Chapter 1: Changing Times

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Applejack lay by the fire, listening to the soft rhythm of Twilight's breath as she slept. Rainbow Dash had taken the first watch and was out surveying the area. It had been a taxing day, and by all rights Applejack should've been sleeping off her exhaustion like Twilight. It would be her turn to stand watch soon. Her brain wouldn't let her sleep, though. Her thoughts were focused on what lie ahead. She sighed, idly tracing her hoof along the faintly glowing runes adorning her foreleg.

It had barely been three months since the fey first began appearing in Equestria, yet so much had changed. Before, if somepony had told her she would be spending her time searching for and banishing dark creatures from another world – especially if they told her she'd be doing so wielding powerful spells – she would've burst out laughing. Funny how life sneaks up on you...

It all began during the Appleloosan spring harvest. Applejack's cousin Braeburn had become something of an Apple-family celebrity after successfully planting apple trees in Equestria's southern desert. However, their orchard was still young, and the small crop of apples it produced wasn't enough to keep the growing frontier town fed.

Applejack had been more than happy to help. After all, Sweet Apple Acres was well-established, and the Ponyville Apples almost always had a surplus. All that was left to work out were the details. Applejack chose to use the opportunity to visit her southern kin. After a warm welcome, Braeburn offered to show Applejack their newest fields, which she eagerly accepted.

“It sure is a beautiful sight,” Applejack said, surveying the saplings that would one day tower over the ponies. “I'm still amazed that y'all managed to get apple trees to grow in this heat.”

Braeburn beamed with pride. “It wasn't easy, but you know the saying, 'An earth pony never quits.' We're living proof of that.”

“You always were the stubborn one,” Applejack said playfully.

“Really? From the stories I've heard, you're a pretty strong contender for that title.” Braeburn snickered.

“Oh hush, you.” Applejack smiled and swatted his shoulder. “Tell me about Bloomberg. Is he okay?”

“He's just fine, no need to fret. He's even a contender for one of the highest-producing trees on the farm! A tough one, just like you said.”

“Glad to hear he's taken to the weather down here,” Applejack said, admiring the orchard.

Applejack turned abruptly. She though she had seen movement at the edge of her vision, but before her lay nothing but trees and soil.

“Something the matter, cuz?” Braeburn asked.

“I thought I saw something...” Applejack scratched her head.

“Probably just one of the guards.” Braeburn shrugged. “There's no shortage of rustlers and thieves in these parts. A few ponies watching the orchard is usually enough to scare them off though, I wouldn't worry none.”

“If you say so.” Applejack relaxed and continued walking with her cousin. The last thing she remembered was a loud 'thwack' and the ground rushing up to meet her.

Applejack awoke with a groan. Her head was pounding, and she could hear a muffled voice nearby. Shakily, she forced herself to her hooves.

“Whoa there! You shouldn't be standing, you took a nasty blow to the head.”

“Ugh, what happened...” Applejack rubbed her head, only to find blood staining her hoof when she pulled it away.

“Whatever it was, must've rattled you a good bit, darlin', I just told ya.” The stallion's voice almost sounded amused. He placed a steadying hoof on Applejack's shoulder. “One of the other workers found ya out here and ran for the doctor. He should be here soon.”

Looking around, Applejack realized that her cousin was missing. “Braeburn! Where's Braeburn?”

“Don't you worry, miss, the deputy's chasin' him down as we speak. Saw some desert critter carryin' him off thataway.” The stallion pointed deeper into the desert, away from town. “Dusty Chains always gets his man.”

“Braeburn!” Applejack broke away at a full run.

“Miss! You need to wait for the Doc!”

Applejack burst into the open desert. Her thoughts were racing to figure out what happened, but to no avail. She just knew she had to help save Braeburn.

She spotted them within minutes. A large, gray-skinned beast on two legs was fending off a small group of ponies with a large ax. One of them already lay crumpled on the ground nearby. Applejack could see Braeburn's limp form hanging from the creature's shoulder.

One of the deputies, a dust-colored unicorn, was trying to bind the creature with his magic. Applejack saw magical rope coil around the creature's limbs. She saw walls and domes of pure force conjured around the beast, but it was all in vain. The beast tore through the magical restraints with a single, effortless swing. It grabbed another pony and tossed them aside. Applejack could hear a low, scratching sound over the din of combat, almost like the beast was laughing.

“Braeburn!” Applejack shouted, pushing herself as fast as she could. It seemed that the stallion in the orchard was right, however. Applejack's vision began to blur, and she saw the familiar sight of the ground impacting her face as she fell once again.

For the second time, Applejack awoke in pain. This time, however, she was lying in a comfortable bed. She could feel the bandages clinging to her mane as she turned her head.

She was in a cozy room with a wooden floor and white-curtained window. A small yellow mare in white scrubs was looking for something in one of the various cabinets lining the walls. Applejack tried to speak, but what came out sounded more like a groan.

The yellow mare jumped. “Oh, you're awake! Good, that's good... I should get the doctor then.” She made for the door.

“Wait,” Applejack said, her voice hoarse. “Where's Braeburn?”

The nurse paused and looked at the floor. “I... I'll get the doctor.” She hurriedly left the room.

Applejack didn't have to wait long, as a blue pony in a white coat entered soon after. He leafed through folder while talking. “Applejack, right? You're awake, that's a good sign. You sustained some minor head trauma. It wasn't too serious, though I really must caution against running off next time, you could've made things much worse. We patched you up and gave you some – ”

“Doc, what happened to my cousin?” Applejack's voice was thick with worry.

The doctor looked at Applejack solemnly. “Braeburn? Well... I'm afraid – ” There was a knock a the door. An expression of relief washed over the doctor. “That would be your visitor.”

In stepped a unicorn sporting a leather vest and a silver star. Applejack recognized him as the deputy from earlier. He had a dusty coat, chocolate-colored mane, and a pair of manacles on his flank. He introduced himself as Deputy Chains.

“You were there, Deputy. Please, for the love of Celestia, tell me where Braeburn is!” Applejack's voice was tense.

The stallion removed his hat and lowered his eyes. “I've never lost a perp before, miss, not a one. I know a dozen different spells for catching lawbreakers. But this... I don't know what to say. I couldn't do a damn thing. That monster tore right through my spells, just ignored them like they weren't even there. We tried to take the bastard down, really we did, but it was freakishly strong. It snatched up Deputy Givens, too. Took 'em both and ran off into the desert. We tried to track it down, but the trail ran out and there was...” The deputy looked directly at Applejack with misty eyes. “Blood. So much... I'm sorry.”

Applejack's faced paled. She said nothing. She just cried.

One month later...

It was a typical morning at Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack was in the western orchard, working on her chores for the day. Big Macintosh was elsewhere, tackling the large crop of apples that needed harvesting. The sky was clear, and the sun shined brightly. In spite of this, Applejack felt no warmth on her coat. She heaved, the sound of apples falling neatly into the arranged baskets bringing none of its usual satisfaction. She felt the familiar ache in her muscles that came with hard work, but instead of putting a smile on her face, it simply made her tired. The sweat matting her coat brought nothing but a cold chill with the breeze. It had been that way ever since –

Applejack shook her head, mentally chastising herself. "Ain't no use thinkin' about that, I got work to do," she thought to herself, grabbing the now-full baskets and placing them into her cart. But try as she might, thoughts of Braeburn and the creature that took him kept trying to force their way in.

"I need a distraction... I'm already ahead on my chores for the day, s'pose it wouldn't hurt to take the afternoon off. Maybe Twilight can help, she's always going on about some new book or other." Applejack dropped her cart off at the barn and walked into town, taking time to relax in the shade of a maple tree and listen to the birds singing on the way.

“Howdy, Spike,” Applejack said when the dragon answered the door.

“Hey, Applejack! Twilight's in the kitchen, but she should be right out. Have a seat!” Spike pulled out a chair by the table.

“Mighty kind of ya, Spike.”

“No problem! Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to my Lava Sapphire Nachos.” The young dragon licked his lips.

“Heh, you dragons sure do love the spicy stuff,” Applejack said, forcing a smile.

“You know it!”

Twilight emerged from the kitchen a few moments later, levitating a tray of daffodil sandwiches. “At least turn on the fan, Spike, those fumes are noxious!” Applejack heard Spike say something about ponies and weak stomachs.

“Applejack! How convenient! I'm glad you're here.” Twilight set the tray on the table, offering them to her friend. “I've been looking into the"–she paused a chewed her lip nervously for a moment–"Appleloosan incident a few weeks ago, and I've uncovered a disturbing trend.”

“Have ya now?” Applejack fidgeted in her chair. “I just don't know if I'm comfortable talkin' about it yet, Twi.”

Twilight looked concerned. “I understand, and I'm sorry, but I wouldn't bring it up if it wasn't important.”

Applejack sighed, then nodded.

“The creature's interaction with Deputy Chains' restraining spells intrigued me. I wrote to him, and from his description it didn't seem like the creature simply overpowered his magical restraints, more that it completely ignored its effects. Needless to say, I found that idea fascinating. I'd never heard of such a thing.” Twilight turned to search one of the library's shelves, grabbing a book with her magic and presenting it to Applejack. It contained scribbled characters she didn't understand, and an illustration of a blue, breezie-like creature with six legs and compound eyes.

“After some research, I found a reference to creatures called 'Fey' in Pre-Equestrian lore – far older than the Princesses – that supposedly had some form of innate immunity to unicorn magic. It says that they came from another dimension that roughly translates to 'First World.' The tale even suggests that changelings descended from them, if you believe that sort of thing.”

“This is all real interestin', Twi, but what's your point?” Applejack said impatiently.

“The point is that other Fey-sightings have been occurring around Equestria.”

“What?!” Applejack's eyes opened wide. “You mean there's more than one of those monsters runnin' loose?!”

Twilight nodded. “So it seems. It started out slow, but in the last week alone there have been reports from Vanhoover, Baltimare, and even Trottingham. The specifics vary, but in all cases the creatures completely bypassed the present unicorns' magic. In one case, ponies witnessed the creature actually coming through some kind of portal, which I suspect led to this 'First World' the fey are supposedly from.”

“Landsakes!” Applejack said, a look of shock on her face. “Why didn't y'all mention that to begin with?!”

“Sorry, I thought you should have some context first,” Twilight said. “I don't want to alarm you, but Princess Celestia is starting to worry that these incidents are increasing in frequency. And unfortunately, I don't see anything to contradict that.”

Applejack silently fumed for a moment. If other ponies were suffering the way she had... she couldn't let that happen. Something had to be done.

“We can fix this, let's gather the Elements and – ”

“I'm afraid they won't help us this time, at least not yet.” Twilight's statement cut through Applejack's resolve like a knife. “Without knowing the cause of this outbreak, the most we could do is take care of each incident one-by-one... but that will quickly become untenable if we keep seeing more of them.”

Applejack sat, dumbfounded. “There must be something we can do.”

Twilight grinned. “Don't worry, Applejack, I may not have had any luck discovering why this is happening, but I do have a plan on how we can defend ourselves.”

Applejack ears perked up, one eyebrow rising . “...I'm listening.”

“It's well-known in mage circles that earth ponies and pegasi have their own forms of magic.” Twilight relaxed, settling into her familiar lecturing routine. “Earth ponies are tied to the land, while pegasi control the skies and weather. However, both pony races lack a horn, which is what allows unicorns to focus and direct their magic in specific, controlled ways.”

“I don't see how this helps us with the fey problem.”

“I'm getting to that,” Twilight said, slightly annoyed at the interruption. “From what I've been able to gather, this 'First World' is some kind of primeval garden, similar to the Everfree Forest – though hopefully less dangerous. My hypothesis is that earth pony magic, being tied to nature like these fey creatures, might actually be able to affect them in meaningful ways, possibly even returning them home. What they need is a 'horn' of sorts, some way to focus and direct those energies so that they can cast spells themselves –”

“Hold on there, sugarcube,” Applejack said, holding up a hoof. “Earth ponies casting spells? Now that's just plum crazy. I don't see much of that happening any time soon.” She tapped her forehead where a unicorn's horn would be.

“Oh, don't be so sure, Applejack.” Twilight's eyes sparkled with excitement. She levitated a piece of paper from her desk and placed it in front of her friend. On it was a sketch of a pony, parts of the body covered in intricate, flowing designs.

“When I was a still a student in Canterlot, I wrote a paper on the theoretical feasibility of imbuing magical energies within runic inscriptions for future use.”

“Uh... come again?” Applejack said, arching an eyebrow.

Twilight rolled her eyes. “I was studying how to store spells to use later. Originally the idea was to store them on scrolls, but my research suggested that placing the runes in close contact with the body might be more efficient. It was all highly theoretical, of course. I ended up studying friendship here in Ponyville instead, so I never followed up on it.”

“Uhh...” Applejack swallowed a few times and tried to gather her thoughts. “This is a lot to take in, Twi... But, let's say all this does work. Why me? There's gotta be another earth pony out there more suited to learning all this magic rune business.”

“Well, you're right about there being earth ponies around town that are more academically-oriented. However, this is going to be a difficult task. It'll take a lot of close work and dedication, and I already know you have those qualities in abundance.” Twilight reached across the table and touched Applejack's hoof to emphasize her point. “And, with all that I've learned here in the last few years, I believe that the magic of friendship, and the fact that you bear one of the Elements of Harmony, will prove invaluable in helping you learn to harness your inner magic.” Twilight settled back into her chair and picked up her sandwich. “Plus, can you imagine how hard it would be to get Pinkie Pie to sit in one place long enough for me to explain runic theory?” Twilight chuckled.

“Heh, I guess you got a point there.” Applejack thoughts drifted back to that day in Appleloosa. She thought of her lost cousin Braeburn, and of the countless other ponies that would suffer similar fates if these creatures ran loose through Equestria... Applejack couldn't let that happen.

“What do you say, AJ? Will you at least try?”

Applejack nodded with determination. “I'll do it.”

The next few weeks were a blur for Applejack and Twilight alike. Big Mac and Applebloom were able to tend the farm while Applejack spent her days at the library. Half of her time there was dedicated to learning magical theory from Twilight, including how to translate spells from intrinsic flows of magical energies into complicated runes that she laboriously practiced painting onto parchment. The rest of her time was taken up by Twilight testing and measuring her with Celestia-knows-what kind of equipment, all so that Twilight could better understand earth pony magic and how to adapt her runic theory to work with an earth pony instead of a unicorn. Applejack was fiercely dedicated to her studies, but that dedication made patience difficult. She kept thinking about Braeburn, and what other tragedies might be happening while Applejack was sitting in the library with Twilight. Still, she knew her friend was right. Applejack just hoped that all this would be worth it, and that they would be able to make it work in time. The Dark Fey, as they came to be called, were becoming more common.

“Alright!” said Twilight, setting down the chalk she'd been using to demonstrate the finer points of rune construction. “How are you feeling, AJ?”

Applejack squinted at the paper in front of her, comparing her design to the one Twilight had drawn on the board and the others scattered about the table in front of her. “Y'know, I'm thinkin' that I'm finally starting to get all this.” She looked up at Twilight and grinned widely. “Heck, I just might be ready to give it a go!”

“Great!” Twilight levitated a paintbrush with her as she approached Applejack. “We've been practicing on paper up until now, but as you already know, these runes will need to be directly applied to your body in order to maximize the flow of magical energies.” As she spoke, Twilight brought out a mortar and pestle, and ground up a few herbs before mixing them with the dye. “I had to import these from the Dragon Isles. They weren't cheap, but they should serve as excellent magical conductors, and they're hard to wash off – perfect for our needs.”

She dipped the brush into the finished concoction and brought it to Applejack's shoulder. “I'll help you get started, though you'll want to practice applying this yourself. If we're lucky, we'll be able to prepare a levitation spell that'll make the job easier for you... there.” Twilight stepped back to admire her handiwork. The rune was a small one, designed to replicate a simple light spell. It consisted of seven vines radiating from a central point in a branching pattern, forming a circle about the size of a butter knife. “What do you think, AJ?”

Applejack walked to the mirror for a better look. She nervously checked the branching, the angle of the runes, and made sure the serifs were properly located. Applejack knew that these details could mean the difference between a successful spell, a dud, and a dangerous mishap. Her first attempt had been more towards the 'dangerous mishap' end of the spectrum. It was, as Twilight put it, “unexpectedly exothermic,” and she had not been happy about losing some of her favorite books. “At least she's got some practice with that fire-extinguishing spell now,” Applejack thought. Finally satisfied, with the design on her coat, she nodded and turned back to Twilight with a grin. “Looks good to me! What say we give it a shot?”

Twilight nodded in agreement. “Now, channeling your magic can be tricky. Unicorns learn to visualize their magic from a young age, but you being an earth pony, I have something slightly different in mind.” She slowly began to pace around Applejack, looking for signs of magical activity. “Close your eyes. I want you to picture one of your favorite places on the orchard. Remember all the little details. The rows of trees, the wind in the grass, the clouds in the sky... make the image as real as you can, pretend that you're actually there now...”

Applejack did as instructed. She remembered a hill in the western fields of Sweet Apple Acres where she would often watch the sunset or gaze at the stars. She remembered the evening chill, the dew forming on the grass as the sunlight waned. Applejack pushed her energy into the design on her shoulder, willing it to work...

But it didn't.

Applejack tried again. She visualized the orchard, saw herself walking between rows of apple trees swaying in the breeze. She focused all of her mental abilities on recreating the scenes and feelings that she felt after a long day tending the land – tired but satisfied, hyper-aware of the elements around her, as if she were one with the world. Applejack lost track of how long she stood in the library, pretending to be out in the sun and trees… She almost forgot that she still was in the library. No matter how hard she tried, though, there was no magic in the rune on her shoulder.

Applejack sighed and opened her eyes, disappointment plain on her face. “Sorry, Twi,” she said. “This all sounds nice in theory, but maybe that's all it is.” She scuffed her hoof on the floor, looking downward.

Twilight sat on her haunches in the corner, hoof to her chin in concentration. Applejack was almost ready to turn and leave when Twilight gasped in revelation. She grabbed Applejack, wearing barely-contained grin, and pulled her out the door. “Come with me!”

Twilight led Applejack away from town, towards Sweet Apple Acres. She led them into the orchard, between the rows of apple trees and away from any distractions. Finally, she turned to face her friend once again. “Set and setting! I should've thought of this sooner. How could you cast your first spell in that stuffy old library?” She sat and rubbed her hooves in anticipation. “Let's try it again, AJ.”

Applejack gave a furtive groan, but complied. She closed her eyes, kneaded her hooves in the soil, listened to the leaves on the trees, and felt the wind on her muzzle. She could feel the energy in the world around her, almost as if everything were coming to life. Perhaps this might work after –

Twilight's gasp interrupted Applejack's tranquility. Her eyes shot open to glare at Twilight for breaking her concentration, but she immediately noticed the glow emitting from the light rune. She gaped, seeing the green light weave it's way out from the center, filling in the seven branches as it went. No sooner had the entire glyph filled than the light broke away, coalescing into a small translucent sphere that floated above Applejack's head.

Twilight squealed with glee, clopping her hooves. “Omigosh omigosh! It actually worked!! I mean, the theory was sound, but to actually see it in person... What a breakthrough!!” Twilight's speech continued to hasten until she trailed off into a series of high-pitched squeals and giggles, clearly satisfied with the results.

Applejack, on the other hand, abruptly fell to her haunches, staring dumbfounded at the ethereal orb above her. After a few moments, her muzzle was split with what was possibly the widest smile she had ever worn. A childlike giddiness rose up from deep inside, and she found herself unable to keep from cheering and laughing along with Twilight. “Magic... Magic! I... I just cast a spell!” Applejack cried, tossing her hat into the air in jubilation.

After a few minutes of excitement, the duo calmed themselves enough to speak. “Fascinating,” Twilight remarked, staring at the glowing light. “It seems that without a horn to latch onto, the light spell simply follows the user in a convenient location. How unexpected!” Applejack sat staring at the orb, occasionally raising a hoof towards it like a cat playing with a hanging thread. “Come on, Applejack,” Twilight said, the grin still adorning her muzzle. “Let's get back to the library, there's still plenty of work to be done.”

Applejack woke with a start. She felt something touch her shoulder and turned lightning-fast to face the threat, a rune on her face glowing red.

“Whoa there AJ, it's just me! Don't shoot.” Rainbow Dash said, putting her hooves up in mock surrender and smirking. She wore a loose canvas scarf around her neck, useful for keeping the desert sands out of one's mouth and nose. A fresh bandage from earlier that day obscured part of her mane. The flying goggles sitting on her brow had left a conspicuous area around her eyes devoid of the crimson dust they had become accustomed to.

Applejack rubbed her eyes and glanced around. She must've fallen asleep, at least for a little while. Wisps and embers were all that remained in the fire ring. Applejack could feel the chill of the night setting in.

“Good thing you've got me watching your back! If I was one of those Darklings, you would've been toast!” Rainbow Dash said, still smirking. She fluttered over to the wood pile and tossed a few sticks on the fire. “Don't worry, the area's clear. I double-checked during my rounds.” The pegasus settled in to her bedroll and closed her eyes. “It's your turn to take watch, by the way. This pegasus needs her shut-eye.”

Applejack stood with a groan and stretched. After a few moments shaking off the last vestiges of sleep, she muttered to herself, “Guess I'll go walk the perimeter,” though Rainbow Dash had already added her soft snoring to Twilight's gentle cadence.

Once away from the fire, Applejack's thoughts inevitably returned to the day's events. She meandered through the rocks and sagebrush, keeping one eye open for shadowy threats and reflecting on the path that had led her here.

The day was scorchingly hot, Celestia's sun bearing down on them from above. They had rested to avoid the worst of the midday heat, but even in the late afternoon it was uncomfortably warm. A gentle breeze passed through on occasion, drying their sweat but coating them in fine sand. Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash were scouting out Equestria's southern desert for a particularly troublesome fey that had been spotted in the area. Applejack suspected it was the same creature responsible for Braeburn's death months prior, and she longed for revenge. Rainbow Dash had taken to the skies, scanning the surrounding area for signs of their quarry. The two earthbound ponies would occasionally catch glimpses of her rainbow contrail against the blue sky above.

After four days on the trail, Applejack was missing her home fiercely, though she didn't show it. She still helped on the farm when she could. However, as the most experienced of the new 'Rune Mages,' as they had come to be known, Applejack was often called away to help new trainees or deal with particularly dangerous fey. For reasons Applejack herself couldn't quite understand, nopony else had quite managed to reach her level of mastery over Twilight's new runic theory. It could be related to her connection to the Elements of Harmony, but it wasn't an important enough subject to spend limited resources studying. Even though Applejack's family was very understanding of her absences, it caused her no small amount of heartache to be away from home so often.

The fey problem had only grown worse, just as Twilight had predicted. Luckily, the First World activity was largely confined to Equestria's border regions. In order to combat the menace, Princess Celestia had ordered the formation of elite squads throughout the land who guarded and watched over their assigned areas. These squads typically consisted of at least one of each pony race. The pegasi served as effective scouts, finding the elusive fey and directing their squads to their location. The unicorns were invaluable for their general magical expertise, typically had excellent command of group tactics, and helped track the Dark Fey. Finally, the new earth pony Rune Mages were invaluable since their magic was actually capable of affecting the fey in meaningful ways. Once the creatures were subdued, it was their job to banish them.

A thunderous crash broke Applejack's reverie. She exchanged a concerned look with Twilight before they both took off towards the sound.

As they rounded an outcropping of rock, they spotted Rainbow Dash frantically trying to avoid the gaping maw of a large worm-like creature. It was covered in purple scales, with a mouth framed by three toothy protrusions. A trio of black tentacles extended from deep within its maw, and it was using these appendages to attack Rainbow Dash. The pegasus dodged and weaved, trying to get clear of the creature's massive body. The worm moved with odd grace for such a large being, diving effortlessly in and out of the desert sands. Whenever Rainbow Dash made for an escape, the worm quickly maneuvered to block her path.

“A Tatzlwurm!” Twilight said, “We have to be careful, these creatures are extremely dangerous! Their scales are harder than rock, and they have a poisonous – ”

“I'm a-comin' Rainbow Dash!!” Applejack charged directly towards the massive purple worm attacking her friend.

“Applejack, wait! We need a plan!” Twilight said in exasperation, chasing after her friend.

Rainbow Dash looked relieved at her friends' approach. However, the distraction was all the Tatzlwurm needed to wrap one of its slimy tentacles around the her leg. She gave a cry of surprise as she was yanked out of the air towards the worm's massive three-sided maw.

“I don't think so!” Applejack yelled, the sweeping runes of fire on her face glowing red. Applejack felt the familiar sting of heat as the air around her began to sizzle and distort. The red glow emanating from the stylized flames near her eye flashed into a ball of fire, splitting apart and sending a trio of flaming bolts towards the Tatzlwurm, striking near its eyes.

Applejack grinned. She might not be able to cast teleportation or shield spells, but when it came to brute-force magics like pyrokinesis, she shined like Celestia's sun. Twilight had deduced that earth pony magic was more closely tied to primal elemental forces, rather than some of the more esoteric spells unicorns were capable of. At first, Applejack preferred more predictable elements like ice or earth spells, but once she gained better control over her magic, she had developed an affinity for fire. Twilight insisted that the fine control required meant the targeting rune had to be placed near Applejack's eyes. Rainbow Dash described them as “wicked cool,” and said they looked like Spitfire during a race. Personally, Applejack thought they made her look ridiculous. She couldn't argue with their effectiveness, though.

The Tatzlwurm let loose a horrible scream, forcing the ponies to close their ears to shut out the cacophony. Rainbow Dash was violently tossed away as the beast writhed from Applejack's fiery barrage. The Rune Mage quickly became the beast's new target.

“Whoa nelly!” Applejack skidded to a stop as the Tatzlwurm matched her charge, Twilight joining her shortly thereafter. The giant worm was bounding in and out of the sands as like a dolphin through the seas. Both Applejack and Twilight could feel the tremors growing stronger as it approached. The two ponies turned and ran.

“Sure, let's just run in shooting,” Twilight yelled sarcastically over her shoulder as they ran. “Great plan, Applejack!”

“I had to do somethin'! We couldn't just sit around while Rainbow got eaten!”

“Rainbow Dash can fly,” Twilight said, weaving between rocks and bushes. “She stood a better chance than we do, especially without any sort of plan!”

“I had a plan! Shoot it with fire!”

“That's not a plan!” Twilight shook her head. “Ugh, some ponies! Now listen up! I have a real plan...”

Twilight quickly explained her strategy, and the duo separated. Twilight shot a few bolts of magical energy, capturing the Tatzlwurm's attention. She led the creature in a wide arc, pelting it with more spells to keep it focused on her.

Meanwhile, Applejack made for a particular outcropping nearby. She quickly climbed up, reaching the top in moments. If she'd had the time, Applejack may have taken a moment to appreciate the farm life that had kept her so fit, but there wasn't a second to spare. Applejack looked down and saw Twilight leading the Tatzlwurm back towards her position. She focused her energies into the levitation glyph inscribed on her body, pouring everything she could muster into the spell. Applejack felt her magic grasp some of the rocks below, ones that Twilight said were holding the structure aloft. If Applejack could loosen the stones at the right time, they might bury the Tatzlwurm in the collapse.

Below, Twilight's horn glowed and she teleported past the outcropping. She cast another spell, surrounding herself in a shell of magical force. The intention was to slow the beast long enough for Applejack to strike.

The worm burrowed through the sand, bursting forth directly in front of the stalwart unicorn. Its tentacles bounced harmlessly off of Twilight shield.

Applejack's brow furrowed as she tried to loosen the stones below her. Beads of sweat ran down her face as she put everything she had into her levitation spell. She watched from above as the Tatzlwurm pressed the attack, this time putting the full weight of its body behind its massive jaws. Finally, she felt the rocks slip and fall. She leaped back towards solid ground, watching with satisfaction as the rocks tumbled down, heading straight for the giant snake below.

The Tatzlwurm's jaws were clamped onto Twilight's shield, small cracks beginning to form in the magical sphere. The unicorn inside focused all of her energy into maintaining it. The stones fell, impacting the Tatzlwurm and pinning it to the ground. At the same, Twilight's shield shattered. The impact of the stones caused the Tatzlwurm to momentarily recoil, but it quickly made one last lunge for the meal before it. Twilight, momentarily dazed by the lost spell, was wrapped up tightly in the Tatzlwurm's slimy black tentacles.

“Twilight!” Braeburn's limp body flashed through Applejack's mind, fear turning her stomach into a knot. However, just as the worm began to drag Twilight into it's waiting maw, Rainbow Dash appeared next to the beast, her hoof sinking directly into the creature's eye. The beast roared, loosening its grip on Twilight. The distraction was enough for Twilight to get off a single spell. Her horn flared, and she disappeared from its grasp.

“Attagirl, Rainbow.” Applejack sighed with relief. Rainbow Dash hadn't simply flown in from afar to save Twilight, she had literally appeared in the air right next to the worm. Or so it had appeared. Applejack knew that Rainbow Dash had just made excellent use of one of the few rune spells developed for pegasi. Pegasus magic was just as distinct as earth pony magic was from a unicorn's, so it required just as much work to understand and develop rune spells for. Their magic wasn't particularly effective against the fey that had been invading Equestria, so there hadn't yet been much research on the subject. However, given the pegasi's affinity for air and weather, there had been at least one unique and, as Rainbow herself put it, “awesomesauce,” spell developed for the airborne pony race: Invisibility.

Applejack was joined shortly by Twilight and Rainbow Dash. The three breathed a collective sigh of relief, glancing down at the Tatzlwurm as it struggled to free itself from the rock slide Applejack had caused.

“Great timing, RD!” Applejack said, patting her friend on the shoulder. “And great job with that new spell!”

“Thanks.” Rainbow Dash smiled. “I'm still nowhere near your level though, took me a few tries to actually get it to work. I'm glad I did, though!”

“Me too. I don't want to think what would've happened if you hadn't shown up when you did.” Twilight shuddered.

Rainbow Dash chuckled. “No need to thank me, it's all – ”

Her response was cut short as rumbling sound came from below, followed by a loud roar as the Tatzlwurm broke free of its rocky prison. It slammed into the remaining rock, sending the three ponies hurtling towards the ground below.

Applejack landed hard. Breathless and dizzy, she struggled to her hooves. Looking around, she spotted her friends nearby. Rainbow Dash had been knocked unconscious, blood soaking part of her mane. Twilight sat nearby, desperately trying to free her hind legs from the rubble. “Applejack, look out!” She pointed towards the now-demolished outcropping. The Tatzlwurm towered above them, freeing the last of its body from the rubble and ready to pounce on the helpless ponies.

Applejack's muzzle pulled back in a snarl. She planted her hooves and lowered her body like a Timberwolf ready to pounce, hair on her hackles rising. Waves of angry red and orange replaced the green of her eyes. “NO!! I've had enough of you! You... overgrown varmint!” She poured all of her rage into the runes on her body. Magical energy coursed through her, bolstered by her desire to protect her friends. Powerful light emanated from multiple glyphs as Applejack focused all of her power towards the giant beast before her.

All around, large boulders began to rise up, shrouded in an orange glow and hurtling towards the Tatzlwurm. Fiery energy poured from Applejack's face, and the boulders began to glow red-hot. Countless stones rose from the earth around the worm, mixed with growing waves of fire. They pelted the creature, stunning it. As the fire raged, the stones began to flow like water, coalescing into a rush of molten rock that overtook and encased the Tatzlwurm like a giant statue.

Twilight's legs were free, but she didn't move. She sat, staring slack-jawed at Applejack as the earth pony fell to her knees from exhaustion. Finally, Twilight realized she had been freed and rushed over to Applejack. “Wow, Applejack!” she said with concern and wonder. “That was amazing!”

“Shoot, Twi, weren't nothin',” Applejack said through heavy breath. “Just helping my friends is all.” She managed to turn her up toward Twilight and smiled.

“No, really,” Twilight responded, helping Applejack to her hooves. “That degree of direct control of elemental magic is extremely rare, even among unicorns! Ooh, this raises so many questions!” Twilight's natural inquisitiveness was beginning to take over.

“That's real interestin', Twi, but we should really make sure Rainbow Dash isn't hurt too bad,” Applejack cut in, motioning towards the unconscious pegasus. “Looks like she took a good hit to the head.”

Twilight's eyes opened wide with concern. “Oh! You're right!” She dashed over to her injured friend, Applejack close behind. Luckily, Rainbow Dash quickly came to. Twilight was able to use her magic to alleviate the worst of her friend's injury. She excitedly explained the events of the past few minutes while Applejack cleaned Rainbow Dash’s injury and wrapped her head with a bandage.

“Sure sounds impressive,” Rainbow Dash said once Twilight had finished, though she couldn't muster much enthusiasm. “I'll have to keep my eye on you, AJ. If I don't you might end up beating me one of these days!” Rainbow Dash grinned.

“Oh, hush,” Applejack responded, playfully swatting her now-recovered friend. “I think it's about time we set up camp ya'll, we all need a good rest.”

Applejack must have gotten lost in thought, as she found herself back at camp, finished with her rounds. Checking the moon, she saw it was just about time for Twilight to take over. Applejack sat for a few minutes longer, staring at the stars and wondering about the turns her life had taken. She felt an odd mix of excitement for the possibilities of the future, and of nostalgia for the simplicity of the past. Finally, she felt the siren song of sleep calling to her. She gently woke Twilight, placed a few more logs on the fire, and settled in for sleep. She needed her strength – there was still a monster to kill.

Author's Notes:

The following story takes place before the events of 'Magical Mystery Cure' and represents an alternate Equestrian timeline. As such, Twilight has not achieved Alicorn status, and there may be inconsistencies with the show and its most recent events. This story was inspired by an amazing piece of art by JinYaranda, who graciously allowed me to use the piece as cover art. Please find the original here.

This is pretty much the first piece of real fiction I've ever wrote, so I appreciate any and all feedback. I hope you enjoy it, and thanks for reading! I have a few ideas on how to expand this into a full, multi-part story. If there's enough interest (and I can find enough time), I might do just that. Let me know what you think!

Once again, thanks for reading!
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2/6/15 Update
I rewrote the introduction of the story based on reader feedback. The only significant change was in how the concept of fey were introduced, and Braeburn's role in it. The rest is pretty much the same with some changes in wording.
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2/20/15 Update
Thanks to Setokaiva for the excellent feedback. I had fun fleshing out some of the descriptions.

I realize that I've spent far too much time trying to make this chapter perfect, when it never will be anyway. Time to focus on future chapters!

Chapter 2: Locked On

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Applejack woke slowly, cracking one eye. She could see the predawn light beginning to color the sky above. With a groan, she forced herself to her hooves and yawned.

Rainbow Dash was still sleeping. She had tossed and turned during the night, and now lay splayed out on her back, the sawing of her snores marring the relative quiet of the morning.

“That snoring is half the reason we need to stay up and run patrols,” Applejack thought dryly. Surveying the rest of the camp, she realized Twilight was nowhere to be seen. “Still out patrolin', I reckon.”

Applejack tossed a few sticks on the fire before reaching for her saddlebags. She produced a small metal pot and a cloth bag filled with coarse brown powder. Uncorking her canteen, she added water to the pot and set it in the coals by the fire. After years on the farm, Applejack was accustomed to rising with the sun – but that didn't mean she enjoyed it. The caffeine-filled beans from Saddle Arabia had become her familiar early-morning friend, and she always carried some, even on these extended outings. “Come hell or high water, I'll have my morning coffee. Even if it means I have it cowpony style.” Applejack dumped a hoof-full of ground coffee into the boiling water, taking it away from the fire to steep.

The sun slowly peeked over the rocky horizon. Applejack sat near camp, levitating the steaming mug to her lips. “Definitely one of the perks of this rune magic business,” she thought, feeling a little more coherent. Applejack was just starting to wonder when Twilight might return when her friend emerged from the brush nearby. Twilight glanced at the still-snoring Rainbow Dash and rolled her eyes. She sniffed the air.

“Thank Celestia, you made coffee,” Twilight said, telekinetically pouring herself a cup as she sat by Applejack. “Nothing notable happened during my watch, and I'm afraid I wasn't able to pick up any lingering aura trails either.”

“Mmmhmm.” Applejack nodded, enjoying the refreshing warmth flowing through her. After her second cup, Applejack was starting to feel more like herself. She pulled the cup away from her lips with a look of mild disgust, then spit out the coffee grains that had stuck themselves to her tongue. “Even if I have to have it cowpony style...”

“As rough as it is, I have to admit this is a pretty interesting way to start our morning.” Twilight paused to sip from her mug. “I mean, if a year ago somepony had told me we'd be hunting down Dark Fey in a desert – and would be saved from a Tatzlwurm by your magic – Well, I don't know how I would've reacted.” Twilight chuckled.

“Heh, I think I know the feeling, sugarcube.” Applejack stared into her mug, forcing a smile.

Twilight paused. “Are you okay, AJ?”

“Hm? I'm fine, Twi, just early is all.”

“No, I mean –”

A startled snort and confused “Huh?” from Rainbow Dash signaled the end of their conversation. Twilight sighed, then chuckled. “Good thing Rainbow's never needed a morning pick-me-up. I suppose it's time we move out. Right, AJ?”

Applejack nodded.

“Shouldn't you be checking out the area, Rainbow Dash?” Applejack looked up at the pegasus flying lazy swirls overhead.

“Nah, I got a pretty good look at it last night. The terrain's all pretty open past here, so there's not much point in me taking off. Besides, Twilight gets cranky if I go too far.”

“I don't get cranky! It's a valid tactical concern!” Twilight give her a reproachful look. “I thought you would've learned that yesterday.”

“Ha! As if! I had that worm on the ropes!” Rainbow Dash kicked the air in mock combat.

Applejack gave her friend a sly grin. “Just like our first outing, right, RD?”

Rainbow Dash chuckled with embarrassment, one hoof scratching her mane. “Heh, I think we've all come a long way since then.”

“I'll say!” Twilight said enthusiastically. “I had never seen a fey's magic resistance in action before. That little creature jumped down from the tree and popped my shield like a bubble – as if it wasn't even there!”

“You were so surprised! The look on your face was priceless!” Rainbow Dash snickered.

“Hey, that spear cut me pretty deep, you know!” Twilight said, glaring at Rainbow Dash.

“Eh, we patched you up fine.” Rainbow Dash waved her hoof dismissively. “Besides, if AJ hadn't been standing there dumbfounded, we might've caught the little guy right then.”

“I wasn't just standing there, I was tryin' to get the spell to work!”

“Suuure you were,” Rainbow Dash teased. “Either way, it ended with me chasing the thing through the forest.”

“I'm still wondering how the 'Fastest Flier in all Equestria' lost to a little blue creature on two legs.” Twilight playfully stuck out her tongue.

“It was the trees!” Rainbow Dash said, her turn to be defensive. “That little jerk had the advantage. I-I would've had 'em if we were out in the open! Besides, I still managed to herd him back your way.” Rainbow Dash thought for a moment, then burst out laughing. “Oh! And seeing Applejack once I got back... Hahaha! By Celestia, so worth it!”

Applejack's face reddened. “It was my first time trying to use magic in a fight! I was nervous...!”

Rainbow Dash snickered, almost unable to speak between her bouts of barely-contained laughter. “You were floating in the air, bucking helplessly. I swear, you looked so confused, I was worried the spell had fried your brain! And then you kicked the tree... and you started spinning around... Ha!”

Applejack smiled sheepishly. “Heh, sure wasn't one of my finer moments. I learned to always triple-check my runes after that.” She turned to Twilight with a playful expression. “Though, if I recall, somepony said that was gonna to be an easy one.”

“Hey! I was working with a very limited dataset,” Twilight said with playful indignation. She chuckled. “But I'll admit it was a learning experience.”

“A fun one, too!” Rainbow Dash added, still grinning. “What did you end up calling that fey again, Twilight?”

“A Quickling.”

“That's right. Not a bad name for such a fast little guy...” Rainbow Dash snickered. “I can't believe we all had to tackle him.”

As the morning passed, the trio moved across the desert. The open sands eventually gave way to rolling hills and bedrock canyons. Rainbow Dash took her leave, likely as much to cool off in the high-altitude currents as to 'survey the area.'

Twilight and Applejack were left to walk under the steadily increasing heat of the sun. Applejack could feel the sweat beginning to soak her coat. Her hat, normally steady atop her head, began to slip on her slick fur. She found herself readjusting it more often than she wanted. Each time, she grumbled as she forced the unruly garment back into place.

“So, uh, Applejack... how are you feeling?” Twilight asked.

“Hm? I'm fine, sugarcube. A little heat ain't no problem.”

“I'm not talking about the sun. What I mean is... You've been acting strange since we started this assignment, and I need to know that your head's in the right place.”

Applejack gave Twilight a sidelong glance, her tone suspicious. “How so?”

Twilight paused to gather her words. “Well... I imagine this isn't easy for you. We're searching for the fey responsible for –”

“I don't think that's any of your business, Twilight,” Applejack said tersely, fixing her eyes on the path ahead.

“It is my business!” Twilight stopped and turned to face Applejack. “I'm the leader of this squad, and I need to know that you're in control of your emotions. The last thing we need is you rushing headfirst into danger again!”

Applejack paused and met Twilight's gaze, her eyes narrowed. Her hat, for the umpteenth time, slipped down her sweat-soaked brow. She cursed, grabbed it and threw it to the ground. “You want to know how I feel? Fine! How do you think I feel?! We're probably hunting the monster that killed my cousin! I'm chomping at the bit for a shot at this bastard, and after four gall-dang days in this desert, we're not a damn sight closer to findin' it! How do I feel? I'm pissed!” Applejack stomped the ground with her hooves. “And you pesterin’ me about it isn’t gonna help nothin’! You’re always doin’ this! When are you gonna learn to just butt out!”

Twilight stood with wide eyes and hanging jaw, too shocked at her friend's outburst to respond. She took a deep breath. Compassion in her eyes, Twilight met Applejack’s glare with calm. “I'm your friend, AJ. I care about you.”

Twilight’s tempered response was a cold gust through Applejack’s anger. Sudden realization hit her, and she turned her eyes toward the ground in shame. “I... I'm so sorry, Twi. I don't know what –”

She was interrupted by Twilight's foreleg sliding over her shoulders and embracing her. “Applejack... You have nothing to apologize for.”

Applejack felt tears beginning to fill her eyes. “I'm so sorry, Twi. I'm just so torn up... I want to find this thing real bad. I want to make it pay for what it did to Braeburn, but... I'm scared too. If somethin' happens to me out here, what'll happen to the farm? To my family? Applebloom and Big Mac, they've already had more than their fair share of loss. If I die too...”

“Don't think about that, AJ,” Twilight said, holding her friend tighter. “Your friends are here for you, and I promise we won't let anything happen to you.” Twilight broke the hug, leaving a hoof on Applejack's shoulder. “Your family understands that you're out here to protect them and all of Equestria. Every one of them.”

Applejack smiled, raising a hoof to wipe the tears from her cheek. “Thanks, Twilight...” –A concerned look replaced her smile– “but if somethin' happened to one of y'all, I'd never be able to forgive myself.”

“Well, I'm not worried. I feel very well-protected,” Twilight said, smiling confidently at her friend.

Applejack smiled back, the knot in her stomach slowly unwinding.

“I'm sure they're very proud, AJ,” Twilight said.

“Thanks, Twi.”

The two mares turned and continued walking. For a time, they held a companionable silence. They weaved between the sandy hills with a renewed appreciation for the natural beauty surrounding them. Their peace didn't last long, however, as a rainbow contrail came streaking across the sky toward them.

“Guys! Come with me, I found something!”

Applejack crawled on her stomach, forcing herself through the thick brambles towards the top of the ridge. Twilight was following close behind, happy to take advantage of the path left by Applejack. Rainbow Dash was lucky enough to be able to take a shortcut over the brush. For the second time in as many days, Applejack found herself wishing she could also turn invisible.

A few hours ago, the ponies had finally found a lucky break. Rainbow Dash had spotted tracks in the sand, and they were fresh. Four-toed and clawed, they certainly weren't pony tracks, or any other creature the three of them were familiar with. Twilight was pretty sure the creature that left the tracks was bipedal, which fit the description of their quarry. Twilight was also able to confirm one other thing: whatever had made the tracks, it was big.

All but certain that they had finally found their mark, the ponies followed their target, doing their best to stay hidden. Rainbow Dash had taken to the skies, scouting the area ahead and using the sparse cloud cover to avoid detection.

There was a slight rustling, then Rainbow Dash reappeared next to Applejack in a new void amongst the brambles. “I saw it, big gray brute just over the ridge.” Rainbow Dash motioned for the other two ponies to follow her.

Just as she had said, the creature was in the valley below. Applejack recognized the hulking form immediately. She felt all the rage and sorrow of the previous months boiling up inside her. Her muzzle drew back into a snarl. She made to get up and charge the beast, but was stopped by Twilight's hoof on her shoulder.

“No. Not this time, Applejack,” Twilight whispered sternly. “From everything we've heard, this creature is extremely stealthy. If it runs, we could easily lose it and wind up back at square one.”

Applejack gave a frustrated growl, but settled back into the dirt. “What are you suggesting, then?”

“I could sneak up to it, get its attention, and lead it towards you guys,” Rainbow offered.

Twilight shook her head. “You're assuming it will actually chase you. As far as I'm aware, the creature hasn't ponynapped any pegasi before. Or mares, for that matter.”

“What, then?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Hmmm...” Twilight put her hoof to her chin, observing the creature below. “It seems to be heading west. Applejack and I should go around and try to get in front of it. We can find a chokepoint and set up an ambush. Rainbow, you keep an eye on it from above. Just don't spook it.”

Rainbow Dash groaned. “But that could take hours!”

“It's the only way we can guarantee it won't run off,” Twilight whispered.

“Fine, fine...” Rainbow Dash looked up, shielding her eyes with a hoof. “It's gonna be tricky, the clouds are breaking up.”

“If anypony can do it, it's you, Rainbow. Just be careful not to overuse your spells, you'll be no use catching that thing if you can't even flap your wings.”

Rainbow Dash grinned. “Don't worry about me, Twilight. I may not have as much magical stamina as either of you, but I'm more than awesome enough by myself to make up for it!”

Twilight rolled her eyes, grinning with her friend. “Alright, Rainbow. Look for us two ridges over. We'll be hidden.” She turned to Applejack. “I think we have better cover to the north. Are you ready?”

Applejack grunted. “Fine. Let's get on with it. I'm not losin’ this bastard again.”

The two earthbound ponies made a wide circle around the fey's path, careful to stay out of its sight. As planned, they looked for a place to set an ambush on the second western ridge. Luckily, a combination of dry river canyons and steep cliffs formed a natural chokepoint that Twilight said would work perfectly. The duo moved quickly to find hiding places among the rocks.

The fey was apparently traveling slower than they had expected. It took another hour before the waiting ponies heard Rainbow's hushed voice floating above them. “He's headed this way. You picked a good spot. He should come right past us.”

Twilight indicated a narrow portion of the pass with the fewest escape routes. “Then we wait until he passes that rock. Spread out, ponies.” Applejack and Twilight took up positions near each other, ready to block off either side of the pass. Rainbow, still invisible, perched somewhere overhead.

Minutes later, the fey creature finally came into view. It was large, probably more than two ponies tall. Its skin was a dusty gray color that blended with the surroundings. It stood on two legs and had long, muscular arms that nearly touched the ground. It was dragging what seemed to be a large stone ax in one hand. Beady black eyes and pointed ears adorned its bald head.

“Ugly lug, isn't he?” Applejack whispered. Twilight shushed her.

The fey slowly made its way up the pass, seemingly oblivious to any danger. However, it paused just before reaching Twilight's ambush point. The creature's ears perked up. It scanned the area, sniffing the air. Then, it vanished.

“What?!” Applejack hissed, scanning the pass. “Where in Tartarus did he –”

Suddenly, the creature appeared behind Twilight, ax raised to strike. It let out a deep bellow and brought the ax down on the smaller unicorn.

Twilight spun to face the creature. Acting on instinct, she reached out with her magic to deflect the weapon, but achieved nothing more than a slight alteration to its course. Twilight cried out in pain as the ax struck her squarely, narrowly missing her spine and cutting a deep gash in her shoulder.

Applejack heard Rainbow Dash yell before the pegasus appeared next to the Dark Fey. Her hooves were planted firmly on the creature's skull, the full weight of her body behind them. She followed the fey to the ground, landing on its chest. Her hoof pulled back to strike again, but the creature grabbed her with one massive hand and slammed Rainbow into the ground, sending her tumbling. The fey leapt to its feet with more speed than a creature that size should have.

“Pick on somepony your own size!” Applejack charged toward the fey, forehooves striking its chest. With a grace developed over years of apple-bucking, she spun and delivered a solid follow-up kick to the same spot. Applejack could hear the crunch of the fey's bones under her hooves. The creature staggered backwards, hoofprints visible in its chest.

Applejack stole a glance towards Twilight and saw her friend struggling to stand. Blood ran from the gash on her shoulder, staining the unicorn's fur a deep crimson.

Twilight gasped, collapsing back onto the ground and cursing under her breath. “I can't move... Applejack, I need time to –” Twilight's expression shifted to one of surprised horror “– It's coming back!”

Applejack turned back to face the monster. She saw nothing but rocks, and Rainbow Dash shaking off her daze. To her left, she heard the scuff of a step in the sand. She rolled away, narrowly dodging the ax as the creature rematerialized behind it. “I'm wise to your tricks now, you sumbitch,” she thought.

Before she could respond, Applejack heard Rainbow Dash's battle cry once again as the pegasus leapt onto the fey from behind. She wrapped her forelegs around its neck, beating at its eyes with her wings and hooves. The creature struggled a moment before grabbing her again and tossing her over its shoulder towards Applejack. This time, the pegasus rolled and landed neatly on her hooves next to Applejack.

“You okay, RD?”

“You know it, AJ.”

The duo sunk low, digging their hooves into the dirt. Their opponent stood in a seemingly cocky manner, its tiny black eyes alternating between the two ponies before him. Muscles rippled under leathery flesh. An eerily wide grin split the creature’s face, revealing rows of dagger-like yellow teeth. A low, scratchy sound emanated from its throat, almost as if it were laughing. It raised the ax to its mouth, licking the fresh blood with a pointed black tongue. The ponies could see its wounds stitch together before their eyes. The hoofprints in its chest popped out with a sickening crunch.

“What the buck?!” Rainbow's eyes widened in shock. “That's gross!”

Applejack stood in furious silence, teeth clenched and eyes narrow. She recognized that laugh. She'd heard it the day Braeburn was taken. “It's laughing at us...” Applejack thought. “The bastard's laughing at us! He thinks he's already won!”

Applejack felt a sizzling rage rising within her. Red haze clouded the edges of her vision. “I'LL SHOW YOU!” she yelled, focusing all her rage towards the beast that had killed her cousin. The air around her began to distort, bright red energy flowing over her bodily runes. Her mane, cut loose by the unexpectedly sharp stone ax, danced in the growing heat. Wispy flames burst into existence around her as she charged.

Applejack moved blindingly fast, closing the distance to her foe in less than a second. She lunged, hooves outstretched to strike. The fey swung its ax and deflected her blow. She countered by spinning wildly and delivering an arcing kick to its knee. The fey growled, raising the ax overhead – but Applejack was too quick. She slammed her head into the fey’s stomach, matching its feral growl with one of her own. The fey staggered back, its skin sizzling from Applejack’s fiery aura. Applejack lunged again, but her hooves were held at bay by the fey’s upheld ax. She snarled, snapping at the fey with her jaws like a madmare.

The pale green glow of Twilight's healing spell faded. She had stemmed the worst of her bleeding and was hurriedly digging through her saddlebags. “Ah-ha!” She produced a number of small vials filled with a black liquid. She turned her head, carefully watching Applejack and the fey. She muttered soundlessly, counting to herself. “Rainbow, grab it! Now!”

Rainbow Dash looked apprehensively at Applejack and the fey, glancing at Twilight. “Are you –”

“Just do it!”

Rainbow Dash flared her wings and kicked off the ground, determination replacing the doubt in her eyes. She charged toward the fey and wrapped herself around its massive form, trying her best to control its arms and head. Just as she did, the beast faded from sight once again.

Twilight sent the vials soaring towards her grappling friend. They shattered on impact, outlining the invisible form of the Dark Fey with ink. Twilight smirked, clearly satisfied with the results.

The flames around Applejack grew thicker as she fought. Red energy suffused through the whites of her eyes. In the distraction caused by Rainbow's entrance, she stomped the ground, planting her hooves. She glared murderously at the monster before her. The flames around her flowed to her front, coalescing into a molten orb above her head.

Rainbow Dash, still grappling with the ink-covered fey, saw Applejack's spell coming. Her eyes went wide, and she dropped her foe, quickly diving out of the way. Applejack's fireball let loose, striking the fey directly. A soft boom and a gust of wind punctuated the explosion. Flames consumed the area, obscuring everything in its radius. Applejack stood panting, the whites of her eyes returning to normal.

Twilight watched with awe. She started to stand, but winced. Her attention returned to the wound on her shoulder, the pale green of her healing spell returning to her horn. Slowly, her flesh began to knit itself back together.

Rainbow Dash stood, her wings singed from the flames. She turned towards her friend. “Applejack! What the hay?!”

“I... wha...?” Applejack shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts.

“Is that all you have to say? You nearly blew me up along with that thing!”

“You shouldn't have gotten in the way then!”

“You would've gotten yourself killed if I hadn't!”

“I was –”

Their argument was interrupted by a familiar roar. On the rock above them, a partially visible creature, outlined by black char, leapt down to attack. The two ponies jumped back, once again adopting battle stances. They heard the crunch of stone on stone as the Dark Fey reappeared before them, half-burnt and covered with charred dye, axe buried in the ground they had been standing on.

“That was a direct hit from a fully-charged fire spell! How are you still alive?!” Applejack shouted at the fey.

The creature roared again. It swung the ax back as it readied to charge, but a thick net struck it from above, ensnaring the creature. It thrashed wildly, trying to tear through with its claws.

“I was going to say... there's a chance that it's fire-resistant, since it lives in a desert,” Twilight said as she trotted towards the ponies, panting as she did so. The cut on her shoulder had been hastily healed, replaced with ugly red flesh. It was enough to allow her to walk, though she still favored that leg. She gave Applejack a reproachful look. “If you had stopped to listen, we might be finished by now.”

Applejack gave a begrudging grunt, turning her eyes back to the fey as it started ripping through the ropes holding it.

Twilight telekinetically opened her saddlebags, lifting up another tangle of ropes. She looked at the fey with determination. “Let's do it right this time,” she said. The other ponies nodded in unison.

Twilight unfurled her contraption. It was a length of rope, adorned with strips of hooks and bells. A stout metal spike was tied to each end. The ropes shot forward, anchoring into the rocks around the fey, forming barriers on either side.

Rainbow Dash surged forward, batting the fey with wings and hooves, forcing the creature back against the rock face. Between the pegasus, the cliff, and Twilight's barriers, there was nowhere left to run.

Applejack moved to get a clear shot at the fey. Her runes began to glow with a deep blue light. The air around her began to chill, sinking to the ground. She could see frost beginning to form around her hooves, quickly covered up by a thin layer of mist rolling off of her. She formed the shards into tiny spikes, sending them forward in a spray of frigid air and sharp crystal. The beast cried out as the tiny knives pierced its flesh. It turned, looking frantically for an escape. With no other option, it ran through the rope barriers, catching the hooks and tearing the anchors from the rock. It fled with an almost comical jingling sound. In the panic, the wicked stone ax was left in the dust.

Applejack started to chase the creature, but Twilight stopped her with a hoof on her shoulder. “Hold on, I want to see where it goes.”

“And risk losing it again? Uh-uh, Twi,” Applejack said.

Twilight shook her head. “Don't worry, we won't lose it this time. I noticed something during the fight.” She cast a spell. A pale purple-white light surrounded her horn, occasionally pulsing brighter. “I couldn't find it with my detection spell before. Between the invisibility and whatever ability allows it to conceal its own aura, it's no wonder why this particular fey was so hard to track down. But,” –she smiled knowingly– “that invisibility spell still leaves an obvious trail.”

Applejack grunted. “...Fine.”

“Oh, and, Applejack?”

“Hm?”

SMACK!

Applejack turned her head back towards Twilight, blinking off her daze. She felt more shock than anger at her friend's behavior.

Twilight glared at Applejack. “What the hell was that back there?!”

Applejack unconsciously raised her hoof to her cheek where Twilight's strike had connected. “I…”

Twilight raised her hoof to her head in frustration. “Nevermind, I don't even want to know. You were reckless! You promised me you wouldn't go rushing into danger again, and you did! You left yourself open, and worse, you nearly hurt Rainbow Dash in the process!”

“I... I wasn't thinkin'.”

“No, you weren't.” Twilight stomped one hoof to emphasize her point. “You need to get better control over your emotions, Applejack. If you continue to act recklessly, I don’t know what might happen! It could be dangerous!”

Applejack hung her head. Memories of her parents scolding her as a filly floated through her head. The salty sting of tears began to form in her eyes. “I'm so sorry, both of ya. It won't happen again, I swear.”

“It had better not.” Twilight started walking, following the fey's trail. She looked back and gave Applejack a small smile. “Come on, let's finish this.”

“Are you sure this is where it went?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Positive,” Twilight said.

The ponies found themselves at the base of a steep sandstone cliff pockmarked with holes. A narrow, vertical fissure led into a dark cave beyond. Twilight's detection spell was pulsing faster as they approached, leaving no doubt as to the Dark Fey's hiding place.

“We don't know what's inside, so be ready for anything,” Twilight whispered, stepping into the crack. “We're all tired. Be careful.”

The crack opened into a large, sloped tunnel that lead directly into the cliffside. The ponies followed it, doing their best to remain alert. The tunnel curved as it ascended, eventually heading back towards the cliff face.

“This cave definitely isn't natural. Look at the marks on the walls,” Twilight whispered.

“So we're on the right track, then?” Applejack wore a determined look on her face.

Twilight nodded.

As they approached the cliff face from the inside, the ponies began to see sunlight filtering down the tunnel.

Rainbow Dash paused. “Do you hear that?”

The other ponies stopped and listened. Just on the edge of hearing, they picked up the scratchy sound of their quarry's voice. But there was something else, too.

“...Crying?” Twilight wondered aloud.

They looked at each other, surprised expressions on their faces.

“Let's go!” The three ponies took off towards the sound.

They arrived in a comfortably-sized cavern. Sunlight streamed through countless holes in the sandstone wall and ceiling, providing dim light throughout. In the center, they spotted their prey. It held a stallion, gaunt and dirty, covered in cuts and bruises. He barely had the strength to struggle against his captor. The fey was holding him aloft, scratching at him with wicked claws and trying to catch the stallion’s blood in its gaping maw.

Applejack acted on instinct. Blue energy once again suffused the runes on her body. The familiar chill of cold air tingled her ears, and the moisture around her condensed into a light fog. A small orb of freezing air and ice flew towards the fey, striking it center mass and sending it toppling backwards. Twilight caught the stallion in her magic as he fell, gently lowering him to the ground.

Applejack ran towards the fey. This time, it didn't run or fight. It shuffled into the corner of the cave, holding two large hands up between itself and its aggressor. It huddled there, shaking and emitting a woeful whining noise, as if begging for mercy. It was pitiful.

Deep blue light began to slowly swim through Applejack's runes. The arctic chill spread with it, covering her entire body. Applejack was calm, but focused. This monster was finished; it wasn't getting away again. She gathered her remaining energy, focusing it into a single, razor-sharp point. “This is for Braeburn, you bastard.” Her magic coalesced into a mass of ice that she aimed directly at the creature's heart...

“Applejack...”

She turned to see Twilight standing beside her. She looked pitifully toward the fey, then back at Applejack. Twilight pleaded with her eyes.

Applejack sighed, allowing the magic to wane and dissipate. “Okay, Twi.”

She focused her magic on a different rune, this one located centrally on her chest. It was a relatively simple rune made up of lines intersecting at right angles, similar to a cage. However, where a cage would have a top, the lines of this rune spread out like a pair of open arms. A pale lavender light began to flow from it, eventually reaching out from the rune in tiny strands towards the cowering fey. The strands wrapped around it, covering the creature from head to toe until nothing was left to see but the near-white light. The shape slowly shrank, disappearing into a tiny point of light that soon faded to nothingness.

When it was finished, Applejack sighed again, a bland look on her face. “Happy, Twi?”

Twilight smiled softly. “Yes,” she said, placing a hoof on Applejack's shoulder. “It's back in the First World, where it belongs. I'm proud of you, AJ.”

“As long as it can't hurt any more ponies, I guess...”

“Uh... guys?” Rainbow Dash called from an adjacent chamber. “You need to see this.”

Twilight turned to finish attending the stallion on the cave floor. He was barely conscious, but stable. “Go, see what she wants,” she said to Applejack.

“Whoa.” Turning the corner, Applejack was shocked. Before her were half a dozen ponies buried in sand up to their necks. All of them were dirty and malnourished, covered in cuts like the stallion outside. Semiconscious, they stared at their saviors with confused looks, heads lolling about in the sand.

“It looks like he was keeping them alive, probably to harvest their blood... sick,” Rainbow Dash spat out.

As she surveyed the crowd, Applejack spotted a familiar shape in the back. She looked closer, not believing her eyes. As her eyes adjusted to the light, however, it became obvious what she was seeing.

“Braeburn?!”

Chapter 3: Home

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“Just how the hay are we supposed to get 'em all back?” Applejack paced the length of the cave, her tail flicking anxiously. “We're at least a day's travel from Appleloosa!”

“Probably closer to two.” Rainbow Dash sat in the corner with her hoof to her chin.

Applejack sent her a glare. “Point is, we're in it deeper than a jackrabbit in a timberwolf den.”

The trio had managed to extract the captives from their sandy prisons, but their survival was still far from guaranteed. The stallions were delirious and unresponsive, mostly unconscious or babbling incoherently. Even the most recent disappearance, the one they'd heard sobbing, did little more than cower weakly.

“I don't know. If I had any idea we'd be running a rescue mission, I would've been better prepared.” Twilight lay next to one of the stallions, her eyes closed in concentration as she slowly swept her horn above his body. The pale green glow of her healing spell made his already-pallid complexion even more ghostly. “They're dehydrated and malnourished. Even so, they shouldn't be this ill.” Her magic faded as she finished her examination. She sighed. “My best guess is that whatever the Dark Fey fed them was laced with some kind of magic or poison to keep them docile. Luckily, they don't seem to be in immediate danger. I'm no doctor, though.” She levitated a canteen to the stallion's muzzle, coaxing him to drink.

“Can't you just, I dunno, teleport us all back to Appleloosa?” Rainbow Dash said.

Twilight thought for a moment, scratching rough calculations in the sand. She grimaced. “Hm… Theoretically. Though it's a long way, and a lot of ponies.”

Applejack looked through one of the holes in the sandstone cliff at the vast desert outside. “Sounds like our best shot.”

“Ok, I'll try. Come closer, you two; I don't want to risk leaving you outside my reach.” Twilight's horn glowed once again, her familiar lavender aura surrounding the mares and their charges. Her magic grew brighter as she summoned more magical energy. There was a sudden, nauseating lurch, and a bright flash consumed their vision.

If forced to describe teleportation, Applejack would probably say it felt something like slamming a speeding wagon through the eye of a needle. “Ugh, I'll never get used to that.” Her vision swam. When the light faded, they found themselves under the waning desert sun, still within sight of the Fey's cave.

Twilight's eyes spun in their sockets. When they finally stopped, she looked around and realized where they were. Her ears dropped. “Sorry, girls, seems like I'm more drained than I thought.”

“Now what're we gonna do?” Rainbow Dash groaned.

Applejack frowned. “What if you left Rainbow and I behind?”

“Hey, don't give her that idea!”

“Why? 'Fraid you can't handle it?” Applejack said, a hint of a smile coming back to her face.

“Heh, you wish, AJ,” Rainbow shot back, though her smirk lacked some of its usual energy.

“It doesn't matter. With this many ponies, there's no way I'll get that far – especially not in this state.” Twilight shook her head. “We'll need to find another way.”

Applejack looked around, thoughts churning in her head. “Hold on, y'all, I got an idea.” She ripped a branch from a nearby shrub. “We’ve got plenty of rope, and there's lots of brush 'round here. I'd bet my lucky hat we can rig up a sled or two and drag these ponies back. We can travel at night, find someplace to hunker down during during the day. If we make good time, we could be back by tomorrow night!”

“Hmm, sounds risky,” Twilight said.

“I don't see any other way.”

Twilight scratched her chin. “Neither do I. Rainbow Dash, can you find more water?”

“Sure! I think I saw a spring not too far from here.” Rainbow scooped up their canteens and flew off to the north.

Twilight's eyes brightened. “Oh! And I know a spell that could help with the sled.” The purple aura returned to her horn. Twilight winced, and the aura sputtered and faded. “Ow... I guess I might need to wait a bit before using magic again.”

Applejack worked quickly, gathering brush and lashing it together into a sled large enough to carry the stallions while Twilight tended to them. Rainbow Dash soon returned, deposited her burden of water, and helped Applejack finish the sled. They completed their work just as the sun was setting.

“Okay, here goes.” Twilight stood next to the stallion-loaded sled, her horn glowing with magic once again. The lavender aura surrounded the sled, and with a faint popping sound, it lifted a few inches off the ground. Twilight smiled as the magic on her horn faded. “Featherweight spell. It's a variation of the basic telekinesis spell, much less taxing than trying to levitate them the entire night. Anything effected behaves as if it were one-tenth its normal weight for the next few hours.”

Applejack tugged on the reins. “One-tenth, huh?”

“Well, maybe not quite that much, given this many subjects. Still, it should make our job much easier.”

“Ride 'em Applejack! Yeehaw!” Rainbow called down from above.

“I'll remember that, Rainbow Dash!”

Applejack woke from a fitful sleep. Her anxiety allowed her little rest, constantly forcing new worries about Braeburn and the others to the front of her thoughts. What if Twilight's spell failed, or she pushed herself too far? What if they were attacked by another Tatzlwurm, or worse? The little sleep she had managed to get was plagued by nightmares.

The salty sweat of a half-dozen ponies tingled her nostrils. Not surprising, considering their shelter. Rainbow Dash sat at the entrance to their little hollow, watching the fading sunlight over the desert. Applejack could see Twilight sleeping on the other side of the pile of stallions.

Applejack slowly disentangled herself from her twisted blanket and crawled over to Braeburn's unconscious form. “Braeburn,” she whispered, gently setting her hoof beside him.

No response.

She touched a hoof to his cheek, hoping for some kind of sign he was okay. “Braeburn...” she whispered again.

Braeburn's eyes cracked open, his gaze aimlessly wandering in every direction. He muttered incomprehensibly. Applejack understood none of it, except what might have been a pleading “No...” She wasn't even sure he could see her.

“Not sure what I was expecting,” Applejack thought, sighing to herself. “Braeburn... I'll get ya out of this, I swear. I ain't havin' ya come back just to die on me again, ya hear?”

Applejack slunk back to her blanket, hoping to find a bit more rest before they set out again. Whether Rainbow Dash hadn't noticed, or just pretended not to, Applejack wasn't sure – and she didn't really care.

After an hour with no luck, Applejack groaned and pulled herself to her hooves. She looked at her saddlebags longingly. “I can't believe I'm sayin' this, but... no time for coffee.” She shook herself, willing the fog of sleep away.

“Good, you're up. The sun's almost set.” Rainbow Dash sounded awake and energetic, despite spending the last few hours on guard.

“Yeah. Gimme a few minutes to stretch my legs, and I'll be ready to go. Hopefully Twi's rested up enough to get us a little farther this time.”

“You're telling me! The less distance we have to carry these guys, the better.”

Applejack raised an eyebrow. “You say that like you're the one carryin' them.”

“Heh, right. Scouting for threats is no picnic, but you're definitely doing the heavy lifting here – no pun intended.”

“Just go wake Twilight, Rainbow.” Applejack walked to the cave entrance, her stiff joints popping as she stretched. “I don’t know how that pegasus is so upbeat at a time like this… Though she does tend to feign confidence, even when she's nervous. I suppose that's her way.”

After verifying the stallions were still stable, Twilight gathered them together for another attempt at teleportation. Once again, there was a flash of light and the feeling of sudden acceleration. When it faded, the ponies found themselves in the desert, a few miles from their makeshift camp. The returning stars dotted the darkening sky like raindrops.

“I'm afraid that's the best I can do with so many passengers,” Twilight said, sweat dotting her brow.

“Don't worry, sugarcube. We've probably saved a few hours in just that jump alone. That's real progress!” Applejack clapped her friend on the shoulder.

Twilight smiled, panting. “Thanks. I just hope it's enough.”

So their night continued on, with Twilight casting a spell every few hours, bringing them inexorably closer to their destination. They knew they were close when Rainbow Dash reported lights on the horizon.

Twilight took a deep breath. She adopted a confident expression, despite the exhaustion evident in her features. “Okay, girls, gather round. If we're lucky, this'll be the last time.”

Applejack brought the sled to a stop, breathing hard despite Twilight's featherweight spell. She wasn't sure which was less pleasant: dragging ponies miles through the desert, or the nausea-inducing lurch that came with teleportation. “One last jump...” she told herself.

Flash.

Warm light from the lantern mixed with the faint green glow flowing from the rune on Applejack's shoulder. The contrasting light cast strange yet beautiful patterns around the room. Applejack sat at the desk, her quill hovering over the page before her.

She looked around at the shelves and cubbies stuffed with scrolls. The inks and reagents for Applejack's runes were kept in Twilight's library – it didn’t seem safe to keep them here with Applebloom running around. When she had first started her studies with Twilight, the scrolls had resided in Applejack's bedroom closet. They quickly spread out to her dresser, then her nightstand, and soon they threatened to overtake her entire room. The study had sat unused for years when Applejack finally decided to convert it to her own use. “Sure am glad to have my bed to myself again,” she thought, a small smile cracking her lips.

Applejack yawned as the cloud of sleep pressed on her mind. She shook her head, grasping the quill once again with her magic. She needed to write while the memory was still fresh.

“It wasn't easy, but we finally got those ponies back to Appleloosa, thank goodness. The townsfolk were happier than Pinkie Pie in a confetti stand to have their friends and family back. There was cheerin' and hollerin' and I reckon not a dry eye in the house. Still, they were pretty good about giving those ponies room. The doctor came right away and rushed 'em off to the hospital. He said they'll be fine, just needed some time to recover. Good thing we got 'em back when we did, though.

“Still, those ponies are gonna have to live with what they've been through for the rest of their lives. Who knows how long it'll take for them to come to grips with it. Some of those that went through it the longest are gonna have the worst time of it. Desert Star, Lucky Strike –”

Applejack paused before writing down the next name, her quill wavering for a moment as her concentration lapsed.

“...Braeburn. They'll never be the same. Hell, when Braeburn finally woke up he was so jittery he could barely sit still, jumpin' at the littlest things. I'm glad to have him back, but what's the cost?”

Her eyes drifted to an old picture frame tucked in one corner of the desk. It was hoof-made out of apple wood harvested right here on Sweet Apple Acres. The picture within had faded over the years, but it still showed its occupants clearly standing between rows of heavily-laden apple trees. There was a smiling couple standing in the center with a little foal held tight between them. At their feet sat a stout colt, next to a much smaller orange filly. To one side stood a younger version of Granny Smith. Applejack reached out a hoof and gently touched the picture, tender memories flooding back to her.

Applejack felt a chill run through her. She stood up and walked to the window, but when she put her hoof up to close it, she found it was already shut.

“...Maybe that's enough for tonight.” She put her writing supplies away and headed to bed.

The next morning was a fairly typical one at Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack was in the western field, tending to her chores, while Big Mac was harvesting the eastern orchard. Applejack could feel the sun shining down on her through the cloudless skies. The crack of hooves on wood and the sound of apples tumbling neatly into their baskets combined with the creak of wagon wheels to form a familiar and comforting rhythm of hard work and heavy breath. For the first time in months, Applejack was starting to feel normal again.

As she loaded another bushel of apples into her cart, Applejack paused. She couldn't help but ponder why she was suddenly feeling so well.

Of course, the answer was obvious: she had, through her own power and with the help of her friends, rescued the missing Appleloosan ponies and her cousin, even though they'd all been thought dead. And yet, something was still nagging at the back of her mind.

She loved Sweet Apple Acres. It was her home, like a part of her family. She was safe here. All of the Fey hunting, this rune magic… everything that had happened. What did it bring her? Stress. Grief. Pain. She could just leave it all behind, go back to the way things were. The horrors she'd seen... that's something nopony should ever have to go through.

Still... Applejack couldn't help but wonder what else was happening out there. How many ponies had lost loved ones? How many were missing without a trace? She was in a unique position to help those ponies. She couldn't just abandon them because it was unpleasant. She was the bearer of one of the Elements of Harmony, and that was a responsibility she couldn’t ignore. What kind of pony would that make her?

She shook her head, eyebrows furrowing in frustration. “Why am I even thinkin' this? 'Course I'm gonna help.” After all, Applejack always helped other ponies. It's who she was. She told herself that was the end of it and tried to get back to work, but something else made her look up. She cursed.

Applejack and saw a nearby hill topped with a single tree. She recognized that hill. It was a place she'd tried to avoid, a place that bought up memories she'd rather not remember. Yet, as she looked up at that nearly-treeless knoll, she knew that another visit was something she'd put off for far too long.

It was a beautiful sight. The hill overlooked all of Sweet Apple Acres, from the farmhouse to the farthest orchards. Ponyville was visible as a distant cluster of houses, and she could just make out the Everfree Forest. Rolling hills gave way to mountains in the distance, all framed by an ocean of blue sky above. It truly was a beautiful place.

Applejack sat in front of two plain wooden monuments. They had worn over the years, but were still clearly recognizable. The lilies planted there had just reached their fullest bloom.

“Ma, Pa... sorry it's been so long since my last visit. I'm just, you know, busy and stuff.” Applejack removed her hat and fidgeted nervously. “So much has changed since you've been gone. There's these weird Fey thingies comin' around, and Twilight's been teaching me about this new type of magic she made... but, you probably don't wanna hear about that... I started usin' your study again, Pa, hope that's okay...”

“Why the hay'd I even come up here to start...” Applejack's ears fell, her mouth curving into a frown. “Aw, hell, what am I supposed to say! I miss you both so much... I'm grateful for all the things I have, for all my friends... but damn if I wouldn't trade it all away just to see you one more time...” She felt the sting of tears forming in her eyes. “I know it's silly, but I can't help but think that if I had gone with ya, maybe I could've done something. Maybe if I tried harder you would've never left and you'd still – damn it...” Tears were flowing freely down her cheeks now. “I've done so much since you've been gone, but... I don't want to be strong! I don't want to take care of everypony! I just want ya back! It's not fair, damn it! It's not fair!!”

Applejack leapt to her hooves, slamming her forehoof into the tree. A loud crack echoed through the orchard. When she opened her eyes, she was shocked to find a fissure running up the length of the trunk. She saw a fading white light in the runes on her foreleg. “But I didn't... I wasn't even tryin' to...”

Applejack sat back down on the grass. She stayed there a long time. She thought of her past, about the happy times that motivated her, about the trials that had made her the mare she was... Applejack decided that, wherever her path led, she would not live with regret. Twilight was right – whatever was going on in her head, Applejack needed help.

She stood up, put on her hat, and turned back towards Ponyville. She knew just the pony to talk to.

Twilight sat in her room above the Golden Oaks Library, going through the large stack of scrolls on her desk one-by-one. “I can't believe there have been so many in just one week,” she thought, marveling at the fact that many of the scrolls detailed new Fey sightings. As she read, Twilight referenced her list of scouting teams and their locations, deciding who to send to investigate each incident.

“Hoofington? That's a little unexpected, though I suppose it could have traveled inland... I think Trail Blazer's team can handle that one.” She scratched a few more words with her quill and set another scroll aside.

“Okay, what's next... Preens? That's just outside of Manehatten. Jade Star, maybe...? Hmm, that looks like it might be a little beyond her abilities, though. I suppose I could send Octavia... but she was pretty upset when the last one interrupted her concert...”

Her concentration was interrupted by a loud crash from downstairs. “What in the world was that?!” Twilight rushed downstairs, half-expecting to see Rainbow Dash sticking through her wall once again. Instead, she found a small yellow filly with a red bow sitting in a growing puddle of black ink.

“Applebloom! What are you doing here?”

Applebloom smiled nervously, ink spattered all over her coat. “Well, ya see... I kinda thought that since Applejack was so good with her rune magic, maybe I could be too, ya know. So I came here tryin' to find that ink she uses and–”

“What? Applebloom, this isn't even the right – ugh.” Twilight brought her hoof to her forehead.

“Are you okay, Twilight?” Spike cracked open the kitchen door. “Applebloom? What're you doing here?” He cocked his head.

“We're fine, Spike. Applebloom was just leaving.”

Applebloom tried to stand, but slipped and landed with her legs splayed out beneath her. She wore a pleading look on her face. “But what if this is how I get my cutie mark?! I gotta–”

Twilight's magic aura enveloped both her horn and Applebloom, lifting the filly and pushing her towards the door. “I admire your enthusiasm, Applebloom, but you're far too young to be learning about experimental magics. Maybe I'll teach you about potion-making some other time, but right now I'm very busy!”

“But–”

“No buts!” Twilight deposited the filly outside the library door. “I'm already behind on my work, and now I have to go buy more ink. Go home, Applebloom.”

Applebloom looked at the ground, kicking at the dirt with her hoof. “Okay. Sorry, Twilight.”

Back inside, Twilight looked at the black puddle on her floor. “Note to self: Don't store all the writing supplies in one location.” She looked towards the top of the stairs. “And there’s no way that little inkwell will last through all those scrolls.” She sighed and turned toward the door, telekinetically grasping her saddlebags and placing them on her back. “Spike, I'm going to buy more writing supplies. Would you mind cleaning this up?” she called.

“Already on it!” Spike emerged from the kitchen towing a mop and bucket.

“Thanks, Spike,” Twilight said, ruffling his spines. “You really are the best assistant a pony could ask for.”

“Geez, Twilight, you're embarrassing me,” he said with a smile. “Go on and get your things.”

Twilight shut the library door behind her, pondering how she could avoid this situation in the future. “It seemed like such a promising organizational system, too.”

“Well, maybe not technically a pony.”

Applejack stood under the heavy shade of an oak tree, a short way inside the Everfree Forest. The tree-home before her was similar in character to the Ponyville Library, though the decorative bottles and carved wooden masks hanging from the branches set it apart from Twilight's home. Not to mention the locale – the Everfree Forest was far more unsettling than Ponyville.

Applejack raised her hoof to the door and knocked twice. She waited, but heard no sound from inside. Just as she began to wonder whether anyone was home, the door gently swung inward. A striped zebra wearing exotic golden jewelry stood just inside.

Zecora’s face brightened when she saw who was standing on her doorstep. “Ah, my pony friend, Applejack. What brings you through Everfree, here to my shack?”

Applejack had never figured out why Zecora always spoke in rhyme. When she first found out, it was one of the reasons she had been nervous around the zebra. Now, it was the endearing trait of a good friend.

“Oh, ya know. Just swingin' by is all,” Applejack said, tipping her hat. “Twilight, RD, and I just got back from our outing yesterday, y'know.”

“So I'd heard,” Zecora started, stepping back into her home and motioning for Applejack to follow. “But of details from your trip, I've had little word.”

Applejack followed her inside, hung her hat by the door, and took a seat at the main table. “Well, it wasn't too different from the last outing. We tracked down the Fey we were lookin' for and sent him back home. Took some doin', but we got it done.”

“I must say, I do not envy your duties as a ranger. These Fey often seem to be filled with great danger.” Zecora picked up a bottle and a pair of cups. She poured a thick juice into each cup and sat down at the table, offering one to Applejack. “I count myself lucky that my encounters with them have been few. The ones that appear here seem small and harmless, like a shrew.”

Applejack took the offered cup and sipped. The juice was strange, and tasted strongly of bitter berries. It had a pleasantly sweet aftertaste, though. “Yeah, Twilight says the actual intrusions mostly happen closer to Equestria's borders. The ones that make it farther inland tend to be small and sneaky, but they usually seem more curious than dangerous, luckily. It's the big ones you gotta watch out for.”

Zecora nodded and sipped the bittersweet drink. “I see. And what news of your cousin? I haven't heard the latest state he was in.”

“Oh yeah, that.” Applejack cast her eyes downward. One of her ears flicked involuntarily. “It was pretty surprising, finding everypony alive, that's for sure. We got 'em back to their kin as quick as we could, though, and the doctors patched 'em right up. They should be fine. But... I don't know how long it'll take 'em to get over all that they've been through. It was pretty rough.”

Zecora looked at Applejack solemnly. “Ailments of the mind are difficult to cure, but you Apples are strong; I'm sure he will endure.” She swirled the liquid in her cup.

“Thanks, Zecora.” Applejack looked up at her friend and smiled softly. “That's kinda why I'm here. I've been having... trouble, recently. I don't know why, but I haven't been able to... well, control myself like I normally do. And I'm not exactly sure how, but somehow all this,”–she waved a hoof over the rune on her cheek–“is related to my temper. You always seem so calm and centered. I was wonderin'... is there any kind of tip or secret to staying relaxed that ya’ll could show me? Like maybe some kind of special tea or something?”

Zecora nodded again, thoughtfully lifting her cup and slowly finishing its contents. “Your problem, I think, I can see. But it is not tea you need, my little pony.”

“So you'll help me?” Applejack's ears perked up.

Zecora smiled and rose from her seat. She walked towards the back room, motioning for Applejack to follow, and led her through a back door to a clearing next to a small pond behind her hut.

Touching a hoof to one of the hanging bottles, Zecora tipped a small amount of white powder into a wooden bowl. There was a soft poof, and a light blue smoke began to rise from the bowl, creating a thin haze around the clearing. Applejack sniffed the smoke. It smelled of unfamiliar fruit.

The zebra walked back towards the center of the clearing, tapping a small brass bowl with her hoof on the way. It emitted a long, gentle ringing that continued to sound. Zecora pushed her body up, effortlessly balancing on her hind legs. She motioned for Applejack to do the same, then brought her hooves together in front of her chest.

“I'm not so good on my hind legs.” Applejack managed to stand, but with far less grace than Zecora.

Zecora simply smiled, adopting an open pose and signaling Applejack to do the same.

“Almost there, but not quite. Lift your shoulder, open your chest... There, just right.”

Applejack wasn't sure what to think. She felt silly trying to balance like this in the middle of the forest. Still, she trusted Zecora and tried to mimic her movements.

The zebra took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. She closed her eyes, a visible serenity settling on her frame. “Empty yourself, think no thought,” she said in a gentle, soothing tone. “In your mind no trouble should be wrought.” Zecora led Applejack through a series of movements, slowly sweeping her forelegs down, out, and up.

“Breathe, and feel your tension drain…” She arched forward, almost landing back on four legs, before rising back up with forelegs outstretched, breathing deeply and releasing it once again. “Nothing left. No stress, no pain.” She slowly stretched her back legs, first the right, then the left, forelegs flowing forward in small arcs.

With each movement, Applejack could feel the awkwardness leaving her. As they continued, she let the worries and stress of the previous days and months leave her. The smell of smoke and gentle ringing helped focus her mind entirely on the present. She felt each movement and breath with deeper awareness than she had ever thought possible. By the time Zecora ended the pattern with a deep bow, Applejack felt more peaceful than she had in a very long time.

“That pattern is possibly my favorite one. I do it each morning to greet the sun.”

“Wow, Zecora, I gotta say, I feel amazing,” Applejack said, settling back onto all four legs. “What is that anyway?”

Zecora smiled. “It’s a practice passed down through my people, an ancient art. I’m glad you enjoyed it, though it’s only a start.”

“Well sign me up!” Applejack rotated her limbs, feeling the looseness in each joint. “I’d love to come by again and learn some more, if that’s okay?”

Zecora nodded. “I would be happy to. But another time; there is much to do.”

“Thanks, Zecora! Wish I could stay, but you’re right. I’ve got chores that still need tacklin’.” Applejack waved as she trotted back towards the front of the hut, grabbing her hat as she went. “I’ll have to get me one of them fancy ringin’ bowls sometime.”

Twilight happily trotted down Ponyville's main boulevard, her saddlebags filled with newly-purchased writing supplies. Quills & Sofas was always a pleasant shopping experience. Davenport had sold her on their reinforced ink wells, and she even bought a new rack that would help her organize her inks by color and grade. “I'm just glad the magic-conducting inks weren't stored in that closet. Those would be much more difficult to replace.” Twilight had had to turn him down (again) on his Super-Deluxe Griffon-Down Mattress. Something about sleeping on griffon feathers didn't feel right, even if they were legally acquired.

A small growl interrupted her thoughts. She turned her head, looking around for the source. When she heard it again, she realized it was coming from her stomach. “Oh,”–she chuckled–“I suppose it has been a while since breakfast. I should stop by Sugarcube Corner on the way back and pick up some cupcakes. Spike would like that.”

After a few minutes, Twilight arrived in the open square in front of Ponyville's most well-known bakery. She heard the town bell sound one-o'clock and saw the lunchtime crowd dispersing. “Perfect timing,” she thought to herself.

Inside, Twilight could hear the sound of rapid packing coming from behind the counter. She saw a few ponies waiting in line for their orders. She recognized one of them – a white-coated unicorn with a blueberry mane and a blue-and-yellow cross for a cutiemark.

“Nurse Glowheart, hello!”

“Oh, hello, Twilight.” She turned and smiled. “So glad to see you've finally returned from the south.”

“Me too. That was one of the longest missions we've been on, but it was well worth it.” Twilight breathed a sigh of relief. “I wanted to thank you again for teaching me that healing spell. It really saved our hides!”

Nurse Glowheart chuckled. “Good, good. I have to say, I'm impressed that you've been able to master it as much as you have. I guess that's why you represent the Element of Magic!”

“Thanks,” Twilight said, her cheeks reddening slightly, “but I'm still nowhere near your level. It took me almost five minutes to stitch up a cut. I've seen you set bones in half the time!”

“Don't worry, I'm sure you'll get there.”

A bubbly voice from the front counter interrupted their conversation. “Order up!”

Nurse Glowheart turned her head, deftly catching the flying paper sack with her magic just before it collided with her muzzle. “Thanks, Pinkie!” She turned back toward Twilight. “Sorry, Twilight, gotta run! Busy day at the hospital. It’s ‘Take Your Child to Work’ day and... Well, you can imagine how that’s going.” She rolled her eyes.

“Good luck!” Twilight waved as the nurse hustled out the door.

“Twilight, you're back!” Pinkie said, wrapping her in a massive hug. “You were gone so long, we should have a party!”

“Thanks, Pinkie, but let's save that for another day. I'm still catching up on my mail.”

“Don't you worry, we'll have one later and it'll be super-duper!” Pinkie said as she let Twilight go and hopped back behind the counter. “So what can I do ya for?”

Twilight smiled. “For now, I'd just like a few cupcakes.”

“Cupcakes?!” Pinkie's eyes widened, a look of shock on her face. She raised her hooves to her cheeks, then disappeared into the back of the store, leaving behind a poofy pink blur.

Twilight stood, completely befuddled. She glanced around at the empty parlor. “Was it something I said?” she wondered aloud.

“I almost forgot these!” Pinkie suddenly sprang from behind the counter, slamming down a tray between the two mares.

“Gah! Pinkie, where–how–?” Twilight said, wondering how Pinkie got from the back room to the front counter. “Does she have some kind of secret party tunnel or–”

Her train of thought was interrupted as she saw what adorned the tray before her. There were about a dozen cupcakes, each one nestled in a clear, cubic case. She could see strangely familiar swirls on the cake beneath the frosting. “What are these, Pinkie?” Twilight leaned in for a closer look.

“I call them Runicakes! Orrr Magicakes! Or Runi-Magicakes! I'm not sure yet.”

“You don't mean...” Twilight trailed off as she began to realize what she was seeing.

Pinkie grinned widely, obviously happy at Twilight's surprise. “Yep! I snuck into the library while you were away and read your notes. I know some of your spells are really tricky, even for you, so I thought a ready-made pre-packaged spell up your sleeve – not that you normally wear sleeves – might come in handy sometime!” Pinkie’s grin lessened slightly. “Oh, sorry about sneaking into your house, by the way.”

“But, Pinkie... How...?”

Pinkie chuckled, draping one hoof over her friend's shoulder. “Oh, Twilight, it was easy! Just mix up some extra ingredients, put a few squiggles on the batter, and let 'er bake!” She said with a wink. “Took me a bit to figure out the recipe though. 'Fraid I could only get this much done before you got back.”

Twilight glanced between her friend and the cupcakes on the counter, unsure if she should believe what she was hearing, or if this was some kind of elaborate prank. “But we were only gone for one week! How could you have managed this so quickly?”

“Actually, I didn't have time to work on this until the weekend, so it was more like three days.”

Twilight's jaw dropped. Gears turned in her head as she struggled to comprehend the speed with which Pinkie had accomplished what took her over a month of dedicated study.

“Hey! Let me show you how they work!” Pinkie bounced back towards the register, abruptly slamming her face into the wooden counter – hard. Twilight heard a muffled crunching sound. When Pinkie raised her head, a narrow red trail flowed from her nose, which now pointed noticeably to the left. She winced. “Ow...”

Twilight snapped back to look at her friend again. “Pinkie, what are you doing?! Here, let me–”

Pinkie held up a hoof. Without speaking, she opened one of the cupcake cases. The frosting showed a simple red cross on a white background. She tossed the treat into the air, gulping it down with one bite. Almost immediately, her nose began to softly pop back into place. Pinkie nonchalantly wiped the blood from her nose and spread her forelegs out wide. “Ta-daaa!”

Twilight shook her head, finally regaining her composure. “I... Wow, Pinkie, I'm impressed! I can honestly say that I never expected you to come up with anything like this. And so quickly!”

“I know, right? But once I got the idea in my little head, I just couldn't get it out!” Pinkie giggled. “I came up with a few other recipes, too. Look!” She pointed her hoof towards a cupcake with a single feather motif. “This one makes you really light. It's great for bouncing and swimming and stuff! I had to use a pegasus feather to make it work. And this one”–she pointed to one that seemed to depict a tiny sonic rainboom–“is like a sugar-rush for your magic! Oh, and this one – well, I made a list.” Pinkie paused and reached into her mane. She produced a small scroll, which she handed to Twilight. “I know how much you love lists!”

“You never cease to amaze me, Pinkie Pie.” Twilight smiled.

“Thanks, Twilight. Now, I don't want to be rude, but the Cakes have a big order to fill this afternoon and I gotta get bakin'!”

Twilight grasped the boxed cupcakes in her magic and carried them towards the door. “Thanks again, Pinkie, you really are something special.”

“Anything for a friend!” Pinkie called back, waving.

“I really need to get Pinkie back in my lab sometime,” Twilight thought as she left Sugarcube Corner.

Halfway back to the library, Twilight stomach grumbled again. She had forgotten to get any cupcakes she could actually eat for lunch.

“Shoot.”

Rainbow Dash hovered outside of the Carousel Boutique, wondering what Rarity could possibly want with her. When the two of them came together, it was usually because Rarity wanted to 'make her look like a proper lady,' or because Rainbow had crashed into her boutique after messing up an awesome trick. She tapped a hoof on her chin, but she couldn't remember breaking anything of Rarity's too recently. “What the hay, might as well see what she wants. I can always fly away if she tries to get me to play dress-up again.” She opened the door to the boutique, the tiny chime ringing as she entered.

“Hey, Rares. I heard you were looking for me?”

Rarity looked up from her sewing machine. “Rainbow Dash! Just the pegasus I wanted to see!” She stood up and approached her friend. “I have a very special surprise for you,” she said sweetly.

Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes, suspicious. “You'd better not be trying to dress me up in one of your frilly outfits again.”

Rarity chuckled. “Oh, darling, of course not! Well, I mean, not exactly. I do have some outfits, but they’re hardly–” The pegasus started to take off, but Rarity grasped her tail with her magic. “Wait! Just allow me to explain,” she said, giving Rainbow a cross look.

Rainbow Dash turned back to her friend. She sat, crossing her forelegs. “You've got 60 seconds.”

Rarity huffed, but her eagerness quickly returned. She smiled. “Well, I know that you've become rather fond of that new spell Twilight made for you. The one that lets you go 'sight unseen,' as it were. I hear you've been making good use of it out in the field.” Rarity moved slightly closer to Rainbow Dash, giving her a sidelong glance, as if she knew some dark secret. “I also know that all of your equipment doesn't come with when you use it. Twilight's been helping me in that regard. I just can't bear to see a lady – however inappropriate the title – forced to strip down in the wilderness.” She made a dramatic show of concern with her hooves.

Rainbow cocked an eyebrow. “Your point?” she said flatly.

Rarity adjusted her glasses, adopting an air of confidence as though she were presenting a new clothing line at a Canterlot fashion show. “I've come up with an outfit that should let you turn invisible with all of your belongings.”

Rainbow Dash's mood abruptly changed. She broke out in a huge grin, unconsciously spreading her wings and hopping into the air. “Whoa, really? Why didn't you just say so!”

“Really, darling, the presentation is half–”

Rainbow Dash fluttered around the room in excitement. “I can't tell you how annoying it's been to slough off my saddlebags and Celestia-knows-what-else whenever I want to do some proper scouting. Not to mention fighting or–” Rainbow Dash paused abruptly, turning back to look at Rarity. “Wait, 'should?’”

“Well, yes. That's why you are here. As I said, Twilight has been helping me with this little project. Based on what's she's learned from studying that dreadful weapon you brought back from the desert”–Rarity cringed–“we picked out some materials that might work with the invisibility field created by your spell. I have a couple of outfits made up that I'd like you to try on and see how well they perform in practice.”

Rainbow Dash landed, her mouth askew as her inner dialogue debated the pros and cons of submitting to another dress-up session with Rarity.

“Though, if you're not interested...” Rarity said, coyly.

“No! I mean, yes!” In the end, Rainbow Dash's curiosity won out. She flew over to Rarity, smiling. “Ok, let's do it!”

“Excellent!” Rarity clapped her hooves.

After a few minutes behind the curtain, the pegasus emerged and stood in front of the mirrors. Rainbow Dash looked at her reflection with one eyebrow raised. She wore a garment made of alternating strips of blue and white silk that vaguely resembled a slim-fitting dinner gown.

“You look marvelous, darling! The white really complements your eyes.”

Rainbow Dash eyed the garment skeptically. “Did you have to make it so... floofy?”

“Whatever do you mean? I didn't put a single frill or sequin on it,” Rarity said innocently.

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “Anyway...” Her muzzle contorted in concentration. Wispy lines of white light slowly flowed from under the dress. After a few moments she began to fade, then suddenly vanished from sight.

The dress, however, was still there. Rainbow sighed.

“Hmm...” Rarity rubbed her hoof on her chin. “I thought animal fiber might have had at least some kind of resonance with your magic. Oh well, on to the next one!”

A few minutes later, Rainbow Dash once again stood before the mirrors, this time wearing what looked like a nearly-translucent white robe. “Well, this is better – definitely more aerodynamic.” She kicked her legs a bit to test the fabric. “I could see this belt coming loose in a fight, though.”

“I can always reinforce it once we're done here,” Rarity said with a wave of her hoof.

“Why did you take the time to make entire outfits, anyway? Wouldn't it have been easier to just make a few scarves to test or something?”

Rarity chuckled. “Oh, Rainbow Dash, you should know by now that I never do anything halfway.”

“Heh, I suppose I should,” Rainbow said, smirking.

“Now, this outfit is made of magically-reinforced gossamer. It's much stronger than it looks. Give it a go, I'm sure it'll work this time.”

Rainbow Dash concentrated, once again activating the wind-and-cloud rune on her foreleg. When she turned back to the mirrors, she still saw the faint outline of the robe adorning her body.

Rarity leaned forward for a closer look. “How intriguing! It would appear that the gossamer thread does something, even if it's not completely invisible. I'm sure Twilight would love to hear about this.”

Rainbow Dash sighed again. “I suppose this is better than nothing, if I can't strip it off for whatever reason.”

“Oh, we're not quite done yet, Rainbow Dash.” Rarity winked. “I saved the best for last!” Her horn glowed, and she brought out a black and gray body suit. “I call this the Advanced Stealth Mark II Fabulous Assault Outfit!” The unicorn giggled with delight.

Looking closer, Rainbow could see that it was woven from some kind of dark fiber in a diamond scale pattern. “Wow, that's actually pretty cool! The name could use a little work, though.”

“I, yes, well... ahem.” Rarity took a moment to gather herself before proceeding. “It's a fiber found inside old dragon scales – sustainably harvested, of course. Did you know they shed scales naturally? – Anyway, it’s tough, but breathable, and with just enough stretch to fit a variety of body shapes. Twilight was also able to weave in a few enchantments that should help attune it to your own magic.”

“Ahh, yeah! Let's give it a shot!”

Rainbow Dash repeated the process, standing before the boutique mirrors and activating her invisibility spell. The light underneath the dragon-fiber suit made a subtle, flowing incandescence where it peeked through the garment. Rainbow Dash soon vanished, leaving behind no trace of her presence but the excited squeals of herself and her friend.

“Awesome!”

“Hmmm... maybe I could increase the reach of the spell matrix by using some kind of physical carrier...? That might work.” Twilight sat hunched over a pile of scrolls in the Golden Oaks Library. Her concentration was broken by a knock at the door. She turned and pulled the door open with her magic.

“Howdy, Twilight!” Applejack said warmly as she entered.

“Hello, Applejack. You're looking more chipper than usual. Anything special happening?”

“Not really, I just stopped by Zecora's earlier today. She gave me some tips on relaxin' and such. I feel like a million bits!” Applejack grinned.

“Well I'm glad it's working for you. What brings you to the library?”

“I'm hoping you might be able to help me. I had an idea for a spell, but I'm not quite sure where to start.” Applejack looked pointedly at the countless shelves.

Twilight's eyes sparkled with excitement. “Ooh! You want to research your own spell? What're you looking for?”

“Well, it seems to me that most of the Fey we've fought are usually too quick to pin down, or too big to get 'em where we want 'em. You have something that could help with that?”

Twilight tapped her chin. “Hmm... do you mean some type of advanced telekinesis?”

Applejack waved a hoof. “Nah, you've seen how long it takes me to get a telekinesis spell running. I'm thinkin' something a bit more on the simple-and-direct side.”

“Let me have a look.” Twilight trotted towards the magic section of the library. “Oh, by the way, Applebloom stopped by earlier,” she said, looking over her shoulder at Applejack.

Applejack's flicked her ear. “Yeah, I heard. Sorry about that, Twi. She's already gotten a stern talkin'-to. I'm thinkin' I should send her over here for a few days to make up for it.”

“If that's what you think is right, I can always come up with chores for her.” Twilight lifted books from the shelves, examining the covers one-by-one. “Spike could probably use a break, anyway. He's been working himself so hard in my absence.”

“Say, what do ya got here?” Applejack asked, noticing Twilight's notes on the main table. “Transformation and... these are divination signs, right?”

“They are! I've been researching some new spells. That one is supposed to be a medium-range communication spell for Rainbow Dash, something that will help her stay in contact with us when she's scouting. Unfortunately, I've been having trouble getting the range up to where I'd like it. I'm exploring the idea of using small breezes as carriers, though that comes with its own disadvantages – Ah, this might work.” Twilight floated a small red book over to Applejack. “On page 42, you'll find Busby's Battering Ram spell. It works by manipulating the magical field of the target to control their movements. It might suit your needs, though it lacks precision.”

Applejack cracked the book open and scanned the page. “Thanks, Twilight! This is just what I was looking for.”

“Just remember, AJ, even with your earth pony magic, direct-action spells like this could have a reduced effect on the Fey. I haven't had the chance to fully document the irregularities in their magical auras.”

Applejack slipped the book into her bags and headed for the door. “I'll keep that in mind. Thanks for the help, Twi! I'll send Applebloom over first thing tomorrow.”

Once Applejack had left, Twilight walked back to the table containing her spell research. However, it was only a scant few hours before she was interrupted again. Spike came down the stairs, holding a scroll in one claw.

“Twilight? You're gonna want to read this.”

A purple flash marked Twilight's arrival on the road into Sweet Apple Acres. She knew how unsettling her sudden apparation could be, so she made an effort to restrict her teleportation to less-crowded areas when possible. “Besides, a little trotting does a unicorn good,” she thought.

As she walked towards the farm, she tried to keep her expression neutral. Her eyes shifted to the loosely-furled scroll floating beside her. “What could be so important, and on such short notice?” she wondered. She pulled her eyes away, looking back towards her destination. The sun would be setting soon, but she had to tell her friends tonight. “Guess we'll find out soon enough.”

The farmhouse came into view, and Twilight could hear activity coming from behind it. When she turned the corner into the backyard, she saw Big Mac sitting at a picnic table, the remains of dinner still scattered on its top. He was watching Applejack lying on her back in the grass, balancing Applebloom above her on four hooves.

“Again, Sis, again!” The yellow filly giggled, smiling widely.

Applejack chuckled. “Okay, but this is the last one, then it's off to bed with ya.” The levitation rune on her body glowed with a pale green light, and a matching aura engulfed the smaller pony. Her tongue protruded from her mouth in concentration. When she was ready, she pushed her legs upward.

“Yeah! Woohoo!” Applebloom gently floated into the air, slowly spinning head-over-heels. Her legs kicked at the empty air, and a huge smile adorned her muzzle as she laughed with glee. “Whee!”

Applejack gently pushed her sister a few more times before setting her back on the grass. She took a deep breath and let it out as she stood. “Alright, time to sleep now. Off with ya.”

“Aww, just one more time, Applejack, pleeease?” Applebloom looked up at her with wide puppy-dog eyes and a tiny pout in her lip.

Applejack chuckled and playfully ruffled her mane. “You tried that last time, sister. Better get some new material! Now go on, you've got chores in the mornin'.”

“Oh, alright.” Applebloom smirked, her eyes returning to normal. She said goodnight to Applejack – and to Twilight, once her presence was noticed – and ran inside the house. Big Mac followed slowly behind.

“You seem to be getting along well,” Twilight noted with a smile.

Applejack nodded. “You bet! Can't let a little trouble get in the way of a beautiful evening, after all.” She gestured towards the sunset over the open orchard.

Twilight watched the waning sunlight streaking between the clouds. “It certainly is.”

“So, what brings you over so late, Twilight?” Applejack asked, offering some of the leftover pie to her friend. Twilight politely declined.

“I'm sorry to do this so suddenly, especially just days after we came back to Ponyville, but Princess Celestia has called a meeting of the High Council.” Twilight floated the scroll over to Applejack.

“Has she, now? What's it all about, exactly?” Applejack quickly scanned the letter.

“I don't know, she just says that it's very important we attend. Everypony will be there – military generals, top scientists, civilian liaisons – you name it.”

Applejack looked up at Twilight, the brow of her hat casting a slight shadow over her features. “And with you here so late, I'm guessing this is happening real soon, ain't it?”

Twilight nodded. “We leave for Canterlot in the morning.”

Author's Notes:

This Author's Note keeps growing. Seems I have a quite a few thoughts to share about this chapter.

First off, I just want to say that some parts of this chapter were actually rather difficult for me to write. Grief is a really shitty experience. It's something that, in a perfect world, no one would ever have to go through, but in reality we all experience it at some point. Despite this, I firmly believe that grief is one of the few experiences that transcend all boundaries. It's something we can use to understand one another, no matter where we come from. It doesn't always work out that way, but still.

I've always enjoyed the idea that Applejack's parents died sometime during her childhood. Not for morbid reasons, but because it adds depth to her character and reinforces the idea of her mental fortitude in addition to her physical strength. I've also experienced the untimely death of a family member, so it's something I relate to. I tried to capture some of that feeling here. Hopefully it came through properly.

On a less serious note, I hope that you all enjoyed this chapter! I tried to move away from the “find the monster and fight it with magic” structure of the last two chapters, and this came out as more of a slice-of-life/world-building chapter. It also ended up being a lot longer than I expected. Rest assured though, there will be plenty more action as the story continues!

(!) An important point on AJ's temper, before anyone comments on it: No, Zecora's training is not a corny panacea for all AJ's problems. She's still going to struggle with her anger, she just has a new coping tool now.

Also, the chapter only took me three months this time! Yay!

The next chapter will probably have a lot of exposition. I'll try to keep it minimal, but I apologize in advance if my efforts to keep it interesting aren't successful!

And of course, a big thanks to my pre-readers AlicornPriest and MindAssassin.

Thanks again for reading! I really appreciate all the support. You guys are great.

(Bonus points if you can spot the fandom reference.)

Chapter 4: The Meeting

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“It's been nearly twelve hours,” Applejack grumbled as she stared out the window at the passing scenery. The train between Canterlot and Ponyville was by no means quick, but the numerous delays had significantly lengthened their trip. Applejack had tried to recall Zecora's lesson, but in the cramped train car, she could do little more than imagine.

It wasn't really helping.

“Why do sheep like train tracks so much, anyway?” Pinkie Pie rolled over in the bench. Her head and forelegs hung limply into the aisle.

“One of the great unsolved mysteries of Equestria,” Rarity said, waving a hoof with mock drama. She looked impeccable, as always, though her weariness was beginning to show, even through all her makeup.

“Don't worry girls, we're getting close. See?” Twilight pointed out the window. The train had just rounded another bend, bringing them out of the narrow canyon they'd been traveling through. Canterlot was visible high on the mountainside above. “It shouldn't be more than an hour now.”

Rarity rubbed her neck, resisting the urge to slouch. “Are you sure you don't know what this is all about, darling? Two days is not a lot of time to call together so many important ponies.”

Twilight shrugged. “All the Princess wrote is that it's important we all attend.” She thought for a moment. “Though it could have something to do with Fluttershy.”

Pinkie lifted her head. “Where is she, anyway? I haven't seen her in days!”

“Have you forgotten already? She left early last week to help Princess Celestia with something in Canterlot.”

“Oh!” Pinkie giggled and slouched down again. “I thought she just ate too much cake at our last party!”

“Tsk. Really, Pinkie, you were practically force-feeding it to her.” Rarity shook her head. “I must admit though, the spa has been a tad lonelier without her around.” Her eyes suddenly brightened, and she lightly clapped her hooves together. “Oooh! Perhaps we'll have a chance to catch up at one of the spas in Canterlot. That would be simply divine.”

Twilight began to reply, but was interrupted by the sound of screeching metal. The train slowly came to a stop. From outside their car, they could hear the familiar baying of sheep. A collective groan arose from the group.

Rainbow Dash, who had been snoring in the corner, awoke from her nap with a grunt. “Huh? Are we there yet?”

Applejack sat at the small hotel table with her friends, grasping the warm styrofoam coffee cup with both hooves. A crowd of ponies milled around them, all waiting for their chance at the breakfast buffet nearby. Her eyes were still heavy with sleep. A large plastic sun hung on one wall, mocking her with its perkiness. Yellow block letters below it read, “Neighs Inn: Start Your Day with a Neigh!” She took another sip.

The previous night had been a long one. The train had finally arrived in Canterlot after sunset, hours late. By the time they had hailed a carriage – a monumental task even for the bearers of the Elements of Harmony – and traveled to their hotel, it was after midnight. Applejack had collapsed unceremoniously on her bed and passed out.

“This breakfast has no love in it,” Applejack said as she reluctantly took another bite of her toast.

Rainbow Dash eyed her crescent roll suspiciously. “Is this what ‘continental’ means? I always thought it was, you know, the size of a continent or something.”

“I think it's delicious!” Pinkie Pie bounced over to the group carrying a tray full of day-old muffins.

“You think everything is delicious.” Rainbow gave Pinkie a playful nudge and took a bite of her pastry.

Pinkie giggled. “Maybe! I suppose it's not as good as Sugarcube Corner, though. But what is!”

Rarity looked up from the Canterlot Times she was reading with a mild expression. “Why exactly are we here, anyway? I expected that we would be staying in Canterlot Castle.”

Twilight swallowed her muffin before responding. “Normally we would, but with everything that's been going on, the castle is busier than it's been in ages. Experts and representatives from all around Equestria are in Canterlot to manage the Fey problem and help find a solution. Princess Celestia says she hasn't seen the castle so crowded in centuries, so I volunteered us to stay here.” Almost as an afterthought, she added, “Don't worry about the cost, she sent me a stipend.”

Rarity yawned. “Couldn't you have chosen a place with softer beds, darling? This is Canterlot, after all. There must be better accommodations than – egh – Neighs Inn.”

“I tried, believe me. Most of the hotels in the city are booked solid.”

“I've heard that ponies with the bits are taking 'extended vacations' here in Canterlot. Rumor is it's all to get away from the Fey.” Rainbow smirked. “Personally, I think they're scared and want to be near the Princesses just in case!”

“You shouldn't gossip, Rainbow Dash. It's unbecoming,” Rarity said with a tinge of annoyance.

“Hey, I'm not judging.” Rainbow made a dismissive gesture with her wing. “If Ponyville was over near Vanhoover – and if I was somepony less awesome – I'd want to get away too.”

Applejack chuckled, sharing a knowing glance with her other friends. “Just how is it you're so chipper this early in the mornin,' Dash? Hay, how did you even sleep last night? With all the nappin' you did on the train, I figured you woulda been more wound up than a pegasus on preening day.”

Rainbow Dash shrugged. “What can I say? I'm a master napster.” She grabbed her last piece of muffin and tossed it into her mouth.

After a few moments, Twilight rose from her chair and grasped her empty plate with her magic. “Come on, girls, we’d better get to the castle. We don’t want to keep the Council waiting.”

An hour later, the group arrived at the castle entrance. Twilight showed the letter sent by Princess Celestia to the guards, and they found themselves escorted to the upper halls of Canterlot Castle. Their path brought them through a series of grand hallways, cramped staircases, and even a hidden door or two to what must have been one of the most defensible rooms in the entire castle.

“I thought it would've been a little easier for the bearers of the Elements of Harmony to find a carriage in Canterlot,” Rainbow said to nopony in particular as they walked through a particularly narrow hallway.

“You know the kind of memory most ponies have.” Applejack rolled her eyes.

Twilight shrugged. “It took me almost a year to learn the Second and Third Changeling Invasions well enough to remember who fought in each one. With all the calamities that happen in Equestria, it's hardly surprising that ponies tend to forget things.”

“Forget what?” Pinkie asked, mid-bounce.

“Nothing important, dear.” Rarity patted her shoulder.

“We've arrived.” The lead guard motioned for them to continue around the corner. They found a long hallway that seemed sparse compared to the rest of the castle. There were no doors, alcoves, or other features, save for the heavy wooden doors at the end and the half-dozen ponies guarding it.

As they approached, they heard muffled voices coming from behind the doors, but couldn't make out what was being said until the guards cracked the doors to admit them.

“...still on schedule, Princess. However, there was an incident in Cloudsdale earlier this week where some kind of fairy seems to have gotten into the condensers, which dropped overall cloud production by fourteen percent. However, the deficit should be covered by other factories...” The speakers was a middle-aged pegasus with a sky blue coat and curly white mane. He occasionally glanced at the pile of notes in front of him. Twilight recognized him as the Weather Minister and quietly shared that fact with her friends as they entered.

The council room was magnificent. The domed ceiling rose 40 feet above their heads, lined with windowpanes that were enchanted to mimic real sunlight. They served to brighten what would have otherwise been a dreary bunker. The floor was a simple mosaic of white marble and onyx with a subtle gold filigree near the walls. Two large stone fireplaces sat on either end of the room. A broad, ovular table made of dark wood occupied the center of the room, surrounded by two dozen matching chairs of fine quality that looked to be more than a century old. The Princesses sat at one end in larger chairs more appropriate for ponies of their size.

The five newcomers quietly shuffled into the room, sitting in some of the extra chairs along the back wall. Twilight looked over the other ponies at the table and recognized the Ministers of Agriculture, Health, and Transportation. There were a few ponies in military uniforms, two scientists, and a number of diplomats. Even Shining Armor was there representing the Royal Guard. He sent her a smile and a wink when she caught his eye. This many important ponies in one room was certainly a rare occurrence. Whatever Princess Celestia had in store, it must've been important.

“...This is the first time that one of the Fey has been spotted in a cloud city, but given the patterns we've been seeing, I recommend stationing a Fey-response team with some cloudwalking capabilities in Cloudsdale from now on.”

“Thank you, Cirrus.” Princess Celestia gave a grateful nod. She looked across the ponies gathered at the table. “And thank you all for your patience. I promise, we'll come to the crux of this meeting soon.”

Celestia cleared her throat. “As you are all aware, Fey creatures have been appearing in Equestria with increasing frequency over the previous months. Luckily, we've been given the opportunity to contain the worst of these threats through new magic developed by my finest student. If you'd allow me an indulgence, I'd like for you to hear about her 'rune magic' in more detail.” She looked to the back of the room. “Twilight? Would you please show them what you've shown me?”

“Of course, Princess.” There were a few murmurs as Twilight walked to the front of the room and turned to face the council. “Greetings. My name is Twilight Sparkle: graduate of Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, bearer of the Element of Magic, protégé of Princess Celestia, and inventor of Rune Magic.” Her horn glowed and a large, lavender screen formed beside her, taking the form of a rectangular grid displaying small, animated figures. “Today, I will explain the development of, and processes behind, rune magic. I hope you find it interesting.”

The display showed a unicorn surrounded by a magical shield, and a large bipedal creature made to represent a Fey. “One of the first observations made about Fey was their apparent invulnerability to a wide range of traditional spells, including some from all known schools of magic.” As the unicorn on the screen approached the Fey, its shield faded, and it was struck by the creature. A large frown showed on the unicorn's face before the display shifted.

“I discovered, however, that earth pony magic is much more similar to the Fey's innate magic than that of other ponies, both of which are very similar in character to the primeval magics found in nature. At the time, I theorized that these properties could allow their magic to affect the Fey.” Twilight paused and scanned the ponies gathered at the table, looking at each one in turn. “Admittedly, it was a long shot. I didn't have any empirical basis for my hypothesis, but field tests have conclusively shown that my theory holds true.”

Twilight's display shifted again, this time showing a pony adorned with runes. Small pulses of light moved over the body to show the flow of magical energies. She launched into her practiced lecture on the fundamentals of rune magic, detailing the various components that go into preparing runes, the technicalities of combining various elemental and shaping runes to form complete spells, and earth ponies’ natural affinity for primal elemental magic.

The figure on her display shrunk to a small point, then expanded to show a map of Equestria. Tiny points of light dotted the map, concentrated on the borders. “As far as implementation is concerned, we've been training earth ponies, unicorns, and pegasi to work together in teams of three, in order to maximize their efficacy. Teams are assigned to regions with high Fey activity on a bi-weekly basis, returning home between assignments. For reasons yet unknown, most Fey sightings seem to occur closer to Equestria's borders, so that's where the majority of teams have been deployed.” The dots on the map grew and fused together, taking on different colors to represent the frequency of Fey sightings in each region. “At this point, the number of dangerous Fey encountered is typically one or two per week per region, but they appear to be increasing in frequency. Whether this is due to more Fey arriving, or simply a higher percentage of dangerous Fey coming through is uncertain. We're trying to get more teams ready for field duty, but training takes significant time and resources. At the observed rate, we–”

“This is ridiculous!” A gruff voice interrupted Twilight's presentation, punctuated by a hoof slamming onto the table.

Everypony jumped, then turned to look at the interrupting stallion. He was an earth pony with a light brown coat and a close-cropped, graying mane. A crisp, dark green uniform covered his chest, and a large stack of ribbons signified his high rank.

Princess Luna eyed him angrily. “We take it you have something to say, General Specific?” Her tone was one of annoyance, but the general didn't seem to notice.

“This 'rune magic' nonsense is a complete waste of time. We've spent who-knows-how-many bits training these teams, and it's gotten us no closer to solving the actual problem! Earth ponies casting spells... Feh! Throw a boulder at them and be done with it. Sure as shit worked at Griffon's Pass.” The general leaned back, smirking with satisfaction.

It was Twilight who broke the tension. “I think you might be overestimating the abilities of the common unicorn, General. For most, lifting something that heavy would be very difficult, if not impossible – not to mention unwieldy. The Fey's antimagical field makes unicorn-wielded weapons very hard to utilize.”

“Then we redirect the military and run them through with blades! I'd bet even a Fey can't live without a head.”

Princess Celestia glowered at the stallion. “We will not have ponies wantonly killing creatures we know so little about, General.” Her voice was calm, but tinged with anger and a subtle hint of regret. “I know all too well what happens when ponies are too quick to war.”

Not even the brazen general could resist shrinking under the intense gaze of the Princesses. “Yes, well... I must press the point, Princess, that we still aren't any closer to a final solution.” He spoke with far less confidence than before.

Celestia's expression softened slightly, and she smiled. “Of course, General, that is a completely understandable concern. I had invited one other to speak with us today on that very subject, but he hasn't deigned to show himself yet. However, I suspect he may be listening to us speak this very moment.”

Looks of confusion spread around the room. Before anypony could form a question, however, an oily voice echoed unseen. “I presume you're talking about me, Celestia?”

Twilight's magical display began to distort. The images twisted and stretched until they settled into the outline of a goat-like face with mismatched horns and a small beard. A single stray fang dangled from his mouth. Gasps echoed through the chamber.

Celestia smirked. “Tsk, tsk. You're getting predictable, Discord.”

The two-dimensional draconequus slithered out of the display. “All your influence, no doubt,” he said in his typical flippant tone. Color flowed into his figure as his mismatched feet settled on the chamber floor, restoring him to a life-like visage. He made a dramatic show of bowing to the Princesses. “Your Highnesses.”

“Princess, what is Discord doing here?!” Twilight's shock gave voice to the murmured complaints circling the room.

“Oh, why all the distrust?” Discord floated over to Twilight and bent down to look her in the eyes. “I'm reformed, remember?” He smirked and tapped a claw on her nose.

“Discord's ability to sense magical anomalies has proved quite useful so far,” Celestia said matter-of-factly. “I know that many of you are not yet accustomed to his presence, but he's given me no reason to distrust him, so I ask all of you to do the same.”

Discord gently floated into the air, reclining casually. “Quite right! I've been ever so helpful these past few months – a busy little bee – searching for your portals, watching the Fey, finding the First World–”

“Do you mean to say... you've found it?!” Luna wore a look of surprise.

“Well... no. Not yet.”

The ponies around the table gave him flat looks.

“It's like I've said before, that dimension is very difficult to reach from our local cluster. Reverse-interdimensional transversal is no picnic, you know!” He huffed and crossed his arms defensively. “Though, speaking of...” he said, scratching his chin and wearing a thoughtful expression.

With a snap of his fingers, Discord vanished in a flash of light, only to reappear at the center of the table wearing a polo shirt and sunglasses. He was sitting on a red-and-white checkered blanket, complete with a wicker picnic basket. “...it has been quite some time.” He grinned.

Most of the ponies looked at the scene with confusion. Celestia, however, simply chuckled lightly before continuing. “Please, Discord, why don't you update everypony on what you've been up to so far.”

“Well!” Discord turned and placed his hands on his crossed legs like an eager child. “It's a fascinating story, if I do say so myself. These portals – though 'portal' is a bit of a misnomer, more of a tear, really – point is, they've been terrifically difficult to find – even for me! But I persevered, and managed to find a few of them before they went 'poof!'” Another snap, and a small puff of smoke appeared briefly nearby. “The magic behind them is unmistakably Fey, but underneath that there's a certain... consistency, for lack of a better word. Like they're all somehow related.” As he spoke, Discord stirred the air with one claw, conjuring a small vortex of dull blue energy. He reached in and pulled out a cup of tea. He sipped, then raised the saucer and took a bite. After a few thoughtful chews, he said, “Hmph. You're chefs are getting stale, Celestia. This saucer is terribly dry.”

Celestia gave a small grin and snickered quietly. Luna just gave him an unimpressed look.

“I can also confirm what Twilight's been saying, that these tears are mostly happening near Equestria's border,” he said through a mouthful of fine china. He chewed a few more times and swallowed. “And I think it has something to do with the Tree of Harmony.” With a snap of his claws, Discord vanished again and appeared behind the alicorns, arms draped over their shoulders. “You know, the place you found your precious Elements?” He tapped a claw on his chin. “One more thing. These tears... there's something vaguely familiar about them. It's rather difficult to put into words, though...”

He rose and snapped his claws again. This time, he appeared dressed in a flamboyant, colorful outfit, a pair of maracas in his hands. “...Perhaps if I put it into dance?” He began to twirl about the room, humming a happy tune as he danced.

The ponies at the table watched for a few moments before exchanging more confused looks. Celestia cast a spell, and the sound of Discord's performance faded into the background. “I think we can move on to the reason I called everypony here.” She nodded to one of the guards at the door, who quietly left the room. A few moments later, he returned with a pink-maned, yellow pegasus.

Fluttershy looked at the group of ponies hesitantly, gulped, and quietly walked towards the Princesses.

“This is Fluttershy, bearer of the Element of Kindness,” Celestia said as Fluttershy approached. “She has been helping with an important information-gathering assignment, and two days ago, we had a breakthrough. That is why I've called all of you here today: I thought it only right that the entire council be present for such an important moment.” She looked to Fluttershy and smiled, motioning for her to speak.

The pegasus cleared her throat and adopted a relatively confident pose. “Hello, I'm Fluttershy.” She managed to put on a brave face, despite the intense gazes directed her way. “My special talent is taking care of animals, and part of that is being able to communicate with all sorts of creatures. It took a while, but I've been able to figure out what the Fey are saying. Mostly, anyway.”

“You've spoken with these monsters? How?” General Specific looked incredulous.

A look of shock rushed over Fluttershy's face. “How could you say that? They're not monsters!”

Applejack narrowed her eyes. “You sure we can even trust these Fey, Fluttershy? They're slippery bastards – I know.”

Fluttershy nodded. “I know there have been a lot of bad Fey recently, but that's not all of them! They're confused, it's not even really their fault – listen.” She turned and whispered into her mane. A small creature cautiously emerged. It had wild blue hair that matched its enormous eyes. Its pink skin was bare and partially covered by leafy garments, and a pair of gossamer wings were folded onto its back. A small, curious chirp rose from the creature.

Loud gasps filled the chamber. “You b-brought one of those... here?!” The Weather Minister shrunk in his chair, trying to hide himself behind the table while maintaining as much dignity as possible.

“Calm down, Cirrus,” Celestia said. “That type of reaction is exactly why we had to keep this matter a secret. There are far more to these creatures than senseless destruction.”

“They're actually very nice, once you get to know them.” Fluttershy ran a calming hoof through the Fey's hair. It purred contentedly. “This is Miglan. He's a pixie. The poor thing fell into one of those portals and ended up in our world.

“He wouldn't say much, at first, just little bits about the First World before things changed. He insisted that he needed to talk to our 'leaders.' It sounds like he has something important to say.” She gently coaxed the pixie out of her mane. The pixie floated near her with small flaps of its wings. “Here we are, little guy. What did you want to tell us?”

The pixie looked around nervously before breaking into a strange series of smooth chirps and flowing syllables. “Lye palurin nae n'ala vanima, ve'lle, nan'yassen n'ner eska. Nan... somthíen marta. Y'ksh tul e, san' ï' palurin kirise, ar'mellonea wanne.”

“What is he saying, Fluttershy?” Twilight asked.

Fluttershy tapped her hoof to her chin. “He said that something happened in his old world. It was beautiful, but then it broke, and Fey started disappearing.” She thought a moment longer. “He says our world has lots of squares... buildings, maybe?”

Miglan went on, relaxing as he spoke. “Amin nae gorga sinome, rana. Nan'utue somthíen sinome. Lewintar. Ro nae wanwa an'n ago. Ro quena a'marta e'kaimela, nyara lye lye're varna sinome. Lye nowe ro nae ba, an'n wanwa.”

“He was lost and scared, poor thing.” Fluttershy loosely wrapped a wing around the pixie. “At least, he was until he found something they lost a long time ago... 'Lewintar?'” She pursed her lips, trying to figure out a translation. “Um... Dream Keeper? I think that's what it means.”

Luna's ears perked up at the name. “'Dream Keeper?' Pray, Fluttershy, ask him more about this figure.”

“Oh, okay.” Fluttershy translated her question.

“Lewintar naa iantago marta. Ron nyara narn ar'nyara quenta. Quena a'marta e'kaimela, karna sen varna.”

Fluttershy listened intently to the chirping Fey, translating as he spoke. “They're a very old Fey. Keepers of history, it sounds like. And they guard other Fey in their dreams.” She turned back to the Princess. “Sounds kind of like your job, Princess Luna.”

“Hmm...” Luna wore a thoughtful look, but said nothing more.

“He said something bad happened in his world. Can you ask him what it was, Fluttershy?” Twilight asked.

Fluttershy once again translated the question. Miglan grew quiet, fidgeting as though he were uncomfortable even naming the menace. Eventually, he spoke. “...Il Mori Roch.”

“What is 'Mori Roch?'” somepony asked.

“I'm not sure.” Fluttershy scratched her head. “The Shadow? The Dark... something.”

“Sounds bad, whatever it is,” Rainbow Dash rose from her chair by the wall. She approached the front of the table, followed by her friends. “So what is it? Do we have a face to kick in? Are we finally done playing whack-a-mole with these things?” Under her breath, she added, “Finally, a big scary monster to fight!”

Applejack rolled her eyes and whispered, “Like we haven't had enough of that already.”

“Mori Roch... ra–” The pixie started to speak, but beyond repeating the name, only an airy wheeze came out. “Ra túl...” He moved his mouth wordlessly, straining against some unknown force, but soon fell into a coughing fit.

“Oh no! What's wrong?” Fluttershy held Miglan close and ran a hoof along his back. He chirped a few more soft syllables, then buried his face in Fluttershy's mane.

“He said that thing used a curse to keep the Fey from talking about him. The Dream Keeper might be able to help if we can find him. He's strong.” Fluttershy wore a look of concern as she continued to comfort the pixie.

“How are we gonna do that? Does he know where to find him?” Rainbow asked.

“He's really worn out...”

Twilight put a hoof on her friend's shoulder. “We need to know, Fluttershy.”

“Oh, alright...” She gently nudged the Fey and whispered to him. Miglan muttered a bit more and buried himself deeper in Fluttershy's mane, sullen and exhausted.

Fluttershy shook her head. “I'm sorry, everypony, but whatever that Shadow-thing did to him really hurt him out. Please, give him some time.”

Twilight nodded and turned to face the Princesses. “With your permission, Princesses, I will organize an expedition to find this 'Dream Keeper.' It could be the key to everything.”

Celestia exchanged a glance with Luna, who nodded. “Since we're dealing with a powerful and unknown Fey, I'd agree that falls into your area of expertise, Twilight.”

Murmurs of assent came from the councilponies.

“It's decided then. Please, Twilight, be careful.” She placed a hoof over her student's and smiled.

Twilight nodded resolutely. “We won't let you down, Princess!”

“In that case, if there's no other business...?” Celestia looked to the various council members, who shook their heads in agreement. “I think we can bring this meeting to a close. Thank you all for coming.”

At that, sound returned to the chamber as ponies gathered their belongings and prepared to depart. A few groups hung back to have private discussions with other members, or with hopes of speaking to the Princess. Twilight and her friends gathered at one end of the table to discuss strategy, but were soon interrupted by Shining Armor.

“Twily.”

“Shining.”

The two siblings shared a casual hoof bump before breaking into smiles and embracing each other.

“You're really brave, sis. But you know you don't have to do this, right?” Shining Armor's usual confidence carried a hint of worry. “I know how you like to push yourself.”

Twilight placed a hoof on his shoulder. “Don't worry about me, Shining. I have one of the best and strongest BBBFFs around, after all. I doubt he'd let anything happen to me.” She winked.

“Darn right!”

She laughed. “You know, that shield spell of yours saved our hides in the desert. I'm really glad you insisted on teaching it to me.”

“Not that it took much convincing.” Shining gave her a playful nudge and shared her laugh.

“Twilight Sparkle, might I speak with you a moment?” Princess Luna approached the group with a solemn look on her face.

Shining Armor gave Twilight another hug before turning away. “I've got travel arrangements to see to anyway. Later, Twily.” He smiled.

Twilight waved goodbye, then turned back to Luna. “What is it, Princess?”

“It is this 'Dream Keeper.' We have... concerns.” Luna paused for a moment, seemingly conflicted on whether to continue. “We – or, I – am unsure if what I have to say will be of use, but I would be remiss to not mention it.”

“And...?” Twilight cocked her head, confused by Luna's reticence.

Luna sighed. “It happened many nights ago, as I watched over Equestria's dreams. At first I thought it nothing more than my own imagination, but I came to realize it was more than that... The signs were small: misplaced items, faint traces, half-heard sounds. I thought I was chasing nothing more than a wayward dream fragment. It wasn't until today that I considered other possibilities.

“I once trailed this creature to an ethereal swamp, though I never came close enough to actually see it. That place, though... it was unlike any other I'd encountered in the dreamscape. It felt foreign, and was simultaneously open to exploration, yet closed to all answers – as though the dreamscape itself were guarding a great secret, and would not follow my will.” She pursed her lips as she tried to summon her words. “I'm afraid I can think of no other way to explain it. In the end, I found nothing. However, I now believe this may be the realm of the 'Dream Keeper.' Perhaps this will help you in your search.”

“Hmm... There are some large swamps in Equestria that would make a good hiding spot. Not a lot of ponies live in those places.” Twilight scratched her chin in thought. “Thank you, Princess.”

“A word of warning, Twilight Sparkle: if this creature and my phantom are indeed one in the same, it may be very dangerous. We know very little, but to evade detection in my own domain is no small feat.”

Twilight nodded. “Thank you, Princess. We'll be careful.”

“Oh come on!” An exasperated shout from across the room interrupted their conversation. Discord had just noticed the disappearing guests. “Was nopony watching my dance?!”

“Ugh!”

Rainbow Dash spit another clump of spider webs out of her mouth. “I'm really getting sick of this swamp, guys.”

“It's barely been half a day. Quit your belly-achin.'” Applejack pushed another vine out of her path.

“I can't even fly in here without getting caught up in all these branches. Can't I do some scouting above the trees? At least there aren't any spiders up there.” Rainbow Dash swung her hoof at an insect flying around her head.

“Actually, there is a species of arachnid in this swamp that floats above the canopy with specialized web structures, Selenops grifilaticus, more commonly known–”

Rainbow grumbled and shot Twilight an annoyed look.

Twilight gave an embarrassed grin before she turned back to the map and compass she had been holding in her magic. “Ahem. Right... As far as scouting goes, this area has no landmarks and very little terrain. It's mostly just swampland. I'm not even sure how we'd find each other again if we separated.”

“Sorry, Rainbow, guess you’re stuck on the ground with us.” Applejack threw a foreleg around the perturbed pegasus.

Rainbow crossed her forelegs and pouted. “This sucks.”

Once again, Twilight, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash found themselves struggling through Equestria's uncharted wilderness. The Hayseed Swamp, however, was an entirely different beast than the southern deserts. They had traded dry, open dunes for a cramped forest inundated with brackish, stagnant water and oppressive, sticky heat. Clinging vines hung from the thick canopy overhead. Swarms of biting insects harried them almost constantly, allowing no relief aside from the murky pools of water hiding Celestia-knows-what other kinds of horrors. Applejack was silently thankful that Twilight had thought to bring hanging tents. There were small patches of relatively dry ground scattered throughout the swamp, but she had no idea how they would find one when they needed to make camp.

“Our first site should be somewhere nearby,” Twilight said as she scanned the map. “Miglan was more talkative once he recovered, and from what he said, this seems the most likely place for us to find the Dream Keeper.”

“And if he isn't there?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Twilight raised the map above her head so Rainbow could see the red circles she had drawn. “Then we move on to the next site. I've marked out a number of possible locations for the Dream Keeper's hideaway.”

“What did that Shadow-thingy do to him, anyway?” Applejack asked, pulling up beside Twilight.

Twilight furrowed her eyebrows. “I'm not sure, but I couldn't find any magical auras on him. I've read about some ancient spells that supposedly could alter a creature's destiny, maybe 'Mori Roch' put some kind of curse or protection on itself to avoid discovery...Still, for magic like that to cross dimensional boundaries, it must be quite potent.”

Rainbow Dash scratched her mane. “I had just managed to get all that sand out of my hair, and here we are back in the field already.”

“It is a pretty fast turnaround, I'll grant. But it's not like we have any choice – Equestria needs us. With any luck, the Dream Keeper will be able to help, once we find him,” Twilight said.

Applejack nodded resolutely and smiled. “It's a big job, but hay, it's the best lead we've had since the start of this whole mess.”

Even Rainbow managed a small grin. “Heh, it's not like I'd ever leave my ponies hanging. Still, I hope we come up with something soon, otherwise this whole situation is going to get way out of hoof.”

Twilight smiled even wider. “With the power of friendship, I know we can do it! Together!” She tried to step forward to embrace the ponies so dear to her, but her hoof had become stuck in the mud. Twilight tugged a few times, trying to free herself, and nearly toppled over when she did.

Rainbow smirked. “We can hug later. For now, maybe let's find a campsite?”

Twilight blushed. “Good idea.”

The moonlight struggled to reach through the canopy to the ground below. Normally, Applejack welcomed thick shade of trees as respite against the hot summer sun, but tonight she only found herself cursing the shadows that obscured her vision.

She was on edge. Nighttime in the swamp was vastly different from the watches she'd kept in the desert, and she'd volunteered for last watch. The terrain itself was so treacherous that Applejack didn't dare wander. Instead, she had found the best overwatch position she could, and tried not to stare too long at the tiny fire Twilight had managed to eke out of the few dry sticks they had found.

The chorus of frogs had established itself as the sun had set, and even now, hours after their debut, they showed no sign of slowing down. In the dense swamp, the huge variety of sounds blended together into a gentle cadence that swept over Applejack like a warm blanket, beckoning...

“Nope!”

Applejack shook her head. There were too many unknowns out there to fall asleep. She looked back towards the camp where the faint outlines of her companions' hammocks were visible in the fire's red glow.

“Gotta stay awake,” Applejack thought as she opened her saddlebag and pulled out her journal.

“Can't walk, can't sleep, might as well write. This is our first night in Hayseed Swamp. Everything's been fine so far, though RD ain't a fan of this place. Leave it to a pegasus to be restless.

“I can hardly believe that it took us a week to get down here, considering all we learned in Canterlot. Still, I guess there's a lot to get ready for a mission like this, not knowin' exactly what we're after. I'm not complaining, though; got to spend some time with the family, and had a chance to work on that new spell. I haven't showed Twilight yet, but I bet she'll be mighty pleased when I do!

“The boat ride down from Horseshoe Bay was interesting. The captain was nice enough, but these southern ponies are a mite odd. Real superstitious-like. He seemed nervous when we told him how far we wanted to go. Partway down he just stopped the boat and refused to go any farther! Somethin' about the birds flying and bad omens. We had to hoof him another 20 bits just to get him going again. Personally, I think he was just squeezing us for coins. I wouldn't be surprised if he were related to Flim & Flam, darn niblets.”

Applejack looked up. She could just make out a pair of stars peeking through the canopy. She set her journal aside and watched for a while. “If you two could see me now...” Applejack smiled.

After a time, she began to notice gray seeping into the edges of the black canvas above her. She looked back at her friends. The fire was a bit low, but still going. Applejack wasn't sure how Twilight had managed to make those little sticks burn for so long, but she was grateful for the unicorn's skills. “That mare's got a trick for everything.”

Applejack stood up. The coming dawn wasn't strong enough to cast much light through the trees yet, but she could manage. She stoked the fire and quietly filled a pot of water. After it was boiling, she started her familiar morning routine. A few minutes later she was sipping coffee in the fading darkness.

Once a little more light had filtered through the canopy, Applejack looked for an open space near the camp. It was more work than it should have been, but she managed to find a spot between two larger trees without too many branches in her way. She turned to where the sun would soon be rising and lifted herself onto her hind legs. Applejack took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Breathe... mindfulness,” she told herself. She ran through the patterns that Zecora had taught her. As she finished with a final bow, she basked in the increasingly-familiar serenity she felt after completing her routine. A contented sigh escaped her lips.

Applejack turned back towards camp. She spotted Twilight's purple form sitting away from the fire, staring off into the swamp.

“You're up early. Sun's barely even started to rise,” Applejack said as she took a seat next to Twilight.

“It's the frogs. We never had that kind of background noise in Canterlot.” Twilight forced smiled. Her face still wore the weary lines of sleep. Her fur, despite Rainbow's best efforts to provide them with cloud-fresh showers, was already stained with brown. “What were you doing over there anyway?” Twilight motioned to Applejack's clearing.

“That? It's just the stuff Zecora's been teachin' me.” Applejack dismissed the idea with a wave of her hoof. “I've been tryin' make a habit out of it. Zecora says she uses it to 'greet the sun.' I don't quite get that part, but it's been doin' wonders for my stress level.”

“I'm glad to hear it. Maybe I should get Zecora to teach me sometime. Sounds like a nice wake-up technique.” Twilight chuckled. “Does that mean you've quit coffee?”

“Heck no! I'm about to start my third cup.” Applejack smirked. “Want one?”

“Please.”

After reheating the tepid brew, they sat together, admiring what they could in the swampy scene before them.

Twilight sipped her coffee. A degree of normalcy began to return to her face. “You know, I'm starting to agree with Rainbow – this place sucks.” The two of them laughed together.

“Kind of makes the San Palomino look like a vacation, huh?” Applejack caught a glance of her own coat as she lifted her mug. It had a noticeable tinge of swamp mud, just like Twilight's. She was no stranger to getting dirty, but Applejack was already looking forward to a proper shower when they got back. “Maybe Rarity's starting to rub off on me... heh.”

“You know, I have an uncle that used to work down around here,” Applejack said.

“Really?” Twilight looked at Applejack with a curious look. “Is there any place the Apple family doesn’t have roots?”

Applejack chuckled. “Hehe, I reckon we’re just about everywhere... Kooky Uncle Pine, we’d call him. They'd take boats up some of the creeks to pick swamp apples – not great eatin' plain, mind you, but they can make a mean fritter if you know what you're doin'.” Applejack patted her stomach. “I think he's up north somewhere now, haven't seen him in years. Uncle Pine always was a few sips short of a cider barrel.” She took another drink from her mug.

“He came to the reunion one year, told us kids all sorts of stories about life in the swamp. Folk tales, mostly. I remember one about some kind of glowin' lights that would lure ponies into the swamp and disappear... never to be seen again.” Applejack said the last sentence with mock spookiness.

Twilight chuckled lightly, then asked, “They weren't called will-o-wisps, were they?”

“Yeah, that's it.” Applejack smiled. “The stories he told...”

“They're actually real creatures, you know,” Twilight said with a small grin that Applejack recognized as her 'Here's-a-fun-fact' face.

Applejack raised an eyebrow. “Wait, seriously?”

Twilight nodded. “Mm-hm. They're rare magical creatures that live in swamps and feed off emotional energy. Luckily they're mostly harmless on their own, but there are a few reports of them making bad situations worse by enhancing negative emotions.” Twilight took another sip from her mug, unperturbed. “They're exceptionally rare, though.”

Applejack looked out at the swamp with a slightly more serious expression. “One more reason to get out of here as soon as we can, I guess.”

By now, the blackness of the night had faded from the sky, leaving a dull gray blanket of clouds above the trees. The chorus of frogs had faded and was slowly being replaced by the sounds of waking birds hidden in the dense foliage.

“Applejack... I've been meaning to apologize,” Twilight said as she set aside her empty mug.

“Hm? What for, Twi?”

“For all of this”–she waved a hoof at their surroundings–“I know how much you worry about your family when you're away, and this is the second time in a month we've gone off on a long mission in some far-off location.” Twilight nervously rubbed her hooves. “I never thought the situation would get this serious.”

Applejack shook her head. “Shoot, girl, you've gotta stop beatin' yourself up. It ain't your fault, I chose this.” She draped a foreleg around Twilight's shoulders. “Besides, I'm actually feelin' really good about this trip.”

“You are?”

Applejack grinned. “Bet your boots! 'Til now we've just been runnin' around playin' whack-a-mole. Now, we're actually gettin' on track to putting an end to this whole mess.”

“Even if we have to work with Fey?” Twilight looked at Applejack with concern.

Applejack's smile faded as she looked off into the swamp. She unconsciously flicked one of her ears a few times. “Yeah, I'm not too keen on that. It's hard to trust them after... you know. I know they're not all bloodthirsty monsters, but...” She sighed. “I'm tryin' to give them the benefit of the doubt. Way I see it, we ain't got much choice anyway.” She looked back at Twilight with a small smile and shrugged.

Twilight returned a small smile. “Glad to hear it. And you're right, we're making progress. Still, I can't help but worry where this is all headed. If there really is something behind all of this, it could get a lot more dangerous before we're done.”

“Whatever it is, Sugarcube, we'll handle it together.” Applejack tightened her foreleg into a comforting half-hug.

“That's what we're here for!” Rainbow Dash suddenly came from behind and wrapped her forelegs around both of them.

“Gah!”

“Whoa!”

Applejack gasped at the same time as Twilight. “Dang, Rainbow, I didn't hear a peep out of y'all!”

Rainbow pulled back and waved a hoof. “Pfft! I'm the scout, AJ, give me a little credit!” she said as she floated back towards their camp. “Now let's get crackin'!”

Twilight trotted merrily – at least, as much as one could through the mud and grass under their hooves. “Remember what we're looking for, girls, the–”

“Sorcerer Cypress,” Applejack and Rainbow Dash replied in bored unison.

“Right! And you'll know it by the–”

“Purple mottled leaves and elongated fruit,” they answered again.

“You only told us like a million times!” Rainbow said, rolling her eyes.

“Just making sure you remember!” Twilight called back cheerfully. “From what Miglan said, it should have–”

“A carved circle over the entrance,” the other two ponies said, once again, in unison. Rainbow Dash raised a hoof to her face.

“Right!” Twilight grinned widely, seemingly unaware of her comrades’ annoyance. “They only grow in a small area near the coastal swamps here, so if we try hard and keep our eyes peeled, we should be able to find the Dream Keeper in a few days.”

“Is this it?” Rainbow Dash hovered next to a large tree with a circle about the size of a pony's head carved into the trunk.

Twilight turned around, eyes wide with surprise. She examined the tree with one eyebrow arched. “Huh. I was expecting something more like my library. This just looks like a plain old tree.”

Rainbow Dash knocked on the trunk. “Hello? Anypony home?”

Applejack rolled her eyes. “Rainbow, I doubt–”

The bark on the tree suddenly shifted, revealing a pair of crude eyes and a large opening that seemed to be a mouth. A low rumble came from inside the tree.

“Whoa! Uh, hi,” Rainbow Dash began. “Are you – Hey!”

The pegasus was cut off by a large tree limb swinging at her head. She barely managed to dodge in time. “Watch it!”

A second limb came crashing through the foliage toward Twilight and Applejack. The unicorn's horn flared, engulfing the two ponies in purple light and teleporting them out of the creature's reach. The limb slammed into the ground where they had been standing, sending up a spray of wet dirt and grass. The impact echoed with a muted thump.

“I wish you'd warn me when you're doin' that.” Applejack blinked a few time to clear the vertigo assaulting her senses.

“I don't remember reading anything about this!” Twilight pulled a book from her saddlebags and began rapidly leafing through the pages.

The tree began to tear itself out of the ground, swinging another huge branch towards Rainbow. Applejack raised a hoof in their direction and green light began to flow through the swirling, vine-like runes on her foreleg. The foliage around them came to life, reaching out towards the tree-creature as vines wrapped themselves around its limbs, holding back its massive form.

“Now's not really the time for readin', Twilight!” Applejack said. “I can't hold this thing for long!”

“Gah! You're right!” Twilight quickly shut the book and put it back in her saddlebags.

“Just burn it, AJ!” Rainbow Dash yelled as she flapped backward away from the creature.

“I can't! The whole forest could go up!”

“It's definitely Fey,” Twilight said, her horn pulsing white with her detection spell.

The tree-creature opened its mouth and let out a strange, deep sound like wood grinding on stone. It struggled against the vines that were wrapped around its limbs, easily tearing them with its mighty strength. Only the sheer number of vines kept it from breaking free immediately.

“I got an idea! This way!” Applejack took off running through the swamp, dodging trees and nimbly stepping between tangled roots. “All those years runnin' the Sisterhooves Social are payin' off!”

She could see bursts of purple light on the edge of her vision as Twilight flashed in and out of reality, teleporting to keep up with her. Rainbow had flown up through the canopy and was following close overhead.

Applejack stopped when she reached a patch of relatively firm ground. She turned to face the oncoming creature. “Right here! Now stand back!”

The tree-creature was crashing through the swamp with savage recklessness, creating a terrible sound like a train bearing down on them and shaking the ground beneath their hooves. Its roots had twisted into surprisingly agile makeshift legs. A burning red glow had begun to shine from its eyes and mouth. Trees and shrubs alike were tossed aside effortlessly as the creature charged towards Applejack, ripping holes in the canopy with the vines hanging from its limbs.

Just before it reached her, the rune on Applejack's leg glowed once again, and a nearby tree suddenly snapped down, catching the giant's root-legs and sending it toppling forward directly towards her.

“Applejack!” Twilight and Rainbow Dash looked on in shock. It seemed as though their friend was about to be crushed. Applejack, however, wore a look of defiant confidence – she was actually grinning. At the final moment, she spun, planting her front hooves firmly on the ground and kicking her rear legs into the air, setting her entire body like a coiled spring.

A faint, white glow began to pour from from her hooves, filling in the barely-visible runes she had etched into their surface. The light grew stronger as she bucked, and when she made contact with the tree, a bright flash of light erupted between them.

“Look out above!”

Amazingly, the force of Applejack's kick sent the creature flying upward nearly thirty feet. It soared through the air, mesmerizing the two onlookers. It landed a short distance away with a loud crash and all but ceased moving. Splinters fell all around them like rain.

“Yeehaw!” Applejack reared back and cheered triumphantly.

Twilight stood agape. Applejack trotted by merrily and winked. “Reduced effect on Fey, huh?” She flicked her tail up to close Twilight's hanging jaw as she passed.

The tree-creature lay there, gently twisting and untwisting its roots and emitting a soft, pitiful sound. Applejack casually hopped up onto its trunk and began to cast her banishing spell.

“That. Was. AWESOME!” Rainbow cried as she flew back down to rejoin her friends. “I knew you were strong, Applejack, but WOW!”

“You never cease to amaze, Applejack,” Twilight said, having regained her wits.

“Glad y'all enjoyed the show.” Applejack grinned. The tendrils of her banishing spells reached out and began to engulf the creature. “I've been savin' that one for–” She stopped short as her spell faded. The creature hadn't vanished as expected. Instead, it had simply reverted back into a normal tree. “Huh?”

“Well done! Well done!” An unfamiliar voice echoed down from above them, accompanied by the sound of clapping. “I can see you are formidable warriors. Far stronger than I, certainly.”

The ponies' heads snapped to look at the source of the voice. They saw a small creature sitting on a branch. Its bottom half looked like the hind legs of a goat, while the top resembled a dun-colored feline with horns. It grinned widely, apparently pleased with the scene below.

The creature spread its arms wide. “Greetings! I am called Alterius.”

“Are you the Dream Keeper?” Twilight asked.

“The what?” Alterius tilted his head at an almost impossible angle, still grinning.

“Er... I think your word is 'Lewintar.'”

“Oh! Oh, no no no no no. I'm what you might call his...” Alterius looked off into the distance and tapped a finger on his chin, “...protector, I believe?”

Rainbow Dash pointed a hoof at the creature. “What a minute! How can you speak Equestrian? You're Fey, aren't you?”

“Lewintar is a good teacher,” Alterius said, looking back down at them. “He's very shy. Doesn't usually like visitors, but expecting some soon. Perhaps you are they?”

Applejack stepped forward. “We are! One of our fairy friends sent us here.”

“That remains to be seen. You three are mighty, yes, but are you clever?” Alterius swung down to a lower branch, giggling with excitement. “Let us play a game!”

“Do we really have time for this?” Applejack whispered to Twilight.

“Let's just see what he wants,” she replied.

“You agree?” Alterius looked at the trio expectantly.

Twilight raised a hoof. “If we prove ourselves, you'll show us to the Lewintar?”

“Yes, yes!” Alterius nodded excitedly.

“Okay, we'll play.”

“Excellent, excellent!” Alterius clapped his paws bounced on his perch. “It's been such a long time. Lewintar is rather boring, to be true. So serious!”

“What do we have to do?” Twilight asked.

“It's simple: I ask a question, you answer. Easy!”

Applejack flicked her ears. “Go ahead, then.”

“How many trees are in this forest?” Alterius spread his arms wide as he asked.

Rainbow furrowed her eyebrows. “Is that supposed to be a joke? What kind of question is that?”

“It is mine.” Alterius shrugged. “The answer is yours. Do you have it?”

“Just a moment.” Twilight's eyes glazed over and she muttered brief calculations to herself. “Average stem density... hectares... carry the one... Best estimate, approximately 2.12 million trees.”

Alterius shook his head and laughed. “Wrong, wrong, so wrong! Try again! How many trees are here?”

Twilight stuttered in frustration. “But... it's impossible to know exactly how many trees are in the swamp!”

“We don't have time for this, girls.” Applejack pointed a hoof towards the Fey. “If he's here, then the Dream Keeper must be nearby. Let's forget him and find it ourselves.”

“I'm with AJ,” Rainbow said, turning to follow Applejack.

“How sad, too bad.” Alterius pulled out a set of wooden pipes and began to play. “Come back when you change your mind!”

The ponies walked off into the swamp with Twilight complaining about the various impossibilities of an exact tree count.

After an hour of searching, the ponies were no closer to finding their goal. Rainbow Dash had even flown over the area (with careful coordination and signaling with Twilight to avoid getting lost), but she hadn't seen any sign of the Dream Keeper.

“I'm a little surprised we haven't seen any signs yet,” Twilight said as she made another mark on her map. “Let's try a little further inland.”

As the trio walked, they began to hear the sound of cheerful pipes in the distance. They approached, and found a small clearing containing a half-goat creature playing a happy tune.

“It's you!” Rainbow Dash pointed an accusatory hoof as Alterius. “How did you get ahead of us?”

“Wait a minute, y'all... This is the same place as before. Look, there's that tree-thingy of his.” Applejack pointed to one side of the clearing, where an uprooted tree lay on its side.

“That's impossible! We were heading south. I checked!” Twilight glared at her compass and gave it a shake.

“Ah, ponies! You've returned. Come to play more?” Alterius set his pipes aside and clapped happily.

Applejack stepped forward. “Just what are you doin' with us, fella? You let us go right now!”

“You can go whenever you wish. The world is free, after all. However,”–a determined expression briefly passed over his face–“none may see the master without my permission.”

Just as quickly as it had appeared, Alterius' expression snapped back into a whimsical grin. “Now, the game?”

The ponies let out a collective sigh. “Hoof in a hay barrel,” Applejack muttered.

“I think we have to, girls,” Twilight said, rubbing a hoof on her temple.

Rainbow Dash groaned. “Really?”

“More fun? How fun!” Alterius played a brief, cheerful riff on his pipes. “The question remains the same: How many trees are in the forest?”

Twilight's eye twitched. “How are we supposed to know that?! It's impossible!”

“Would you like a hint?”

“Yes!” the ponies cried as one.

“The answer is seven. Now then, how many trees are there?”

Applejack raised an eyebrow. “Uh, seven?” she said, a bit confused.

Alterius giggled. “Wrong! Ten!”

“But you just said...! Rrrr!” Applejack slammed a hoof on the ground.

“That was last time, not this time. How many trees, ponies?”

Rainbow Dash shrugged. “Is this some kind of riddle? Hay, I don't know. Fifteen?”

“No! Four!” Alterius giggled even more. “Tell me how many trees!”

The rune on Applejack's cheek glowed with a threatening red light, distorting the air with heat. She spoke in an icy voice through clenched teeth. “Now listen here, Fey. I don't appreciate being jerked around, especially by your kind. I have half a mind to burn my way through this here test, consequences be damned.”

Alterius waved a finger. “Tsk tsk, pony, that's against the rules.”

“AJ...” Twilight placed a hoof on Applejack's chest, gently holding her back.

Applejack turned away and took a deep breath. The red light faded. “I'm fine,” she said, still clearly frustrated.

“There must be something we're missing...” Twilight scratched her chin and turned away from Alterius. She stared off into the swamp, thinking.

“You miss much, but in this case, only a little thing.” Alterius grinned, clearly pleased with his game.

“Can it, you.” Rainbow Dash glared at the Fey. “Twelve,” she added suddenly.

“No, five.” Alterius picked up his pipes and began to play parts of his song again between sentences. “Once again, how many trees?”

“Worth a shot.” Rainbow shrugged and rolled her eyes. “Too bad Pinkie isn't here, these two would get along great.”

“Wait a moment...” Twilight turned back to the group with a grin. “It's six!”

Alterius burst out laughing. “Yes! Well done, purple pony, well done!” He clapped.

“Huh?” Applejack and Rainbow Dash both gave Twilight confused looks.

Twilight smiled triumphantly. “It's a game, like he said. The question doesn't actually matter, the answer is just the number of words he uses to ask it! Unless there's a hanging introductory phrase, then you multiply – that part tripped me up.”

“That's our gal,” Applejack said with pride. She clapped Twilight on the shoulder.

“The Master will see you now.” Alterius smiled and snapped his fingers. Behind him, a tangle of vines parted to reveal a pathway covered with leaves.

“Finally!” Rainbow Dash said as she walked towards the path.

“Good luck! And do come back sometime, we'll play another game!” Alterius called after them. They waved, happy to finally be on the way towards their goal.

Twilight beamed. “Isn't this great? We've even ahead of schedule!”

Rainbow Dash was the first to spot the cottage. “That must be it.” She pointed towards the large cypress tree ahead of them, with characteristic mottled leaves. Nestled in a hole in the base was a piece of bark that seemed to be a crude door. The expected circle was carved into the trunk above it. Small charms made of bone, wood, and fur hung from the lower branches. Overall, it looked rather similar to Zecora's hut, but slightly more subtle in presentation.

Before they could say anything else, the makeshift door creaked open. From the shadows, a small creature emerged. He stood on two webbed feet and held a wooden cane. Green, frog-like skin was partially hidden under a roughspun robe and dark-colored veil. His head was wide and seemed to blend seamlessly with his neck. He paused, taking a deep breath through his nostrils, and spoke.

“You're late.”

Author's Notes:

Just over a year ago, I wrote up a short story piece on a whim after seeing a piece of fanart. That spiraled into a whole adventure, and I've been enjoying it the entire way. Hopefully everyone else has too. I had originally intended to get the chapter out before the 1-year anniversary, but unfortunately it took just long enough that the holidays got in the way of that goal.

I know the pace has been pretty slow (about 4 months per chapter). You'll just have to bear with me. Unfortunately, real life only leaves so much time for writing, and this is just one hobby of many. Rest assured, I always have and still do plan to see this through to the end, it'll just take some time. I'd estimate probably another year or so, if I keep my current pace – though that might change once I graduate (probably for the better). Most of the story structure is planned out, so I just need to find the time and decide on details (I have a 20-page document filled with various notes and snippets of writing for future chapters). Anyway, enough gabbing.

This chapter, wow. Apparently I'm vastly underestimating how long these chapters are getting. Originally I had planned to cut this one off before the swamp, but I wanted to include some action this time to make up for last chapter not having any (I know why you're all here ). I'll see if I can't cut up the next few a little finer. Maybe that'll help me get them out faster, too! The next few chapters should get back to more action like the earlier ones, so stay tuned!

A few more comments on this chapter:
* The show is pretty inconsistent about travel times & distances between locations, even ones nearby on the map. I went with a longer time for the train, mostly because it felt right to me.
* If you're interested, the game that Alterius plays is called “The Elephant Game,” though I tweaked it a bit.
* For anyone still wondering about the fandom reference in the last chapter, it was the brief mention of Trailblazer/Hoofington, a reference to d20Pony. It's cool, go check it out!
* I didn't realize until I had finished the chapter that the Dream Keeper is basically Yoda.

Thanks for reading! And as always, thanks to my reviewers AlicornPriest and MindAssassin. You guys really do make this story better!

2/11/14 Update -- Added a reference to the Tree of Harmony in Discord's dialogue that I totally forgot to include until now. =P

Chapter 5: Understanding

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The frog-like fey sniffed the air again. “Three... hm.” He turned and beckoned them forward with gnarly, webbed fingers. “Come, we must begin,” he said, promptly disappearing inside the dark hollow of the tree.

“Is that...?” Rainbow Dash furrowed her brow in confusion.

Applejack shrugged. “Guess so,” she said as she walked, ducking her head to pass through the narrow entrance.

The scene that greeted them was nothing like they had expected. In contrast to the other tree-homes they had seen, the Dream Keeper's cottage – if it could even be called that – was dank and dimly lit. The floor was little more than packed earth, and the ceiling consisted of a low-hanging tangle of roots that felt more like an opportunistic burrow than any purposefully-built home. A few wooden bowls glowed with embers, releasing an aromatic smoke that slowly danced in the slivers of light trickling through the walls. In one corner was a small, murky pool that may have been used for sleeping or bathing, though it was hard to know which. A few scattered stumps looked as though they could be used as seats, while in other areas the roots seemed to have been woven into makeshift shelves.

A number of strange decorations dangled from the ceiling, similar to the bone idols hanging outside. Even stranger were the items arrayed on one of the larger shelves. Wooden cages containing various creatures sat next to haunting effigies and contraptions of unfathomable purpose. The Dream Keeper was hunched over one of them – a rough wooden box with a lid made of bark. Inside, the ponies spied some kind of dead animal swarmed by large, black beetles. The fey plucked one of the insects and placed it in his mouth, chewing thoughtfully. Rainbow Dash stuck her tongue out in disgust.

“You, pony.” The Dream Keeper turned to face Applejack, somehow pinpointing her with his clouded eyes. “Why are you here?”

“We're here to save Equestria, heard you could help us,” she said with a nod.

“A noble goal, but often impossible.” The fey took a step forward, clearly unsatisfied. “Who do you protect?”

Applejack cocked her head. “Uh... the ponies of Equestria?”

“No.” The Lewintar tapped a finger on her nose. His eyes drifted, looking just off-center from Applejack's face. “Why. Who is most dear?”

“Well... guess that’s my family – and my friends!” Applejack added, tossing her forelegs around her companions' shoulders. She couldn't help but grin.

“Hmm, ar-nòa...” The Lewintar surprised her by suddenly reaching up and grasping her cheek, pinching the flesh as though searching for something only he could see. He plucked a hair, eliciting a wince from Applejack, before abruptly turning back to his eclectic collection.

“We were told you might be able to help us,” Twilight said, stepping forward. “You see, one of the fairies said–”

“I know,” he said without looking. The Dream Keeper dropped Applejack's fur into one of the wooden bowls. He grabbed a sprig of some dried herb, holding it close to the embers, and gently blew until it began to crackle. He held the burning leaves uncomfortably close to his face, listening intently until the flames sputtered out.

The Lewintar slowly ambled away from the bench, tapping a webbed finger on his chin. “Hmm... the Fates were silent on your kind. Until recently, they said nothing of no'st templá... your magic, released.”

A few old bones sat in the Dream Keeper's hand, gently rattling as he ran his fingers over them. “But... hm. Daenam ik'taan, perhaps there is a chance now.”

“Hold on a minute, is he trying to say he can see the future?” Rainbow Dash pointed an accusatory hoof at the fey. “I call BS.”

“Rainbow!” Twilight hissed.

The Lewintar emitted a low, burbling chuckle. “You are wise to doubt me, though wrong, in this event.” He flashed what could be called a wry smile. “Miglan performed his task well, if slowly. It was I, after all, who sent him those dreams.”

“So... Does that mean you're the one that Princess Luna sensed in the dreamscape?”

“The solemn one? Yes, I remember her. Almost as old as I, I think. Conflicted, yet strong and driven.” He tapped a finger on his temple. “But I am clever, and have much practice.”

“Fascinating. And you're how old, exactly?” Twilight's eyes lit up as she summoned a notebook and quill from her saddlebags. “I'm also interested in hearing the precise functions you perform as 'Lewintar.'”

The Dream Keeper smirked. “You know this already, I think. It was countless moons ago that I drank the Milk of Vision, as my n'alkh edan before me...” The fey trailed off, momentarily staring into nothingness. He slowly turned and walked to one of the nearby stumps, gingerly resting his hands on his knees. “Those were happier times. But we are distracted, and time runs short. You cannot hope to defeat your enemy without understanding.”

“Does that mean...?”

The Lewintar nodded. “I will tell you of Mori Roch.”

His story began long ago, in the realm of the Fey. The First World was an immense, primeval garden covered with verdant forests and wide, rolling plains. Many fey lived as nomads, wandering until some curiosity convinced them to settle for a time. Others lived in small villages, caring for and protecting their own tiny slices of home. It was a place of peace and harmony rarely broken, where an endless parade of scents and sounds danced through the air like a beautiful melody.

The Dream Keeper lived in his own small abode outside of one of those villages. 'Lewintar' was a position of respect, a long-lived fey who kept their histories alive. When decisions needed to be made, or threats appeared, fey would seek the Lewintar's wisdom. But threats were rare, and their problems few. The Lewintar spent most of his days tending his small garden, or telling tales to the younger fey. He took great pride in his stories, carefully crafting each one to capture his audience and leave them just a bit wiser than when they had arrived. For the Dream Keeper, there was no greater joy in the world. It was peaceful for many years, but there came a day – none recall exactly which – when their home began to change.

It began as a distant shadow over the land – a minor curiosity that was easily forgotten, like a passing storm. But soon there were signs of something darker. It was small at first, minor troubles that were easily dismissed as pests or nuisances – sickly trees, lost harvests, and the like. Before they realized what was happening, however, the blight had already begun to engulf them. It spread like a plague, corrupting everything it touched. Animals fled, once-plentiful fruits withered on their vines. The forest died, and the earth became barren. The fey's home was transformed into a twisted mockery of gnarled trees and blackened soil. The beauty was gone, and all that remained was the stench of decay.

Many fled. Even worse, some were lured in by morbid curiosity. Their minds were warped, and they became wicked versions of their former selves – drawn to the blight and bent on spreading its influence. Despite the efforts of the Lewintar and other powerful fey, they could do little more than slow its spread.

Then, he appeared.

Mori Roch... a monster from another world. An evil creature with deathly eyes and a soul of black ice. He arrived as a conqueror and claimed dominion over the fey, enslaving those who had yet to be corrupted by his dark magic. He raised a castle of glass and bone, and called himself King. Any who resisted were hunted down and killed. Or worse.

“I couldn't leave,” the Lewintar explained. “Never.”

Despite his courage, their numbers dwindled. One-by-one, his allies fell until he alone remained. His capture was inevitable – blind as he was – and when it finally happened, he was brought before the Dark One himself.

“At last, the esteemed Lewintar.” Mori Roch's voice was deep and oily slick. He exuded an air of calm confidence, but underneath was a deep-seeded anger that seem to infect everything around him. “I've been eagerly awaiting the honor,” he said with mock sweetness.

The Lewintar remained silent, his lidded eyes cast toward the ground.

“You're the last, you know,” he continued. “The last that matters, anyway. The stragglers are weak, barely even fit for slavery,” he spat. “My kingdom reaches farther than any of you pathetic creatures have ever known, and grows larger by the day.”

Still, the Lewintar remained silent. He had lost, and it burned him inside.

“Nothing to say? Your friends were much more talkative.” Mori Roch leaned in close. “They screamed. You should have heard it... it was beautiful.”

“You are a monster,” the elder fey seethed. He felt empty. “I will revel in your defeat.”

“Ha! You put too much faith in your visions, frog.” Mori Roch blithely pushed the Dream Keeper, easily toppling him. “Make no mistake, the only reason you're still alive is because I think you could be useful.” He stepped away from the Dream Keeper. “Believe it or not, I don't care about your world; it's filthy and unorganized. I view it as nothing more than another step towards my true goal.” His voice dripped with venom as he said, “I have unfinished business elsewhere.”

Lewintar scoffed. “And how does this one fit in?”

“Your kin call you wise,” Mori Roch said. “For your sake, I hope they are right.”

“I am nothing more than I am meant to be.”

“Oh, how humble,” he said. “I wish to leave this place, but the borders of your world are thick. With your help, I should be able to finish my work much more quickly.

“The benefit to you – aside from your life – is that once I'm gone you might actually have a chance to take back your home – though I doubt it.” He leaned closed to the Lewintar again, speaking in a darkly sympathetic tone. “What do you say?”

“What else could I do?”

He agreed. For many years, the Dream Keeper toiled in the King's grim castle. He lent his knowledge of the First World and of fey magic, devising means that might allow access to the land he now knew as Equestria.

Mori Roch was obsessed, and when progress grew slow, he was quick to anger. More than once the Lewintar found himself the target of Mori Roch's wrath; even now, he still bore the scars. The King grew frustrated and began insisting on more and more dangerous experiments. In service to his new master, the Lewintar was forced to perform horrible, unspeakable acts that would haunt his mind forever.

One day, after a particularly disastrous failure, Mori Roch sequestered himself in his quarters. It was weeks before he was seen again, and in that time the only sign of his presence was an eerie glow that spilled from his tower, punctuated by unearthly screams echoing in the night.

When he emerged, Mori Roch delivered to the Lewintar an item of his own making – something he hoped would be the key they needed to pierce the heavy barriers surrounding the First World. He gave it to the captive fey and ordered him to familiarize himself with the artifact – they would begin testing the next day.

When he first touched the artifact, the Lewintar couldn't help but recoil. He felt the same unnatural rage flowing from the key as he had from Mori Roch. It was a heavy stone, warm to the touch and twisted like frozen fire. It was simultaneously repulsive and alluring. To create an item of such power... It was hard to believe that even Mori Roch was capable of such a feat. Surely it would be the key that was needed.

The Lewintar began work that night, and met with surprising results. After only a few hours of tinkering, he had already grasped the threads of reality and opened a passage through space, at least temporarily. The path to Equestria opened before him. All that was left was the relatively simple task of stabilizing it.

As he stood there, the Dream Keeper felt the long-forgotten touch of fresh breeze on his skin. He could smell the flowers and the forest, pristine like his own home had once been. Could he really condemn this new world to the same fate, for only a chance to reclaim his own?

No.

He could never. Instead, he took the key and did what he had once considered unthinkable. He fled.

A heavy silence hung in the air as the Dream Keeper finished his tale. Rainbow Dash was the first to speak.

“...Wow.”

“Sweet Celestia, that's awful,” Applejack said.

The fey smiled sadly. “You are kind to say so... My arrival was nearly one hundred moons ago. I did not know if, or when, Mori Roch would come searching. So I guarded the key with the most powerful wards I knew and hid it as best I could. Carrying it was simply too dangerous.

“Mori Roch has guarded himself, and it is difficult to see where the future lies, but one thing is certain – you will need the key if you hope to defeat Mori Roch.” He shut his eyes and let out a beleaguered sigh. “It seems I was a fool not to keep it.”

Rainbow Dash groaned. “Great, another errand to run. Please tell me we're done with the swamp, at least.”

“Where can we find this 'key?'” Twilight said, stepping in front of Rainbow.

The Lewintar croaked gently as he thought. “When I arrived in this world, I found myself in a small forest, surrounded on all sides by a dry sea. I dared not carry the key openly, so I buried it there before crossing the salted expanse.” He reflexively curled his webbed toes. “It was very painful.”

“From there, I traveled towards the rising sun until the land reached towards the sky. With much work, I found a passage through the mountains and descended into the realm in which we now reside.” He gestured to his clouded eyes. “I am sorry I cannot be more specific.”

“The fella outside... would he've been able to see more?” Applejack suggested.

“Alterius? No, he came later. A new traveler.” The fey smiled softly. “He is young, and impulsive, but his insight is strong. He will make a worthy successor one day.”

“That does raise another question,” Twilight said, tapping a hoof on her chin. “Why are the Dark Fey only coming through now, and why are their appearances so dispersed?”

The Dream Keeper drummed his fingers idly as he thought. “Perhaps Mori Roch's experiments have weakened the barriers between our worlds. Perhaps he thinks it cunning. It is difficult to say. Regardless, it is a worrying sign.”

“Is there anything else you can tell us? About the key, or Mori Roch?”

The fey raised a single finger. “Hubris. Mori Roch is powerful, and thinks himself invincible. Use that, it is your best chance.” The fey shook his head. “I am sorry, but I should say no more, or I risk disturbing the strings of fate. Such would be rashwe'en...” He tapped his chin. “...very bad.”

“So the big guy’s a little too cocky, eh?” Applejack said. “I can see how that’d come in handy. Sounds like we’ll be needin’ any edge we can get.”

“Take caution on your journey. I know not what type of foul magics may have leached from the stone since I left it.” He slowly stood from his seat, joints popping as he rose. “Now, it is time for you to leave. Go, retrieve the key, and do not dawdle. You may just save this world yet.”

Twilight opened her mouth to protest, but then sighed and reluctantly stowed her notebook. “Very well. Thank you, Lewintar.” She bowed deeply before leaving.

Rainbow followed, grumbling about being sent on another trek. “Better not hear 'your princess is in another castle!' when we get there...”

“Ay-jay,” The Dream Keeper called as Applejack turned to follow her friends. “A moment.”

She looked back over her shoulder. “Hm? Yeah?”

“You have an important role to play in the coming conflict. I cannot say exactly what you will do, but fate has a way of... balancing, shall we say. To defeat a great evil, a sacrifice is required.”

Applejack swallowed. “...What kind of sacrifice?”

He shrugged. “I do not know. But for such an act, the loss will certainly be great.”

Applejack was silent for a moment. She looked back to the Lewintar with determination in her eyes, nodded, and turned back towards the door, placing her hat on her head as she stepped into the light.

“Ain't that just the way...”

“What was that about, AJ?” Twilight asked after Applejack joined them outside.

“What? Oh, uh... it was nothin'! He just wanted to feel my face some more, give some encouragement and all that,” she stammered. “Say, where're we meetin' that boat, anyhow?”

Twilight raised an eyebrow. “We're not, remember?” She tapped her horn. “If my calculations are correct, we're just close enough to Horseshoe Bay that I can get us back with a single jump.”

Applejack gulped. “Oh, right. That.”

“So what's the plan after that?” Rainbow asked.

“The Dream Keeper arrived west of here, and there's nothing in that direction but the Badlands for hundreds of miles.” Twilight tapped her chin. “Though the geology there is all wrong for salt plains and plant life. Then again, it's never been particularly well-mapped. Who knows what we could find deeper in.”

“Well I'm just glad it's not another swamp. This place is really cramping my style.” Rainbow took the the air with a quick flip. “Should be good flying with all those thermals!”

“Rainbow, there's a Pegasus Post in Horseshoe Bay, correct?”

“Well, yeah. Of course.” Rainbow Dash gave Twilight a confused look. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“I need to send a letter when we get back. If we're going to recover an ancient fey artifact, it might be a good idea to bring more ponies with us. I'm hesitant to call them off their assignment early, but I believe Maud and her team are still in Dodge Junction for another week.”

“That should be interestin', at least,” Applejack said.

Rainbow's ears perked up. “Maud? Oh ho ho, I've heard stories! Can't wait to see her in action!”

“If we're lucky, you won't have to. Still, it's better to be safe than sorry.” Twilight took a few steps into the clearing. “Gather 'round, girls, it's time to go.”

Applejack followed, shifting nervously on her hooves. “You sure it's safe to teleport all that way?”

“Quite safe. Now, hold onto your hat!”

After a flash and a familiar falling sensation, Applejack found herself once again losing her lunch, this time on the sunny outskirts of Horseshoe Bay.

“Lovely.”

Cherry Jubilee's cottage was an impressive structure – a rustic yet stylish cabin that was bigger than the Apple family's farmhouse. It was a bit out of the way, but a bumpy carriage ride was a small price to pay for the relative luxury they had here.

Cherry had been eager to offer her own cottage when Twilight first wrote to her about potential housing for fey agents. Applejack didn't doubt it, having seen the older mare's generosity firsthand. Hay, she could probably even give Rarity a run for her money! Still, Cherry was so happy to reconnect with Applejack and her friends that she would've kept them in Dodge Junction an entire week if Twilight hadn't insisted that they leave as soon as possible. The evening ride gave them a chance to relax and watch the first few stars appear as the sun sank below the horizon. One thing was for sure, the ponies stationed here were a lucky bunch.

The following evening saw the three ponies seated in the spacious main room of Cherry's cottage, double-checking that their bags were ready to go at a moment's notice (at Twilight's insistence). Maud's team had yet to return, but Twilight expected that they would be back soon. “88% of fey incidents from this station are resolved within 48 hours,” she'd informed them.

“Are we really going to head out in this if they come back?” Rainbow Dash pointed toward the window and the rapidly fading light beyond. Rain clouds had started to roll in over the past hour – a rare event so close to the Badlands, where pegasi left the weather to its natural rhythms. Drops of water had begun peppering the windows, and a distant peal of thunder emphasized Rainbow's question.

“Well, no,” Twilight admitted. “But it never hurts to be prepared.”

“Ain't that the truth,” Applejack said as she snapped her saddlebags shut. “Pretty sure I'm ready over here.”

“I just don't wanna risk this baby getting wet and shrinking or something.” Rainbow pulled out her new stealth suit and ran a hoof gently across it, a small grin on her face.

Twilight rolled her eyes. “Once again, Rainbow, dragonscale doesn't shrink.”

“I know, but... I don't know.”

“She sure is protective of that suit,” Applejack said, recalling Rainbow's excitement when she first showed them the suit and its properties. “But I'm tellin' ya RD, you gotta relax when you're casting those spells. If you keep straining like that, you're gonna pop a vessel or somethin'.”

“Yes, professor,” Rainbow Dash said, rolling her eyes. “It's not like I'm some recruit fresh out of training.”

“I'm just sayin'.”

“Kidding, AJ.” Rainbow winked and stuck out her tongue. “That reminds me, have they found a new place to train ponies yet? That college basement must be getting cramped.”

Twilight sighed. “It is. The last I heard was that Princess Celestia has been working with the Dean to outfit some of the castle gardens as training grounds, but it's been difficult with the city so crowded. There's a lot to take care of.” She secured her own saddlebags and hung them by the door. “I think they're getting close, the Princess was apparently discussing commendations for nobles that make donations to the program.”

“Politics at work,” Rainbow quipped.

“It has to be done somehow.” Twilight shrugged.

“Fair enough. Our job hasn't been getting any easier, that's for sure.”

Suddenly, the front door burst open. Standing in the entryway was a tall, azure-coated mare. Dusty, rugged boots ran up her hind legs. Various pouches and daggers hung from an assortment of worn straps. Her striped tail and cutiemark of a crossed wand and crescent were briefly revealed as the wind pulled at her star-patterned cloak. A matching hat with a wide brim obscured most of her face, save for a wicked grin that split her muzzle.

“Well, well, well. If it isn't Twilight Sparkle.”

Author's Notes:

Hey, look who's not dead!

Howdy all, did you miss me? It's been some time. Sorry to make you wait, but hopefully it will be worth it. I've still been kept busy by life, but I've been chipping away at this as time allows. Lucky for you, I actually have the next chapter mostly written as well, so it should be out relatively quickly, more so than this one. It's a good one, too. I've been looking forward to it for a while, so hopefully it lives up! Afterwards, I expect that I'll have a bit more time on my hands to write (the job search has finally paid dividends!). This is still just a hobby, and I'm rather picky about getting my writing presentable before I publish it, so it won't be fast by any means, but I'll try to make sure I don't drop out like this again.

Let me know if you spot any errors! I am most certainly fallible.

As always, thanks to my pre-reader AlicornPriest for helping improve this story!

Earth Ponies Can Cast Spells Too

by Paulicus

Chapter 1: Changing Times

Chapter 2: Locked On

Chapter 3: Home

Chapter 4: The Meeting

Chapter 5: Understanding