Carrot Top likes to help ponies whenever possible, but when too many requests come in for her assistance, she looks for a solution. And the solution may cause more problems than it solves. A Lunaverse Story.
Everypony in Ponyville knows Carrot Top, the Element of Generosity. Always ready with kind words and a helping hoof when they're needed.
But when Carrot Top finds herself stuck between her friends in the Farmer's Union, and a request from Applejack, she turns to a legend of the Everfree to gain some extra hoof power. But strange magic has its consequences.
Will Ponyville and Carrot Top be able to deal with them?
The cool fall morning air tousled Carrot Top’s mane as she yanked another carrot from the dirt. The familiar dull ache from a full day of hard farm work was already setting in, and she still had another full field to harvest. But such was the nature of farm work, and Carrot Top was quite used to it by now. Though, the new irrigation system from last year’s contest did help reduce the load.
A cough echoed from the fence line. Twisting to face the sound, Carrot Top found herself staring down both Applejack and her little sister Apple Bloom.
“Applejack?” She blinked, tilting her head slightly, “What brings you around?”
The face of Sweet Apple Acres opened her mouth, then closed it again, frowning. Carrot Top blinked again as Applejack repeated the process, obviously struggling to get something off her chest. Apple Bloom rolled her eyes, poking her sister in the side.
“Come on sis. Just ask her already!”
“Ah wanted ta ask for yer help!” Applejack shouted, almost tripping over the words as she rushed to get them out.
“Excuse me?” Carrot Top asked, her confusion growing.
“Look,” Applejack elaborated, fidgeting with her hat, “Every fall, Big Mac and I set up a line of Timberwolf traps along the edge of the Everfree. Helps keep the critters from roamin’ too close ta Ponyville.”
Carror Top nodded. It made sense. Nopony wanted timberwolves wandering into town. Though Applejack’s efforts in combating the woody menaces was news to her.
“And this involves me because?”
“Well...Big Mac kinda hurt himself and now I’m a pony down.” She mumbled, doffing her hat, “Look. Ah know I’ve not exactly made myself a friend, but yer a strong worker and you’ve been in the Everfree before. I could use yer help.”
“...Are you sure? No offence Applejack, but usually in these situations you just double down on working yourself.”
“Well, yeah. But this time a mighty wise pony convinced me ta try a different approach.” She punctuated that statement with a sisterly ruffle of Apple Bloom’s mane, the younger pony beaming, “So, how ‘bout it? Can I count on ya?”
Carrot Top mulled the proposition over, rubbing her chin. The request was simple enough, and keeping timberwolves away from Ponyville was a noble goal.
“All right. When do you need me?”
“Tomorrow mornin’ would be great. Bright and early.”
“I’ll be there.” Carrot Top nodded.
Watching the two members of the apple clan wander back towards their farm, a smile crossed her muzzle. A Ponyville without the conflicts between the Apple Trust and the Farmer’s Union? A pony could hope.
That happy thought still dancing through her head, Carrot Top returned to her harvest.
- - - -
My little pony, My little pony Ahh ahh ahh ahhh... My little pony Friendship never meant that much to me My little pony But you're all here and now I can see Stormy weather; Lots to share A musical bond; With love and care Teaching laughter; It's an easy feat, And magic makes it all complete! You have my little ponies How'd I ever make so many true friends?
- - - -
It was past the noonday break, and Carrot Top was working her usual market stall, compulsively rearranging her carrots so that the stall looked as attractive as possible.
“Carrot Top!”
Carrot Top paused in her work. Green Grape was rushing right at her, a frazzled expression on the mare’s face. The grape farmer was usually unflappable, so she could only imagine what had her so worked up.
“Calm down Green!” She comforted, holding up a hoof, “What’s wrong?”
“Rock gophers!”
Carrot Top winced. When it came to wrecking a farm, only parasprites could cause more damage than rock gophers. The magical critters liked to dig wide and extensive tunnels beneath farms, and some of their worst case stories she had heard included whole farm houses being dropped a few feet into the ground.
“How bad?”
“Well, we managed to round them up and get them out of the area. Now it’s just a matter of fixing the southern field. You know, filling the tunnels, putting the trellises back up, that kind of thing. So I’m trying to get as many spare hooves together as I can for tomorrow. Can I count on you?”
“Errr...well…” She said, biting her lip, “I’d like to, but Applejack asked me to help her with her timberwolf traps tomorrow morning.”
“Oh,” Green Grapes blinked, “I forgot that she did that. Dunno why though. I don’t think that Ponyville has ever had a timberwolf attack on record.”
“Well, I can’t entirely blame her for wanting to be careful….”
“So, you’ll tell her that you can’t help, right? I mean...she’s got the Trust backing her up. I’m a fellow Farm Union member.”
“I...well…” Carrot Top faltered, “But, I did promise her already. I can’t just go back on my word.”
Green Grapes jaw opened slightly before settling into a scowl.
“Really? After all that she’s done against you? You’d pick to help her over me?”
“She’s been trying to be better.” Carrot Top winced, nervously shuffling her hooves, “Sure, it’s still kind of a work in progress, but I can’t just snub an honest effort to be less…aloof.”
When the scowl didn’t drop from Green Grape’s face, she nervously elaborated. “Look, Grapes, I can’t break my promise to Applejack, but I will try to finish quickly and then rush over to you as quickly as I can.”
Green Grape sighed obviously still disappointed, but nodded all the same.
“All right Carrot Top. I can’t ask you to break your word. Hopefully there will still be work to do by the time you show up.”
Watching Green Grape leave, Carrot Top sighed. She hated having to decide between helping two ponies who both had legitimate issues, but Applejack had asked first. Resolving to work all the harder tomorrow morning, she returned to worrying about her own produce.
The next hour turned by at a rapid pace, Carrot Top falling into the natural rhythm and patter of selling, the pile of carrots dwindling while her collection of bits grew.
“Carrot Top!”
“I’m popular today.” She smirked, looking towards the voice. The smile turned into a furrowed brow and raised eyebrow at the sight of her friend Trixie.
The unicorn seemed to be in the process of making another one of her...unique culinary creations. A slice of watermelon floated along, buoyed by her shimmering magic aura, and slathered with peanut butter. A coating of some kind of red powder was dusted over the peanut butter along with...chives?
Trixie strode right up to the stall, tossed a bit into the box, slapped a carrot atop the whole concoction and took a full bite.
“Trixie…” Carrot Top gaped at the contented expression on Trixie’s face as she chewed, “Your taste buds need to be examined. By a team of doctors...or mages...or both.”
Swallowing, Trixie scoffed. “I can’t help it if you Ponyvillians can’t understand my sophisticated Neigh Orleans palate!”
There was a momentary pause before both broke into a round of laughter.
“I still don’t understand how you like half of these combinations.”
Trixie shrugged. “So, how’s today finding you?”
“All right for the most part. I am finding myself in the middle of a slight tug of war between two farmers.”
Tilting her head slightly, Trixie motioned for her friend to continue, taking another bite of her concoction.
“Well, Applejack asked me to help her set up some timber wolf traps along the edge of the Everfree tomorrow. Seemed like a perfectly reasonable request. Then, once I’m here, Green Grape asked for some help fixing her farm, also tomorrow.” She absent mindedly shuffled a few of her carrots around as she continued, “I feel bad for kind of telling Grape that I’ll get to her when I can...but Applejack did ask first.”
“The mundane problems of life.” Trixie nodded, “You know, sometimes I wonder if Luna ever had to deal with things so normal in her life. Remember that trick she pulled during the Longest Night celebration? When she was literally three different ponies?”
“Yeah. But I suppose that’s why she’s the princess and we’re the subjects.”
“Well, for what it’s worth, I’m glad that you’re helping Applejack.”
“Really?”
“Of course! I don’t want timber wolves sneaking into my house.” She winked, “And I’m sure that Grape would agree.”
“You’re probably right.” Carrot Top smiled, “Thanks Trixie.”
- - - -
That night, after most ponies had gone to sleep, Carrot Top found herself curled up on her bed contemplating her situation. Having to choose between her friends in the union and Applejack. She still didn’t like it.”
“Ugh...I need an extra pair of hooves. Or a twin.”
Twin. Trixie’s example from earlier in the day came to mind. It would be very convenient if she could do that trick of Luna’s.
Even as that thought left her head a memory stirred in the corners of her mind. A legend that her grandmother told her during Hearth’s Warming Eve one year. With a sudden surge of energy, she threw the covers off her bed and rushed across the room.
And old trunk rested under the window, inherited from Carrot Top’s grandmother. A soft smile crossed her muzzle at the thought of her grandma, roaming through the depths of the Everfree, trying to collect old bits of pony lore.
“Grandma Sprout was something else.” She chuckled, flipping the lid up and beginning to rummage.
It only took her a few moments to find what she was looking for. A full old hoof written leather journal, with Carrot Sprout’s cute-mark engraved on the cover. Carefully opening it, she flipped through the pages, looking for the legend that was stuck in the back of her mind.
“Ah ha!” She beamed, stopping on a drawing of a pool, complete with a series of notes and a map drawn on the facing page.
The Mirror Pool is the strangest thing I found during my early years of poking around the Everfree forest. Hidden in one of the deepest bramble thickets of the forest, at the bottom of short ravine, I discovered that it can make magical duplicates.
Carrot Top grinned.
- - - -
Carrot Top was no longer grinning. Part of it was because she had the handle of a lantern clutched in her teeth. The rest of it was where she was.
Despite the fact that she had been in the Everfree many times before, gathering herbal ingredients, she was having a very hard time keeping her knees from knocking as she moved through the night shrouded forest. For some reason, the Everfree was feeling particularly foreboding tonight.
The darkness made every shadow seem longer, every scrape of a branch or snap of a twig the result of a monster creeping closer, every howl of the wind a timberwolf hiding just around the bend. But still she pressed on.
Pausing at a large tree, she gently put the lantern down and dug the map back out of her saddlebags.
Let’s see...large old ironwood tree. Looks like I cut to the east from here and follow an old stream bed…
A mournful howl cut through the night, sending a chill down Carrot Top’s spine as she snapped her head up. Scanning the trees around her, she tried to ignore the way her heart was hammering in her chest, the thought of timberwolves once again at the forefront of her mind.
When no creatures stepped into view, she quickly grabbed the lantern and rushed for the stream bed. Her hooves crunched against the loose gravel of the former stream, the only sound reaching her ears.
After what felt like a few minutes of straight running, the edge of Carrot Top’s lantern light cast across a massive wall of brambles and black thorns. The snarl of twisted plants completely blocked up the end of the gully, but through the gaps of the branches, she could make out a hole in the ground.
Crouching low, Carrot Top inched along the ground, slipping between the limbs and stepping into the hole in the ground. When her hooves found carved stairs however, she blinked.
Stairs? Somepony made this?
Driven on by a sense of curiosity as well, she quickly trotted down the steps, taking them two at a time. As she traveled deeper, a soft blue light began to reach her eyes. The light didn’t so much grow brighter as she reached the bottom of the stairs, as there just seemed to be more of it. She didn’t know how to explain it really, but she made a mental note to ask Trixie about it later.
The room, and there was no other way to describe it as the walls were worked stone, was a large rectangle. Four columns of stone supported the ceiling and set in the middle of it all was another, smaller rectangle pool of glowing blue water, complete with a short flight of steps leading into it’s cool depths. Ancient writing covered much of the pillars, but a great deal of it seemed faded and chipped away from age.
Gently putting the lantern down, Carrot Top double checked her grandmother’s notes.
“And into her own reflection she stared,” She spoke clearly, taking a step to the edge of the pool and looking at her own reflection. It looked nervous, “Yearning for one whose reflection she shared, and solemnly sweared not to be scared at the prospect of being doubly mared.”
The water glowed brighter for a moment. Assuming that it worked, Carrot Top pushed into the pool. The world twisted. One moment she had been stepping into the Mirror Pool, and the next she was stepping right back out.
Blinking, she glanced to the right and found herself snout to snout with herself. Who was smiling like she had just been given a million bit prize.
“Umm...hi?”
“HI!” Her twin grinned, “Need help?”
“Well...I don’t. But we’re going to help a bunch of ponies together, okay?”
“Yeah!”
“Good! Now just follow me back to Ponyville.”
- - - -
Carrot Top awoke the next morning with a dull ache in her back. Rolling off the couch with a slight groan she stretched, feeling the tension pop out of her spine. Was it proper social etiquette to let a magical clone have the bed?
Something to ask Trixie at any rate- wait, what’s that smell?
Stepping into the kitchen, Carrot Top’s jaw dropped at what greeted her. Her double had been cooking, and a giant breakfast banquet spread greeted her. Two kinds of juice, stacks of pancakes *and* waffles, three different kinds of breakfast salads, and a few vegetarian omelettes. A quick glance at the kitchen cabinets revealed that they were indeed bare.
Her duplicate was beaming as she stood between the towering mountain of mess spread out across the stove, sink and counters, and the freshly prepared repast that took up all of the dining table.
“I helped!”
“...That you did.” Carrot Top blinked, “You kind of over did it though. This is more food than even both of us could eat.”
A deep frown crossed her twin’s muzzle, tears beginning to well up in her eyes.
“But it’s okay!” Carrot Top quickly assured, “We can make this work. Get the picnic baskets out of the closet.”
The smile returned to the double’s face.
- - - -
“Ah hope she shows up on time.” Applejack muttered, counting out the supplies for the trap lines for the tenth time.
“She will sis.” Apple Bloom chirped from her own seat, a large map of Ponyville and it’s immediate surroundings spread out before her, “Just be patient.”
Applejack opened her mouth to respond, but paused as a blob of orange and yellow came over the horizon basket balanced on her back. Carrot Top beamed as she approached.
“Hi! I’m here to help! And I bought breakfast!”
Dropping the basket between the two ponies, she yanked the hoofkerchief covering away, revealing the dishes of goodies contained within. Applejack blinked, her mouth watering slightly at the scents. She and Apple Bloom hadn’t had breakfast yet, intending to grab a quick bite of hay once they put in a few hours of work. But on the other hoof…
“Well, this is a right neighborly gesture Carrot Top. Ah suppose we can have a quick bite before we get into things.”
“Mmm! May aheadth of ya sisth!” Apple Bloom said through a mouth of carrot and cucumber salad.
“Apple Bloom!”
- - - -
Carrot Top quickly trotted through the decorative stone arch that marked the entrance to Green Grape’s vineyard. The farm was situated on a small hill south of Ponyville, the fields of grape vines arranged in a circle around the main house.
She could already see the area where the damage was done. The rows on the south side of the hill were indeed toppled. Red Onion was the only other member of the Farmer’s Union on the scene, dragging the fallen posts away.
Drawing closer, the damage looked even worse. Large holes and furrows were torn open in the ground, but new piles of dirt to fill it them in had already been brought up.
“Green Grape!” She called to her friend, “I’m here! And I brought breakfast!”
Grape looked up from where she was pulling new posts into position, smiling at the sight of her friend.
“Finished up with Applejack already?”
“Actually, I found somepony to cover for me.” Carrot Top explained, placing the basket of food on a nearby crate, “So, where are the rock gophers?”
“I asked Rainbow Dash to run them over to Fluttershy. Animals...not really my area of expertise.”
Carrot Top nodded, unable to find a fault in the logic. “Then let’s get your farm repaired!”
“Now that’s what I like to hear!”
- - - -
“So, timber wolves are opportunistic little buggers.” Applejack elaborated, dragging a pair of logs connected by a hinge to the forest edge, “They hunt in packs but are kind of cowards. Show them a bit of strength and they’ll back down. And that’s why we trap. Maybe Ponyville too much trouble ta bother.”
She glanced over at Carrot Top who nodded. That wide, almost goofy smile, hadn’t left her muzzle since she had arrived.
“All right then. Help me dig this hole then. We’ll partially bury this here big log trap for any of those critters who come along.”
“Okay!” Carrot Top grinned, eagerly throwing herself into the task.
Once the pit was dug, Applejack pulled the two logs into place, and ran a line of string from each end, to the hinge in the middle.
“Now we hide it with some loose branches,” She explained, “And if one of those timber wolves stumbles through it, the two logs smash together and break it up.” Not waiting for a response, she looked back to her little sister, “And Apple Bloom marks the location on the map, so we can let all the ponies in town know where not ta go, and so that we can take them down come spring.” She looked back to Carrot Top, “Understand?”
A wide smile and nod was her response.
“All right then...let’s get to these other ones then.”
- - - -
The sun was beginning to dip back over the horizon as the work on Green Grape’s farm came to a close. Carrot Top’s mane and coat were soaked with sweat and smeared with dirt, as were her fellow workers. But it had been worth it. The collapsed rows of posts were once again standing tall, the holes full. All that was left was to re-plant the vines.
And then the conversation started.
“Well, glad this is done.” Red Onion nodded, “Though my own harvest is a little bit behind now.” His eyes turned to Carrot Top a grin crossing his muzzle, “Hey, Carrot Top, any chance I could borrow your hooves tomorrow?”
“Hey!” Green Grape piped up, “I wanted her help to replant my vines tomorrow.”
“Err...well,” Carrot Top nervously laughed, rubbing the back of her head, “I guess I can see what I can do.”
- - - -
Carrot Top frowned slightly as she trotted back into her farmhouse. More ponies to help. Still, with her and her double should be able to handle Green Grape and Red Onion’s requests. Or at least she thought that was the case.
What she found, was her double sobbing in the middle of the living room.
“What’s wrong?” She knelt down, brushing a lock of mane out of her double’s eyes.
“Well,” She sniffed, “I was coming back from helping Applejack, and then Trixie asked me to help plant some flowers around the house and I said yes, and then Cheerillee asked for help with a nature hike for the foals, and then Pokey wanted some help with farm forms and I said yes to everypony and...and...now I can’t help ANYPONY!”
With another wail, she rolled onto her side, pounding a hoof against the floorboards. Carrot Top just gaped. How was she going to get out of this? Forcing herself to ignore the cries of her duplicate, she mulled over her options.
“Okay! We can fix this.” She smiled, as the crying stopped, “I have a plan!”
Lyra cantered through the streets of Ponyville, twitching with nervous energy as she made for post office. It was a little before noon, the sun moving towards it’s zenith point in the sky as she weaved past ponies who were on their way inside for the traditional noon time break. Normally she’d do the same and just wait for her friend Ditzy to make the afternoon deliveries, but today she wanted to go and pick up her post directly.
Rumors had rumbled through the musician vine that some juicy contracts might be coming down the line from some of Equestria’s neighbors. Some of the theatres in larger, more cosmopolitan cities would sometimes hire Equestrian performers for an exotic flair; a practice shared by Equestria itself at times.
So far, Lyra hadn't been lucky enough to be picked for such a prestigious opportunity, but every time she heard the rumors swirl, she would sneak down to the post office to see if any such requests had been sent her way.
A tingle of excitement ran down her spine at the thought of getting paid for such an adventure. To see some of the exotic cultures outside of Equestria, dazzle them with her music and then sweep back home to Bonnie.
The door to Bon Bon’s Confectionarium was boldly thrown open, the conquering hero Lyra striding through the door. Wrapped in the traditional dress of the elk, a deep blue vest with geometric red embroidery patterns was fit snugly across her chest, a matching skirt draped across her loin and croup.
“I have returned from Elkhiem my love! I have slain dragons, sung of glorious deeds and climbed the highest boughs of the world tree!”
“Oh Lyra!” Bon Bon dramatically swooned, falling into Lyra’s forelegs, “I missed you so much while you were away. I was so afraid that some elk would sweep you off your hooves!”
“That would never happen my love.” Lyra cooed into her beautiful mare’s ear, “But I did learn some new things…” She gave Bon Bon’s ear a playful nibble, “’Kärlek är bron mellan två hjärtan.”
“Elkish? You fiend! What did you say?”
“Love…” Lyra responded, moving her kisses down Bon Bon’s neck, “Is the bridge between two hearts.”
CRASH
Lyra’s fantasy was interrupted as she crashed into a cart that she completely missed while lost in her romantic daydreams. Stumbling back from the point of impact, she shook the stars out of her head and looked to see exactly who she had run into.
She did a double take at the smiling face of Carrot Top. The earth pony’s smile was disturbingly wide; a lopsided grin that split her muzzle like a tooth filled canyon. Lyra’s stomach twisted as she took another shuddering step back.
“Carrot Top?” She gaped, a horrible thought occuring to her, “Are you okay? Is Doctor Crane back?!”
Carrot Top giggled, shaking her head, “Nope! Just helping Trixie! Gotta go!”
Without another word, Carrot Top tore off, her cart of supplies and blue flowers clattering loudly behind her. Blinking a few times, Lyra began heading for the post office again, a little quicker this time.
Lyra slid through the post office door, quickly turning to look for her mailmare friend. “Ditzy! You won’t believe what’s going on with Carrot….Top?” She trailed off, eyes going wide at what greeted her.
A gray hoof was barely poking from a massive pile of mail and parcels, waving frantically as Ditzy’s muffled cries drifted from within. It was an oddly familiar sight for Lyra, except for one thing. Sitting atop that pile, somehow, was Carrot Top engaged in the most perplexing of loops.
Reaching over to a smaller pile, she picked up another parcel, examined the address closely and then placed it on atop of the pile that had her friend buried. Apparently satisfied with her efforts, Carrot Top nodded and reached for another item.
“What are you doing!” Lyra shouted, running forward and grabbing Ditzy’s hoof, “Can’t you see that she needs help?”
“But I am helping!” She pouted as Lyra dragged Ditzy from the depths of the letters, “I’m moving the mail.” The pout turned into an even deeper frown as she began to sniffle, “I just don’t know what went wrong.”
“You pushed the shelves over!” Ditzy moaned as her head broke the surface of the stack, “I wanted you to help me move some packages from the inbox to the front so that I could deliver them.”
“How are you even here?” Lyra asked, arching an eyebrow in confusion, “I just passed you in the street.”
“Oh! That was Carrot Top.”
Ditzy and Lyra exchanged confused glances.
“But...you’re Carrot Top.” Ditzy pointed out, as if this were the most obvious fact on the planet. Which it kind of was.
“That was Carrot Top. See, Carrot Top needed help helping ponies. So Carrot Top got help from Carrot Top, Carrot Top, Carrot Top and Carrot Top! Then even more ponies needed help, so Carrot Top got help from Carrot Top, Carrot Top and Carrot Top!”
A very confused silence descended over the mail room, Lyra and Ditzy staring at the crazy sounding mare before them with furrowed brows and open mouths.
“Okay Carrot Top.” Lyra grinned nervously, eyes wide as she pushed Ditzy towards the door, “We need you to stay right here and do not move. At all.” She grinned wider, nodding to add emphasis, “Right here, okay?”
“Okay!”
Dragging Ditzy outside, Lyra gave a surprised yelp when her friend spun around and pressed her up against the wall.
“Lyra, what’s going on here?”
“I don’t know!” She moaned, nervously tapping her hooves together, “I passed her on the way here. She was running a cart of blue flowers over to Trixie’s. I was rushing over here to tell you, about her, when I saw…her.” She finished, lamely gesturing towards the building.
“Blue flowers?” Ditzy blinked, “You didn’t see what kind, did you? Because if that Carrot Top is like this Carrot Top…”
“Trixie!” Lyra yelped, a thousand horrible possible fates running through her head, her hooves already carrying her across town, “We gotta go!”
“Wait!” Ditzy yelled, rushing after her friend, “What about *this* one!”
- - - -
One of the more distinguishing features of the Official Residency of the Representative of the Night Court of Luna was its rather large yard and the wrought iron fence that blocked it in. Lyra and Ditzy could only stare at what now filled said yard from the front edge of the house, all the way to the fence.
A veritable sea of distinctive blue flowers greeted their eyes, broken only by the yellow and orange mare that was planting more. The other Carrot Top hummed happily as she dropped another flower into the ground, beginning to work her way around the side of the building.
“Carrot Top!” Lyra gaped, “What are you doing?!”
“Making the yard beautiful!” Carrot Top beamed, already beginning to dig another hole, “Trixie told me to surprise her!”
“With poison joke?” Ditzy asked, cocking her head slightly, “Carrot Top, have you forgotten what this stuff does to ponies? You’re the one who taught us about it.”
Carrot Top froze, looking to the hole she had just dug, to the flowers that she had already planted, then back to the hole. She repeated this process a few times, before a distant gaze settled across her features and she stopped moving, seeming to have completely locked up.
Exchanging a quick glance, the two ponies rushed to the side gate. Throwing it open, they tore across the part of the lawn that was still safe, Lyra grabbing the earth pony and pulling her away from the flower field.
Ditzy waved her hoof in front of Carrot Top’s eyes, a deep frown crossing her muzzle when there was no response. “We need to get her...I guess both of them...to the hospital.” She observed, “They need help- ahhh!”
At the mention of “help”, Carrot Top had become animate again, pressing her face right up against Ditzy’s, causing the gray pegasus to yelp in shock as she stumbled back against the wall of the building.
“DID YOU SAY YOU NEEDED HELP?!” She shrieked through a completely manic grin.
“Y-you need help!” Ditzy cowered, folding her wings in front of her head like a shield, good eye peeking through a gap in her pinion feathers.
“Yes!” Lyra forcibly nodded, taking a few steps forward and placing a hoof on Carrot Top’s withers, “Listen to the pegasus. You’re not acting like yourself. ...Also, there’s two of you...somehow.”
“NOPE!” Carrot Top beamed, tossing Lyra’s hoof off her with a roll of her shoulders, “Gotta go HELP ponies!”
One of the office windows slid open, a distrungled looking Trixie sticking her head out. “Discord’s mismatched horns, what is going on out here?” She shouted, her gaze moved from the forms of her friends, to the field of poison joke, her eyes going wide in disbelief. “And why is my lawn covered with poison joke?!”
Before an explanation could be provided, Carrot Top ran. Jumping over the wrought iron gate with the kind of goofy bounce that would be more suited to Pinkie Pie, the earth pony then took off, tearing through the streets like a foal on a day long sugar binge.
Lyra groaned. This was going to be one of those days.
- - - -
“Two Carrot Tops?” Trixie asked, quickly trotting along as her friends brought her up to speed, “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” Ditzy said simply, “We left the other one back in the post office. Also, there might be more.”
Trixie stopped suddenly, almost tripping over her own hooves. “What.” She asked, voice flat, but the question still demanding, somehow.
Lyra shrugged. “Well, she said that Carrot Top had needed help, so that she got help from Carrot Top, Carrot Top, Carrot Top and Carrot Top.”
“Yup,” Ditzy nodded, “And that then other ponies needed help, so Carrot Top got help from Carrot Top, Carrot-”
“I get it!” Trixie snapped, kneading her forehead with a hoof, the beginnings of a headache beginning to drill into her skull, “So, do we have any idea why we’re dealing with a bushel of Carrot Tops?”
“Magic.” Lyra nodded sagely.
Trixie stopped, looking right at Lyra with a raised eyebrow. Lyra grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of her head with a hoof.
“It’s true!”
“Of course it is!” Trixie threw up her hooves, “But I was hoping that you could narrow it down some.”
“I have no idea.” Lyra commented, shaking her head, “I didn’t get a chance to check for any magic auras on her before she bolted.”
“Well, when we find her, we’ll make sure that we examine her properly this time.” Trixie muttered.
A shout of anger erupted from a building a few streets over. Ditzy winced, fitting into the air for a moment before dropping back down. “I think that it came from the library.”
With a synchronized groan, Trixie and Lyra began to run for the hollow tree, Ditzy flying along behind them. As they approached, they could hear loud bangs, crashes and impacts echoing from inside the building.
The front door slammed open, Lyra and Trixie skidding to a stop as a Carrot Top came stumbling out of the building, Twilight Sparkle right on her tail. The librarian had a pair of books brandished in her magic aura like some manner of righteous sword. Her purple coat was marked with ink, a flurry of dates marked across her body from crest to dock, withers to pastern.
“Well,” Lyra remarked dryly, “This won’t end well.”
- - - -
Carrot Top happily hummed to herself as she dropped another batch of grape seeds into the ground. Green Grape was working the other side of the same row, her steps full of pep as they came closer to finishing off the repairs.
A soft smile crossed her muzzle. Everything had gone well yesterday and so far everything was going well today. She had definitely made the right decision.
- - - -
“Have. You. Gone. COMPLETELY CRAZY!” Twilight shouted, violently whipping one of the books at Carrot Top, who quickly ducked the attack, “You were just supposed to stamp the cards in the front of the books! NOT THE WHOLE BOOK!”
Hitting the ground, the book flopped open, revealing that the interior pages had been marked much in the same way as Twilight’s coat.
“What happened?” Trixie asked, suppressing a bit of a giggle.
Twilight glowered, waving a hoof at Carrot Top. “She came in, insisting on helping me with the library. So, I told her to stamp the return dates on some of the returned books that I hadn’t gotten to yet.” She motioned to the fallen books, brow becoming even more furrowed, “And you can see what that lead to.”
“And what happened to you?” Lyra asked, raising an eyebrow.
“I got...annoyed.” Twilight sighed, “Sarcastically mentioned that she might as well stamp me with her logic...which she did.” She finished, glaring daggers at the mare before her.
Carrot Top seemed completely nonplussed by this. Instead, she just grinned and waved back. “Okay Twilight! Just let me know when you need help again!”
Turning to rush off to inflict her “assistance” upon some other poor resident of Ponyville, she was interrupted by Trixie springing into action. “Get her!” Trixie shouted, jabbing a hoof the farmer’s way.
Lyra and Ditzy dove for Carrot Top, tackling the mare to the ground. Once again, Carrot Top proved to be oddly agreeable to the events that were swirling around her.
“Hi girls!” She grinned happily, the smile once again almost manic, “Do you need my help again?”
“Just hold still.” Trixie commanded, her horn lighting up as she extended her magical senses forward. To her view, she could observe dual magical auras- one light orange, the other pale green- swirling around her friend’s form. “Transmuation and Conjuration? That’s an odd combination. ...It’s also not what I expected at all.”
Trixie began to pace. “I mean, logically, with the way she’s acting it should be some kind of Enchantment based spell. Suggestion, maybe? Of course that wouldn’t explain the other ones… The Conjuration aspect could help explain the others. Mirror clones in a way? But whoever cast the spell would need to be around to maintain it…”
“Trixie, I hate to interrupt...” Lyra frowned, looking skyward, “But incoming.”
“What?”
A moment later, a jasmine colored blur crashed into Trixie sending, the magician rolling end over end. Groaning, Trixie shook the stars out of her eyes, looking up into the face of Raindrops. The pegasus’ eyes were wide, her expression panicked. The overall effect was very out of character for her friend.
“Raindrops?” She frowned, “What?”
“Just shut up and listen to me!” Raindrops snapped back, “Carrot Top is over at the weather station “helping” out with the schedule, and grinning like a complete and utter loon! It’s Doctor Crane again, I just know it!”
“Ruled that out already!” Lyra commented, “Something else strange is going on here.”
“How can you tell?”
In response, Lyra just pointed at the Carrot Top she and Ditzy had pinned. Raindrops stared at the copy of her friend for a few good minutes before looking back to Trixie with a raised eyebrow.
“Explanation?”
“Still looking for one.” Lyra sighed, “We should probably round these Carrot Tops anyway.” She frowned a bit, “Then we can figure out which one’s the real one.”
“Right.” Trixie muttered, rubbing her chin as she worked out a plan, “Lyra, you’re with me on the ground, Raindrops and Ditzy, you’re going to spot from above, Sparkle...I don’t know...think you can store the clones in the basement until we can work out what to do with them?”
Twilight raised an eyebrow at first, uncertainty etched on her features. But after a few minutes, she shrugged and motioned to the interior of the library. “Come on Carrot Top. I need your help to catalogue every spec of dust down there.”
Not-Carrot Top grinned, bouncing to her hooves as Lyra and Ditzy let her go. She followed Twilight back into the library, happily chatting away about all the things she knew about dust, while Twilight sighed.
Raindrops shook her head, taking to the sky with a few flaps of her powerful wings, Ditzy right behind her.
“So,” Lyra raised an eyebrow, “Post office and weather station first? Then we look for the rest?”
“Yup.” Trixie nodded, “Shouldn’t be that hard to find them though. Just follow the annoyed ponies.”
“I hope the library has enough room in the basement for all of this.” Lyra sighed, quickly trotting alongside Trixie as they began the trek to the weather station. “I mean, we still only have a vague idea of just how many doubles we have, and we don’t know what the cause is.”
“Which is why we need to round these doubles up and quickly.” Trixie countered, waving a hoof in a half dismissive gesture, “Besides, just how many of these things can there be?”
- - - -
“...They’re all the same.” Pokey twitched at the devastation that now filled the town hall office, “You filled out every form exactly the same. The tax forms, the census forms, the immigration forms, *all* the forms!”
The once ordered stacks and drawers of documents were now scattered and thrown the room, the papers marked with splatters of ink from Carrot Top’s frenzied writing. The farm pony was sitting on top a stack of those completed documents, wide grin on her muzzle, ink smears marring her coat.
“Yes!” Carrot Top beamed, hopping off the stack and trotting for the door, “You’re welcome!”
- - - -
“All right everypony!” Cheerilee grinned, “Let’s stick together.”
Among the citizens of Ponyville, Whitetail Wood was considered to be the safer of the two forested areas that surrounded the town. Devoid of the large Everfree monsters and ill reputation, it was where Cheerilee preferred to take the foals of her classes on nature hikes.
Carrot Top stood behind behind the collection of foals, keeping an alert eye open as Cheerilee launched into her lessons.
“Now,” She began, gesturing to a small series of fruit bearing bushes growing near a large tree, “Do any of you know what this bush is?”
“Carrot!” Carrot Top beamed.
“Errr…” Cheerilee blinked, as a ripple of laughter rolled through the class, “That’s a very good joke Carrot Top, but no! These are lingonberries! While normally native to Elkhiem, there’s a small patch here in the Whitetail Wood when travelling-”
“Carrot traders!”
Cheerilee paused, staring at her friend. A googy grin was suddenly plastered across her muzzle, like her constant references to carrots was some kind of hilarious joke. Putting a brave smile on her own face, she turned back to her foals, trying to forge ahead.
“When travelling elk merchants passed through here decades ago. Now, while lingonberries are cultivated for preserves, many wild creatures also eat them, such as-”
“Carrots!”
The students laughed again, Cheerilee maintaining her teacher mask with a smile.
“Raccons-”
“Carrots!”
“Opossum-”
“And carrots!”
“And *squirrels*!” Cheerilee finished with an exasperated sigh, firing a glare her friend’s way while her students were busy laughing their tails off at the back and forth between teacher and guide.
She almost did a double take at the very strong impression of Ditzy, Carrot Top’s eyes were doing at the moment. That, combined with the loopy grin was enough to make her worried indeed.
“All right everypony.” She sighed, surrendering to the inevitable, “Let’s go back to the school house.”
And find Trixie to figure out what the Tartarus is going on here. She thought.
- - - -
“I think this is the last one.” Lyra declared, leading the Carrot Top clone down stairs, Cheerilee walking along behind her. It had taken the group a few hours to run through Ponyville and round up all the Carrot Top clones...and explain to the ponies they had been bothering, what was going on.
“Thank Luna!” Twilight exclaimed, throwing her hooves into the air, “I’m not sure I could take too many more of these.
Lyra couldn’t entirely blame the librarian for her frustration. These ponies seemed to be completely devoid of common sense, following the whole idea of “help” in ways that only seemed to make sense in their own minds.
Six Carrot Tops were currently milling around the basement, not saying much except for when they’d ask if anypony needed any help. Lyra, Ditzy, Raindrops, Cheerilee, Trixie and Twilight had formed a huddle on their side of the room.
“All right,” Trixie sighed, “Any conclusions we’ve worked out so far?”
“None of these are the original.” Raindrops said simply, “They’re all acting goofy.”
“Yeah.” Ditzy nodded, frowning slightly, “What are these things though?”
“Well, I can’t say what they are exactly but,” Twilight interjected, perking up, “After you dropped off the first two, I began to notice something.”
“Lay it on us Sparkle.” Trixie nodded, motioning for Twilight to continue with a hoof.
“They might have some kind of hive mind.”
“Got proof of that?” Trixie asked, her eyebrow raised, “It does sound kind of far fetched. A mental link would radiate some kind of Divination magic, normally.”
“Well, at the very least they seem hyper aware of what’s going on around them. ” Twilight countered, horn glowing as she floated a book over to her, “I’ve noticed them picking up on things that they weren’t directly looking at. And I do have a quick way to find out. Trixie, if you stand in front of the group there.”
Shrugging, Trixie acquiesced, trotting over to the collection of Carrot Tops. Twilight walked over to one of them, leading her over to where Raindrops and the others still waited. “Can you line up there?” Twilight asked, pointing to a spot on the floor in between her and Trixie.
Once they were in place, Twilight opened the book to a page displaying a bird and held it up to the copy, making sure that none of the others could see it. Waiting a moment or two, she lowered the book, and nodded to Trixie. “Ask them what the picture was.”
“What was the picture that Twilight showed?” Trixie asked, an eyebrow still raised suspiciously.
“Robin!” They all said, save for the one that shouted “carrot” in the back.
“Okay,” Raindrops piped up, “How do you explain stuff like that though? They all have a hive mind, but they keep acting all weird. And annoying…really kind of annoying.”
“You know,” Lyra commented, tapping her chin, “I wonder if they’re like that *because* it’s a hive mind.” Idly waving a hoof at her friend’s stares, she continued, “Like, when you have a whole orchestra trying to read off of one copy of sheet music. Ponies are going to miss notes.”
“So, where’s the original?” Ditzy inquired, frowning deeply.
“Don’t suppose any of us checked her home?” Raindrops asked.
- - - -
Carrot Top looked up from the mayonnaise she was making for her salad at the sound of the knock on the door. Dropping the whisk to the table, she trotted out to the front door.
“I was wondering when you were all going to get ba-” She began, expecting to be greeted by her erstwhile copies. She trailed off to silence when she was actually greeted by the frowning faces of her friends.
“So,” Raindrops dryly commented from her seat near the stairs, as she looked around the underground chamber, “When were you going to tell the rest of us about the ancient magic pool chamber?”
A nervous laugh escaped Carrot Tops’ lips as she rubbed the back of her head. After her friends had confronted her at her cottage over her doubles, she had agreed to show them the mysterious mirror pool that she had called the clones from. And now the subterranean pool and it’s archaic construction was being thoroughly examined by her comrades.
Lyra and Cheerilee were poking over the four pillars, trying to deduce what the classical Equestrian writing meant, while Ditzy was taking rubbings so that they’d have a copy of their contents just in case. Trixie stood at the edge of the pool, her eyes glowing with a soft blue light as she subjected the water to her magical detection spells.
“I don’t know.” Carrot Top shrugged helplessly, casting her gaze towards the floor. She could almost feel Raindrops eyes on her back demanding some kind of answer, “I just feel bad when I have to choose between which ponies to help. And then Trixie off hoofedly mentioned how Luna can be multiple ponies at the same time, and I remembered my grandma’s stories about this place…”
“And then we had a proverbial bushel of Carrot Tops.” Trixie finished for her, the glow fading from her eyes as she ended her spell.
Carrot Top shrugged again, hanging her head slightly. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think that they would cause so much trouble.”
“Hey,” Trixie interrupted, trotting over and poking her friend in the chest, “Don’t be so down on yourself. It was a mistake, and we all make them. Take it from a pony who knows.”
A slight smirk crossed Carrot Top’s muzzle. “I suppose that it was only a matter of time before I screwed up as badly as you did in the past.”
“Please!” Trixie scoffed with a dismissive wave of her hoof, “You’re still years off from being able to match my screw ups. I practically made it an art form!”
An appreciative round of chuckles swept through the room, the tension that Carrot Top had felt building up in her body draining away at Trixie’s dig at her own past. Trotting over to Cheerilee and Lyra, Carrot Top nodded towards the scribblings on the pillars.
“Any luck making heads or tails out of this?”
“Well, my Classical Equestrian is a little rusty,” Lyra nodded, pointing to the top of the front right pillar, where the most intact portion of writing stood out clearly from the stone, “But that bit there is the stanza you used to copy yourself.”
“And the other stuff?” Raindrops asked, still sitting by the stairs.
“Trixie,” Cheerilee interrupted, rubbing her chin with the back of a hoof, “What kind of magic was the water radiating?”
“Transmutation and Conjuration, just like the clones. Though,” her muzzle scrunched up in confusion, “I’m getting this vague after effect of Enchantment. It’s hard to pin down.”
Nodding to herself, the school teacher walked over to one of the other pillars, pointing to a series of words arranged vertically along its surface. “This world is repeated over and over. Mutatio. That’s Classical Equestrian for ‘transform’.” She pointed to another pair of intact words, across from one of the instances of mutatio, “And this- et capillus - that’s mane. And it just keeps going. Coat color, eye color...there are even other species here.”
“Wait.” Lyra blinked, “I thought that vicissitudo was Classical Equestrian for transform.”
“Vicissitudo is change, Lyra. It’s actually a common mistake to get those words mixed up.”
“No, I think that you’re mistaken Cheerilee.” Lyra frowned, “Because the classic symphony, Transformation of the Seasons, is Vicissitudo de Tempora.”
“And that’s a mistranslation! It should be Mutatio ds Tempora!”
“Girls,” Carrot Top spoke up, interrupting the brewing language debate and motioning to the room with a hoof. “That’s all well and good. But what does all of this mean?”
“The ability to make copies, that share some kind of hive mind,” Trixie enumerated, pacing back and forth before the pool’s steps, “And then being able to further manipulate and tweak them from there.” She paused, shaking her head slightly, “It’s like somepony was trying to find a way to mimic Luna’s ability to be in multiple places at once.”
“But that doesn’t make sense.” Carrot Top countered, “The clones are kind of...stupid, from what you’re all telling me. Even back when I just had the one, she was a little loopy. When Luna does it, nopony can tell the difference.”
Trixie shrugged. “Some of the writings are chipped and faded away, and the magic looked…wonky. I mean, enchantments and magic items can go strange with age, if not properly maintained. And this is the Everfree, which is pretty strange as is. I’m more wondering where this came from.”
“What, you mean Luna didn’t tell you about the hidden magic pool in the Everfree?” Raindrops commented, arching an eyebrow, “Seems like the kind of thing I’d mention.”
“Right after I had melted the ice castle?” Trixie snorted, “I wouldn’t have told the old me about this place. I wouldn’t have wanted to have two of me running around.” She shrugged, “Besides, for all we know the pool was here first, and this stuff was built later.”
Lyra, who had lapsed into silence after the pillar argument was interrupted, perked back up at this point, nervously shuffling her hooves. “Actually, there is something that’s been kicking around the back of my head since we found this place.”
When everypony looked her way, she sighed. “It’s an old, old farm pony legend. It dates all the way back to before the unification of Equestria. Don’t even remember where I first heard it, to be honest. The Beast of the Everfree.”
“There are a lot of beasts in the Everfree.” Cheerilee pointed out, “That doesn’t actually narrow it down.”
“This one was special though. A self proclaimed “queen” that ruled from a castle in what would come to be known as the Everfree. Who somehow always knew what was going on among her “subjects”, until she just up and vanished one night. The legend said she’d return some day. There was even a poem about her.”
Channelling, Lyra summoned her instrument to her side, and began to play a slow, almost mournful tune.
Beneath the leaves, wild and untamed,
The depths of the wood, where the lost beast came,
To bring the land misery and shame,
A piece of harmony is missing.
The path you should have never crossed
The Beast exacts a heavy cost,
The name of the Beast is lost,
You will know her by her hissing.
The dark stone you cannot tame,
Devour your life and all your fame,
The price to pay her twisted game,
Forever will you be missing.
A slight chill ran through the room as Lyra let the song end.
“So,” Carrot Top asked, breaking the uncomfortable silence, “Is it true?”
Lyra shrugged. “It’s a legend. The world is crammed to bursting with them. Tales passed on from pony to pony until you’re not sure what in Tartarus they’re talking about. And the records from the Classical Era are spotty at best.”
“Yeah, but is *this* one true?”
“Maybe?” She motioned to the pool, “This does probably explain the legend, but I’m not expecting her to come back anytime soon. I mean, Luna and Celestia built their old castle in the Everfree so it had to be safe. She was probably just some long dead unicorn sorceress that used this to gain an upper hoof and now we’re stuck dealing with the fallout.”
“What should we do then?” Cheerilee interjected, “How long are these clones supposed to last?”
Carrot Top winced slightly. It was something she hadn’t even considered when she decided to use the pool the first time.
“No clue.” Trixie shrugged, “We’ll just have to wait and watch for now.”
“I’ll take them back to my farm.” Carrot Top nodded, “I think that Twilight will lose her mind if they stayed there overnight.”
- - - -
Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash trotted for the edge of the Everfree under the full moon. The yellow pegasus hefted a cage full of small brown furred critters along via the handle with her mouth, her polychromatic friend striding alongside her, magenta eyes rapidly scanning their surroundings.
“Are you sure about this Fluttershy? It’s the Everfree at night.”
“Oh, it’s o-okay Rainbow Dash. I just...well...I need to let these little guys loose away from Ponyville. Plenty of roots...and..uh..other things, for them to eat here in the Everfree.” She softly intoned, after putting the cage down, “That’ll keep them from gobbling up farmer’s fields.”
Undoing the latch, she gently poked the cage with a hoof. “Alright little guys. Welcome to your new home.”
The four rock gophers slowly crawled out of the cage, sniffing the air as they looked about. One of Equestria’s many magical creatures, they were so named for their rock like claws, that allowed them to dig through most substances as if it was loose dirt. The critters hesitated for a moment before diving into the ground in a flurry of soil, leaving the empty cage behind.
“There.” Dash nodded, “Let’s get out of here. I wanna get back to bed.” She finished with a mighty yawn.
“Okay Dash. We can g-”
An unearthly howl cut through the trees, sending chills down both the ponies spines. It had sounded close. Before the two pegasai could react to the first call, a flurry of howls echoed out in response to the first.
“We need to go.” Dash nervously gulped, already pushing Fluttershy back the way they came.
A flurry of sharp and angry barks reached their ears, the undergrowth seeming to come alive as sleek and lean looking forms made from wood and plant matter closed in on the two ponies, their glowing green eyes almost resembling giant fireflies.
Fluttershy froze up almost instantaneously, her wings snapping close to her body. Not missing a beat, Dash grabbed her around the barrel, beating her wings as hard as she could to put some distance between them and the attacking timberwolves.
Unfortunately, carrying her friend put a dent into Rainbow Dash’s chief attribute. Her speed. Before she could get clear of the marauding horde of wooden monsters, one of the timberwolves leading the pack jumped. Dash screamed in pain as she felt fangs dig into the flesh of her right rear cannon.
Pulled from the sky by the weight of the creature, Dash crashed to the ground, Fluttershy tumbling away from her. The rainbow maned pegasus lashed out with her other hind leg, smiling at the satisfying crunch of her hoof on wood.
“Fluttershy! RUN!” She shouted as she felt her leg pull free. Whirling around Rainbow Dash flared her wings to make herself look bigger, grinding her teeth against the throbbing pain in her leg.
She could smell the rancid breath of the thing, as it circled her, more of it’s fellows moving into the clearing. Despite her brave face, she felt her stomach drop at just how many timberwolves were coming into view. There were a baker’s dozen of these things, at least.
“Okay you overgrown matchstick piles! You want some fresh pony meat? Come on and taste the rainbow!”
The timberwolves lept for her.
Dash lashed out with her hooves, desperately punching and bucking anything that got close as the world turned into a chaotic explosion of movement and sound. Blurs of brown and green, a chorus of howls and barks, and the scared screams of Fluttershy that grew more distant, as the number of timberwolves around her dwindled.
She found herself facing down a singular timberwolf. Gritting her teeth again, Dash lashed out once more smashing her hooves against it’s head. As it toppled backwards from the impact, Dash followed up, punching again and again, the wood splintering from her assault. With one last crack, the form of the wolf collapsed into pieces.
Panting, she looked around the clearing. No sign of Fluttershy, or the other timberwolves. But the trample of paw and hoofprints showed that both were heading deeper into the Everfree. Swearing under her breath, Rainbow Dash took a step towards the tracks. Another stab of pain shot through her, as her wounded hind leg buckled.
“Discord’s mismatched horns!” She swore, flapping her wings to rise into the air.
Every instinct in her gut told her to chase after Fluttershy. But she was wounded, and lucky that the timberwolf’s bite hadn’t snapped the bone. Hovering in place, the battle between loyalty and common sense raged in her head.
“Ponyfeathers!” She swore again, winging over and flying for Ponyville as fast as she could go.
- - - -
Carrot Top’s sweet dreams were dispelled by the sound of rapid hoof beats on her front door. Sitting up in bed, she blinked the sleep from her eyes. Her copies were curled up on the floor of her bedroom, forming a yellow and orange carpet between her bed and the bedroom door. Another round of knocks echoed through her house, this time followed by muffled shouting.
“Carrot Top! Get out here! We need your help!”
All six clones snapped awake at once, grins crossing their muzzles as they rushed for the front of the cottage.
“Wait! No!” She shouted, rushing after them as they dove to open the door at once. Six ponies reached for the doorknob. Six ponies tripped over each other, and crashed into it. With a ear-splitting crack of splintering wood, the screws holding the door hinges into the frame tore away.
Applejack was forced to make an undignified scramble to avoid getting crushed by the toppling door. The farm mare gaped at the copies of Carrot Top as they smiled up at her at once and asked the same question.
“Help?”
Carrot Top grinned nervously as she trotted forward. “Heh...sorry Applejack. It’s...kind of a long story.”
Applejack looked from the copies, to the original, and back to the copies and then back to Carrot Top again before shaking her head.
“Normally, ah’d want an explanation, but considering the circumstances, ah’ll ask later.” She commented, turning and trotting for the road again, “Ya need to get down town right away.”
“Why?” Carrot Top asked, chasing after her. The clones followed, bouncing along like it was just a normal spring day.
“Rainbow Dash came flyin’ into town like all the monsters in Tartarus were after her. Timberwolves attacked her and Fluttershy near her cottage. She lost track of Fluttershy in the fight. She’s lost in the Everfree, timberwolves are out there, and we’re rounin’ up a posse of every able bodied pony in town to go save her. Ah’m just going to grab my gear.”
“What about your traps?” Carrot Top blinked.
Applejack bit her lip, tilting her stetson forward so that the brim partially covered her eyes. “Ah never set up traps near Fluttershy’s cottage. With how shy she is...ah’d never be able to give her the maps to tell her what parts of the forest ta avoid.”
The guilt was clearly wrought on her features. Carrot Top smiled softly, tilting Applejack’s hat back up.
“We’ll save her and protect the town Applejack. Get your gear, we’ll meet you downtown.”
- - - -
Carrot Top was well aware of the occasional stares that were being thrown the way of her and her copies by many of those who had turned up to help with the search party. She couldn’t really blame them, as she was sure they all had questions, but for now everypony was biting their tongues and staying focused on the task at hand. Glancing around, she took stock the ponies that had arrived.
Her friends were there, of course. Ditzy Doo and Cheerilee were leading the foals into town hall, it having been decided that it would be the safest place for them until the danger passed.
“Now listen to Miss Twilight and Bon Bon and don’t leave the hall,” Ditzy softly whispered to her daughter, as she ushered her inside, “Not until I come and get you.”
“Okay momma.” Dinky nodded, the door closing behind her.
Trixie was talking with Pokey and Twilight Sparkle, to the right of the stairs, laying out the plan of attack with the former, while asking the latter to guard Town Hall. Bon Bon had Lyra locked in a hug, on the other side, demanding the unicorn’s safe return.
Green Grape was acting as the impromptu “leader” of the Farmer’s Union contingent, the whole of which had answered the summons, their expressions dour from the news and the thought of timberwolves rampaging through their farms.
Cloud Kicker nervously stood at the head of the Weather Patrol, flanked by Raindrops. Kicker looked about ready to pass out from the stress of the situation, but Raindrops was radiating enough confidence for two ponies.
The posse was rounded out by a collection of other townsfolk. Amethyst Star stood by Berry Punch, who was hitched to a cart of small wooden casks. Pinkie Pie, who was standing with Rarity, also seemed to have brought her own supplies; her saddle bags were bulging.
The last group was a mix of concerned Ponyville citizens, including such ponies as Windowpane, Silver Script (and his sledgehammer “Gentle Persuasion”), Heavy Roller and Caramel and a collection of workers from Sweet Apple Acres, donated by Applejack.
The sound of the doors to town hall clicking back open dragged Carrot Top’s attention back to it. Ditzy and Cheerilee trotted back out, followed by Ivory Scrolls. The Mayor’s appearance made Carrot Top do a double take.
She had somehow gotten her hooves on an antique military helmet. It, combined with her head held high, “mare on a mission” bearing...well, it was taking a great deal of restraint from Carrot Top to not snicker. The look wasn’t helped by the scale model of Ponyville she pushed along before her. She even had a collection of model ponies, most of them painted to match the coats of Ponyville’s citizens.
The expression on Trixie’s face mimicked the disbelief that Carrot Top was quite sure was on her own features. “Your honor.” She asked, waving a hoof at the miniature town, “What’s that?”
“Planning!” She beamed, “We’ve had enough creatures and other Luna knows what else hit our little town that I’ve decided to be more prepared.” She answered, motioning to the crowd, “Applejack, if you would be so kind?”
Applejack walked up the stairs of town hall, lasso slung across her breast. The assembled Ponyvillians focused their attention on the farmer. She was the closest thing the town had as an expert on the creatures.
“Alright everypony. As ah’m sure you’ve all heard by now, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were attacked by a timberwolf pack near her cottage. Fluttershy’s lost in the Everfree and we’re gonna go find her.”
Cloud Kicker’s hoof shot up.
“What happened to Rainbow Dash? Is she okay?”
“She was taken to the hospital.” Ivory Scrolls quickly answered, “For treatment on some wounds she received.”
“She’s letting herself sit behind while her friend is in danger?” Raindrops asked incredulously, “That doesn’t sound like her to me.”
“Well…”
- - - -
Rainbow Dash grinned goofily as her head sunk back into the pillow. Her hind leg was propped up, and wrapped in bandages. She had been very angry earlier, demanding to be let loose so that she could go and help...somepony.
But then one of the nurses had given her a shot, and everything...everything was just awesome.
“Daisy...Daisy…” She murmured, drifting off to sleep.
- - - -
“She’ll be fine.” Ivory grinned.
“Ah’ll right.” Applejack broke in, taking control of the meeting again, “We’re gonna do this by forming teams. The element bearers, the Farmer’s Union, some of my own farmhands and myself will head in on hoof.”
A round of acknowledgement rippled through the crowd, Ivory Scrolls sliding a bunch of pony figurines towards the forest, arranging them like a general. Applejack raised an eyebrow at that, but continued.
“The Weather Patrol will go by sky, with lanterns.” She continued, the mayor pushing more pony figures onto the map, ”That should help Fluttershy see them if she’s hidin’ in a tree or somethin’.”
“What about my group?” Red Splasher asked, leaning on his fire axe, “What do you want us to do?”
“Fire.” Applejack nodded, Ivory Scrolls placing tissue and streamer bonfires near the Everfree, “And lots of it! We need some big bonfires near the edge of the forest. If any of them get past us and the trap lines, ya’ll will give them a warm welcome. Now lets show those wolves why ya don’t mess with Ponyville!”
- - - -
“Did you have to bring your copies Carrot Top?” Lyra asked as they walked through the Everfree, shooting a few shifty glances their way. The clones seemed unconcerned, hopping along without a care in the world, “They kind of creep me out.”
“They’d try to come along and help anyway.” Carrot Top shrugged helplessly, “Better this way than if they just randomly showed up in the middle of something.”
“I suppose so.” Lyra sighed.
The element bearers and Applejack, representing the biggest guns in the posse, had gone straight to where Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy had been ambushed. From there, they picked up the main trail of tracks, following it deeper into the forest. Trixie kept her horn lit, providing illumination for the group as they continued on. Ditzy Doo’s expression grew more and more agitated as they followed the trail.
“I hope she’s okay.” The mail mare sighed, her wings twitching, “There’s just...so many tracks.”
“It’s a big pack from the looks of it.” Cheerilee shrugged, “Though it feels like this one is active a little too early.”
“Ah know what you mean.” Applejack agreed, kneeling down to examine the tracks a little closer, “Though ah suppose some kind of bigger critter could have drove them towards Ponyville. Didn’t ya’ll run into fire drakes and such down south or somethin’?”
“Ugh.” Raindrops sighed, “Timberwolves are enough, thanks.”
They travelled onwards for a little while, falling into silence as they kept their ears peeled for any sounds of Fluttershy or her attackers. After walking for a bit longer, the group paused as the trail reached the banks of a small stream. The tracks entered the water, but didn’t seem to leave again.
“Ponyfeathers.” Trixie swore, kicking the ground, “They must have actually gone into the stream.”
Trotting to the edge of the stream, Carrot Top observed the flow of the water for a moment. “I’m guessing this is one of the streams that feeds the river we crossed to reach the Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters.”
“But they could have gone either way.” Applejack frowned, “We can’t rightly take the time to search each direction, and I’m not sure we should be splittin’ up when we don’t know where the pack is.”
“Agreed.” Cheerilee nodded, rubbing her chin with a hoof, “Maybe Raindrops can fly up and see if she can see anything?”
“I can give it a try at least.” The weather pony nodded, flitting into the air with a beat of her wings. She disappeared above the tree tops a moment later, leaving the rest of the group at the edge of the stream.
Silence fell over the group as they exchanged glances, Cheerilee eventually speaking up to break the quiet.
“Waiting in the Everfree while Raindrops looks around for a reference point.” She observed, a slight smile crossing her face despite the seriousness of the situation. “Deja vu anypony?”
“History might not repeat itself.” Lyra smirked, idly motioning to the forest around them, “But it does have a tendency to rhyme.”
Applejack paced along the edge of the stream, her body full of nervous energy and her tail swishing with agitation. “Ah just hope this trip ends as well as the last one did for ya.”
“What?” Raindrops dead panned, dropping back below the treeline, “Captured by Corona, with apparently useless elements?”
“Ah, well…” Applejack muttered, suddenly very interested in a pebble on the ground, “Ah was more referrin’ to what happened after that.”
“Oh!” Cheerilee grinned, pointing a hoof the farmer’s way, “You want the moments of personal revelation, followed by the heroic banishment of the great evil?”
“Ah suppose I do.” Applejack nodded back, “Makes for a better story then a bunch of ponies gettin’ lost in the woods.”
“I can agree with that.” Carrot Top added, tilting her head towards Raindrops, “Any luck?”
Raindrops nodded, jabbing a hoof upstream. “There’s a tree up river some. I could see it’s branches shaking like there was a full blown windstorm going on.”
As it was a very calm night, the implication was obvious.
Without a word, the group charged off, upriver. As they drew closer to the tree Raindrops had identified, the sounds of angry growls and barks reached their ears. They slowed, coming to a sight that was both strange and terrifying.
Fluttershy had taken refuge in a tree that was slightly taller than its fellows, the stream that they had followed here lazily coiling past it. The yellow pegasus was cowering among the highest boughs of the tree, whimpering as she looked down.
Her fear was well justified, for the timberwolves had started to strategize. They had formed up as a pile against the base of tree, and three of the creatures had used the pile of their fellows to climb into the tree itself. Their larger bodies and sharp claws were then allowing them to pull themselves closer to Fluttershy, almost using the branches like a ladder.
“You have got to be kidding me.” Trixie gaped, “They’re timberwolves, not trained acrobats!”
“Does it matter?” Raindrops dead panned, “I’m going to grab her before they do!”
Glancing back at her copies, a grin crossed Carrot Top’s muzzle. “Hold on Raindrops, let’s see if we can even the odds some.”
- - - -
Fluttershy whimpered, her wide eyes watching the timberwolves close in. They were just a few branches below her now. She squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the snap of the jaws to come.
An explosion of sound echoed through the forest, eliciting another yelp of fear from her. Opening one eye, she peered out at the woods to see what had caused the riot of noise. A surge of hope welled in her stomach at the sight of a familiar yellow and orange farm pony.
Carrot Top was then joined by another Carrot Top...and then yet another.
“Oh my.” She gasped, blinking at the four other Carrot Tops that joined the first three, “T-This is confusing.” Casting a glance at the timberwolves, she could see that they were all staring at the new arrivals, even the ones who had been climbing after her. “But better,... I-I guess.”
“Hey carrion breaths!” One of the Carrot Tops shouted, “Why settle for one scrap when there’s a whole buffet over here!”
“Buffet! Buffet!” The others chirped, bouncing in place.
The timberwolves didn’t need much more encouragement. With a combined howl that shook Fluttershy right down to her core, they surged away from the tree like a tidal wave of wood and leaves. The Carrot Tops turned tail and tore off through the forest, the timberwolves following close behind.
As the howls faded into the distance, Fluttershy blinked as a gray form of a mare crept to the base of the tree. “Come on Fluttershy.” Ditzy Doo smiled up at her, “Let’s get you back home.”
- - - -
The Everfree was a green and brown blur to Carrot Top as it whipped past her. She was galloping as fast as she could, alongside her copies. She could hear the pounding of the wolves feet on the ground behind them, adding a disjointed rhythm to their chorus of barks and growls.
Sparing a glance to her right, she could barely make out the forms of her friends, partially illuminated by Trixie’s magic, shadowing her bizarre procession. Making a beeline for Applejack’s traps, she just hoped that they’d be able to thin the numbers some before they reached there.
If they made it there.
Night made galloping through the Everfree an even more dangerous proposition. The darkness blanketed the undergrowth, hiding branches, divots and all other manner of things that could trip a pony. And with a startled yelp, one of the double’s hooves found a root that was partially exposed, crashing to the ground and tangling up one of her fellows in the process.
The timberwolves in the lead struck, pouncing upon them, jaws going straight for the copies throats. Crunching down, the timberwolves were not greeted by warm blood, but by twin explosions of water; the clones popping like water balloons. Carrot Top winced, not daring to stop as the other timberwolves flowed around them to continue the chase.
And then Trixie struck.
Leaping from the undergrowth her horn blazing, face scrunched up in determination, the illusionist dropped a billowing eruption of light, sound and magically constructed fireworks right in the middle of the pack.
Some of the timberwolves reeled, instinctively pulling back from the “fire”, isolating them from the rest of their fellows; the others heedlessly plowing on after Carrot Top. Taking advantage of the chaos, Cheerilee and Raindrops threw themselves into the group left behind.
Drops lashed out with a buck, her tremendous strength caving in the side of a wolf like it was made out of straw, rather than wood. She poured on the pressure, springing forward and smashing all four hooves into it. The creature collapsed to pieces, sending sticks flying every which direction.
One of the timberwolves snapped back at Cheerilee, it’s jaws closing around air as she flipped sideways over the strike. Landing neatly on her hooves she lashed out with a kick that sent her wolf stumbling into the remaining two.
A rapid staccato of lyre notes flowed between the threes, a flurry of sound lances smashing into the three tangled timberwolves. Lyra’s sonic assault splintered the wolves to bits, leaving the bit of forest quiet as the last notes of music faded.
“Guess I can’t complain about that training of yours after all Cheerilee.” Trixie grinned, “That was like clockwork. Now let’s catch back up with th-aaahhh!”
The remains of the timberwolves were pulling themselves together, moving towards one giant mass of plant matter.
“Break them more!” Raindrops shouted stomping on the sticks that moved, her strikes shattering them to splinters, “We can’t let them pull themselves together!”
- - - -
Carrot Top looked behind her again, her breathing beginning to become heavier from the exertion. The five remaining timberwolves were still on her tail and, frustratingly enough, didn’t seem to be tired at all; annoyingly so, neither did her copies, who were just running along like this was some kind of game.
The Everfree was beginning to thin. She had to be getting close to the trap line at this point. A stab of panic followed that realization.
Oh Luna! She thought. I didn’t help Applejack! I don’t know where the traps actually are!
“Carrot Top!” Applejack shouted, bursting from the under brush and falling into step beside her, “We need ta slow down! It’ll be hard enough ta see the traps as is!”
“You got a lantern in there?” Carrot Top asked, glancing at the apple farmer’s bulging saddlebags, “Cause without one I don’t see it making much difference.”
“Yeah. Ah’ll break it out if your doubles can run us some interference.”
Nodding, Carrot Top turned to her clones. “Distract them!” She shouted, pointing to the timberwolves.
Following their magical programming with glee, the copies turned and bounced towards the timberwolves. Ricocheting around like a bunch of rubber balls, the monsters snapped and chased at the obvious sources of movement.
Applejack quickly slid her saddlebags out, pulling out a lantern and some matches. The two farmers moved quickly, Carrot Top adding some oil to the lantern and Applejack quickly lighting it up.
Carrot Top glanced back at the timberwolves as they continued to snap at the clones. “What I wouldn’t give for a small army right now…” She muttered, snatching up the lantern in her teeth and motioning for Applejack to lead the way.
With Carrot Top holding the lantern, Applejack gave a sharp whistle at the copies. “Come on ya...uhh...ponies I guess! We’re movin’ out!”
Another round of howls signalled the return of the chase, as the timberwolves tore after the combined group of ponies and clones. Applejack turned, leading the group parallel to the edge of the Everfree.
“JUMP!” She shouted as they drew close to a pair of buried logs.
Carrot Top kicked off, sailing over the logs. A loud crunch rang out a moment later, a few splinters raining down on her. “Ha!” Applejack beamed at her handiwork, “Take that ya varmits!”
With a snarl one of the wolves pounced, bowling the mare over. Without hesitation, Carrot Top swung the lantern, smashing it down on the timberwolf’s back. Fire erupted across its form, merrily snapping and crackling as the wolf howled in rage, rolling on the ground.
Rolling upright, Applejack lashed out with a buck, her hooves just barely passing by Carrot Top’s head and colliding with the snout of the wolf that was trying to jump her from behind. Another came in on Applejack’s left side, Carrot Top kicking out with her own strike.
Water splashed on her back, a clone popping as it was attacked or tried to block the strike; she couldn’t tell which. Another crunch rang out, a wolf falling to pieces from another one of Applejack’s powerful kicks.
The next few moments dissolved into a chaotic tangle of motion for Carrot Top. Timberwolves darted in and she and Applejack fought back, lashing out with their hooves, headbutting, fighting tooth and nail to survive. Through the chaos, a howl rang out. Applejack and Carrot Top spun around, lashing out with a buck at the same time. Two sets of hooves hit home, the last wolf shattering to pieces from the strike.
Panting, the two ponies looked at their surroundings, then at each other. No more wolves, and one copy left standing next to them with a goofy grin. A smile crept across Carrot Top’s muzzle, a gesture that was mimicked by Applejack as she threw a hoof over Carrot Top’s withers. Before either one could stop themselves, they were laughing. Laughing in relief as the stress of the situation drained away.
“Hehe. Applejack...let’s never never get chased by timberwolves again, okay?”
“Ah think ah can agree with that.” Applejack smiled back, “But what are ya gonna do with your last double there?”
“I don’t know yet.” Carrot Top shrugged, “Didn’t realize that we had lost that many.”
“Well, that last scrap was confusin’.” Applejack blinked, rubbing her chin, “Ah know ah heard a...pop…” She trailed off, looking past Carrot Top, “...Ponyfeathers.”
Throwing herself forward, she tackled Carrot Top, pitching both ponies down the side of a small slope, a massive pair of wooden jaws slamming into the ground right where Carrot Top had been sitting a moment ago. Landing on her back, Carrot Top found herself nose to nose with an embarrassed looking Applejack.
“Errr...sorry about that.” She apologized, untangling herself, “But-”
A snarl rang out from the top of the slope, both farmers looking up at the truly massive timberwolf that now glared down at the pair of them, it’s jaws wet with water.
“So,” Carrot Top said, smiling nervously as she took a few steps back, “Remember that bit about never being chased by timberwolves again?”
“Ah do.” Applejack nodded, taking a few steps back herself.
“I think we’ll have to live up to that promise later.”
“Ah agree.”
“Run on three?”
“THREE!” Applejack shouted as the giant timberwolf threw itself forward, throwing herself to the right, while Carrot Top dove to the left. Its jaws closed around air, its snout impacting into the forest floor. When it looked up again Carrot Top and Applejack were already running for all they were worth.
- - - -
“Are you sure about that thing Pinkie?” Pokey Pierce asked, eyebrow raised at the party pony’s creation. It resembled not much more than an oversized slingshot, cobbled together from Luna knew what (was that a rubber chicken for the band?) that she had set into the ground a little way from the bonfire that cracked and popped near the edge of the Everfree.
Pokey’s bonfire was at the center of the line. Maintained by himself, Ivory Scrolls and Silver Script, the three had been surprised when Pinkie Pie and Berry punch appeared out of the darkness a few minutes ago.
“Uh huh!” Pinkie nodded, bouncing on her hooves, “I got the idea talking to Berry!”
Pokey looked to Ponyville’s resident bartender, who was stacking a series of small casks, rags stuffed into their spouts, next to Pinkie’s slingshot. The mare had quite a wide smile on her muzzle as she worked, which almost had him worried.
“So, Berry...what’s in the casks?” Ivory asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Brandy.” She responded simply, her grin spreading all the wider, “Cheap brandy that I got tricked into buying a few years back. So, consider this a charitable donation to the critters of the Everfree.”
“Huh?”
“It’s eighty percent alcohol. Whoever made this stuff added industrial alcohol to the mix so it’s practically undrinkable.” She sighed at Pokey’s continued stare, “It’s flammable, Pokey.”
“And since we don’t wanna get close to any bitey wolfies, I made this slingshot out of scrap wood and party supplies!”
“....That would explain the rubber chicken.”
“You just light,” Berry grinned, “And fire.”
Pokey opened his mouth to argue, when the sound of crashing and snapping branches reached their ears. Quickly grabbing one of the burning logs, he hefted it with his magic, preparing to defend Ponyville from whatever came from that forest.
He immediately regretted that bravado when the mother of all timberwolves crashed through the trees, chasing after the forms of Carrot Top and Applejack.
“Ponyville...present booze!” Ivory barked, jabbing a hoof towards the monster.
Stretching the slingshot back, Pinkie took aim at the giant wooden creature, tongue stuck out in concentration as Berry loaded a cask of the brandy, Pokey lighting the rag fuse. Pinkie toppled backwards as she let go, the wooden cask sailing through the air.
The small barrel crashed against the side of the timberwolf’s head, exploding into a roiling gout of flame that washed across its side. Howling in rage, it pawed at the flames, the targets of it’s chase forgotten.
Another barrel of brandy was loaded and lit, Pinkie aiming slightly lower this time before firing again. Whipping end over end, the barrel shattered against the breast of the creature, fire licking higher and brighter as more fuel was added.
Roaring, the timberwolf charged the bonfire, aiming to destroy the source of the pain, even as it shook its flanks in a desperate attempt to put the flames out. Burning branches and twigs were sent flying, dropping from the sky like a burning rain.
“Hit it again!” Carrot Top shouted, she and Applejack dodging the hail of flaming sticks as they ran onwards.
“Okie-doki-loki!” Pinkie grinned as Berry threw another cask into the slingshot. With another light from Pokey it flew straight and true. Hitting right between the timberwolf’s eyes, it crashed to the ground, clawing at its head before turning and loping back towards the forest.
The rubber chicken slingshot snapped once more, the last of Berry’s casks striking it from behind. Roaring in anger the timberwolf sped up, fleeing back into the Everfree, the glow of the fire growing distant, then disappearing completely.”
The scene was quiet for a moment, save for the crackle and pop of the fire.
“Well, that was fun!” Pinkie quipped, “Who’s for cupcakes?”
- - - -
Trixie gave a happy sigh as she walked through the streets of Ponyville, thoroughly pleased that last night’s insanity was behind them. The only injury had been Rainbow Dash, who would make a complete recovery from what she had heard and it had the unexpected side effect of solving the copy problem at the same time.
She had sent off a letter to Princess Luna, asking if she knew anything about this mirror pool. She suspected that her mentor would get back to her at her own convenience, with the initial problem dealt with.
The door to Sugarcube Corner cracked open, Ditzy Doo trotting out with a bag stuffed nearly to bursting with muffins balanced on her back.
“Morning Trixie.” She nodded, “You’re in good spirits.”
“Just glad that everything worked out.” She nodded, motioning to Ditzy’s parcel, “What’s with all the muffins?”
“Oh!” Ditzy smiled, “Cheerilee wanted to take another crack at the nature hike, with the real Carrot Top this time. Since it’s the weekend, I thought I’d tag along and bring muffins!” She tilted her head slightly, fixing her one good eye on Trixie, “You have any plans for the weekend?”
“Well, until I hear back from Luna about the Mirror Pool, I’m going to hook up with Lyra and Twilight and we’re going to do some more research on the thing. Work out some more of what it could do before it kind of broke down.”
“Not a bad idea.” Ditzy nodded, “I am kind of curious about that myself.”
“I’m just glad that the doubles are gone, and we can investigate it properly now. Anyway, I should probably get mov-”
A melodramatic scream reached their ears from down the street, both ponies turning to face the noise.
"Help! Help! Help! Help! Help! Help! Help!"
Trixie stared as mob of Carrot Tops ran down the main street of Ponyville, grinning like fools and repeating the same word over and over again. Ponies broke and scattered as they trampled everything before them, leaving destruction in their wake.
“I...think we might need to cancel our weekend plans,” Trixie told Ditzy, as the dozens of Carrot Tops bore down on them.
Carrot Top trotted out of the Ponyville schoolhouse with a distinct spring in her step. Humming happily, she walked to the front of the line of foals, where Cheerilee was waiting. The school teacher’s saddlebags were bulging, crammed full of healthy snacks in preparation for what would (hopefully) be the successful nature walk.
“Ready?”
“Ready!” Cheerilee responded, turning towards her students. She began to explain the itinerary to the foals. Carrot Top looked out over Ponyville, her mind wandering over how peaceful everything looked in the warm morning light.
Right down to the blurs of yellow and orange that were beginning to bounce through the streets.
“No.” She gaped, her eyes growing wide.
“Help! Help! Help! Help! Help!”
“No what?” Cheerilee asked, oblivious to the doom that was approaching them.
It was like watching a swarm of ants wash over a picnic as her copies flooded Ponyville. They hopped onto roofs, bowled ponies over on the street, hauled them back up only for them to be knocked over again, smashed into windows and sent other ponies running in a blind panic.
And a large group of copies were heading right for them.
“Help! Help! Help! Help! Help!” They shouted in their disjointed chorus.
Cheerilee twisted towards the onrush of voices, her own eyes nearly doubling in size at the incoming avalanche of ponies. A cry of panic rose from her students, the foals stumbling back from the horde, a few tripping over each other.
“Back inside!” She shouted, quickly ushering her charges into the relative safety of indoors, “Ursa drill! Get under your desks and cover your heads!” As they did what she asked, Cheerilee looked back towards her friend. “Carrot Top?!”
Carrot Top was standing stock still in the middle of the road, her eyes locked right on the advancing horde. The carrot farmer couldn’t force herself to move, the weight of what she was seeing crashing down on her. And a moment later, they crashed down on her as well.
She felt herself swept away, suddenly carried upon the backs of dozens of her copies, Cheerilee shouting after her.
- - - -
“Help! Help! Help! Help! Help!”
“Down to just the one word I see.” Trixie growled, “Think they’ve stretched themselves just a little too thin?”
Focusing, she conjured a scintillating sphere forged from the colors of the rainbow. With a flick of her head, she pitched it in a curved arc, slinging it right past the eyes of a few that were leaping towards the windows of Sugarcube Corner.
“Oooooo!” They cooed, distracted by the shimmering ball of light. With another glow of magic from her horn, Trixie sent the bouncing ball flying down the street, the clones chasing after it with a bust of happy giggles; but more were still coming.
“Yesh” Ditz responded, mumbling through a mouth full of broom handle (hastily provided by Mister Cake before he locked the door).
She swung the broom, at another one that was coming in from the opposite direction, but it hopped neatly over the strike and landed next to one of the first floor windows.
“Help!” It beamed, reaching for said window.
Raindrops dropped from the sky, landing on the copy with all four hooves. Exploding with a wet pop, the weather pony found herself drenched head to hocks. Snorting, she lazily shook the water from her form, glancing down at her friends.
“You alright?” She questioned, anger evident in her voice.
“So far, yeah.” Trixie nodded. Raising an eyebrow, she spared a glance at her friend, “You look upset.”
“Weather schedule for the next week got destroyed when one bounced in to ‘help’.” She growled, pouncing on another one, “There’s another group of these things coming out of the Everfree by the way.”
“This is completely nuts.” Ditzy sighed, spitting the broom out of her mouth to talk, “I thought that we were done with clones!”
“Obviously, we missed one.” Raindrops growled, decking another, “There were timberwolves. And then...I dunno...it made more or something.”
“Why?”
“I have no idea! But considering we’re up to our eyeballs in Carrot Tops here, I’m not sure what else could have happened!”
“Where’s our Carrot Top?” Trixie inquired, whipping another explosion of light and color into the faces of a different clone group.
“No idea. They all look the same from the air.” She answered with a shrug, “We’re going to have to work this one out on the ground.”
“Oh.” Trixie frowned, scanning the street around them, “...Which way do you want to start?”
Thinking for a moment, Raindrops pointed down a street. “Towards Bon Bon’s. At the very least we can pick up Lyra while we’re there.”
- - - -
“Get...OUT!”
Bon Bon’s hooves connected squarely with the mindless Carrot Top’s side. The impact of the strike catapulted it back through the smashed window of the Confectionarium that it had entered via moments before. Hind legs neatly hitting the floor, she flicked her mane with an annoyed huff.
All in all, Lyra thought, the form of that buck had been excellent.
“Dear…” Bon Bon smiled, a little too widely, “You need to have a conversation with Carrot Top.”
“I’m sure she wouldn’t have summoned more on purpose!”
“That doesn’t change what’s out there!”
“Help?” A clone questioned, peeking it’s head through the smashed window. Bon Bon turned and decked it on the snout, sending it toppling away with a yelp. She turned back to Lyra with an exasperated sigh, another clone hopping past and the sound of some other window in the street shattering punctuating the scene.
“Right.” Lyra rubbed the sides of her head, “Solutions, before we have to go begging to Canterlot for money again.”
“Maybe they can be tricked?” Bon Bon suggested, glancing out the broken window. Three copies of Carrot Top ran past, carrying hammers in their mouths. A moment later Windowpane charged after, yelling at them to give him his tools back, “They don’t seem to be acting very smart right now.”
Lyra frowned, tapping her chin with a hoof. “We got one to lock up when we tricked it into kind of a logical paradox. Course, then it snapped out of it the minute we mentioned help…”
“HELP!?” A copy shouted with a manic grin, poking her head into the room.
Bon Bon face hoofed, a teeth grinding grimace crossing her muzzle. “This is going to become a thing, isn’t it?”
“Fraid so.” Lyra frowned.
As her significant other turned to deal with the new clone, Lyra called her instrument to her side. She needed something to help her think.
Maybe some kind of big event we could lure them to? Something that would just confuse them? She thought, idly strumming her lyre with a hoof. No, that’ll take far too long to set up. And going from clone to clone will take too long…
Her absent minded strumming moved into the tune that she had played the other day at the pool. She focused on the melody, blocking out the sounds of the chaos outside the shop, and letting the melody organize her thoughts.
They respond when you ask for help, and they have some kind of hive mind. Maybe if we asked them to do something really big that would require more than one pony to accomplish…
“Lyra!”
Snapping out of her deep thoughts, Lyra looked up to see that her friends had arrived. Most of them at least.
“Still looking for our Carrot Top?” She asked, trotting outside.
As she crossed the threshold and stepped out onto the street, an avalanche of flowers rained down upon the heads of her and her friends. Happy giggles rang in their ears as a trio of clones hopped past on the roofs above, tossing the complete stock of Daisy, Lily and Rose’s flower shop onto the streets below.
“Fraid so.” Raindrops snorted, shaking a bunch of roses off her head, “Still haven’t been able to pick her out of this mess.”
Lyra nodded, motioning for them to follow her, running down the street. “Well, I have an idea! We need to get to Town Hall.”
“Why?” Trixie asked, joining her friends in chasing after the musician.
“I’ll explain on the way!”
- - - -
A pained grunt escaped Carrot Top’s lips as she collapsed to the ground, the clones supporting her having scattered like a disturbed school of fish. Groaning, she pushed herself back upright, shaking the stars from her eyes.
She almost wished that she hadn’t.
Carried along to the same street that the Day Spa was set on, she was now awash in a middle of clones engaged in acts of “helpful” destruction. One was attacking the the spa’s roof with a mallet, shingles being tossed left and right from the flurry of strikes. Another was being chased by Blossomforth, spritzing every pony she passed with a collection of the latter’s fragrances.
Setting her jaw, she charged towards one of the many other nearby copies. This one was currently involved in painting the side of a building green.
“Hey! Stop that!” She shouted, yanking the paint away.
“Help?” It asked, frowning in confusion.
“No! Stop helping! You’re hurting ponies!”
“Help!” It grinned, returning to the paint.
“For Luna’s-”
A pile of envelopes dropped from above, mostly bouncing off her body, though a few remained stuck in her mane. Squeezing her eyes shut, Carrot Top mentally counted to ten to bite down the desire to start screaming.
This is all my fault. She thought. Ponyville’s going to get completely wrecked again and it’s all my fault.
She could even hear the ponies passing in the street muttering behind her back. They obviously thought she was a clone too, but weren’t sure why she was just standing there. She took a few more deep breaths, trying to work out what to try next.
“Carrot Top?”
She felt a friendly hoof rest on her withers, Cheerilee’s concerned voice reaching her ears. Opening her eyes, she twisted to look at her friend. The school teacher was biting her lip, her eyes full of concern.
“Are you okay?”
“I’ve been better.” She answered with a sad smile, “How’d you know it was me?”
“You were the only one not running around frantically, trying to “help” ponies.” Cheerilee responded, pulling her friend into a hug, “They didn’t hurt you at all, did they?”
“Maybe a bruise when they dropped me to the ground.” Carrot Top sighed, pulling herself out of the hug, “I’m more worried about what they’re doing. Ponyville’s going to get wrecked at this rate.”
“Hey, we can still fix this.”
Carrot Top was about to ask how, when the actions of another clone interrupted her. A cake- presumably liberated from Sugarcube Corner, but who could really tell to be sure- lazily arched through the air, and splattered face down, atop her head.
“HELP!” Shouted the clone, bouncing off and throwing more cakes and pastries at anypony it passed on the street.
Carrot Top felt her right eye twitch.
“Carrot Top…” Cheerilee blinked, “Clam down.”
With a smile that bordered on manic crossing her muzzle, Carrot Top spun around to face the copies. “Hey! I need the help of alllll of you! Every last one!” She shouted, frustration reaching a peak, “I need every last pony to help me count to a million!”
Almost at once, the chaos stopped. Each clone froze in the middle of whatever activities they were engaged in, more than a few falling to the ground with heavy thuds if they were in midair at the time.
And then they began to count.
“One.” They said in a perfectly creepy unison, “Two…”
Carrot Top and Cheerilee blinked, exchanging confused glances with each other.
“Huh...I wasn’t actually expecting that to work.” She admitted with an embarrassed smile.
“Forty five.” The clones echoed.
“Wait…” Cheerilee blinked, “Weren’t they just at ten?”
“Five hundred thirty five!”
“Wha?”
“Thirty two.”
“...Great.” She sighed, “They forgot the order of numbers.”
“Well…” Carrot Top grinned nervously, “They do have a one in a million chance of landing on the number.”
“Which could happen at any moment.”
Carrot Top groaned. “Let’s go find the others.”
- - - -
By the time they caught up with their friends, the townsfolk had began to drag the frozen, still counting copies to the town square, in light of any other ideas. Large piles of orange and yellow were stacked up around the plaza, with more being dragged in every moment.
“One thousand, three hundred and fifty six!”
“This is going to get annoying really fast.” Carrot Top sighed.
“Carrot Top!”
She looked over as Trixie and the rest came rushing to her side, Lyra carrying her namesake instrument along with her.
“Are you okay?” Ditzy asked, tilting her head, “I wasn’t sure we were going to be able to find you in that mess.”
“Me either.” She responded with a shrug, “Wasn’t expecting them to actually start counting to a million either, so I guess we lucked out there. For now at least.” She quickly added at the end.
“Oh, so that was you?” Trixie raised an eyebrow, “I was wondering why they had started randomly shouting out numbers.”
“I was frustrated.” Carrot Top answered with a nervous shrug.
“So you had them count?”
“...It was all I could think of. Please tell me that you have some kind of plan?”
“We do.” Lyra nodded, motioning to the town hall, “We’re going to throw a parade.”
“....What?”
- - - -
The explanation of the plan had been quickly passed around as townsfolk continued to drag copies into the square. The piles of copies continued to grow, even more so when the farmers began to haul carts of them into town.
Carrot Top felt her stomach do a flip, her expression growing ashen. “Just how many of these things are there?” She grumbled to Lyra, watching Applejack dump a cart of hers off.
“Looks like it’s over a hundred so far.” Cheerilee commented, doing a quick estimation, “I’m guessing a clone had to escape during the chaos and just made copies all night.”
“I did ask for a small army.” Carrot Top sighed, her head drooping.
“Stop it.” Cheerilee chided, her voice becoming stern for a moment, “You can’t keep blaming yourself.”
“Earth pony messing around with ancient unicorn magic.”
“Did you know it was unicorn magic at the time?”
“Cheerilee…” She sighed, “I didn’t know what it was! I didn’t even stop and think about how long the one copy would be around!”
“And we’ll fix it. We dealt with timberwolves just last night. We can handle this.”
“Doesn’t make me feel any less stupid for starting it off in the first place.” Carrot Top sighed again, “I just wanted to help…”
“Alright!” Lyra called out, grabbing everypony in the square’s attention. Which, at the moment, was most of the group that had assisted the night before. She stood at the top of town hall’s stairs, in that odd two legged stance that only she could pull off. “I’m going to start-”
“Seven hundred and thirty five!”
“...Playing at the signal, and lead them back to the pool. Anypony who wants to help-”
“Two hundred and twenty two!”
“...Follow alongside the group. If any of them try to run off on their own, turn them around.”
“Nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety nine!”
“Land sakes!” Applejack shouted, “Let’s get this underway before this countin’ drives everypony insane.”
Lyra looked to Carrot Top and nodded. Nodding back, the farmer trotted over to the nearest pile of clones; it didn’t really matter which one.
“I need everypony to help with a parade.”
They stopped counting immediately, springing back to their hooves. Lyra launched into action, quickly strumming out a fast and jaunty tune. “Everypony follow me!” She shouted, galloping towards the Everfree forest.
With a unified squeal of glee that would have knocked Pinkie Pie over, the clones rushed after her. The volunteer group took off next, following close behind until they could clear the town limits.
- - - -
The procession into the Everfree rumbled along, the mass impact of hooves on the ground shaking the leaves from the trees in a bizarre reflection of the Running of the Leaves. Lyra continued to lead the way, her horn glowing to amplify the sound of her lyre over the low roar of the hooves hitting dirt and the clone’s continued cries of “Help!”
Carrot Top cantered alongside the line, keeping her eyes peeled for any clones trying to slip loose. Thankfully, they seemed quite focused on Lyra and the music, at least at the moment.
“Hey, Carrot Top!”
She blinked as Applejack and Green Grape fell into step on either side of her. Both farmers kept glancing at the ground, then back to Carrot Top and occasionally at each other, but neither one seemed all that willing to speak first.
“Umm. Can I...help you?” She asked, raising an eyebrow.
“I wanted to say I’m sorry!” Green Grape shouted.
“We got ta talkin’ back down the line there.” Applejack elaborated, “Found out that this whole mess probably got started when we both wanted yer help on the same mornin’.”
Carrot Top just nodded in response.
“Look. I shouldn’t have implied some kind of “us vs them” thing about helping Applejack.” Green elaborated, her head drooping slightly, “I thought that setting the traps was a waste of time. I mean...we’ve not had a timberwolf attack in my memory.”
Applejack nodded slightly at that comment.
“Of course, that stance feels kind of foolish now.” Grape muttered, “But I am sorry that I had a hoof in pushing you towards this.”
“It’s okay Green Grape.” Carrot Top sighed, with a shake of her head, “I should have had some common sense-”
“Ahh. But ya can’t blame yerself too much.” Applejack interrupted, “Ah mean...wanting to do too much. It can cause problems.” She finished with a nod.
Carrot Top blinked, tilting her head slightly as she looked right into Applejack’s eyes. She didn’t say anything else, but Carrot Top felt like a sense of understanding passed between the two ponies at that moment.
“Yeah. It can.”
“Hey, Applejack.” Green Grape piped up, “How about next season we get all the farmers working together on timberwolf duty? We’re all on the outskirts of town, so we’d have to deal with them first anyway….”
“Ah reckon that makes sense.”
Carrot Top smirked slightly as the two farmers began to talk over the possibilities of a timberwolf defense militia. Nudging a copy that was beginning to stray from the line back into place, a thought popped into her mind.
“You know, we should probably block up the pathway somehow.” She nodded towards the pair, interrupting their conversation, “You know. So that no other pony goes down there and we’re right back in this situation again.”
“Good point.” Green Grape nodded, “I’ll see if I can grab a few ponies from the line and we’ll go find a rock or something.”
“A rock?”
“It’ll be a big rock.” She grinned, letting herself drop back.
Carrot Top smiled to herself, holding her head a little higher as she continued to canter along. Perhaps there would be some good fallout from this after all.
A deep and chilling howl pushed that thought from her mind. Half panicked mutters washed down the line, the “parade” skidding to a halt, everypony searching the forest around them for where the howl came from.
Carrot Top caught a blur of movement out of the corner of her eye, a large form constructed of wood and plant matter stalking through the trees.
“We got company!”
A few of the trees groaned in creeking protest as the unified timberwolf from the night before pushed its way into view on the right side of the precession. It’s wooden body was still marked by the ashy burns of the alcohol fueled firestorm. Throwing its head back again in another howl, it took another bounding leap towards the line of ponies.
And then it froze, its glowing eyes finally noticing just how many ponies were there.
“HELP!” The whole gaggle of Carrot Tops shouted back at the monster.
It took a nervous step backwards, tilting it’s head at the small army before it. Carrot Top didn’t have much insight into what went through the minds of those woody predators, but she could only describe the timberwolf’s actions as confused.
“Hey!” Cheerilee grinned, seizing upon an idea, pointing a hoof at the timberwolf, “Does everypony think that poor gentleman needs help?”
“HEEEEELP!” Came the cry from the line of orange and yellow, the clones almost leering at the timberwolf lord.
It took another shuffling step backwards, the clones taking a step forward. The wolf took another step back as they closed in all around it.
“Everypony!” Carrot Top shouted, “Help me break that stick pile! Everypony take one!”
The timberwolf king turned to run, taking a few loping strides before the wave of clones slammed into its back legs. Toppling forward with a crash, it was engulfed by the copy swarm, crunches and snaps filling the air while they joyously tore sticks and branches away from its form.
After a minute of cracks, pops and snaps, the copies hopped back into the line, each one clutching a separate broken stick that had been part of the timberwolf in their mouths.
“Helph?”
Lyra very quickly began to play again.
- - - -
“How are you holding up?”
Lyra glanced back at the line of Carrot Tops, nodding to herself.
“I think so. Still got magic to spare.”
“Good.” Trixie nodded, pointing to the old stream bed that lead to the pool, “We’re almost there.”
“Okay. What do I do when I get them in there?”
Silence from the illusionist.
“Trixie?! Leading them back here was your idea!”
“I’m thinking!” Trixie winced, “It’s not easy dealing with this ancient magic on the fly. Okay, okay…they’re basically the water from the pool shaped into a pony. If I were pulling a pool like that together, I’d set up the enchantment to fall apart upon touching the water again.”
“That’s kind of a big assumption.” Lyra winced, the entrance to the mirror pool looming in the distance.
“I know! But it’s all I got!”
“Fine.” Lyra frowned, putting on a burst of speed, “Then let’s do this!”
“Wait!”
Lyra rushed down the stairs into the subterranean chamber. The water level of the pool was very low, down from a few feet to a few inches. Plunging ahead, she splashed through what was left of the water, pressing up against the back of the pool’s wall, continuing to play.
I hope this works. Or Bonnie is going to kill Trixie.
The clones were right behind her, rushing, almost tumbling down the stairs as they followed the music. Lyra winced, bracing for a possible impact when the hooves of the first one hit the edge of the remaining liquid.
The body melted away into liquid with a mighty splash, the pool’s level creeping higher on Lyra’s legs. And then the rest came tumbling in, crashing into each other, sliding down the stairs and splashing into the pool in an almost constant waterfall of yellow and orange. The water level surged, splashing higher and higher up her body, as the pool returned to it’s full volume.
“Yes!” Lyra crowed, treading water as the pool became deep enough that she couldn’t touch the bottom anymore.
The tumble of ponies suddenly stopped, as the last copy skidded to a halt at the bottom of the stairs. Lyra frowned, noticing the increased mental acuity that flickered in the copies eyes.
“Hi friend! Do you need help!”
Lyra grinned nervously, dropping her lyre into the pool.
“Could you help me get my lyre?”
SPLASH!
- - - -
Lyra trotted back out of the underground chamber, shaking the water from her coat.
“Did we get them all?”
Trixie nodded, a happy grin on her muzzle. “Watched very last one of them run down the stairs. So, if you handled things on our end…”
“They’re all water again.”
Trixie nodded, waving a hoof towards the opening. At the signal, Applejack, Green Grape, Cheerilee and Carrot Top began pushing a large boulder towards the head of the stairs, throwing all of their weight into moving the stone.
Lyra trotted out of the way as they shoved the rock into place, it slamming down on the entrance, sealing it up with its weight. Carrot Top sighed, wiping her forehead with the back of a hoof.
“Well...I guess that’s that. For real this time.”
“Suppose so.” Trixie nodded, “Guess we should head back to town then. Start cleaning up the mess they left behind.”
Nodding in agreement, the assembled ponies turned and began their walk back to Ponyville, leaving the pool thoroughly buried and the Everfree quiet. A few moments later, once the ponies were thoroughly gone, the underbrush rustled. A lone figure stepped out, and approached the rock.
Zecora glanced up at the rock, a thoughtful expression playing across her features.
- - - -
Carrot Top ripped another group of weeds from the ground, tossing them into her wheelbarrow with a flick of her head. It was another clear fall day, a slight chill snapping through the air as she worked.
It had been a few days since they had repaired the damage done by her pool spawned copies. All things considered, Ponyville had seen worse damage, which was comforting in its own way. The town had once again proven its resilience and things had returned to normal.
“Hey Carrot Top.”
She glanced up, nodding to Green Grape at the edge of the field. The farmer nodded back as Carrot Top trotted over to her.
“What’s going on Green Grape?”
“Well, I’m a little bit behind in my vines after cleaning things up in town. I was wondering if I could impose on you for some help?”
“When?”
“Well...now, maybe?”
Carrot Top almost said yes, her knee jerk reaction trying to burst forth. But she paused, thinking for a moment. Eventually, she shook her head. “Sorry, Green. I still have plenty of work I need to do myself. I’ll try to help out next time though.”
Green Grape frowned slightly, but nodded her head. “Fair enough. Next time.”
Watching her fellow member of the farmer union trot back down the road, she nodded to herself, not regretting the decision.
