Applejack must save Rarity when Spike kidnaps her after letting his greedy side take over his mind completely.
This story takes place after the episode 'Secret of My Excess.' The greed in Spike's heart is still there, and eventually it takes over him. A few days later, Twilight Sparkle wakes up to find that Spike has missing. It turns out later that day that Rarity is also missing. After investigating, the mane six find out that Rarity and Spike were last seen going into the Everfree forest.
Twilight goes into the forest to save the two, and Applejack tags along because she is more worried about Rarity. However, what they discover is not what they had expected.
AN: This is my first Rarijack fanfiction, and there's Sparity in there too. I suppose you could say this was my first actual adventure story involving My Little Pony too. Anyway, constructive criticism is greatly appreciated, and I do hope you all enjoy it!
Spike was a very happy baby dragon. He had a great birthday with his friends. Yes he had gotten greedy and grown huge, almost destroying Ponyville, but it had ended with a kiss on the cheek from Rarity. It had been her fire ruby that had brought Spike back to his senses. He didn't dare think about what may have happened if Rarity hadn't been there, and he was grateful for the beautiful unicorn.
Now he was curled up in his bed in the library. His dragon's vision allowed him to see through the dark, and he could see the top curve of Twilight's silhouette on the bed. It rose and fell gently, a comfort to Spike since it reminded him he was not alone. He was the only dragon in Ponyville, and if it weren't for Twilight Sparkle and her friends, he would probably have a hard time living in the small town.
Spike's thoughts drifted to Rarity. When he had first seen the white unicorn, his heart had started beating so fast he thought it would break out of his chest. Spike thought Rarity was the definition of beauty itself, and he loved her. Everypony knew it too. Twilight Sparkle had even pointed it out to him when he asked her to keep it a secret. The truth was though, he had really hoped Rarity didn't know he had feelings for her. That was why he had asked Twilight to keep it a secret, so Rarity wouldn't find out. He was sure Rarity had feelings for him, but he wanted to make his confession of love to her special. It wouldn't be so special if she knew about it already.
He knew mostly everypony knew about his feelings for Rarity because he had shown it when Rarity had gotten kidnapped by the Diamond Dogs. Spike cringed at the memory. He could remember the feeling of helplessness as he watched Rarity get dragged down the hole by those dogs. He had tried to fight the dogs off, he had tried to protect Rarity, but he had failed. It had been one of the worst moments in Spike's life. He never wanted to see something like that happen to her again.
There's a way to ensure that, said a deep voice.
Spike's eyes shot open. He had heard a voice, one he didn't recognize. Spike sat up in his bed, looking around him nervously. He didn't see anypony or anything through the darkness of the room. He listened hard, but he only heard Twilight's faint breathing. Spike sighed and told himself he was just imagining things. He laid back down and closed his eyes. Then the voice spoke again.
There's a way you can have her all to yourself, you know.
Spike sat up again. It was the exact same voice, in the exact same tone. It was deep and gruff, not like a pony's. Spike swallowed hard, feeling afraid. Was there some monster in the room with them? He looked towards Twilight's sleeping figure, but the unicorn did not make a sound. Was he the only one who could hear the voice? He did not recognize the voice, and its mysteriousness scared him.
"Who-who are you?" Spike whispered nervously.
I'm you, the voice said with a dark chuckle. I'm the stronger side of you. I am the one who craves, I am the one with the burning desire for treasure. I know your every thought, I hear your every word, I feel your every emotion. We are one and the same.
Spike gulped again. This voice sounded dangerous, and the fact that it was in his head made it even more frightening. Spike had to be brave, however. If the voice was something that could harm him or his friends, then he couldn't let his guard down.
"And what do you want?" Spike asked in a soft whisper.
You mean what do we want? said the voice cooly. We share the same mind, we have the same body, and we want the same things. I think you know very well who I'm talking about.
An image of a beautiful unicorn flashed in his mind. Spike growled and said, "Don't you dare hurt her."
Why would I? We love her, don't we? the voice said knowingly.
"Well, yes," said Spike, swallowing again. "But..."
You're afraid, the voice finished for him. You're afraid she won't love you back. There is also something else, something you have been trying very hard not to think about. A crucial fact that would affect your relationship with her.
Spike closed his eyes, he knew what the voice was talking about. "I'm a dragon, and dragons can't be with ponies," he whispered. "I could have her, but we couldn't-"
"Spike?" Twilight had woken up now. She rubbed a sleepy eye and looked at the baby dragon. "Who are you talking to?"
"No one," Spike lied. "I'm just...talking to myself, I guess. Sorry I woke you." He gave her an apologetic smile.
Twilight smiled warmly at her number one assistant and said, "Try to get some sleep, Spike. Good night."
"Good night, Twilight," said Spike.
He laid back down and closed his eyes.
Yes, good night Spike... was the last thing the voice said that night.
Spike shuddered, the voice's tone sending a chill down his spine. He had a bad feeling about the voice, but he decided he would dwell on it in the morning. Right now he needed to get some rest. Spike tried not to focus on what the voice had said to him, and tried to focus on sleep. Eventually his eyelids grew heavy and exhaustion swept over him. He slept peacefully for the rest of the night.
The following morning seemed normal enough. Spike didn't hear the voice again. It didn't speak while he waited for Twilight to make breakfast. It didn't speak while he did his morning chores. He decided to take his mind off of it by helping himself to a small bowl of jewels Twilight had gotten him for lunch. He sat on a chair munching on his gems while Twilight did some studying in the library. The gems were delicious as usual, and he savored every bite. He couldn't help but think of the fire ruby he had given to Rarity. It probably would have tasted delicious. However, Rarity had wanted it, and Spike couldn't be selfish and eat something that the fashion loving mare wanted. The gems helped him stop thinking about the voice from the night before.
Spike was beginning to think that the voice had just been a dream when he heard a dark chuckle. This time, since he was fully awake and his senses were sharper, he knew it was definitely in his head. The voice was still there. It had definitely not been a dream. The young dragon waited a moment, but the voice did not say anything else. Then Twilight's voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
"Spike, I need a new quill and parchment set. Do you mind going out and getting it for me?" Twilight asked him.
Spike swallowed the last gem he had in his bowl and nodded. "Sure thing, Twilight."
He set the empty bowl aside and hurried out the door. He walked down the path when he saw a unicorn coming in his direction. It was Rarity and her horn was aglow as she levitated several bags around her. When she saw Spike, she came to a stop and smiled at the baby dragon.
"Hello Spike, how are you?" she greeted him, setting her bags down for the moment.
Spike was momentarily distracted by the unicorn's beauty. She always looked beautiful. Her coat seemed to glow in the sunlight, and her cutie mark even had a shine to it as well. The young dragon was mesmerized by the sight of her, and it took a moment before he realized she had asked him something.
"I'm fine," answered Spike quickly. "I'm going to get some quills and parchment for Twilight."
"Oh what a coincidence! I was actually at the shop and they gave me an extra set. I'll save you the trouble and let you have it," said Rarity with a smile.
I love it when you smile, Rarity... Spike thought silently.
"Oh no Rarity, you don't have to," said Spike. "It's fine, really."
"Not another word, Spike," said Rarity.
She used her magic to levitate a quill and parchment set out of one of her shopping bags. She gave it to Spike and he looked down at the items in his claws.
"Well, thank you Rarity," said Spike, looking back up at her.
Rarity beamed at him, "Anything for my little Spikey wikey!"
She winked and Spike blushed at that. He looked down at his feet as Rarity said goodbye and continued past him. Spike heard the voice chuckle again. He growled, annoyed that the voice had been listening. Spike decided to ignore the voice and just go back. He gripped the quill and parchment set in his tiny claws and went back to the library.
Twilight looked towards the door in surprise when she heard someone come in. She saw Spike walk in with her supplies in his claws.
"That was fast," Twilight commented as Spike walked over to her.
"I ran into Rarity on the way to the shop," Spike explained. "She had an extra set and let me have it."
Twilight smiled, thinking of the generous unicorn. "That was very nice of her. Well thank you, Spike."
The voice spoke at that moment, You should have kept that set for yourself. It was a gift from her, after all.
"Why would I do that?" Spike accidentally said out loud.
Twilight looked at her assistant in confusion. "Why would you do what?" she asked, looking at him curiously.
"Um, well," Spike thought fast. Then he said, "It was just something Pinkie Pie told me. I think she was just being Pinkie, though."
Twilight seemed to believe that as she let out a soft giggle. "Probably. Why don't you just go relax. I won't be doing much today except reading and taking some notes."
"All right, thanks Twilight," Spike smiled at her.
Spike went to the upper level of the Library where his bed was. He curled up in the bed, hoping to get some rest. Then the voice spoke to him again.
Yes...get some rest, Spikey Wikey, the voice used Rarity's nickname for him.
Spike growled, which only made the voice laugh mirthlessly.
It was the voice's last words that haunted him for the rest of that day, however.
"You'll need it.
~
That night Spike had a dream. He was visiting the Carousel Boutique. He stood in Rarity's room, no longer a baby dragon but a dragon that was very close to being an adult. Rarity lay in her bed, old, weak, and feeble. Her mane had lost its shine and her coat its luster. She coughed and blinked at Spike.
"Spike..." she croaked, her voice a hoarse whisper. "Spike..."
Spike crept closer to her. He reached out with a claw and put it gently on Rarity's shoulder. Rarity smiled weakly, trying to show strength even when she was within in her last hours of life. That was when the dragon realized she was dying of old age.
"I'm here Rarity," he said in a deeper tone.
"I've always loved you...Spike..." she whispered, her voice growing weaker and softer. "This is goodbye, I'm afraid."
Spike swallowed and shook his head. "No, Rarity. It's not!"
His Rarity closed her beautiful eyes, and moments later, her heart stopped beating. Her chest stopped rising and falling. Spike let out a roar of fury, letting out all of his pain and anguish at once. Then cold laughter surrounded him, and the last thing he saw before waking up was blackness.
Twilight was on her hooves in an instant. She went to where Spike was in his bed. Spike was now sitting up, shaking in fear. His purple scales were paler, as if the blood had been drained from his veins. Spike looked up at Twilight and swallowed.
"I-I'm sorry...it..it was a nightmare! Rarity...She was...Rarity..." Spike couldn't bring himself to say it.
Twilight looked at her young assistant and pulled him into a tight hug. "Oh Spike...that's not going to happen for a very long time now, you know that right?"
Spike sniffled and nodded, unable to speak. He sobbed into Twilight's chest. She let him cry while she hugged him close. In his mind, Spike was thinking about all the things the voice had said. He was right. He needed to do something if he wanted to be with Rarity forever. There had to be a way to keep her alive. Then Spike remembered a certain somepony who just might hold the answer. He smiled in the darkness of the room, hiding it from Twilight.
"I'm okay now..." he sniffled, hiding his face. He turned around and curled up in his bed, his back to Twilight. "Thank you..."
Twilight Sparkle nodded in understanding. She used her magic to make Spike's blanket cover him up more. Then she returned to bed herself. Then a few hours later, under the cover of darkness, a young dragon fled.
The Everfree forest was silent; nary a sound could be heard. A dark but small shape moved down the narrow path that snaked through the forest. Soon the shape came to a small hut, with foreign masks hanging on the front door. The shape moved around the hut, and slipped in through a side window. One could smell faint odors of potions brewed earlier that day. A faint glow could be seen surrounding a few artifacts here and there. In one corner of the darkened room, a zebra slept. Occasionally her ear would twitch, picking up on some stray sound in its environment.
Moments later, there came a slight intake of breath, and then a green flame formed in the darkness. The dragon fire created a dim light, enough for the young dragon to see. Spike crept around, being careful not to do anything that would wake Zecora. Spike held the flame in one hand, his dragon hide preventing his claw from being burned. He had not come without knowledge. Earlier in the library, he had looked for books on potion magic, for a potion that had long term effects. Once he knew what he needed, he could come to Zecora's hut. As he looked around, unbeknownst to the dragon, his emerald eyes took on a vibrant glow. In his chest, black coils of darkness encircled around his heart. The tendrils wrapped around his heart, and started sinking in.
The dragon was unaware of all this, since he was focused on the mission at hand. Spike had a small baby dragon sized backpack to use. He got the required supplies as quietly as he could. Each time he thought he had been too loud, he glanced over to where Zecora slept. The striped mare made no movement or sign that she had woken, which allowed Spike to continue. The last item he needed was a bottle, so he looked around for Zecora's store of vials. He found one and snatched it, putting it in his backpack. As he turned, his tail brushed against one of the remaining bottles, causing it to topple over. It smashed to pieces on the floor, waking the zebra.
Spike winced as he saw Zecora's head rise. The zebra became alarmed as she saw the dragon shape a few feet away.
"Thief, thief!" she cried. "A thief in my store! You will not get what you came for!" said Zecora as she started towards the baby dragon.
Spike turned and ran, clutching his backpack in his chest. He hurried out of the hut, Zecora coming after him. However, Spike did not run back towards Ponyville. He wanted to lose Zecora first. He hurried off into the darkness of the forest, running from the path. Zecora tried to run after him, but it was too dark for her to see anything. Still, she knew who it was. There was only one baby dragon who lived nearby that she knew of. She would visit Twilight Sparkle in the morning.
~
Celestia had just raised her sun into the sky. The weather ponies had scheduled the day to be clear, which made it the perfect day for being outside. Applejack had risen and eaten breakfast. She was just finishing up her morning chores around the farm. Apple Bloom had already gone into Ponyville to visit Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo for another day of Crusading. Applejack walked out of her apple cellar after checking that no critters had gotten into it over the night.
Her chores finished, she decided to head into town. She started down the dirt road that led into the western part of Ponyville. When she entered the town limits, she saw the Cutie Mark Crusaders coming in her direction. She assumed they were heading to their clubhouse, so she gave them a smile. It faded quickly when she saw the looks of panic on their faces.
"Sis, we got a problem!" Apple Bloom exclaimed as the trio approached her, slowing down to catch their breaths.
"What's th' matter Apple Bloom?" Applejack asked, worried.
Sweetie Belle looked at her, eyes big and teary. "It's my sister, Rarity. I can't find her anywhere! She was supposed to make breakfast for me this morning," she swallowed as tears started coming. "She always makes me breakfast, or at least leaves a note..." Scootaloo put a hoof on her shoulder and she sniffled in response.
"Don't you worry none, sugar cube, we'll find Rarity," Applejack assured Sweetie Belle. "Let's take you to Sugar Cube Corner, all right? Maybe Rarity went there." Or at least maybe Pinkie Pie will have seen her, Applejack added silently. That pony rarely ever missed a thing, especially with her Pinkie Sense.
Two of the Crusaders nodded while Sweetie Belle made a mumbled response. Applejack took that as a yes and led the three fillies to Sugar Cube Corner. When they went inside, Applejack saw Pinkie Pie putting new baked goods out on display. The party pony looked up and grinned at the sight of Applejack and the Crusaders, but like Applejack, her smile faded when she saw the expressions on the Crusaders' faces.
She literally dropped everything she was doing, the sweets miraculously staying put on the platters they sat on. She ran over to the three fillies and immediately pulled them into a big hug, hoping that would cure their sadness. As nice as the hug was however, it didn't work. Pinkie Pie frowned, very worried now. She looked at Applejack questioningly.
"Rarity's missing, apparently," the farmer explained. "Didn't even leave a note or nothin, she ain't at the boutique according to Sweetie Belle."
Pinkie Pie nodded, thinking over Applejack's words. This explained the doozy she had felt when she woke up that morning. She was still feeling it, but she tried her best to hide it as not to scare the young ones. Pinkie Pie couldn't stand to see the three fillies so sad. She couldn't stand to see anypony sad, for that matter. So she quickly thought of something that would cheer them up hopefully.
"I bet's she's playing hide and seek!" Pinkie Pie said in a bubbly manner.
"I doubt-" Applejack began, but got a pink hoof in the mouth.
Pinkie Pie put her other hoof against her lips and said in a soft whisper, "Just go with it."
Applejack sighed and nodded in understanding. She trusted Pinkie Pie to look over the Crusaders, as the party pony had done so a few times in the past. She turned to her sister and her friends.
"All right, listen here. Y'all stay with Pinkie Pie, and behave yerselves. Ahm gonna go look around for Rarity. Ahm sure she's in Ponyville somewhere," she told them. "Can you do that?"
The three nodded, their expressions sincere. They weren't about to joke around when one of them was so upset. The Cutie Mark Crusaders were close that way. Applejack smiled in satisfaction and turned to Pinkie Pie.
"All right, Ah'll come back later then. Take care y'all," she said with a tip of her hat.
Applejack walked out of the bakery, a heavy feeling in the pit of her stomach. She herself was worried about Rarity. Applejack knew Rarity wasn't the kind of pony to just up and disappear without telling anypony. Something wasn't right, she could feel it. Applejack looked up at the skies, hoping to find a certain mare with a prismatic mane. Sure enough she spotted Rainbow Dash flying overhead.
"Hay Rainbow Dash!" she called up. "Come down here for a moment, ah need ya!"
The cyan pegasus looked down and saw Applejack calling to her. She slowed down and changed her path to land in front of Applejack. The look in the farmer's eyes told Rainbow Dash that this was something serious.
"What's up, A.J?" she asked.
"Rarity ain't at home. She was supposed to make breakfast fer Sweetie Belle, but the poor filly woke up to an empty house," Applejack explained. "Ah need you to fly around Ponyville, see if you can spot her. Stop by Fluttershy's Cottage too, see if she's there. Ah'm gonna go to the Library."
Rainbow Dash nodded in understanding. "Got it!"
With a smile she flared her wings and shot back into the sky. Applejack watched her for a moment before heading to the Golden Oaks Library. She walked on in, since it was a public library. Applejack looked around, wondering where the library's resident unicorn was when she came through a doorway that led to the lower levels. Twilight Sparkle's brows were furrowed in worry, and she almost looked relieved to see Applejack standing in the doorway.
"Applejack, thank Celestia!" she cried, running to her. "Have you seen Spike? He's not here. He didn't even leave a note."
"Are y'all serious?" Applejack was surprised. "That's ironic seeing as Rarity's missing as well."
"Rarity's missing...?" A look of horror came over her face. "Oh no, what if someone's dragonnapped Spike and ponynapped Rarity?" Her voice was becoming a little high pitched, much to Applejack's concern.
"Now now don' be jumpin' to conclusions," Applejack said calmly. "It might just be ah coincidence."
"It may not, considering what I have seen. If you let me inside, I will tell you what I mean," said a familiar voice.
Applejack turned around and saw Zecora. Twilight brightened at the sight of the zebra and both ponies stepped aside to let her in. Zecora gave them a thank you and walked into the Library.
"Zecora, Spike has gone missing!" Twilight said once they were all inside.
"I had a feeling that was the case, because last night he broke into my place," rhymed the zebra.
Twilight and Applejack exchanged looks of surprise and back to the unicorn. "What happened?" Twilight asked.
"Last night was when I saw the little drake. Now he has something not his to take. I have a bad feeling about what he intends to do, for what he took makes a special kind of brew," Zecora explained.
Applejack didn't like the sound of that. Even though she knew Twilight used magic and Zecora was a trustworthy zebra, stuff like that always made her uneasy. Still, if this was related in anyway to Rarity's disappearance, it didn't sooth her fears at all. Applejack knew Spike wouldn't hurt Rarity, but his breaking into Zecora's home was awfully suspicious. She shifted uncomfortably on her hooves, looking at Zecora.
Twilight Sparkle pressed further, "What does this brew of yours do?"
Zecora had a grim look on her face as she explained, "It is a dangerous elixir that extends one's life. It has a force to pierce through your soul like a knife. While many seek to use it they do not know it is a curse, for the longer one has it, they become worse. I fear for the life of young Spike, and I think we need to find the little tyke."
"And Rarity, too," Applejack added. "She could be in danger."
Zecora's explanation had only deepened Applejack's fears. She was more then anxious to go looking for Rarity. Twilight picked up on this and nodded in agreement.
"We need to go find them," said Twilight. "Zecora, mind if we go back to your place? Maybe we can pick up on a trail."
"If there is a trail, I do not know, but checking for one we can do so," said the Zebra. "Please follow me into the Everfree."
Both Twilight and Applejack nodded and the three of them left the library. Zecora led them out of Ponyville and down the path that led by Fluttershy's house. Applejack looked in the cottage's direction to see the rainbow maned pegasus flying towards them.
"There you are Applejack! Oh hey Twilight, Zecora," Rainbow Dash gave the other two a nod. "I just talked to Fluttershy. She's pretty shaken up."
"Shaken up?" Applejack repeated. "Ah don't like the sound a' that."
Rainbow Dash nodded solemnly, "She said she saw a dragon last night. A big one."
Twilight frowned, thinking about this for a moment. She didn't think it was Spike, she was sure of that. She had already seen Spike as a giant dragon, but Rarity had gotten him back to normal. However, a small sliver of doubt was eating away at her. The doubt was due to the circumstances of the situation. Both Rarity and Spike were missing; Fluttershy had seen a giant dragon that may or may not have been Spike, and Spike had broken into Zecora's place and stolen a brew that apparently made for eternal life. The evidence couldn't be ignored, but Twilight still wanted more proof.
"Did she say what the dragon looked like?" Twilight asked hopefully.
Rainbow Dash shook her head, "No sorry. She was too frightened to look for long."
Twilight sighed, knowing that was most likely true. Fluttershy was a very timid mare, and easily frightened. "So both Spike and Rarity are missing now..."
"Wait, Spike's missing too?" Rainbow Dash hadn't known this part of the story. "What happened?"
"Spike broke into Zecora's place last night and stole ingredients to make something that would give a pony eternal life," Twilight explained. "We were on our way back to Zecora's hut."
"Right. Sorry but I'm gonna stay with Fluttershy for a bit. Hope you understand," said Rainbow Dash.
"No problem, RD," said Applejack. "Now I don't wanna wait any longer, so let's git moving."
"Good luck," said Rainbow Dash before turning to fly back to Fluttershy's.
"Come on, everpony," said Applejack to the other two.
The three of them continued onto the Everfree forest. They went down the path that led to Zecora's hut. The zebra's eyes widened when her home came into view. The state of the hut was completely different than it was before. For one part, a huge piece was missing from it. Mostly the roof and the right side of it, but almost all of the roof.
"No!" she cried, running into her hut.
Applejack and Twilight ran in behind her. The entire place was a mess. Shelves had been torn off the walls and rafters and beams had fallen. There was broken glass on the floor and her cauldron was turned over. Many of her ancient artifacts looked like they had been burnt, as if destroyed in anger.
"Zecora, I...I'm so sorry," Twilight said after a long moment of silence.
Applejack gulped and looked where most of the wall had collapsed. Now she could see a clear path through the forest, since further ahead were fallen trees and crushed undergrowth. She looked back to Zecora, who was moving around picking up broken bits of debris.
"Zecora..." Twilight walked to the zebra's side.
"It is all right, just leave me be. You must go find Spike and Rarity," said Zecora softly.
"Are you sure we can't help you clean up?" Twilight asked worriedly.
"I built this hut on my own, and I can easily restore my home," said Zecora. "You two go find the dragon and Miss Rarity, but be careful for you are in the Everfree."
"If you're sure..." Twilight wasn't sure about leaving Zecora here on her own. The zebra did have a point though. She sighed and nodded, "All right. Take care of yourself, Zecora. We'll be back soon."
"Let's git going, then," said Applejack.
Zecora nodded and went on to slowly cleaning up. Twilight turned to Applejack and the earth pony turned to go out of the hut. The two ponies left Zecora's hut and headed down the path that was thought to have been made by Spike. Applejack still wasn't positive that Rarity was with Spike, but then she found the evidence she needed. On the ground up ahead, covered in dirt, was a note.
Twilight spotted the note and went over to it quickly. She used her magic to levitate the note, the paper surrounded in a pinkish aura. It was a note from Rarity, meant to be sent to Princess Celestia. She shared the note with Applejack, and the farmer realized Rarity must have dropped it while going with Spike.
"Well ah think that's enough evidence to know Spike's taken Rarity," Applejack concluded.
"Most likely..." Twilight sighed, thinking back on the last couple days. "Spike had been acting a little off since the whole fiasco on his birthday. I should have seen this coming."
"Now don't you blame yerself, sugar cube, It wasn't your fault," Applejack assured her friend. "Right now, let's just focus on finding them okay?"
"Okay. Thanks Applejack," Twilight smiled gratefully at the orange mare.
Applejack and Twilight continued on down the path. They were going in an unfamiliar direction now, so Twilight made sure to leave magical traces so they could find their way back. Every few yards she would illuminate her horn, and a sphere of energy would be sent outward in a five mile radius. She made sure to leave pointers so they could stay in the right direction. This was easy for the most part, due to the path Spike had made. Unfortunately, after a few hours of walking, the path ended.
Twilight looked up, guessing Spike must have flown upward and out of the Everfree. Wait, 'flown?' That was new for Twilight. Last time, Spike hadn't had wings. This probably meant the situation was worse than last time, Twilight feared. Now they didn't have a lead to go on. She looked worriedly at Applejack and the earth pony understood as well. They would have to go blindly from here on. That fact made both mares uncomfortable, and Twilight searched through her mind to find a solution. Then she got an idea.
"Applejack, you trust me right?" she asked the farmer.
"Of course ah do, sugar cube," said Applejack. "Yer my friend."
"Ok, I'm going to levitate you as high as you can. Hopefully you can get above the tree line and see any clues about where we might need to go," said Twilight.
"Uh, levitation?" Applejack drew in a breath. "Well, you'll just be bringing me upward right? It's not too complicated?"
"It's not tricky at all, Applejack," said Twilight. "Don't worry, I won't let you get hurt."
"All right, go for it then," said Applejack, bracing herself.
Twilight concentrated, her horn glowing brightly. A pinkish aura surrounded Applejack, and the earth pony felt herself being lifted into the air. Applejack tried not to close her eyes in fear as she was brought higher and higher. She looked up towards the sky and Twilight managed to bring her just above the treeline.
Applejack gulped, never having been so high up without anything to hold onto before. She shivered slightly, the altitude making it a little colder. She gulped and looked downward to where Twilight was. Applejack hoped Twilight knew what she was doing, because she didn't want to die as a result of the unicorn's magic.
"Can you see anything?" Applejack heard her call.
"Hang on, ah'm looking!" she called back down.
Applejack took a good look around. She felt herself being turned around and smiled gratefully. Then she spotted a huge mass in the distance. It looked like a mountain, but it was covered in a dense fog. She knew dragons liked mountains, since Twilight had told her about dragons one time when she had asked. It could be their best chance at finding Spike and Rarity. She took note of the direction the mountain was in and looked down.
"Twilight! Ah see something, looks like it might be a mountain! It's a ways away, but ah think it might be our best shot!"
Twilight nodded and gently brought Applejack back down to the ground. The earth pony sighed in relief as her hooves touched the familiar earth underneath her. The aura around her faded and Applejack immediately turned in the direction she had seen the mountain. She lifted a hoof and pointed.
"That way," she told Twilight.
"East? That sounds about right," said Twilight. "Draconia is in that direction, though I doubt Spike would go that far."
"Well let's head on out," said Applejack. "Ah'm mighty worried about Rares."
"Me too Applejack," agreed Twilight.
The two of them started their journey through the Everfree and towards the mountain.