as she slept peacefully. Now all they could do was wait.
Twilight thought it nothing short of a miracle that they all were still in one piece. The sense of relief she felt when Apple Bloom guided Granny Smith out of the ruined basement with Spike in her arms was unlike any she had felt before. They had emerged from out of the oversized apple tree as if it had a staircase built within it.
The relief only grew when Sunset and Fluttershy limped into town. Other than her fearful quivering, Fluttershy looked no worse for wear. Sunset, however, had several scrapes and bruises along with a sprained ankle. Still, Twilight was more then glad that they were safe.
The rest of the night had passed rather uneventfully. Twilight had managed to snatch a few hours of restless sleep, then shortly before sunrise Sunset and herself had filled Granny Smith and Big Mac in on what they knew about magic. Both Apples were thorough with their questioning, but took it surprisingly well.
“So those rumors Ah heard in the cafeteria were true all along?” Granny Smith had said with a pained sigh. A smile crossed her face soon afterwards. “Well, y’all kept it one good secret. Ah had forgot all ‘bout them.”
Afterwards, Sunset had stepped out whilst Twilight remained in the tent. She was exhausted, but clouded thoughts ran through her mind keeping her from rest. Everything that had happened over the last day kept replaying itself in her mind. She noted every detail and studied every word. She looked for answers to questions she didn’t know; She looked for clues to help solve anything. But there was just too much going on. She couldn’t focus.
Applejack let out a groan, knocking Twilight from her thoughts. “Ah… Shoot… It feels like mah head was used for a pig sty.”
“Applejack! Yer awake!” Apple Bloom cried. She jumped out of Granny Smith’s arms and fell to her sister’s side.
“Ah! Not so loud there, Sugarcube,” Applejack groaned. She grimaced as she rubbed her forehead with her free arm, the other wrapped around Apple Bloom.
Apple Bloom whispered an apology, which was dismissed with a groggy wave of Applejack’s hand.
Several seconds of tense silence passed as the Apples leaned around her. Her eyes fluttered open and winced as she took in her surroundings. Her eyes gazed passingly over everyone before her expression perked up. “Well…” she said with a cheerful yawn. “What’d I miss?”
Apple Bloom threw a nervous glance towards Granny Smith who simply sighed and nodded. “W-Well, Sis. You know how you and all yer friends have super awesome magic an’ stuff?”
Applejack frowned but nodded. “Yeah, Ah do know that. But not so loud, Apple Bloom.”
“Sorry. Well... Ya see… Ever since the Burning Days started, Ah’ve been able to talk to trees.”
Applejack nodded and let out a small chuckle. “Well, that sure does explain a lot.”
“Ya mean yer not mad?”
“Why would I be, Sugarcube? If anything, Ah wish you told me sooner.” She tightly hugged her sister before turning to Twilight. “Anyway, what happened to the demon?”
“It was so awesome!” Spike blurted out. Twilight’s eyes darted between him and the rest of the tent. Granny Smith and Big Mac held looks of curious shock as all eyes stared down at him. His eyes widened and he swiftly covered his mouth with his paws. “Oops… Sorry.”
Twilight sighed and shook her head, thankful for the meager privacy the makeshift tent provided. “I wouldn’t call it awesome, Spike. I was so worried for the lot of you.”
Granny Smith scratched her head as she continued to stare at the dog. “Ah’ll say one thing first… If this magic stuff has been going on as long as y’all say it has, then Ah’m sorry fer’ what Ah said about it before. Ah must have made y’all very uncomfortable.”
“Ah, shoot. It’s okay, Granny,” Applejack said. “We’re sorry we’ve kept it secret from you for so long. Wait,how long have you known?”
“Only a few hours,” she said with a shrug. “When that varmint started digging through the floor, Ah thought we were all goners. But Apple Bloom here did the dandiest most amazing thing Ah ever saw. All those bags of apple seeds just up an’ grew into some of the best darn trees Ah’ve ever seen. Wacked that demon right in its kisser too!”
“Ya really did that?” Applejack asked her sister.
Twilight leaned forward in her chair. Such magic in Equestria was exceedingly rare and most unicorns had to study for years to achieve a growth spell that impressive. The fact Apple Bloom was capable of such a thing made her want to squeal in delight for the girl, but for the sake of Applejack’s headache, she contained herself.
“Ah don’t know how Ah did it. Ah was just so scared, AJ. All I wanted was someone or something to help and… Well, the seeds heard me, I guess.”
“But it sure did make you exhausted,” Granny Smith chuckled. “Ah don’t think Ah’ve seen you fall to sleep so fast in yer life.”
Apple Bloom nodded and yawned as she hugged her sister.
The heartwarming moment brought a smile to Twilight’s lips.
Applejack leaned back and stared up at the canvas ceiling. Her joyus expression faded as she squeezed Apple Bloom a bit tighter. “So… Ah guess we lost the house?”
Twilight's grin quickly vanished as the tent fell into a remorseful silence. Recalling those images of the demon demolishing the house was painful. Any thought of the demon’s appearance twisted and burned her mind. She rubbed her brow as she cast the thoughts from her mind, but in doing so, another memory took their place: The journal in the clutches of the demon.
The demon had stolen the journal, and the only connection she had to home. But why? Twilight finally had a question and her mind raced in an attempt to rationalise what had occurred. Only one explanation came to mind: the demon wanted the journal all along. She wasn’t sure how, but it knew where the journal was. It first showed up after she used it at the school. It followed them to the house where she had used it again. And last night…
A lump formed in her throat and her stomach sank. Last night she had used it, and the demon attacked soon after. Her hold on Spike tightened as the dread took hold. This was all my fault…
“Applejack,” Twilight croaked. “I’m so sorry… The demon, it followed me here and—”
“Ah-ah!” Granny Smith interrupted with startling authority. “Don’t ya dare go blaming yourself, missy.” She sat upright and glared down at Twilight as she continued to chastise. “Them demons are dangerous things. It may have followed ya or it may have come here on its own, either way, what happened was unavoidable.”
“But—”
“No buts, Twilight,” Granny Smith firmly concluded. “Don’t ya go pinning all this on yourself.”
“She’s right, Twilight,” Spike added. “So what if the demon was after the journal? We couldn’t have known that.”
Applejack nodded gently. “Ah agree. No need to blame yourself, Twi. Ah don’t hold it against ya.”
“If yer really that down ‘bout the whole thing, then go out there and help fix up the town,” Granny Smith suggested. “Time spent crying over a problem is time spent not fixing it.”
Twilight’s cheeks flushed red as her worries faded away. What was she doing just sitting here moaning about things? Her friends were right, and the fact that they had forgiven her also helped. Her cheeks curled upwards as a warming feeling flowed through her. “Thanks. I needed that.” She placed Spike on the ground before moving towards the tent flap. “I’m going to find something to help with. I hope you feel better soon, Applejack.”
“Ah already do, Twilight,” her friend said. She pushed herself upright slightly as to get a better look. Her eyes were focused and the strain in her voice had vanished. “Just don’t be too harsh on yourself.”
Granny Smith also stood. “Meanwhile, Ah have to go and find the Council. Ah expect there’s gonna be some harsh questions ‘bout those trees of yers, Apple Bloom.”
Apple Bloom tensed up. Granny Smith rested a gentle hand on her shoulder and said softly, “But Ah won’t let ‘em do anythin’ to ya.”
Twilight beamed kindly at the Apples as she left the tent, but the dread rushed back into her as she took in the sight. A hefty number of wounded people lay about on scattered bedding or upon chains strewn under the hastily repaired shade while a sparse number of doctors and assistants moved between them. Some glanced up at her as she passed, but quickly turned away. A few others whispered among themselves as they stole short glares at her.
Twilight found herself moving at a brisk pace as she hid her eyes for their glances.
A haze of oily smoke still filled the air leaving an unpleasant tickle in her nose. The sounds of hammering and the clangs of falling metal rang out from the shanty town. Piles of metal, brick and wood were being formed out of what salvageable resources could be found from the crushed homes.
Twilight meandered aimlessly around the ruined huts, twisting between the townspeople who were busying themselves with cleaning up and repairing the mess. People passed by carrying bricks, sheets of metal, and planks of wood. Others dug among the ruins, passing out any personal effects that had survived the rampage.
It reminded her of the many times spent cleaning up after the various calamities that befell Ponyville. Like in Ponyville, the people here helped each other and worked diligently to help rebuild their homes. But something was different. When she turned a corner, Twilight almost fell over backwards as she dodged a wooden plank. The man carrying it just regarded her in annoyance and grunted a simple, “Watch it!”
A few spectators chuckled to themselves before turning back to their drudgery as others simply flashed her frustrated glares. Twilight called out a small apology as he walked away, but if he had heard her he didn’t show any response.
That was when it clicked in Twilight’s mind: The town was miserable. She didn’t blame them for such a thing; even ponies back home had every right to be angry and upset when an attack happened. But it would never dampen the mood of the town, Pinkie Pie made sure of that.
She continued on her way, carefully dodging the movement of the townspeople. She offered help from time to time, but at best the response was a short “No thank you.” She found herself back on the street towards the farms. This is hopeless! she thought. How am I supposed to help if I just get in the way? She began to wander again, only to stop with a finch as she nearly collided face to face with a woman.
The woman had deep purple hair half-hidden under a matching scarf stood slightly startled by the near collision. She wore a long dress over a white shirt with a distinctive amethyst brooch under her chin. She held a clipboard in her hands. Twilight couldn’t help but notice that it contained an exquisitely detailed chart of tasks and available workforce.
“Oh, I am so sorry,” Twilight said.
The woman was perhaps only a year or two older than Twilight by her reckoning. She blinked for a moment before chuckling softly. “Oh, it’s no problem. Is there anything I could help you with?”
Twilight glanced around quickly and rubbed her hands together. "Well, I was hoping to help out somewhere, but I'm not exactly sure what all needs to be done. Maybe you could point me somewhere?"
The woman thought for a moment, playing with her amethyst brooch. “Hmm… I don’t think I’ve seen you in town before, but you do look familiar. You must be that new girl Sunset brought in?”
“Uh, yeah. That’s me,” Twilight said with a nervous chuckle. “I’m Twilight Sparkle.”
“Amethyst Star.” They quickly shook hands. “You went to CHS, right? I graduated the year before you arrived, but I heard a lot about you.” The woman glanced to the side for a moment.
Twilight followed her gaze as it lingered on a pair of guards leaning against a wall. Their eyes glistened in the early morning light, and from under the brims of their hats, Twilight could feel their piercing gaze bear down on her like a pair of timberwolves on the hunt.
The woman’s head snapped back and she quickly continued, “If you’re friends with Sunset, then she’s over by the farms. There is certainly a lot to get done over there. What are you good at?”
“Oh, um, well...” Twilight scratched the back of her neck. She could feel their glares burning into the back of her head. Spike too must have noticed as he now stood firm under her legs, glaring back at them with a slight growl. “I could help with cleaning if needed, but I’m not much of a heavy lifter. My expertise is in organisation.”
“That’s great! Then perhaps you can be my assistant over by the farms? I’m sure Sunset Shimmer or one of the others can help fill you in on what is going on.”
Twilight agreed and, after thanking Amethyst Star, quickly made her way up the street and onto the cul-de-sac. The large mass of apple trees stood high above the ruins of the Apple’s house. The leaves looked golden in the early morning sunlight.
Twilight squinted as she left the cover of the awnings and proceeded towards the pair of shadows under the base of the largest tree. She recognised Sunset Shimmer quickly and was about to call out her name until she heard the second shadow speak.
“It was your plan, Sunset Shimmer!” Night Sentry bellowed. “You assured us that it would work!”
“I did no such thing!” Sunset retorted. She stood with her arms crossed over her dull-brown coat and glared up at the man. “I said it might work and you all agreed to go through with it.”
“We wasted half our fuel supplies on that thing, and all it achieved was burning away the last of our crops!”
“You think I don’t know that? I knew it was a risk—we all did—but it was the only plan we had!”
Night Sentry took a step closer and loomed over Sunset. “Listen, Sunset. I know what you are—”
“No,” she growled with a bitter snarl. “You really don’t.”
“—and what you’re capable of. I don’t know what my son ever saw in you, but just because you once dated him doesn’t mean I’ll go easy on you, or your friends.”
Sunset’s hands tightened as her face flushed red. “You wouldn’t—”
“Magic is banned, Sunset,” he said. He glanced over to Twilight, his eyes lingering for a moment before turning back and speaking in a lower growl. Twilight couldn’t make out what he was saying, but Sunset gritted her teeth as her glare hardened.
“I’ll give you a while to think it over,” Night Sentry finally said. He straightened himself and marched passed Twilight with the grace of a royal guard. His eyes once again met Twilight’s and Twilight couldn’t help but divert her own. She shivered as he brushed past, the glare still lingering on her for a few more moments. She let out the breath she didn’t realise she was holding and hurried to Sunset’s side.
Sunset’s body was rigid, but soon began to quake as she stared down at the ground. Her hands burned a bright red from the tightness of the fists.
“Sunset?” Twilight asked, only to jump back as Sunset let out a exasperated yell.
Sunset kicked a broken brick across the street. Her cry turned to one of enraged pain as she lifted her foot and gasped.
She panted and hissed for a few moments before she gently lowered her foot until it only just touched the ground. She sighed and shook her head. “I shouldn’t have done that.”
Twilight moved to Sunset’s side and wrapped a supportive arm under her shoulder. “Sunset? What was all that about? Are you okay?”
Sunset gave a brief nod. She had turned away from Twilight, her eyes were remained fixed on the floor as she folded her arms around herself again. “Y-Yeah… I’ll be fine. It’s just that… He’s just a jerk! I can’t believe Flash is related to him!” Sunset sighed again and rubbed the sides of her head. “I’m sorry, Twilight. It’s just been a long night, and yesterday was a long day, and this morning has been long too even though the sun’s only just come up!”
“You should sit down. The doctor said you shouldn’t strain your foot.”
“I’ll be fine, Twilight,” She stated, carefully pulling herself away. “I’m just… tired. Angry and tired. The foot’s not that bad, honest. Sorry for screaming, by the way.”
Twilight frowned. “You should still rest a moment. Let me help out around here.”
“I don’t have the time… I’ve… I’ve just got a lot to think about.”
Twilight’s frown deepened as she marched around to face Sunset. “What did he say to you?” she pried. “If it’s something I can help you with—”
“Please, Twilight. It’s nothing you should worry about,” Sunset said with a dismissive wave, she tried to turn away again, but Twilight moved faster. Sunset let out a annoyed sigh. “I said don’t worry about it, Twilight.” Her tone lightened as she finally met Twilight’s eyes. “Besides, we should be trying to get you home soon.”
Home… Twilight was certain that her friends must be worrying about her by now. The sooner she got back, the better. But she couldn’t abandon the town now. Her friends here still needed her help. Twilight shook her head. “The portal doesn’t close for another day. You need me now, Sunset.” She paused and then mumbled to herself, “I just hope Princess Celestia understands.”
Sunset snorted. “Twilight, I wouldn't be surprised if she's already forgiven you." She paused for a moment and glanced back at Twilight with a soft look of worry. “Do you… Do you think that I’d still be welcome? Back in Equestria that is.”
Twilight was surprised by the question. Her face softened and took a soft step forwards. “Sunset, yes, of course you would be. Why would you think otherwise?”
Sunset glanced away. “Oh… It’s nothing, really.”
Twilight frowned again. “Sunset, please stop avoiding my questions,” she half-demande. “Bottling up your feelings and worries only makes them worse. Trust me, I’ve seen it enough times to know it’s true.”
Sunset appeared to consider this for a moment before sighing. She sat on a large root of the apple tree and glanced up at Twilight. “It’s Night Sentry… He’s never liked me. He always thought I was a bad influence on Flash—he was right, of course—but he’s always had it out for me. I don’t blame him for it. After all, he caught me searching their house for stuff to blackmail Flash with. Geez, the old me was just awful!”
Twilight placed herself down next to Sunset and rested a hand on her shoulder. “Yes, she was. But that’s not you anymore. You know that, Sunset. You’re not a raging she-demon or power-hungry tyrant. You’re my friend, and a great one at that.”
Sunset flashed a brief smile. “Thanks, Twilight. But that’s not the problem… You see, he wants me to go.”
“To go? Go where?”
“Anywhere but here. He wants me to volunteer to be banished for all of this!” Sunset gestured to the ruined street. Not a single building was left unscaved from the demon. Over by the shanty town people were hard at work trying to rescue what they could from the rubble of the food storehouse. Meanwhile farmers were hard at work trying to save the last of their crops in the former front lawns.
Twilight took this all in and her heart sank. “Banish you? Sunset, this wasn’t your fault!”
“But it was my plan to try and blow up the demon, and all it did was destroy the farm. That’s why he wants me out. They need someone to blame.”
“Then let them blame it all on me! I’m the one who lead the demon here. It was after the journal, Sunset. It was chasing it.”
Sunset’s eyes widened. “The journal? It was after the journal?”
Twilight nodded. “Yeah. And... it got it.”
Sunset grabbed Twilight by the shoulders as her face twisted into one of pure panic. “Twilight, why didn’t you let me know immediately! We’ve got to get you back now before the portal closes. Your friends must be worried sick about you!”
“I bet they’ve started a rescue mission already,” Spike joked from their feet.
“I hope not,” Twilight sighed. Thoughts of her friends having to face down Cranky Doodle or the demon flashed through her mind. She knew they would be strong together, but what if they faced something far worse than either of them? Twilight gulped. “I’m sorry, Sunset. I should have told you earlier, but I was just so caught up in things I never got the chance. Anyway, we should head back sooner rather than later. But first I’ve got to try and fix things here. This is my fault, Sunset.”
Sunset sighed and shook her head with a small half-smile. “Fine. If you really want to help, then you can help us to clean up what’s left of the house. Keep your eyes open for anything that can be salvaged.”
Twilight beamed and clapped her hands together. “Let’s set up a search plan!”
It wasn’t long before the cleanup was well underway in a logical and methodical pattern as devised by Twilight Sparkle. She grinned fervently as the neatly stacked piles of recyclable materials grew whilst the remaining debris were tidied away.
She nodded in satisfaction before checking off section 12-C from the clipboard as the clean-up team moved onto the next area. Section 12-B was quickly moved into by the farming team who set to work cultivating the ground and planting seeds. At this rate the farms would be up and running again by nightfall.
“Ah don’t get how you do it, Twi. Ah’ve never seen the town so efficient,” Applejack remarked as she wiped away the sweat from under her hat. Both the Apple sisters had made their way over to help and, despite the doctor’s warnings, Applejack had already dug in to help without any sign of pain.
“Well, it was you and Sunset who convinced everyone to follow my plan.” Twilight’s smile fell slightly. The people of the town would barely look at her other than cautionary glances and distant glares. She could still feel the eyes of the guards from behind lingering on her when she wasn’t looking.
“Ya shouldn’t blame them, Twilight. Everyone is on edge after what happened an’ they’re nervous of strangers. Once they warm up to you, there won’t be any problems.”
“I’m just glad that they trust you enough to let me help fix things.” She sighed softly. Twilight glanced up towards the wreckage of an overturned caravan. A group of townspeople were busy trying to get it upright but were struggling due to its weight. “Applejack, do you think you could do the heavy lifting?”
Applejack glanced around for a moment before asking, “Do you mean you want me to use my magic?”
“Well, it would be beneficial—”
“No, Twilight,” Applejack shot. “I’ll help as a group, but I ain’t gonna do anything that raises more suspicions. ‘Specially when the whole town has their eyes on Apple Bloom.”
The younger Apple perked when she heard her name. She looked up from the pile of personal items that they had rescued from the rubble. “Ah don’t get why we can’t, Sis. Ah know the rules, but magic is just so cool.”
“Keep yer voice down, Sugarcube.” Applejack glanced around again before crouching to her sister’s level. “Ah don’t agree either, but we’re already in thicker mud then a pigsty after a storm.”
“Don’t worry, Apple Bloom,” Spike whispered. “I know your magic is awesome.”
Apple Bloom gave the dog a smile as she wrapped her arms around him. Spike sighed with a contented grin as his tail waggled.
Twilight shook her head with an amused smirk. “Either way, magic isn’t something people should be afraid off.”
“Ah know that, Twi. Sunset says the same thing.”
Twilight raised her head and glanced around. It had been at least half-an-hour since Sunset went to check over the farmers, but she shouldn't have been gone for this long. “Where did Sunset get to, anyway?”
Applejack shrugged before her eyes joined the search. “She’s bound to be about here somewhere…” Applejack paused and slowly stood.
Twilight turned to follow Applejack’s gaze. Her eyes caught a pair of guards walking towards them at a brisk pace. Applejack shifted forwards, putting herself between them and Apple Bloom. Twilight stood close to her side, holding her clipboard tightly in her hands. One guard was tall but scrawny, the other had a thick moustache. They came to a halt near enough for Twilight to wilt under them, but still at a respectful distance. “You three need to come with us,” the one with the moustache said.
“An’ why do we need to do that?” Applejack retorted as she shifted into a defensive stance.
The tall guard rolled his eyes as the other kept his eyes firmly on Applejack. “The Council wants you to attend a trial.”
“A trial?” Twilight gasped. No, it couldn't be! She trembled slightly as her eyes darted frantically around. Where is she!
“None of you are putting mah sister or friend on trial!” Applejack snapped as she pointed a threatening finger at them.
The guards took a step back, the tall guard raised his hands whilst the other let his linger over the baton he kept at his side. “Please, Applejack,” said the guard with the moustache. His voice was softer and carried a hint of worry. “The trial isn’t for you or your sister.”
No, it wouldn’t be for Apple Bloom. Twilight mentally kicked herself for letting Sunset go off alone. She knew the answer, but the questions still had to be asked. “Then who is it for?”
The guard confirmed her fears. “Sunset Shimmer.”
Twilight squeezed her way through the crowd of townspeople as they gathered around a central square by the market. She stuck close to Applejack’s back as the raging Apple cleared a path through the crowd, just big enough for them all to fit through.
Her mind raced with thoughts. Sunset’s on trial? Night Sentry actually pinned this on her! None of this was her fault. It was all me…
She shook her head. She knew she couldn’t really blame herself. Yes, the journal was what lead the demon to the town, but, as Spike had said, there was no way of her knowing that beforehand. But it should have been her, up there. The journal was hers. She lead it here.
As they reached the front of the crowd, Applejack burst out to the front of the semi-circle that had surrounded one of the tall white houses. A small wooden platform had been built out the front and on it sat the town Council. Granny Smith had a sour look on her face, but it softened into one of sadness as her eyes met Applejack’s. Cheerilee fidgeted with her hands as she struggled to hide the worry on her face. Davenport leaned back in his seat, propping his head on his hand as his eyes wandered with disinterest over the crowd. Filthy Rich was hunched over in his seat, his bloodshot eyes were half closed as he peered down at Sunset with a look of exhausted sorrow. Night Sentry however…
Twilight frowned when she saw his smug grin. His grin appeared to grow when his eyes met her own, sending a cold shudder down her spine.
Sunset stood on the ground before them. Her head was cast down to the side as she held her arms tightly around her. Twilight had never seen Sunset look so vulnerable before. She wanted to rush over to her friend’s side, but the guards standing either side of her made her pause.
“Good, now that we’re all here we can continue,” Night Sentry said. He lept out of his seat and strode to the front of the stage, clearing his throat as his eyes traced the crowd. “People of Apple Creek! The girl before you, Sunset Shimmer, stands accused of concealing magic, using magic, and worse of all, bringing that dreaded demon to our town!”
Twilight flinched as the crowd booed and jeered at her. Some even began declare“Murderer!” and “Traitor!” Twilight spotted a few discreetly passing out rotten fruit and other scraps of waste. Sunset was facing away from them, but her shudder was visible for all to see.
Twilight felt her blood begin to boil. How dare they! How dare they blame Sunset for something she didn’t do! She’s no traitor, and certainly no murderer!
She glanced over to Applejack. Her teeth were bared and her eyes bore into Night Sentry. “That no-good rotten apple worm! Sunset is innocent!” Her proclamation was drowned out in the crowd's rabble.
Night Sentry held up a hand. “Sunset Shimmer, how do you plead?”
The crowd went silent. Twilight’s breath caught in her throat.
Sunset Shimmer took in a deep breath and glanced up at the council. She held her gaze for a moment before trembling and glanced away.
“How do you plead?” Night Sentry asked again.
Sunset kept her head cast down at the dirt and dead grass. She trembled a bit more before taking another deep breath. “I’m… I’m guilty.”
The roar of the crowd began again as Twilight suddenly found her breath. “No!” she cried. She stormed out into the centre, tering past the guards as they tried to grab her. “No! She’s not guilty!”
“Twilight?” Sunset gasped.
Twilight wasn’t sure if Sunset was worried or glad to see her. Either way, she looked up at the council and said, “Sunset’s not guilty! She didn’t lead the demon to town… I did.”
Night Sentry’s sly grin only grew.
Why is he smiling? What is he up to? Twilight frowned as she placed herself between the council and Sunset.
“Twilight, please. Don’t get involved,” Sunset whispered.
Night Sentry spoke before she could respond. “Twilight Sparkle, is this true? Did you lead the demon to our town?” Night Sentry asked.
“Y-Yes… I had a book on me. A journal, a magical journal. I didn’t know it at the time, but the demon wanted it. It followed me to the town just to steal it. I never meant for any of this to happen. I didn’t know… I’m so sor—”
She didn’t get a chance to finish as a blow stuck her on the back of her head. Twilight fell forwards only to be caught in Sunset’s arms as the world around her span. She turned her head to see the guards prying Applejack off another townsperson as Spike barked up at them.
“You okay, Twilight?” Sunset asked.
Twilight closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths as her mind stopped spinning and the nausea drifted away. She glanced at the splattered remains of a rotten apple that lay in the dirt. Slowly she lifted her head and nodded. “Yeah… I’ll be okay. It was just an apple.”
“Order! Order!” Filthy Rich demanded. His voice was hoarse and he leaned on his chair for support as he stood. “Stop this at once! We do not carry out mob justice here.” He took a few breaths as the crowd died down. Then with what looked like a surge of strength, he stepped forwards and took Night Sentry’s place.
“Twilight Sparkle. Sunset Shimmer. If you have any words to defend yourselves, please speak them now.” His voice was calm and held more concern than malice. But his hands trembled as he glared down at them with an uncomfortable gaze.
The two girls looked at each other for a moment. Sunset’s eyes held a hint of sadness behind them. “You don’t need to do this, Twilight.”
“I do. You’re not guilty, Sunset.” Twilight turned to Filthy Rich. “What I said is true. I never meant to bring harm to anyone. I’m so sorry for what happened.”
Filthy Rich nodded solemnly. Night Sentry glared down at Sunset, who glared back up at him. Twilight felt Sunset’s grasp on her arm tighten before speaking, “But the magic was all me. I was the one who caused those apple trees to grow. I have magic. I’ve always had it.”
Cheerilee shook her head as it fell into her hands. Granny Smith closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh.
“We will take this into consideration,” Filthy Rich said. “We will retire for our deliberation.”
As the council filed into the building behind them, Twilight turned to her friend and hissed, “Sunset! That wasn’t—”
“It was me, Twilight. Please don’t argue. I’ve got to do this.” Sunset’s words were sincere as she looked down at Twilight with pleading eyes.
“But… It wasn’t… Equestria, that’s why you asked me if you could come back, isn’t it?”
Sunset nodded. “I’ll explain more later. I promise.”
Twilight glanced back to see that Applejack had been escorted away. Apple Bloom, however, remained with Spike at her feet. The girl stared at the two with fearful eyes as her legs trembled, but there was also a hit of thankfulness behind them.
The sun continued to bear down as the minutes passed. The heat seeped through the awnings and wrapped tightly around Twilight, forcing her to loosen Sunset’s jacket and lean against her friend for support. Her stomach grumbled. She still hadn’t eaten this morning, and her drinks were few and far between.
Eventually the door opened and one by one the council silently filed out. Harsh glares were shot between Granny Smith and Night Sentry as they settled into their seats. Twilight’s heart raced. She stood upright and held her breath.
“The Council has discussed the issue and is ready to vote,” Filthy Rich announced. “After being faced with the testimonies of Twilight Sparkle and Sunset Shimmer, their crimes will be punished with banishment as per the rules of our town.”
Twilight gulped. Banishment. Part of her was relieved that it wasn’t something more severe. After all, both Sunset and herself could return to Equestria. Worry suddenly pierced her heart. An unwelcome thought crawled out for the recesses of her mind, The portal... Is it even still open?
Her eyes went wide as her breaths grew quicker and shallower. Her legs threatened to give out on her until Sunset placed a hand on her shoulder. The squeeze did nothing to reassure her. No! No! It’s got to be open! There’s no reason for it to have been closed. Starswirl would have built in a safety mechanism or… or something!
“These girls are good girls,” Granny Smith defended. “They didn’t mean to hurt the town.”
“Yes! They’ve been nothing but good honest people for as long as I’ve known them,” Cheerilee added.
“You know that’s a lie, Cheerilee. Sunset was one of the most unpleasant girls I’ve ever met when she was dating my son,” Night Sentry said, causing Sunset to flinch. “Besides, our opinions do not matter. We must uphold the law.”
Davenport snorted in agreement as Filthy Rich hunched in his seat, rubbing his darkened eyes. “We will vote on it. All in favour of banishment, raise your hand.”
Twilight held her breath. Night Sentry and Davenport’s hands rose almost instantly. Granny Smith kept her arms firmly crossed as Cheerilee clasped her hands on her lap and stared pleadingly at Filthy Rich.
Time seemed to slow for Twilight as Filthy Rich sat upright. He took a deep breath and with a tired frown on his face, he slowly raised his hand.
Her heart dropped. Three against two. She didn’t hear Filthy Rich's words as he read out their sentence, or Granny Smith’s angered rant. She simply stared at Sunset who made no attempt to hide the tears that were rolling down her cheeks.
“Ah can’t believe it! How dare he go blaming you for what we did, Sunset. That Night Sentry is worse than a barn full of rotten apples!”
“Applejack, please,” Sunset said as she glanced up at the pacing girl. “I had to take the blame for it. It’s better me than—”
“Than the truth?” Applejack snapped.
Sunset scowled at her friend. “Yes, Applejack! It is better than the truth! The truth would have gotten you and Apple Bloom banished. Is that what you would’ve preferred?”
Applejack paused and regarded Sunset for a moment, letting the room descend into silence. The room itself had all the charm and personality as a prison cell; fitting considering it was being used as one. It was cramped now that Twilight, Spike, Sunset, Fluttershy and the Apple sisters filled it up. Applejack had gave the last chair to Apple Bloom whilst Fluttershy preferred to sit huddled in the corner.
Twilight was certain that Fluttershy was wrapped up tighter than anyone else in town. She wore a long cream dress with green highlights, matching gloves and a pale green headscarf, leaving only a single long bang of hair hanging over her face. She clutched a large flowery hat and a pair of sunglasses sat in her lap.
A pang of sadness struck Twilight when she first saw her. Fluttershy, as her name suggested, was always shy and timid, but neither her human or pony friend had ever been at such a point where she was fearful of the outdoors. At least she had made an effort to come and visit them during their last hour in town.
“Ah guess you’re right, Sunset,” Applejack sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose. “Ah’m sorry Ah shouted. Ah thank you of thinking of us that way, but why did ya have to go and do this without tellin’ us?”
Sunset glanced away and huffed. “Night Sentry threatened me.”
“He did what?” Fluttershy gasped from the corner. Everyone glanced to her she quickly hid her face behind her hat, leaving only a lone worried eye gazing up at Sunset.
Sunset flashed her a gentle smile before she sighed and gave a short nod. “Yeah. He apparently saw you pony-up, Applejack. And he knows only Apple Bloom and Granny Smith were in the house at the time of the tree-explosion. So, he gave me a choice… Either I go or we all go.”
“Why in tarnation would he do that?” Applejack asked.
Why indeed? Twilight thought. How is someone so nasty like that related to Flash? Twilight shuddered slightly. She was aware of how little she knew about the boy’s life, but he had always been kind and friendly. She felt a touch of warmth as she remembered when he came to rescue her after being accused of wrecking the Fall Formal decorations. His father however…
“He’s never liked me, Applejack. He’s just another person I left a bad impression on and he never gave me a second chance.” Sunset slumped in her seat and ran a hand over her face. “I guess saving the world three times doesn’t count for much in a post-apocalyptic wasteland.”
“Where are you going to go?” Apple Bloom asked.
Sunset glanced to Twilight for a moment. “I’m going to go back to Equestria. But if we can’t keep the portal open, then… Then I won’t get to see you all for another thirty moons.”
Twilight perked up in her seat. “We’ll find a solution. I can’t just leave you all without contact again.”
“But what if that demon comes back, Twilight?” Spike asked. The dog sat in the centre of the room and glanced between her and Sunset. “If he was after the journal, then he could be after anything we bring with us!”
“You’ve got a point, Spike,” Applejack sighed as she leaned back against a wall. “We can’t let that demon hurt the town again.”
Twilight frowned. She let out a frustrated sigh and collapsed her head into her trembling hands. “I’ve got to fix this. I’m not abandoning any of you.”
“An’ we thank you for that, Twi,” Applejack said with a tone of sincere weariness. “But… this is just the way the world is now. It’s hard, it’s dangerous... and Ah’d do anythin’ for things to go back the way they was, But Ah just don’t see what we can do.”
“Don’t say that, Applejack!” Twilight said as she all but burst from her seat. “There’s always something we can do. We just need to find the right spell or… Or something.”
“But magic doesn’t work here like it does back in Equestria,” Spike said. “You can’t even cast spells.”
Twilight winced. Not having magic was familiar enough by now, but she still wasn't comfortable with how its absence made her feel so… helpless. Her head dropped again as she held her arms tight against her chest.
“But I know you’ll work it out, Twilight!” Spike quickly continued. “After all, you always fix everything in the end. You’re the smartest pony, or person, around.”
“Ah know that’s the truth,” Applejack added. “Ya helped us save the world twice before, and yer sure to be as smart as our Twilight.”
Fluttershy made a small squeak as she nodded from her corner.
Their words subdued Twilight’s apprehension, and a surge of bashfulness rose in its place. Her cheeks flushed red as an urge to hide in a corner ran through her mind. “But I don’t always find the answer. I… I make a lot of mistakes. It’s rare that I ever work things this big out all on my own. I always have…” The words caught in Twilight’s throat.
“You always have your friends by your side,” Spike finished for her.
Twilight’s lips trembled as she nodded.
“Twilight, you do have your friends by your side,” Sunset firmly stated. She crossed her arms as a smirk grew on her face. “If you, Starlight, and I all put our heads together, we’re sure to find a way to keep that portal safe and working.”
Twilight looked to Sunset and then glanced around the room. It was a room full of friends, and each of them smiled at her. They were tired and beaten, but there was a spark of optimism there, one she couldn’t help but reciprocate. “Thank you. Yeah… we can do this. Sure, it’s more difficult than anything I’ve done before,” she chuckled nervously, “but I know we can solve this!”
Her moment of joy was interrupted by three loud bangs on the door. “You have five minutes left,” a guard’s voice bellowed through the thin wood.
A short silence descended as everyone glanced at one another. Twilight turned her eyes downcast taking in the details of the dull grey carpet tiles. “I really wanted to help…”
“And ya can help by finding a way to save the world,” Applejack stated. She smirked down at her. “I’d like to see the look on Night Sentry’s face when ya do that!”
Twilight shook her head. “But the town is in such a mess! This place… it’s… it’s just horrible. No one should have to live in such conditions! I wanted to fix that!”
“Geez, thanks Twi,” Applejack chuckled. She shook her head with feigned disapproval, but her smirk was still there. “Ah know we aren’t that pretty, an’ it sure is hard to live like this. Each day it’s a battle against the elements to survive. There’s little food and water, people get sick all the time, and not to mention the constant threat of monster attack.” She counted those off with her fingers. “But it sure is better in here then it is out there.”
Twilight apologised as she sunk back into her chair. Her mind turned inward as everything she had seen and heard ran through her thoughts. She had always liked the sun; growing up in the radiant warmth of Princess Celestia’s sun would do that to you. But here, she could scarcely remember all the good times spent under the glow of the sun. She wished that it would vanish behind the clouds and that a gentle coolness would sooth her peeling skin.
And her friends had to live in this every day for the last thirty moons.
Apple Bloom’s voice suddenly cut through her thoughts. “Do… Do you think we could go to your world, Twilight?”
All eyes descended on the girl before turning to Twilight as she processed her request. “You want to come with me to Equestria?”
Apple Bloom looked sheepishly to the side. “W-Well… It’s just that Ah…” She pulled her legs up close to her and after a moment of silence shook her head. “N-Nevermind.”
Applejack wrapped a gentle arm around her. “Don’t feel bad ‘bout it, Sugarcube. To be honest… The thought of a world full of cosy beds, hot showers, and no darn monsters is appealing.”
“Oh, there are plenty of monsters in Equestria, Applejack,” Sunset chuckled. “Anyway, you’ll turn into ponies if you go there.” She paused for a moment. “At least, I think that’s how it works. Twilight and I turned into humans after all.”
“I wouldn’t mind being a pony,” Fluttershy softly whispered.
Twilight shook her head. “I’ll have to discuss it with Princess Celestia. There is already an Apple Bloom, Applejack, and Fluttershy in Equestria. Having two of you would be as confusing as… well, those times when I met the other me.”
Twilight sheepishly scratched the back of her head. She didn’t hold anything against the human Twilight—if anything she was fascinated by the girl—But there was something awkward with talking to someone who was so much like you but so different at the same time.
Seconds later the door was thrown open as a pair of guards glared in. “Time’s up. It’s time for you two to go.”
Twilight and Sunset glanced at each other. Twilight didn’t want to encourage more punishment than they'd already received. The council was already generous enough—if it could even be called generous—to give them an hour to work out a plan and to say their goodbyes. Naturally, this was done under armed supervision.
Sunset silently nodded as she stood and walked by Twilight’s side. The pair were lead out of the converted house that formed the town’s guard headquarters and were hastily escorted towards the gates, located just two doors down the street. The others followed close behind as they passed by the empty market stalls. Only a few shambling groups gathered in the lifeless market. They spoke to each other in hushed murmurs as they shot glares towards Twilight and Sunset.
Twilight turned her attention to the gate. A small group had congregated by it’s side. Both Granny Smith and Cheerilee were there, along with Night Sentry who had a gleeful smirk across his face. Twilight was also able to pick out Mr and Mrs Cake from the thin crowd, although their appearance made Twilight pause for a moment.
Both looked far older than they had any right to be. Mr Cake’s hair had gone grey as heavy bags sat under his eyes. He also leaned heavily on a walking stick as if avoiding the use of his right leg. Mrs Cake appeared to have lost most of her body weight, leaving her looking barely more than flesh and bone. But the flesh on her right side of the face was no longer a cheerful blue. Rather, it had been twisted and reddened by a large burn scar. Her right eye was barely open and only the left side of her face gave any indication that she was giving them a sorrowful yet kindly look.
“Keep moving,” the guard behind her muttered. Twilight grabbed hold of Sunset’s arm and nodded as she hurried forwards.
Other than Amethyst Star, the rest of the group were unfamiliar to Twilight. They were mixture of faces, both old and young, male and female, yet they all had the same saddened and concerned expressions. Even the face at the back under the grey hood…
Twilight blinked and looked again. There was someone there just a moment ago, standing behind the group. She was sure of it. Their face was… She shook her head; she couldn’t recall any details other than a sense of a grey coldness. Despite the heat, a chill ran down Twilight’s back as she glanced around.
Night Sentry took a step forwards. “Well, I guess it’s time for—”
“You shut your mouth, you gosh darn, no good, rotten apple core of a varmint!” Applejack snapped. She jumped forwards to stare down the man with such speed that he barely had time to lurch back in surprise. The smug smirk was wiped from his face, quickly replaced by a scowl.
“I would have thought you would have been more grateful, Applejack,” he growled.
“Grateful! Yer kicking out mah friends! They’re family as far as Ah’m concerned!”
“Applejack, please,” Sunset said as she grabbed hold of the farm girl’s shoulder. “I chose to do this.” She then glared up to Night Sentry and added, “Even if it wasn’t much of a choice.”
“What’s all this about, then?” Granny Smith said. Both her and Cheerilee were giving him scornful glares.
Night Sentry took a step back and recomposed himself. “Sunset Shimmer and Twilight Sparkle, you are banished from this town indefinitely. Now get out of my sight.” With that he turned and marched away.
The group watched as he stormed back inside the guard house, slamming the door behind him. The tense silence was only broken by a snigger from Spike. “What? He told us to get out of his sight but he got out of ours!”
Twilight couldn’t help but chuckle, even if the crowd took a step back from her assistant. The group quickly filled in Granny Smith and Cheerilee on what had happened, and where they planned to go. Both of them were rightfully furious. Granny Smith spewed out a long rant full of words Twilight wasn’t sure even existed as Cheerilee kept her anger burning behind her calm eyes.
“I’m sorry girls,” the school teacher sighed. “Why didn’t you tell us sooner?”
“And let everyone know about Applejack and Apple Bloom?” Sunset softly replied. “The town needs them. Twilight and I can do better elsewhere.”
“Well, while this is a bit of a shock,” Mrs Cake said, “I trust you girls. I guess all those stories Pinkie use to tell—”
She cut herself off as her husband wrapped an arm around her. She smiled sadly at Twilight and Sunset; a tear glistened in her good eye. “Just, please stay safe you two. Here, we bought you some snacks for the road.”
Sunset thanked them, taking the small carrier bag of sweet oat biscuits before turning to the gate. “I guess we should get going now…”
“Yes, you really should,” Caramel called over from the gate winch. “If I let you stay any longer it’ll be me getting the boot next.”
Twilight and Sunset glanced at each other before turning to Applejack and Fluttershy. They each hugged one another before taking a step back.
Applejack held her hat and solemnly said, “Well, Ah guess this is goodbye…”
Twilight shook her head. “We will fix this, Applejack. You will see us again. We won’t leave you all like this.”
Applejack gave a dejected nod. “Much appreciated, Twi.” She turned to Sunset. Her lips quivered with her bittersweet smile. “And Sunset, thank you. If ya didn’t do this, then…” She shook her head. “Well, that varmint will get what he’s due someday. Still, I can’t thank you enough.”
Twilight and Sunset didn’t look back as they walked out of the gates. Spike scampered along by their side as they retraced their steps down the road. Twilight was thankful that she still wore Sunset’s old jacket. It didn’t help with the heat, but the lack of sun on her arms was a welcome relief. The sun itself shone as brightly as it did the previous day and surely would have been blinding if it weren’t for her hat and sunglasses.
Spike however was less fortunate. He waddled along in their shadows, keeping his eyes close to the ground. “I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to get home,” he sighed. “All this sun is making me want an ice-cold soda and some ice cream!”
“Oh, that would be good,” Sunset chuckled. “It’s been so long I can barely remember the taste. But keeping the portal open comes first.”
Twilight glanced away and frowned. How would she keep the portal open? They could make a new journal, or at least something similar to it. But how would they hide it from the demon? And why did the demon want it in the first place? There was one more thought that once more reared up from the back of her mind. It twisted its way to the forefront like an icy mist and made her tremor. Would the portal still be open? It must be; this is only the second day! But, what if it’s not? What if the demon did something!
Twilight was jarred from her thoughts by a nudge from Sunset. “Hey, you okay Twilight?”
“Oh… Just thinking. That’s all.”
“You were shaking and doing that nervous hand dance the other you does,” Sunset said with a concerned glance. “We’ll fix this. I know we will.”
“Y-Yeah… We will.”
It was an hour until they caught sight of Canterlot High. The tents and wrecked vehicles out the front had been further crushed and pushed aside as several new holes were ripped in the side of the building.
“I hope Cranky Doodle is okay,” Twilight said.
“I’m sure he is. The Mad have a knack for staying alive. I don’t know how they do it.”
They made their way to the base of the Wondercolt statue. The stone was cracked and weathered by neglect. The stallion itself was still missing from the top of the pedestal. “There was a new one on order, but it never arrived in time,” Sunset commented.
Twilight glanced back towards the entrance of the school. Her eyes came to linger on the crushed tent that stood by the door. She closed her eyes and let out a short sigh. “W-We should bury them.”
Sunset’s head glanced towards Twilight with a quizzical look. “What was that?”
“The… The body by the entrance. We should bury them. They shouldn’t be left like that.”
Sunset smiled gently and rested a hand on Twilight’s shoulder. The grip brought a little reassurance as Twilight turned to face her. “We’ll do it as soon as the portal is safe. I promise, Twilight,” Sunset said. Her smile was kind and calmed Twilight’s nerves.
She gently nodded and turned to the portal-side of the statue. “Yeah… You’re right. Let’s not keep them waiting.”
Twilight took a step forward and placed her hand against the portal.
The shock of hitting solid sandstone jolted up her arm as her hand remained firmly planted against the hot surface.
Her heart paused. Her breath caught in her throat as her stomach dropped. She threw her other hand against the plinth. “No. No… It can’t be!”
The panic struck her like a freight train.
“The portal! It’s closed!”
This chapter didn't turn out how I imagined, but I hope you still enjoyed it. The stage is set, Twilight is trapped and what will they do next?
Tune in next time to find out!
I also want to give extra thanks to my editor Legofan for his help with this chapter. And I want to thank the awesome thatguyvex for giving a shout out. So I will do the same, if you haven't read Equestria Girls: Friendship Souls then I can't recommend it enough. It is a crossover with the manga/anime Bleach, but you can go in completely blind and still thoroughly enjoy the story. Also be sure to check out his other stuff while you're there.
As always, thanks for reading. And I'd love to hear your thoughts, questions, feedback, speculation and any other comments you have. 
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The longer this story goes on the more stupid it seems for twilight to stay there. She is completely dependent on magic and in this world she has no idea how it actually works.
Also how do they know that magic is not the reason behind this apocolypse or even if it is actually making it worst. This is similiar to the introduction of a foreign species into an isolated ecosystem. When this happens most of the time everything falls apart.
Yup, portal's closed. Predictable twist, but a necessary one. I look forward to seeing how the girls deal with this.
8348540
Right
This is one of the few stories where I want a flash back
8348540, 8350506. I'm sorry you two feel that way. Twilight has an important role to play. She may be the element of magic, but there's more to her then just magic.
8350508, things will become clear with time.
8349687, I'm glad you're enjoying it.
This is still to be continued right cause I read a lot of stories that ended like this incomplete
8359504, I'm working on chapter 5 right now. Updates may slow at times but I do plan on finishing.
i honestly cant see sunset going back to equestria in this scenario after banishment she would try ot fidn the rest of her friends again
8379115
Sunset has her reasons, and it wasn't supposed to be a permanent return, just somewhere safe to stay. Either way, she can't go back now
this world was caused by the introduction of magic to a magicless world.