> The Wicker Mare
>  by Jade Ring
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Prologue: Corn Rigs
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


For Robin Hardy, Anthony Shaffer, Edward Woodward, and Christopher Lee.
Accept this sacrifice.


The grand throne room of Canterlot was one of the wonders of Equestria.

Pillars of polished marble and floors of stunning alabaster blinded the unprepared when their surfaces caught the sun’s rays at certain times of the day. Great curtains of velvet adorned immaculate stained glass windows that depicted some of the greatest moments in Equestria’s long, long history. The room typically played host to visiting dignitaries, foreign heads of state, and only the highest of Canterlot nobility.

The mare who knelt expectantly at the foot of the great red stairs that climbed up to the raised throne dais was none of those things. She was a shy, quiet, and quite friendless unicorn mare with a coat of violet, a student in the Princess’ own school. 

“Twilight Sparkle.”

The mare visibly winced at the authoritative tone and rose obediently to her hooves. She kept her gaze firmly planted on the carpeted stairs. “You summoned me, your Majesty?” When there was no response, Twilight reluctantly raised her head… and beheld a god in pony form.

Princess Celestia’s flawless white coat seemed to glow with the very light of the sun that She controlled. Her mane of various colors flowed like a river through the air. Even without her raised throne, She towered over every other creature of equine descent in the whole of the land. Her great wings were folded at Her sides and Her horn, much longer and narrower than any other magic user in the kingdom, sparkled with the incredible magic it held within. She regarded Twilight with cold detachment, as a bear would observe a flea. “How long have you been a student in my school?”

“Thirteen years, your Highness.” She blushed a little. “I’m actually at the top of my class.”

Princess Celestia nodded only slightly, perhaps only to give the illusion that She cared at all. “It is not your grades that have brought you here, Twilight Sparkle. It is your devotion. I am told that you never miss sunrise or sunset services.”

“I’ve missed meals and sleep to behold your glory, your Majesty. My devotion to you is unmatched.” She hoped her tone impressed the God-Princess of all Pony-Kind.

It clearly did not. “I have a task for one with devotion such as yours. I am sending you to Ponyville.”

Twilight cocked her head in confusion. “Ponyville?”

“DID I REQUEST THAT YOU SPEAK?!” Princess Celestia thundered, Her voice shaking the whole of the throne room. The air was suddenly thick and hot, the very molecules superheated from Princess Celestia’s power. 

Twilight quickly knelt until her muzzle was touching the carpet. She smelled the age of the fabric, even hidden by the cleaner’s shampoos. “I beg forgiveness for my impertinence!” The room’s shaking faded to nothing and the air again cooled… but Twilight wisely kept her nose down.

Princess Celestia continued as though She were never interrupted. “We received a message from Ponyville yesterday begging for our assistance in the finding of a unicorn filly. Her name escapes me at the moment. Apparently she’s been missing for several months now. Their home investigators have been found wanting and thus they have turned to us for aid.” The God-Princess of Equestria examined a gold-clad hoof. “As a test of your faith and your abilities, I have decided to send you to ascertain this little pony’s fate. If she is alive, locate her and return her to her family. If she is deceased, discover her murderer and return them here to face the justice of the True Faith.”

Twilight listened and waited.

Princess Celestia yawned. “If you have questions, you may ask them now. But do not try my patience.”

“Thank you, your Majesty.” Twilight slowly raised herself once again and dared to look upon the shining alicorn. “What does my faith have to do with this?”

“The ponies of Ponyville are outliers. They are one of several provinces in Equestria that have outright rejected the True Faith. They choose to follow the old ways of one of the ancient earth pony tribes, one whose name has been lost to the ages. As I understand it, they have traditions and rituals some consider to be… strange. Abnormal. Additionally, they believe the sun and moon move on their own and flatly reject the bliss of the Reward Eternal.”

“Heretics.” Twilight murmured, aghast.

“Indeed.” Princess Celestia almost smiled. “If it were not for the fact that they are the nation’s greatest suppliers of apples, I would have converted them by force decades ago.”

“So… am I truly going to investigate? Or is there another purpose you have in mind for me?”

“The reports of your perceptive nature were not exaggerated." It was the closest the alicorn had come to a compliment. "Your chief objective is the finding of the filly.” The almost-smile grew an inch. “But if, in the course of your investigation, you manage to guide some lost souls to my embrace and the embrace of the True Faith… well, that would be something worth rewarding.”

Twilight’s ears perked up. “A reward? Beyond the Reward Eternal?”

“Anypony who managed to convert an entire village of non-believers would truly be heralded as a hero of the Faith… and would naturally be chosen to act as my own hoof in matters of the same nature going forward.”

Twilight couldn’t believe what she was hearing. The chance to represent the Princess and the True Faith across Equestria and beyond? The opportunity to see the souls of every sentient creature in all the world saved in the warmth of Her Loving Light?

She would convert them all, down to the smallest foal still growing in his mother’s stomach.

“I give you the time to ask one final question, Twilight Sparkle. After that, you will depart immediately once you leave these chambers. I want this filly’s fate found before the Summer Sun Celebration in two day’s time.”

“Yes, your Majesty.” Twilight swallowed hard. “I’ve heard that some non-believers can react with… hostility to those who would try to guide others to the True Faith.”

Princess Celestia frowned. “You’re referring to the... situation in Saddle Arabia.”

“I am.” Twilight suppressed a shudder as she recalled hearing details of the massacre that had sparked a conflict, a conflict that was rapidly escalating into an all-out war.

“The Saddle Arabians, as you know, are being dealt with. The death of those believers will not have been in vain.” Princess Celestia yawned. “Do not mourn them, Twilight Sparkle. Envy them. They have gone to the Reward Eternal before you and will be seated beside me in the days following the Great Nightmare.”

Twilight thought about the pictures she'd seen of the beheaded mares, some of whom that had been classmates of hers, and found that envy was most definitely not an emotion that came to mind. “Will I be going alone?” She realized she'd asked another question and braced herself for the heat to come.

“Are you frightened?”

For the tiniest fraction of a second, Twilight considered lying. “...I am.”

“Good.” Princess Celestia gave the slightest of nods. “My little ponies should always have a small measure of fear in their hearts. It keeps you safe and reminds you of your place in this world. No, you will not be going alone. A Sergeant in the Royal Guard will be accompanying you.”

Twilight was already bowing lower in order to suppress her smile. She knew who the stallion was even before She said his name. 

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

“You’d think a Sergeant would be on time.” Private Flash Sentry muttered as he sipped his coffee. As usual, it tasted awful. Only two constants for those in the Royal Guard; death... and bad coffee.

“Not him.” Private Joust took another bite of his pear. “He’s always the last one to leave services, both morning and evening. Has to prove he’s the most faithful of us all, doesn’t he? What's a little briefing when compared to worshiping Her Majesty.”

Flash rolled his eyes and forced down the last sip. “Maybe it's all a ruse. Maybe he’s spending a little alone time with Princess Cadance. Aren’t they still going steady?”

“Steady's just the word for it.” Joust chuckled around the last bite. “Two years with the very Princess of Love, and he hasn't so much as tickled her fancy, as I understand it. The way I hear it, he's keeping himself pure for the wedding day.”

Flash Sentry chuckled. “Really? Does he really think she’s doing the same? Surely he’s heard the stories…?”

“More than stories, buddy-boy.” Joust leaned his head back and sighed wistfully. “Ah, poor mare. I just don't know what she sees in him. When those two are married, she'll spend more time with her neck bent at the altar than with that sweet little flank up in the air.” He looked over at his partner and waggled his eyebrows. “How about you? Still seeing that little bookworm of yours?”

“Keep it down.” Flash hissed. “I really don’t need it getting around that I’m seeing…”

“Get your mane cut, Private Sentry.”

The two stallions jumped to attention as Sergeant Shining Armor of the Royal Guard entered the room. He was still dressed from the morning's services, the medals of his dress uniform glinting in the sunlight that streamed in through the open window. His magic held a stack of folders aloft; the day’s assignments. “Alright, let’s make this quick. Her Majesty has selected me for a special mission and my balloon is set to depart within the hour. At ease.”

The two young officers examined the folders. “Anything major going on, sir?” Flash Sentry asked.

“Oh, just the usual." Shining Armor flipped through several of the folders in rapid succession. "Blasphemy, sodomy, and the like.”

“Hey, don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it, Sarge.” Joust chuckled.

Shining Armor stared at him intensely, his face neutral, until the other officer’s smile faded to nothing. “Right. You two will get these assigned to the best stallions for the job. I know that our resources are somewhat drained due to the increased deployment to Saddle Arabia, but I still don’t want to come back for the Summer Sun Celebration and find the city in shambles.” 

“What’s your special assignment, Sarge?”

Shining Armor’s brow creased as he pulled the top folder away from the rest and opened it. The other folders landed gently on his large oak desk. “My sister and I are being sent to a village called Ponyville. Apparently a filly’s gone missing. Her name is… Sweetie Belle.” He lifted out a photograph of a smiling, adorable unicorn filly with a coat of white and a mane of pink and purple.

“Ponyville?” Joust’s eyes widened. “Hey, that's some town. Have you ever been there, Sarge?”

“No. I’ve had the famous apples, of course.” He raised an eyebrow. “Have you?”

Joust nodded. “Just once. I was on leave and wanted to get off the grid for a few days. There’s no place like it.” He looked at Flash. “The whole town has rejected the True Faith, you see. They claim to follow the old ways. All sorts of weird traditions, dancing, rituals…”

"So I've heard." Flash rolled his eyes at his partner's enthusiasm.

“It seems like the kind of place for a heathen brute like yourself, Private.” Though he joked, the white stallion did not smile.

Flash cracked a small grin before hastily regaining his look of total neutrality. “Your sister is going as well, Sarge?”

Shining Armor nodded, and this time he actually smiled a little. “Yes. Twily’s the most intelligent mare I know. She’ll have this whole thing solved in no time.” He snapped to attention. “Ten-chut!” He barked.

The two privates snapped to attention as well. 

“My sister and I will be back in no more than two days time at the most. You two are in charge until I return. Once I come back, your performances will be studied, rated, and graded. Only one of you will be promoted to Sergeant next quarter once my promotion to Lieutenant is finalized. Is that clear?”

“Yes sir!” Came the unified reply.

Shining Armor saluted briskly and started from the room, the Ponyville case folder held close to his chest. Just as Flash Sentry and Joust began to relax, he stuck his head back inside. “One last thing.”

The turned and looked at him expectantly.

“You two will be the first two stallions to arrive for evening services and the last two to leave. You will be in full dress and you will sing so loud that her Majesty will be able to hear you from the absolute zenith of her flight.” He smiled slightly. “Don’t think of this is as a punishment. Think of this as representing me during my absence.” The smile vanished like smoke. “And if I ever hear you two discussing my fiancée in such a callous and disrespectful manner ever again, I’ll see you sent to the front-lines of Saddle Arabia before you can blink. Are we clear?”

Flash and Joust cut sheepish looks at each other. “Yes sir.”

“ARE WE CLEAR?!” 

“SIR, YES SIR!”

“Good.” Shining Armor turned to leave. “May the warmest blessings of Her Loving Light shine upon you both.”

This time, the two privates didn't relax until they were sure he was gone. "Maybe we'll get lucky and he won't come back." Joust muttered.

"One can only hope." Flash agreed, starting for the pile of folders.
> Chapter 1: The Landlord's Daughter
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The balloon carrying the siblings left Canterlot just before ten in the morning, but it was still late afternoon when they touched down in the village called Ponyville.

While her brother tended to the tying down of their transport, Twilight Sparkle jumped down from the basket and took in her surroundings. The village was... nothing spectacular. The architecture was standard old world Equestrian. Looking down the way between the buildings, she could see several shops and restaurants. A large building in the town’s center appeared to be a town hall of some sort. A modest fountain bubbled merrily in the already waning sunlight. She was almost disappointed. This was a village of heretics? She'd been expecting bonfires and vermin on every surface while ponies squabbled for food and wallowed in misery...

“Hey there.”

Twilight started slightly and looked up to find a cyan Pegasus floating overhead. The mare waved and landed just in front of her. She brushed a strand of rainbow mane from her eyes and offered a welcoming hoof. Twilight considered the gesture briefly before carefully touching her own hoof to the offered one. “Hello. My name is Twilight Sparkle. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss…”

“Rainbow Dash.”  The mare looked around Twilight at the balloon. “You two come from Canterlot? That looks like a Canterlot balloon.”

Twilight nodded. She heard her brother step up beside her and gestured at him. “This is my brother, Sergeant Shining Armor of the Royal Guard.”

Rainbow Dash’s eyes widened. A small crowd of ponies began to approach, drawn by the sight of the violet balloon. “Wow. An actual member of the Royal Guard, huh? So… what brings you two all the way to Ponyville?” Her wings buzzed in excitement. “Come to join in the Summer Sun Celebration with us?”

Twilight shook her head and reached into her saddlebag with her magic. She raised her voice so that everypony gathered could hear her as she displayed the photograph of Sweetie Belle. “My brother and I have been tasked by her Majesty, Princess Celestia of Equestria Herself, to ascertain the location of this filly, one Sweetie Belle by name.” She began to pass the photo through the air so that everypony had a chance to see it. “It is the fondest wish of Her Majesty that every one of her subjects be safe and sound, especially on the eve of our greatest celebration. Now tell me; does anypony here have any information of the whereabouts of this filly?”

As the picture passed each face, a look of confusion came over each stallion and mare. Some gave small shakes of their head. Others began to mutter to one other. 

Rainbow Dash peered at the photo and shook her head. “I think there’s been a mistake. I’ve never seen that filly before in my life.”

Twilight raised an eyebrow. “And how long have you lived here, Miss Dash?”

“All my life. I know everypony in this town.” She pushed the picture back towards Twilight and shrugged her shoulders. “Like I said; there must’ve been some mistake.”

“Well,” Shining Armor started. “If you know everypony in this town, then could you tell us where to find one Miss..." He checked the case file. "...Rarity?”

Dash’s confused face broke into a wide grin. “Sure I know Rarity. Hay, we all do.” The small crowd voiced their agreement. The pegasus pointed her hoof down a side street. “Carousel Boutique is just down there. You can’t miss it.” The smile faded as the confused look returned. “But what does Rarity have to do with this?”

Twilight returned the photo to her bag and looked down the path Rainbow Dash had pointed out. “According to the letter we received, she’s this filly’s older sister.”

Rainbow Dash laughed. “Okay, then you definitely have the wrong village. Rarity’s an only foal.”

“Be that as it may,” Twilight gritted her teeth. Something about the mare, perhaps her high-pitched and somewhat irritating voice, was putting her on edge. “As we have been tasked by Her Majesty to conduct a proper investigation, we should go have a word with her.”

Shining Armor floated his own saddlebag from the balloon’s basket and placed it across his back, sliding the case file inside. “In any case, we’ll probably need to stay the night. Is there an inn nearby?”

Rainbow Dash nodded but frowned. “Yeah, but the Ponyville Inn is closed for refurbishments right now.” Something occurred to her and she perked up. “Oh, but you could try Sugarcube Corner.”

“Sugarcube Corner?” Twilight repeated apprehensively. 

“Yeah. It’s the town bakery."

"We should check the bakery... for lodgings." Twilight raised an eyebrow.

"Sure. Mr. Cake usually has a spare room or two available upstairs.”

Shining Armor gave an appreciative nod. He looked at his sister. “Ready?”

Twilight nodded and looked at the crowd. “If anypony remembers anything, even the smallest detail, please come and find us at once.” The two unicorns gave a final look at their balloon and started down the path to Carousel Boutique. After a few moments, Twilight had the sudden urge to look back to see if the crowd had dispersed.

They had not. All of them, Rainbow Dash included, were still standing there and watching them as they walked away.

There were all smiling.

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

The white unicorn with the elegantly coiffed mane of purple passed steaming cups of tea to her visitors. “I’m terribly afraid to confirm what Rainbow Dash has already told you; you two have been lured here under false pretenses.”

Twilight and Shining Armor took the tea in their own magic and examined the cups carefully. Twilight’s nose wrinkled at the strange aroma. “You mean your sister isn't missing?”

Rarity settled herself down on her large red couch and smiled gently. Her eyes gave a final once over of the boutique’s main room to ensure the elegantly designed space was free of any embarrassing clutter. “Well, how can she be missing? She doesn’t exist.”

The siblings shared a look before sipping their tea at the same time. “Miss Rarity,” Shining Armor began, “With all due respect, I highly doubt her Majesty would send us all the way here on some wild goose chase.”

“And with all due respect to you, Sergeant,” Rarity’s smile faltered a bit and a sliver of ice entered her tone. “If I had a sister, I believe I would know about her.”

Twilight cleared her throat and took another sip of tea. Strange aroma or no, it had a rather sweet taste that she found herself enjoying. “Have you been in contact with your parents lately?”

Rarity laughed airily. “Oh goodness, no! They’ve been gone some... twelve years now, by my count.”

Following the lead, Twilight continued. “So it’s not entirely outside the realm of possibility that they had a daughter you would know nothing about?”

Rarity snorted into her tea but recovered quickly, wiping her muzzle with a summoned handkerchief. “Quite outside the realm of possibility, actually.”

“And why is that?” Shining Armor forced a bit of his commanding tone into the question.

Rarity eyed him coolly. “Because being taken in the night by timberwolves tends to chill the loins somewhat, darling.”

Both siblings looked away in embarrassment. “...My apologies.” Shining Armor muttered.

If the line of questioning bothered Rarity, she hid it well. “Now, just because you had a small bit of bad information doesn’t change the fact that this adorable little filly is probably still missing, correct?”

Twilight nodded, finishing the last swallow of tea. “Have you seen her before?”

Rarity touched a hoof to her chin, thought about the picture she’d been shown briefly, and shook her head. “I can’t say that I have. But unlike Rainbow Dash, I can’t claim to know everypony in the village. I only just moved here a few years ago. Perhaps…”

“Any lead would be helpful at this point, Miss Rarity.” Shining Armor polished off his own tea. 

“Well, I moved here around the same time as an old classmate of mine, one Miss Cheerilee. She’s taken up the post of running our little school here in town. If this filly lives here, then Cheerilee surely knows her.”

Twilight smiled and nodded gratefully. “Thank you for talking with us, Miss…”

“Just Rarity, darling.” The unicorn winked.

“Okay. Thank you for the talk.” She made the cup bounce in the air. “And for the tea.”

“Of course. These may be dire circumstances for that filly, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a touch jealous of you two. I do love a good mystery, you know.” She directed her attention to Shining Armor. “And will you be visiting Cheerilee this evening, Sergeant?”

Shining Armor shook his head, peeking out the nearby window. “It's getting late. It might be best until we waited until tomorrow.”

“Staying the night in town then, are we?”

“Yes. We heard there might be rooms available at Sugarcube Corner.”

Rarity rolled her eyes good-naturedly. “Oh, I’m sure at least one room will definitely be available. That is, unless, somepony else has reserved a spot in that bed for the evening.” She pulled their cups away and stood to walk them out before they could ask any further questions. “I hope you enjoy your stay. And do try the crumb cake if you can.” She winked once again. “It’s simply to die for.”

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

The sun had almost fully set by the time the siblings arrived at Sugarcube Corner. The bakery’s main parlor was boisterous and loud, filled to the brim with ponies. Almost every single pony in the place cradled a mug of foamy cider and gleefully took long pulls of the sweet liquid. Cupcakes and pastries of every sort passed freely between the villagers and were devoured with hasty abandon. Laughter and small songs floated through the air.

The smell of the place, sugar and the thickness of alcohol, made Twilight sick to her stomach. She wrinkled her muzzle at the offending odor and scanned the crowd. There was Rainbow Dash, the first mare to welcome them. She seemed heavily in the cups already and was talking animatedly with an older, grey-maned mare in glasses. 

She spied two mares, one a mint-green unicorn and the other a cream-colored earth pony, making out with reckless abandon. She shuddered at the sight. “Disgusting.” She muttered.

Shining Armor tried not to stare at the pair, ashamed of the tug he began to feel between his legs. “Yes. Disgusting.” He shook his head quickly and turned to the thin stallion behind the bar. “Are you the landlord here?”

“Sure am, stranger.” The orange earth pony extended a hoof. “Carrot Cake’s the name. I take it you two are our visitors from up north?” He winked at the sibling’s surprised faces. “Small town. Word spreads fast.”

Shining Armor briefly touched his hoof to the other stallion’s and gestured at the bawdy crowd. “What’s the occasion?”

Carrot laughed lightly. “It’s kind of a pre-Summer Sun Celebration thing for us here in town. Before the preparations go on tomorrow, we tend to live it up a little so we can focus on the work more.” He tapped his own mug of cider. “That, and we have to drain the kegs of last year’s stores.”

Shining Armor leaned close and sniffed the cup. “This cider’s gone bad.”

“Nah." The baker lifted the mug and took a long pull. He exhaled in satisfaction. "Perfectly fermented.”

Shining Armor frowned in disapproval but held his tongue. “My sister and I find ourselves in need of accommodations. We were told that you might have some spare rooms available.”

Carrot’s smile faded somewhat. “Well, sort of. After my wife passed away, I had the room we were saving for a nursery converted into a guest room. That's the only room available. I don’t suppose you two would have a problem sharing?”

Shining Armor and Twilight froze and cast nervous looks at each other. 

“Something wrong?”

“Uh…” Twilight stepped close to the bar and lowered her voice. “You do know the True Faith forbids stallions and mares from sharing sleeping quarters until they’re married, don’t you?”

Carrot raised an eyebrow. “But… I thought you were brother and sister?”

“We are.”

“So… what’s the problem then?”

Before Twilight could continue trying to awkwardly explain the situation, a new voice joined in. “I believe I might have a solution, Mr. Cake.” The older mare with grey mane Twilight had spotted stepped up to the counter and smiled. “Good evening. I’m Mayor Mare.”

Twilight’s face broke into a wide smile and she eagerly touched her hoof to the mare’s when offered. “Madame Mayor, I’m so pleased to finally find you. I’m Twilight Sparkle, and this is my brother Sergeant Shining Armor.”

The mayor tilted her head at the stallion. “Pleasure.”

“Likewise. But one wonders why you weren’t there to greet us when we arrived.” Shining Armor’s eyes narrowed at the sleight.

“Well, we had no idea you were coming. I suppose we didn't warrant a proper notice of your visit.” The mare brushed off the subtext of the stallion’s statement and adjusted her glasses. “I was actually out of the town proper, visiting with Applejack at Sweet Apple Acres. We had some important Summer Sun Celebration business to discuss. Now, as to your accommodations, might I suggest the town library?”

“The library?” Twilight asked, sure she had misheard the name of the location. First offered accommodations in a bakery, and now this? “As in books?”

“Yes. Many books. Also a small living space that plays host to whoever the town librarian is at the time. We happen to be in between librarians at the moment.”

The prospect of a place where she could read and rest in solitude, far from the boisterous band of blasphemers around her, almost made Twilight’s heart skip a beat. “That sounds lovely.”

“Then am I to assume that you’ll be staying with us, Sergeant?” Carrot asked, taking another draw of his cider. 

Shining Armor nodded.

“Splendid. I’ll get your things upstairs and… oh! You two must be hungry.”

The sibling’s stomachs growled almost instantaneously at the mention of food.

“Well, the Mayor and I will see you settled in and then I’ll get you two a bit of supper. Let me just get my daughter to mind the counter. Pinkie!”

“Coming!” A pink blur raced into the room and settled itself beside the orange stallion at the counter. The mare’s smile was matched only by her beauty. Her body was just slightly more plump, slightly curvier, than any other pony in the room. She seemed to almost vibrate with some inner joy. Her poufy pink mane bounced slightly with every subtle move she made.

For the second time, Shining Armor caught himself staring.

“This is Pinkie Pie, my adopted daughter.” Carrot kissed her cheek and tilted his head at the unicorns. “Pinkie, this is Twilight Sparkle and Sergeant Shining Armor. They’re visiting from Canterlot.”

Pinkie’s eyes grew wider. “Wow! I’ve always wanted to go to Canterlot!” She leaned towards Shining Armor. “Is it is as big and wonderful as they say it is?”

Shining Armor realized his mouth was hanging open. He shut it quickly. “Even bigger.”

“Well, then I’ll just show Miss Twilight to the library and get her set up for the night. We won't be long.” Mayor Mare started for the door and motioned for Twilight to follow.

Twilight looked at her brother, smiled awkwardly, and quickly trotted along behind her out the door.

“I’ll get this upstairs for you, Sergeant.” Carrot easily lifted Shining Armor’s saddle-bag onto his own back and vanished up the stairs.

Shining Armor looked at Pinkie Pie. “Aren’t you a little old to be living with your father?”

Pinkie Pie shrugged, her smile not fading one bit. “I dunno. There’s no place I’d rather live than here.”

“But don’t you get tired of…” He waved a hoof at the surrounding debauchery.

“Are you kidding? These ponies are the best! Nopony parties like they do.”

Ponies around the room were starting to notice Pinkie’s arrival. From the back of the room came a voice filled with good humor and better cider. Shining Armor turned away from the mare and looked over to find a brown earth pony with a green tie swinging his mug in tune with the song he was just beginning to sing;


“Much has been said

of the strumpets of yore.

Of wenches and bawdy-house queens 

by the score.

But I sing of a baggage

that we all adore…”


Shining Armor actually took a step backward as every pony in attendance joined their voices to the song;


“The landlord's daughter!

You'll never love another…”


A great red stallion with a yoke about his neck stood on unsteady hooves and sang in a deep baritone;


“…Although she's not the kind of girl

to take home to your mother!”


The room erupted in laughter and cheers as one pony, yellow with a blue mane, produced a fiddle and began to play a lively tune to accompany the song. The green unicorn pulled away from the mare she had been smashing her face against to take a tremendous chug of cider and add her own bit to the song;


“Her ale, it is lively

and strong to the taste!”


Not missing a beat, her paramour snatched the cup in her own hooves. Before taking a drink, she added her own verse;


“It is brewed with discretion,

never with haste.”


The two mares wrapped their hooves about one another and sang the next bit together, almost in perfect harmony;


“You can have all you like

if you swear not to waste…”


Again the bar erupted in noise as everypony joined in the chorus;


“The landlord's daughter!

And when her name is mentioned…”


Shining Armor decided that he had had just about enough of this disrespect. Just as he made ready to silence the drunken revelers with his loudest command voice, a new voice joined in the song. The voice was cheery, sugary sweet, and positively not offended in the slightest;


“…The parts of every stal-li-on

do stand up

at attention!”


The crowd erupted in cheers and laughter as Pinkie Pie effortlessly sprang into the air, somersaulted over Shining Armor’s head, and came crashing down into a waiting sea of hooves. They passed her around the room as the fiddler continued to play and the song continued with even filthier lyrics. Pinkie’s smile only grew wider as she landed on her hooves and began dancing with the stallion that had started the whole thing.

Shining Armor stared in complete bewilderment. 

What sort of faithless, heathen place had Princess Celestia sent him to?
> Chapter 2: Gently, Johnny
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dinner was a modest meal of daffodil sandwiches and homemade hay-fries. The investigative siblings ate in silence for the most part, Twilight’s nose stuck in one of the books she’d brought with her and Shining Armor reviewing the meager case file on the disappearance of young Sweetie Belle. 

When Mr. Cake entered and gathered their empty plates, Shining Armor looked up to say a polite thank you for the meal. His eyes were instead  drawn to something on the wall; a row of framed photographs. There were dozens of them, but they each held the same subject; a young filly standing on a cart filled with all manner of fresh produce. “Mr. Cake?”

“Yes? Was the dinner alright?”

“Yes, thank you." The white stallion gave an appreciative nod. "What are those photographs?”

Mr. Cake looked at the wall of photos and smiled. “Oh, we take one of those at the end of every Summer Sun Celebration. The filly you see there is the lucky little pony chosen to be our Queen of the Summer for the duration of the celebration.”

“And what little filly has been chosen this year?”

The baker shrugged. “No idea. Applejack won’t name her until the day of the actual celebration.”

Twilight looked up from her book. That was the second time she'd heard that name tonight. “And who is this Applejack?”

“She’s the current head of Sweet Apple Acres. The Apples made Ponyville what it is today. Not a thing goes on in this village without their say-so.”

Shining Armor nodded at a blank space on the wall. “Where’s last year’s photograph?”

Mr. Cake scratched his chin. “You know, I’m not sure. I'll have to ask Pinkie later." He shrugged. "I suppose it got broken.”

“With how rowdy things get in here, I’m not surprised.” Twilight looked back to her book.

Carrot Cake only smiled before bowing out of the room. 

Shining Armor looked at his sister reproachfully. “What’s got your tail in a twist?”

Twilight rolled her eyes. “Sorry. It’s this village. Everything’s all… messed up. Weird. It’s got me on edge.”

“Yeah, I know what you mean.” Shining Armor though back to the raucous and impromptu sing-a-long. The party on the other side of the wall had died down considerably with the lateness of the hour. The villagers that remained spoke in lowered tones, the once lively fiddle now playing low and quietly. “But that’s still no excuse for rudeness. Didn’t her Majesty command you to convert as many as you could?”

“Yes.”

“Well, how are you planning on doing that when you wear your disgust for their practices as plain as the nose on your face?”

Twilight looked up with a raised eyebrow. “You mean you aren’t disgusted with how things are here? No church services? No sense of traditional roles for elected officials? Mares kissing mares in public?”

“Her Majesty has never come out against those who choose to love those of the same gender.”

“It’s in the subtext!” Twilight snapped. “The True Faith states that stallion shall lie with mare, and only for the purposes of procreation. Therefore, anything else is an… an… an abomination!”

“I grew up in the same household you did, Twily. I don’t need you to explain the True Faith to me.” Shining Armor sipped his water and eyed her levelly. The sibling's father was a high ranking minister in the True Faith, and the pair had grown up hearing more sermons at home than they did in church. “But if you plan on converting anypony, you’re going to have to at least try to be polite.”

Twilight was nonplussed. “They’re blasphemers, Shining Armor!”

“I know that!” Now Shining Armor was getting irritated. “But you can’t tell them that! Look at it this way, Twily; one of your classmates comes up to you and calls you an idiot for following the True Faith as faithfully as you do. What’s your reaction? You’d be angry, wouldn’t you?”

Twilight pouted. “…yes.”

“Exactly. You have to show these villagers the light... Her Light... with tact and kindness. Only then can they join us on the path to the Reward Eternal.”

Twilight considered her brothers words carefully before sighing. “I suppose you’re right.”

“Of course I am.” The stallion reached across the table and patted his little sister on her head, laughing when she pushed his hoof away. “Now, here’s another question for you; based on what Mr. Cake said, what position do you think this Applejack holds in the village?”

Twilight considered the question. “Well, she’s the head of the farm that produces Ponyville’s most profitable crop. Her family helped establish the town. Nothing gets done without her say-so…” A light bulb went off in her mind and she smiled at her older brother. “She’s the one actually in charge!”

“Exactly. And why would she be the one to choose this ‘Queen of the Summer?’”

Twilight grinned in victory. “Because she’s their spiritual leader as well.”

“Right again.” Shining Armor patted the case file with his hoof. “We can cover both of our objectives if we split up tomorrow. I’ll go to the school-house and find out what I can about this missing filly. Why don’t you go to Sweet Apple Acres?”

Twilight smirked as she went back to her book. “Converting the village would be much easier if I managed to convert their leader first, I suppose.”

Shining Armor chuckled. “That’s the spirit.” He went to take another sip of water, but his eyes focused instead on the book his sister was reading so intently. “What are you reading, anyway? That from the local library?”

“This?” Twilight held it up to show him. The book was ancient, practically falling apart. “It’s an old spell-book from the time of Starswirl the Bearded. It’s really quite fascinating, if a bit archaic. Some of the pages have been ripped out, but Flash said it’s because his little brother got hold of it a few years ago." She tilted the book towards him. "See, this spell would theoretically allow a pony to temporarily change into a pony from a different tribe and… what’s wrong?”

Shining Armor’s ears were flattened, a look of growing anger on his face. “Flash? As in Flash Sentry?”

“Um, yes? He mentioned that he's one of your privates...”

“Yes he is. He's a private pain in my flanks." He shook his head in disbelief. "What have you been doing hanging out with Flash Sentry of all ponies?”

Twilight blushed and hid behind her book. “He’s... a very nice stallion. Quite charming, actually.”

Shining Armor’s eyes narrowed. “Twilight… you haven’t… Not with Flash…?”

Twilight slammed the book shut and stared at her brother in anger and surprise. “Shining Armor! How dare you imply something like that!”

“I wasn’t implying anything!" Shining Armor raised his hooves in defense. "But Flash is a soldier, and I know how soldiers think!”

“You're a soldier too! How would you feel if I just assumed you were sleeping with Princess Cadance already?” When Shining Armor did not immediately reply, she continued. “Not that it’s any of your business, but no; Flash has never tried anything untoward. He respects me... apparently more than you do.”

“Twily…”

“Don’t ‘Twily’ me! I’m a grown mare. I like Flash and what I do with him is between him, me, and Princess Celestia.” She stood huffily, her nose in the air. “I’ll see you tomorrow evening.”

Shining Armor watched her storm away. Once he was alone, he sighed and went limp in his chair. “Well, I guess I could’ve handled that better.”

“I’ll say.”

Shining Armor watched as Pinkie Pie walked in, a concerned look on her face. “How much of that did you hear?”

She shrugged. “Not much. Papa always taught me that eavesdropping was rude. I heard enough though.” The pink mare smiled gently. “And, for what it’s worth, I wish I had a big brother who cared about me as much as you care about her.”

Shining Armor returned the smile. “I do care about her. And I actually do trust her." He snorted irritably. "It’s other stallions I don’t trust.”

“Aw, not all stallions are bad.” Pinkie Pie carried a pitcher to the table and refilled his glass. “You seem pretty nice, anyway. Your very special somepony is a lucky gal.”

The thought of Cadance made Shining Armor’s smile grow. “Fiancée, actually.”

“Oh! Congratulations!” Pinkie leaned over the table and propped her head up on her hooves. “What’s she like?”

“She’s amazing. She’s smart and pretty…”

“Well, duh. I meant what does she look like?”

“Well, she’s taller than other ponies.” Shining Armor’s eyes glazed over as he pictured the mare he loved. “And she’s the most wonderful shade of pink…”

“So… do you like pink mares in particular?” She asked, her eyes slightly hooded.

“Of course. I’ve always been attracted to pink ma...” Shining Armor covered his mouth. “Uh, excuse that last comment.”

Pinkie Pie giggled. “You’re cute. Want anything special for dessert?”

Shining Armor considered. “Something simple. I'd hate to abuse you and your father's hospitality. Apple pie, maybe?”

Pinkie’s smile faded a little. “Uh, no apples. Sorry.”

“No apples?” Shining Armor repeated, more than a little surprised. “In Ponyville?”

“I expect they’ve all been shipped out for the season." She began to bounce slightly. "...Do you like crumb cake?”

Shining Armor, remembering Rarity's advice from earlier, nodded. "I really was hoping to try some fresh Ponyville pie...

“Aw, don’t be so disappointed.” Quick as a flash, she shot out and kissed his cheek. “Food isn’t everything in life, y’know? And who knows?” She leaned in close to his ear. "If you play your cards right, you may get some Ponyville pie before you leave town."

Shining Armor watched as she turned and headed for the kitchen, her tail swinging this way and that. His eyes remained fixed on her swaying rump.

He made a mental note to say a few extra prayers before bed.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Twilight made her way down the darkened streets of Ponyville, the villagers asleep in the buildings around her. Already she was regretting how her conversation with Shining Armor had gone. Perhaps the day’s events had gotten to her more than she realized. Of course he was going to be overprotective. He was her big brother, and more than that he was Flash’s boss. Perhaps she needed to discuss things with Flash when she got home…

Thoughts of Flash made bolts of warmth shoot through her. She smiled when she pictured him and remembered their quiet afternoons in the library. He had brought up the idea of going on an actual date only a few days ago, and the thought both thrilled and terrified her. An actual date would mean the start of an actual courtship which could eventually become an actual relationship. Flash was the first stallion to ever show an interest in her, and the first she’d ever been interested in herself. Well, besides…

She paused just long enough to keep her mind from wandering down that particular road.

Her thoughts drifted to Princess Celestia and the promise of a new position. Could she take such a position if she was… unclean? Would she have to make the choice between a future with Flash and taking the Sacred Vows that all the Most Faithful had to adhere to? 

Twilight yawned. It was too late for such conundrums. Tomorrow was a big day, and she needed to be rested.

It was the sound she heard first. It sounded almost like the bakery once the ruckus had died down. She could hear quiet murmurs and… something else. Quiet cries and grunts, sounds of physical exertion. Curious, she continued on towards Town Square. 

A strange smell came to her nostrils. A kind of tangy, yet strangely spicy aroma. It wasn’t exactly pleasant, but something about it made her stomach twist into knots and that lovely burning she felt when thinking about Flash focus almost entirely on her haunches. 

She arrived at Town Square and stared in shock.

All around her were ponies. Young ponies, most barely stallions and mares. There had to be several dozen of them, all stretched out on blankets and sleeping bags.

They were all making love.

Their entwined bodies were blanketed only by the patches of darkness not illuminated by streetlamps. They moved and writhed together in every way imaginable. Some stallions and mares were paired off, one on top of the other and grinding ever-so-slowly. She spotted several groups of three and even one group of four. She saw mares tending to hard stallion-hoods with their tongues and quietly gasping as they were ridden or rode their chosen mates. 

She saw the two older mares from the bar slumped together on a park bench. Their hooves rubbed at each other’s marehoods as they watched the younger ponies rutting each other beneath the moon.

She tried to look away, but every turn brought a new detail to her sight. Here were two young mares lying side by side on a blanket, their faces buried between the other’s hind-legs. One stallion gasped as his thick member sank into the mare beneath him. He gasped again as another stallion reared up behind him and pushed him down across the mare’s back. They kissed hungrily as the new stallion’s rod pushed into his friend’s welcoming body. They moved together like a well-oiled machine, their cries rising and falling in time with each other.

In the center of everything, seated on the rim of the bubbling fountain, was a pegasus colt. He strummed a cradled guitar, providing music for the outdoor orgy.

Her gaze settled on one young stallion near her who was also watching. He reclined on his blanket, his hooves carefully stroking his pride as he waited for somepony to join him. 

He caught her staring and offered a welcoming hoof to her.

Twilight’s breath caught in her throat. She’d never seen a stallion’s… biology before. In the flesh, anyway. She examined the color of it, the smoothness. How it seemed to throb in time with his heart-beat. Her hooves began to carry her forward, the instincts in her body overwhelming the sense in her brain…

She regained control and ran away from the gathering as fast as she was able. She didn’t stop until she was in the library and the door was locked.

She doused the lights, hid beneath the covers on the bed, and prayed.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Later, past midnight, when the siblings had said their prayers and had at last drifted off to sleep, two ponies approached Sugarcube Corner from the darkness of the sleeping town. One, the taller, picked up a small pebble and threw it with practiced ease at one of the upstairs windows. The two watched as a light came on and a shape opened the window. “Good evenin,’ Pinkie Pie.” The mare called out softly.

Pinkie Pie rubbed the sleep from her eyes and, seeing who her visitor was, broke into a wide smile. “Hi, Applejack!”

The orange earth pony took the Stetson from her head and gave a small bow. “May I have the pleasure of introducing you to young Rumble.” She indicated the lanky older colt standing beside her. “Rumble, as of fifteen minutes ago, has come of age.”

“Has he now?” Pinkie Pie took stock of the younger pony and nodded approvingly. “Well come on up and get your birthday present, Rumble.”

Trembling with nervousness and arousal, Rumble flapped his wings and flew up to Pinkie’s open window.

She stepped back and allowed him to land in her bedroom. She gave him another once over and licked her lips. “Nervous?”

“A little.” Rumble lied. Truth be told he’d been both terrified and excited by the prospect of this night ever since he’d first found out about it a few years before.

“Don’t worry.” The older mare’s lips found his. She felt him following her lead and giggled into the kiss when he jolted at the feel of her tongue sliding into his mouth. She pulled it back, hoping that his own would follow. She moaned happily when it did.

When the kiss was over, Rumble’s nervousness was gone. He stared at Pinkie with wide, hungry eyes.

She saw his hardness between his legs and ran a hoof down the length, relishing his shudder. “I’ll take good care of you, just like I did your brother when he came of age. Pinkie Promise. Will you take care of me?”

He could only nod, his powers of speech forgotten at the moment.

“You know what to do.” She tilted her head towards her rear. As he made his way there, Pinkie looked outside and found Applejack smiling up at her. “Staying to watch?”

Applejack chuckled. “You know I love to watch you work, but there’s a lot of other work to tend to first.” She put her hat back on her head and tilted it slightly. “Enjoy yourself. And him. Just make sure yer ready for what's comin.' The day of death and rebirth rapidly approaches. The day of great joy… and of a somewhat more serious offering than tonight.”

“I’ll be ready.” Pinkie Pie bowed her head and when she raised it Applejack was gone, vanished into the night. She felt Rumble clambering up to mount her, felt his hot breath on the back of her neck. She sighed happily as he found his mark and sank into her. “That’s it.” She whispered encouragingly. “Gently, gently… we have all night, after all.”
> Chapter 3: The Maypole
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shining Armor yawned as he stepped out of Sugarcube Corner and straightened his uniform one final time. Sleep had been hard coming the night before. Even unconsciousness had offered no escape from the unnatural thoughts that filled had filled his mind since his arrival in the village. His dreams had been filled by a mare with a coat of pink that at times resembled his beloved Cadance and at others appeared to be the beguiling daughter of his host.

More than once he had been awakened in the night by strangely quiet and breathy noises on the other side of the wall. He’d reasoned that it was simply the wind and rolled over to attempt again to sleep through the night.

“Good morning, Sergeant.” 

Shining Armor looked up to see the cyan mare from yesterday floating overhead. He wracked his brain for her name. “Good morning, Miss… Blitz, wasn't it?”

“Dash.” The mare giggled, apparently not terribly offended. “Rainbow Dash.”

“Right. Sorry.” He looked around. “Could you perhaps direct me to the school-house?”

“Going to see Miss Cheerilee? What about?”

“Official business.”

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “Oh yeah; the phantom filly.”

Shining Armor glared at her. “Miss Dash…”

“Sorry. Gotta run. Take a left on Summerisle Avenue. You can’t miss it. Good luck on your...” She flapped her hooves to create quotation marks in the air. “’Investigation.’”

Shining Armor watched as she blasted off at top speed, a rainbow trail created in the air behind her. He shook his head, unsure of how to deal with such callous disrespect. Did these ponies truly care so little that one of their own might be missing? Were their pagan rights that much more important than the life of an innocent filly?

A new possibility reared its ugly head; what if he and his sister were on a wild goose chase? What if Princess Celestia had invented the filly whole cloth and was instead using this as a way to test he and Twilight's faith? Or what if She’d only wanted to send Twilight to convert the populace and had sent him along just as a cover? 

He shook his head to clear the ridiculous notion. Why would the God-Princess invent such a needless ruse? 

But then what if She was the one who had been fooled? What if…

He struck himself in the face to punish himself for the sacrilegious thought. What a ridiculous notion; Princess Celestia wrong about something. He was amazed She hadn’t reached across the land from Canterlot and struck him dead at the thought.

He followed Rainbow Dash’s directions and before too long found himself approaching a modest school-house made of cherry-wood. His attention was drawn from the simple red building to the play-yard next to it. In the center of an impressive number of playground pieces, a large wooden pole had been erected. The pole appeared to be around twenty feet tall and had a number of long cloth ribbons in many colors tied at the top. At the other end of the ribbons, reaching all the way to the ground, were a number of colts. Shining Armor reckoned there had to be between a dozen to fifteen. They ranged in age from the barely crawling to those just on the cusp of stallion-hood. The colts laughed and joked with each other as a grown stallion tended to the ribbons. It took Shining Armor a moment to realize that it was the same stallion who had started the bawdy bar song the night before. The chestnut pony made sure each ribbon was securely tied before adjusting his green neck-tie and nodding towards an older colt seated at the base of the huge pole.  The grey colt, a pegasus, looked exhausted. Still, he dutifully lifted a fiddle to his shoulder and drew his bow across the strings. 

The stallion reared up and began clapping his hooves to build a rhythm. The assembled colts all fell into an excited silence. Once all attention was on him, the stallion landed on his hooves and sang;


“In the woods there grew a tree.

And a fine, fine tree was he.”


As though signaled, the colts began to sing as well. Their bodies moved in tune with the music in a bizarre and jerky dance. Their haunches pistoned in a manner that could almost be considered lewd. Shining Armor perked up his ears in order to hear their strange little song;


“And on that tree there was a limb.

And on that limb there was a branch.

And on that branch there was a nest.

And in that nest there was an egg.

And in that egg there was a bird. 

And from that bird a feather came.

And of that feather was… a bed.”


The pegasus colt played a small flourish before the song continued;


“And on that bed there was a mare.

And on that mare there was a colt.

And from that colt there was a seed.

And from that seed there was a foal.

And from that foal there was a colt.

And for that colt there was a grave.

And from that grave there grew… a tree.”


Again the song paused so the colt could play a flourish of music. Then the song began to repeat, starting once again with the tree.

Shining Armor shook his head in wonderment as he made his way towards the school-house proper. What could these ponies be thinking, teaching such… loaded lyrics to colts so young? With their minds full of such impure thoughts at an early age… he shuddered at the thought. He prayed under his breath that Twilight would be successful in guiding these ponies to Her Loving Light and that no lasting damage would be inflicted on those youngest in the village. 

His hooves carried him up the wooden steps to the school-house’s entrance. The door was standing open, probably to let in the sweet, cooling winds of the summer. Shining Armor did not enter. Instead, he peeked inside.

He spotted a fuchsia mare and a small group of fillies looking out the window at the singing and dancing colts in the schoolyard. After a moment, the mare pulled away and smiled gently at her charges. “Alright girls, that’s enough. We need to get back to our studies.”

The fillies whined a little but obediently left the window and returned to their desks. Shining Armor counted eleven fillies in all, their desks spaced out so there was an empty desk between each of them. He figured those empty desks belonged to the colts currently engaged in the heathen ritual outside. 

He noticed, in one case, that there were three empty desks in a row.

“Girls. Attention on me please.” The fuchsia mare took her place at the front of the class and gestured at the window. “Silver Spoon? Will you tell us, please, what the Maypole represents?”

“Uh…” A silver filly in rimmed glasses stared blankly at her teacher.

“Oh, come on. Didn't we just go over it yesterday while we watched the doctor erect it?” Her tone was not condescending, but kind and nurturing. Her cutie mark of three smiling flowers seemed perfectly matched with her. “Diamond Tiara? Why are the colts the only ones allowed to participate in the Maypole dance?”

The silver filly looked over at a pink filly with a shiny crown on her head. The pink filly shrugged in disinterest.

“Oh, Mith Cheerilee!” A cream colored filly with a frizzy red mane and thick glasses waved her hoof in the air. “Mith Cheerilee!”

“Yes, Twist?”

“I know what the Maypole reprethenths.”

“And what is it?”

The filly grinned triumphantly at the glowering twosome across the room. “Ith a phallic thymbol.”

“Very good, Twist!” Cheerilee beamed at her pupil. “Yes, the phallic symbol.” She again gestured out the window. “It is the image of the stallion’s penis that is venerated in religions like ours because it symbolizes the generative forces of nature.”   

Shining Armor's jaw dropped in shock.

“But I still don’t understand why we can’t dance around the Maypole like the colts do.” Diamond Tiara whined.

“It’s because the colts come of age much earlier than we do. It’s important that they receive the blessing of the Maypole as early as possible so that they’re ready to breed when the time comes. Besides, we mares have a ceremony all our own, don’t we?”

Silver Spoon perked up. “I actually know this one... I think. Isn't it the Fire Leap?”

“Very good, Silver Spoon!” Cheerilee clapped her hooves. “On the eve of your first heat, you all will take part in the Fire Leap. Some of your older sisters are there now. The purpose of this ceremony is…”

Shining Armor couldn’t handle anymore. “Ahem.”

All eyes turned to him. Cheerilee’s smile sagged slightly. “Oh, it appears we have a visitor.”

Shining Armor nodded curtly. “Ma’am. May I speak to you?” He cut his eyes to the right. “Outside?”

Cheerilee nodded slowly and looked at the class. “You girls work on your algebra. I’ll be back shortly.” The older earth pony trotted out the door and stood beside the unicorn. “And what can I do for you..." She glanced at his rank insignia. "...Sergeant?”

Shining Armor took a deep, calming breath. “Ma’am, I must tell you that I’ve a good mind to report this… heinousness to Her Majesty at once.”

Cheerilee raised an eyebrow, but her smile didn’t slip even a bit. “I was unaware that the goings on in this village were under the jurisdiction of Canterlot.”

“All of Equestria is under Her jurisdiction!” Shining Armor snapped. 

Cheerilee finally frowned. “Is something bothering you, Sergeant?”

“Bothering me? Is something bothering me?!” He struggled to keep his voice low as he gestured at the classroom. “What are you thinking teaching foals this young about things like reproduction? Have you no decency?”

Cheerilee’s frown deepened. “I’m not used to a stranger calling me indecent at my own school, sir.”

“Well then maybe that’s the issue.”  Shining Armor snorted. “Since I’ve arrived in this town, it’s been one bit of degeneracy after another. And now it seems I’ve found the source; it all starts at the filth presented in what should be hallowed halls of education.”

“The elements of basic pony reproduction are hardly filth, Sergeant.” Cheerilee’s ears were flat against her head. “We here in Ponyville believe that the earlier these little ones understand how everything is supposed to work, they’ll be less likely to mess up down the line.”

“Mess up?”

“Are there no unwanted pregnancies in Canterlot?”

Shining Armor bit back his retort and forced himself to remember his purpose. “You know who I am?"

"I do."

"Then I imagine that you know why I’m here?”

Cheerilee relaxed a little. “The missing foal. Yes, I’ve heard. Poor filly.”

Shining Armor perked up. “So she’s one of yours?”

Cheerilee shook her head. “Sadly not. I wish there was more I could do for you.”

“Could I… may I speak to your students. Briefly.”

Cheerilee eyed him carefully. “If you promise to be on your best behavior.”

Shining Armor, feeling strangely like he’d been chastised by his own teacher, bowed his head. After everything he'd said to Twilight the night before... and here he was doing the exact same thing. “I... I was rude, ma’am. I apologize. I am a stranger in a strange land.”

Cheerilee smiled widely at once. “You'll find that a little open-mindedness will open many a door to you, Sergeant. Please do come in.” She re-entered the building, the stallion following close behind. “Girls, our very special visitor would like to speak with you all for a moment. This is Sergeant Shining Armor of the Canterlot Royal Guard.”

Shining Armor smiled at the fillies. “Hello there.”

“Good morning, Sergeant Armor.” The class intoned as one.

“Sergeant Armor is here for a special mission from the Princess herself.”

“That’s right.” Shining Armor floated the folded photo from his pocket and opened it so the class could see it. “Do any of you recognize this filly? A playmate of yours perhaps?”

One by one, the fillies shook their heads.

Cheerilee offered the stallion a sympathetic look. “I’m sorry, Sergeant, but there’s your answer. If she existed at all, we would know of her.” She perked up a bit. “But, so long as you’re here, would you mind answering a few questions for my girls? We so rarely get visitors all the way from Canterlot.”

Shining Armor, humoring her, smiled. “Of course I don’t mind.”

The filly called Silver Spoon raised a hoof. “Have you actually met Princess Celestia?”

Shining Armor nodded. “I have. She’s spectacular. There’s nothing like standing in Her presence.”

"Does she really have a horn and wings?" A green filly in the back asked.

"Yes, indeed. She's one of the only two alicorns in all of Equestria."

“But, like, what does she do?” Diamond Tiara didn’t bother raising her hoof. “What makes her a princess?”

Shining Armor eyed the rude little filly. “Her Majesty moves the sun and the moon. She helps the food to grow and the seasons to pass. She guides us and leads us and ushers us into the Reward Eternal.”

Diamond Tiara snorted. “That’s not what my Daddy says.”

“Diamond Tiara…” Cheerilee admonished. "Don't be rude."

“No, no. Let her speak.” Shining Armor focused all his attention on her. “Go ahead; what does your Daddy say?”

Diamond Tiara sat up straight and grinned. “My Daddy says that all Princess Celestia does is take credit for the work of the real gods and goddesses. That she’s a liar and a fraud and…”

“Diamond Tiara, that is enough!” Cheerilee openly glared at the filly. “That's no way to speak to our guest.”

“It’s alright, Miss Cheerilee.” Shining Armor smirked at the teacher. “A student’s behaviors are molded by her teacher, after all.”

Cheerilee glared at the stallion but shut her mouth.

Shining Armor looked back at the filly. “Let me ask you something, little miss.” He pointed at the one conspicuously empty desk. “Whose desk is that?”

All eyes turned to the desk.

Shining Armor crossed the room and flung open the desk’s top. Surely there would be graffiti, some note left behind by the missing filly…

The inside of the desk was bare. A single nail was pounded into the center of the empty space. A string connected the metal spike to a large purple scarab beetle. The insect was crawling in circles, every rotation bringing it closer to the center.

“The little old beetle goeth round and round, alwayth the thame way.” The filly called Twist smiled at Shining Armor’s confused face. “Until he endth up right up tight to the nail.” She shrugged. “Poor thing.”

"’Poor thing?’” Shining Armor stared incredulously at the filly. “Then why in Celestia's name do you do it?” He rounded on Cheerilee. “I'd like to see the school register, please.”

Cheerilee shook her head. “I'm afraid you'll have to have Applejack’s authority.”

“Don’t you mean Mayor Mare’s?”

Cheerilee stared at him flatly. “I did not misspeak, Sergeant.”

Shining Armor advanced on her. “This is a police matter, ma’am, and you are impeding my investigation.”

“Be that as it may, I'm afraid you'll have to have either a search warrant from Canterlot or permission from Applejack herself...”

Shining Armor lit his horn and snatched the ledger from Cheerilee’s desk before she could grab it. "Sorry, I'm in a bit of a rush.” He floated the book over and opened it. There, on the first page, clear as a sunny day;


Sweetie Belle


Shining Armor closed the book with a snap and slowly looked around at the faces of the gathered fillies. “You're liars. You are all despicable little liars. Sweetie Belle is a schoolmate of yours, isn't she?” He pointed at the desk with the beetle. “And that is her desk, isn't it?” When nopony said anything, he stamped his hoof. The sound echoed on the wooden walls. Some of the fillies jumped.  “Well? Isn't it?!”

Cheerilee reached out a hoof. “Sergeant, there’s something I think you ought to know…”

Shining Armor hurled the ledger where it slammed back onto Cheerilee’s desk. “And you! Youare the biggest liar of them all! I warn you, ma’am; one more lie out of you and I will charge you with obstruction. Believe me, Miss Cheerilee, that is a promise.” He looked back at the students. Twist looked close to tears. “Now, for the last time; where is Sweetie Belle?”

“Sergeant, I would like to speak with you outside.” Cheerilee’s voice was calm but still carried the familiar command of a teacher.

Shining Armor considered telling her off… but ultimately followed her back out the front door.

Cheerilee looked back to ensure the class had returned to their work before facing the stallion’s glaring face. “It appears that this failure to communicate is my own fault, Sergeant." She sighed. "Nopony was lying. I told you as plainly as I could; if Sweetie Belle existed, we would know of her.”

Finally, Shining Armor caught her meaning. “You mean... she doesn’t exist? She's… dead?”

Cheerilee sighed. “You would say so.”

Shining Armor felt his irritation come roaring back. “Oh, come on! She's either dead, or she's not dead! Which is it?”

“Here we do not use the word… dead.” She ran a hoof down the door frame. “We believe that when a pony’s life is over, the soul returns to the trees, to the air. To fire, to water, and to the other animals. So we believe that Sweetie Belle has simply returned to the life forces in another form.”

Shining Armor gaped at her. “Do you mean to say you teach the foals this… this… nonsense?”

Cheerilee bristled. “It isn’t nonsense. It’s what we believe.”

Shining Armor slumped, feeling totally defeated. “Do they never truly learn anything of the True Faith?”

Cheerilee shrugged. “Only as a comparative religion. The little ones find it far easier to picture reincarnation rather than resurrection. Those rotting bodies are a great stumbling block for the imagination.”

Shining Armor shook his head. “Then may I ask; where is the rotting body of Sweetie Belle?”

“Right where you'd expect it to be.” When he didn’t say anything, she rolled her eyes. “In the earth.”

Shining Armor raised an eyebrow. “You mean in the churchyard?”

“…In a manner of speaking.”

Shining Armor decided that he’d had enough of this conversation. “No. In plain speaking, if you wouldn’t mind.”

“The building attached to the ground in which the body lies is no longer used for the purposes of the True Faith. So whether or not it is still a churchyard is debatable.” She gave a slight bow, also deciding she’d had enough of the stallion for the time being. “Forgive me. I must get back to my girls. Good morning to you.”

Shining Armor watched her re-enter the building. He cast a final glance at the still continuing maypole dance before pivoting on his hooves and heading back into town at a brisk trot.

So Sweetie Belle was dead. One mystery was solved but now another had already begun; how had she died?

He needed to get a message to Twilight as quickly as he could.

He broke into a gallop, heading for the post office as fast as he was able.

High above him in the clouds, Rainbow Dash watched him run. She smiled and started flying for Sweet Apple Acres.

She had a message to give as well.
> Chapter 4: The Fire Leap
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twilight Sparkle slowly opened the library’s front door, her eyes darting around rapidly. After what she’d seen the night before, she was taking no chances. For all she knew, the orgy she had seen the night before might not have ended. It might have spread throughout the town. The last thing she needed to see this morning was a sweaty, intermingled…

Somepony was standing outside.

She made to slam the door shut…

“Miss Sparkle?”

The deep baritone of the voice gave her pause. It sounded vaguely familiar. Slowly, she pushed the door open once more to find a large red stallion standing just outside. The large yoke on his shoulders was attached to a small one-pony cart that rested behind him. He smiled at her from beneath messy orange bangs. “You… you were at Sugarcube Corner last night, weren't you?”

“Yes ma’am.” The stallion ducked his large head. “Pleasure to make yer acquaintance. The name is Macintosh Apple, but folks round here just call me Big Mac.”

Twilight chuckled as she took in his proportions. “I wonder why?”

He laughed as well, the pleasing sound easing her nerves somewhat. “Word around this mornin’ is that you want to have a chat with my sister. She sent me down to give you a lift.”

“How very kind of her.” Twilight stepped out and closed the door behind her. “So Applejack’s your sister?”

“Yes ma’am.” The stallion’s manners were impeccable. “She’s younger than me, a’course, but the gods saw fit to give her all the brains. That’s why she’s runnin’ things and I’m…” He nodded back at the cart.

“The gods. Right.” Twilight’s eye twitched as she tried to focus on her brother’s words from the night before about being more understanding. She climbed onto the cart and settled into the one seat. “Is it a long ride?”

“Not long at all, Miss Sparkle. Just sit back and enjoy the ride.”

The cart lurched as the stallion started off at a brisk trot. Twilight relaxed into her seat and breathed in the fresh morning air. She took in the sights of the waking town for a while before closing her eyes to focus entirely on the ambient bird song. She centered herself, trying to drive away the sights and thoughts of the night before.

The bustle of the town faded away behind her and she knew they had passed beyond the village’s boundaries. The only sounds now were the singing birds, the creaking wagon, and the steady clopping of Mac’s hooves on the smooth earth. Twilight yawned, considering the possibility of a short nap...


“Take the flame inside you,

burn and burn below.

Fire seed and fire feed

and make the baby grow.”


The sing-song voices made her eyes open. Trees lined the road on either side, and the voices seemed to be coming from not far ahead. She watched carefully until she could make out a small fire burning not too far from her. The fire was ringed by a gathering of older fillies and young mares, no more than twenty in all, all dancing and singing along to the same song;


“Take the flame inside you

burn and burn belay.

Fire seed and fire feed

and make the baby stay.”


Twilight watched in confusion as one of the mares, a pink one that looked vaguely familiar, jumped over the dancing flames. She landed nimbly and smoothly rejoined the dance and the song;


“Take the flame inside you

burn and burn belong.

Fire seed and fire feed

and make the baby strong.”


Twilight considered asking Macintosh what the mares were doing but ultimately decided against it. He didn’t seem to be paying any attention to them at all;


“Take the flame inside you

burn and burn belie.

Fire seed and fire feed

and make the baby cry.”


At last the cart began to gain distance from the bizarre ceremony. Twilight relaxed back into her seat, pondering about what she had just seen. One last verse floated to her ears, carried by the wind;


“Take the flame inside you

burn and burn begin.

Fire seed and fire feed

and make the baby king.”


//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Sweet Apple Acres was everything she’d expected it to be; a few well maintained structures of wood surrounded by rolling fields and looming orchards. The wind carried the smells of livestock, sweet apples, and… something else. Her muzzle wrinkled. It was something foul she couldn’t quite place, something that didn't blend with the rest of the place at all.

Mac dropped her off in front of the large red barn, tipped an invisible hat to her, and headed back towards the fields.

Twilight was just opening her mouth to ask where she was supposed to go when a thick southern drawl came from inside the barn. “Be right out.” The unicorn watched as the barn doors swung open, pushed by an orange earth pony with a blonde mane tied in a simple pony-tail. She exhaled and wiped her sweaty brow with a brown Stetson hat that she then used as a fan. She smiled at Twilight with sparkling green eyes. “Trifle warm for this time of year, wouldn’t ya say?”

Twilight, who had no idea what the usual climate was for a town like Ponyville, just nodded. “Miss Applejack, I presume?”

“The one and only.” She returned her hat to her head and extended a hoof. “Just Applejack, if you please. And I'm plum pleased to make yer acquaintance, Miss Twilight.”

Twilight lightly tapped her hoof against the farmer’s, then tried, as subtly as she could, to wipe the dirt off on her coat. “Likewise. I suppose you know why I’m here?”

Applejack nodded. “A missing filly. One who apparently isn’t known around here.”

“Not just missing, Applejack.” Twilight cast her eyes around to check for any eavesdroppers. She spoke in a low tone. “From what I’ve seen of this town, I suspect foul play.”

“You don’t say?” Applejack’s eyes widened in surprise. “Well, I'm confident yer suspicions are wrong, Miss Twilight. We're a deeply religious community, and things like violence don't exactly mesh with...”

Twilight tried (she really did) but could not suppress a laugh at the ridiculous statement. “Religious?! Do you have any idea the things I’ve seen? And not just yesterday, but on the way here?”

If Twilight’s laugh offended her, Applejack hid it well. “Well now I’m curious. What did you see on the road that’s got you in such a tizzy?”

Twilight pointed back down the way where she’d come. “Just back there, I saw a number of young mares singing and dancing around a bonfire.”

Applejack leaned forward expectantly. “…And?”

“Th-they were leaping over the fire and... and singing a song!” Twilight pointed more enthusiastically, only feeling slightly ridiculous. “Can you explain that?”

“Well, it’s just the Fire Leap.”

“The what?”

“The Fire Leap.” Applejack pushed the barn door closed as she explained. “On the eve of our Summer Sun Celebration, the young mares looking to conceive this year gather around the bonfire to praise and request the favor of the gods. By leapin’ over the flames, we believe that they catch some of the god’s heat and use it to amplify their own.”

Twilight gaped at her, struggling to process the information. “And you… encourage them in this practice?”

“A’course we do.” Applejack latched the barn shut and turned back with a smile. “It's very important that each new generation born in Ponyville understands that here, in our own little corner of the world, the old gods aren't dead. Point of fact, they're thrivin.'”

“…what?”

Applejack laughed and turned towards the hen house. “Apple Bloom!”

A yellow filly with a red bow in her hair came bounding up to them, a basket of fresh eggs clutched between in her teeth. The filly waved at Twilight. “Hi!”

Twilight, still not fully recovered from her bit of culture shock, limply waved back. “Uh… Hi.”

“This is Apple Bloom, the youngest of our family.” Applejack ruffled the filly’s red mane. “I’m gonna take Miss Twilight for a little stroll around the farm. You run up to the house, get those in the ice box, and uncork us some cider.”

“What kind?”

Applejack looked over at Twilight. “What’s yer poison?”

Twilight blinked slowly. “I, um, don’t drink. Alcohol, I mean.”

“Gotcha.” Applejack looked back at the filly. “Let’s see how our guest likes cousin Caramel’s blend.” She caught Twilight's protest before she could make it. "Practically apple juice. Strictly non-alcoholic."

“Can I have some?” The filly asked excitedly, her bouncing threatening to send the eggs in her basket tumbling. 

“’Course you can.” She kissed the filly’s cheek and sent her on her way with a light swat on her flank. She turned back to Twilight and nodded at a path that led to the orchards. “Shall we?”

Twilight frowned. “Applejack, we need to discuss…”

“Come one now. We can walk and talk.” She stared down the path, not looking back.

Twilight sighed heavily before following.

Only when she heard Twilight’s hoof-steps following her own did Applejack look back with a smile. “Ya see, in the last hundred years or so, the villagers of Ponyville were starvin.' They were scratchin' a bare living from livestock, carrots, and the like.” She looked around at the surrounding lands. “Then my grandpappy bought this barren land and began to… change things. He was actually a distinguished scientist from Canterlot if you can believe it. He believed that the Equestrian way of life wasn’t sustainable and he wanted to do his part to make things better.”

“And was he, your grandfather I mean, a follower of the True Faith?”

“He was a devout subject of Celestia, if that means anythin.'” Before Twilight could ask any further questions, she forged on with her story. “What attracted my grandpappy to this land, apart from the profuse source of free labor that it promised in the form of villagers desperate for anythin' to distract them from their impendin' doom, was the unique combination of Everfree soil and the strange ambient magics that surround it. Ya see, his experiments had led him to believe that it was possible to grow certain new strains of fruit, apples in particular, that he had developed. So, with typical Apple Family zeal, he set to work.”

The student in Twilight was intrigued. “How did he do it? How did he get seeds to grow in Everfree soil, I mean?”

“I’d love to tell you, but the process has been lost. There was a fire a few years back and grandpappy’s notebooks were one of the casualties.” She gestured at the multitude of trees that now surrounded them. “Luckily we still have all of these.”

“Yes. Lucky.” The foul odor was clearer now and Twilight started breathing through her mouth to keep herself from having to smell it. “So, how did your grandfather get the villagers to go along with it? Or did he just buy them all along with the land?”

Applejack chuckled. “I suppose that would have made things easier, wouldn’t it? Nah, he didn’t buy ‘em. He did a lot of research into this area’s local history and figured that the best way of accomplishin' his goals was to give these ponies back their joyous old gods.”

Twilight stopped. “But you said he was devout. Why did he intentionally sway the villagers from the True Faith?”

“I said he was a devout subject. We Apples have always maintained a healthy skepticism when it comes to the monarchy.” She winked. “Family tradition.”

Twilight frowned but said nothing. 

“So he told them, so long as they helped him in his plans, that they were once again free to worship their gods as they pleased. He convinced them that as a result of this worship the barren land would burgeon and bring forth fruit in great abundance.”

“But what he actually did was to develop new strains of hardy fruits suited to local conditions.” Twilight nodded her head, impressed in spite of herself.

“When it all started, the ponies worked for him because he fed them, clothed them, and allowed them to seek comfort in the forces and deities that they were familiar with. But later, when the trees starting fruiting, it became a very different matter.” She ran a hoof along the trunk of one tree almost reverently. “It seemed that the old gods had indeed returned and the ministers of the True Faith fled the village, never to return. Things went so swimmingly that old grandpappy even married one of the local mares and started up a new branch on the family tree.” Applejack turned and smiled. “What he started out of expediency, my daddy continued out of... love, I guess. He brought me and Mac up the same way - to reverence the music and the drama and rituals of the old gods. To love nature and to fear it, to rely on it and to appease it when necessary. He brought me up…”

Twilight could take no more. “He brought you up to be a heretic!” She snapped.

Applejack’s smiled faltered only slightly. “But not, I hope, an unenlightened one.”

Twilight snorted irritably. “Applejack, I am interested in one thing: the fate of this missing filly. But I must remind you that despite everything you've said, you, and all the ponies of this town, are still subjects of Princess Celestia and thus, by proxy, expected to adhere to the laws of the True Faith.”

“But is this missing filly the only thing that has brought you to my little village?”

Twilight faltered. “I’m sorry?”

“Small town, Miss Twilight. Ears are everywhere. What was it you said to yer brother last night?” She slipped out of her accent and raised her tone a few notches to make herself sound smarter. “’Converting the village would be much easier if I managed to convert their leader first.’” She cocked her head. “Has the princess finally decided to secure her hold on every village in the land?”

Twilight sneered. “You should know the answer to that. You seem to know everything else.”

“I know only what the gods tell me, Miss Twilight. Well, them and the town baker.” She started back towards the homestead. “The gods would not have brought you to me if there weren’t a reason. So…”

“So?”

“So... I’ll give you your chance. To… how do you in the True Faith call it? “‘Usher me into the warmth of Her Loving Light.’” She nodded back towards her house. “But we’ll be talkin’ over cider.”

Twilight looked back down the path they’d been walking. The foul scent’s source had to be close, perhaps as close as just over the next hill…

“You comin?’” 

Twilight nodded towards the hill. “What’s over that way?”

Applejack shrugged. “Just more trees. Would you expect anythin' else?”

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Twilight settled into the farm-house’s couch and sipped the mug of sweet cider.

Applejack smiled at her, tilting slowly in an ancient-looking rocking chair. She sipped her own cider, her eyes never leaving Twilight’s.

The two watched each other for a moment, just observing the silence.

“Why did you inherit the farm?” Twilight finally asked.

“Beg pardon?”

“Why you? Isn’t Mac older?”

Applejack laughed lowly. “My brother’s never been much of a leader-type pony. His strength is in his work. The gods saw fit that I should be the one to succeed my father after his untimely demise.”

“How did he die?” Something Rarity had said the day before popped into her mind. “Timberwolves?”

“Good guess.” Applejack’s smile faded and she took another drink. “Damn beasts tend to stay in the woods, but a few years back a pack of ‘em got brave and raided us. We lost a lot of good ponies that night, my parents included.”

“The will of the gods?” Twilight offered, smiling sweetly. 

The game began.

Applejack laughed once. “I’m afraid it was. We did somethin’ to anger them, I’d wager. Somethin’ pretty bad. We took some extra precautions at the next year’s Summer Sun Celebration and the monsters have stayed away ever since.”

Twilight raised an eyebrow. “Precautions?”

“Oh, you wouldn’t be interested in such barbaric customs, I’m sure.”

“You’re probably right.” Twilight took another drink. She carefully measured her next attack. “...Why do you choose to worship them?”

“Because they are there to be worshiped, and we are here to worship them. That’s just the way of the world.” She said matter-of-factly. “Why do you worship Celestia?”

“I worship Princess Celestia for a multitude of reasons." She pointed a hoof at the roof. "She moves the sun and the moon, first of all.”

“Does she?” Applejack sipped. “And I imagine you have proof of that?”

Twilight smiled victoriously. “As a matter of fact, I have. I’ve seen it with my own eyes.”

“Describe it to me, please. I'm ever so curious.”

Twilight’s smile fell. “What?”

“Describe to me what it looks like. When Celestia raises the sun, I mean.”

“Uh… okay. Her horn lights up, the sun becomes bathed in the light of her magic, and then she raises it. Simple as that.”

Applejack blinked. "Sounds kinda borin.'"

"It's spectacular.

“If you say so. So... what color is her magic?”

“Yellow.”

Applejack cocked her head. “And what color is the sun?”

“Yell…” Twilight stopped. “Wait.”

“She moves the moon too, doesn’t she?”

“Of course, but…”

Applejack forged ahead. “When’s the last time you saw the moon bathed in yellow magic, Miss Twilight?”

Twilight frowned. “Maybe her moon magic is a different color.”

“Oh, don’t you know?” Applejack examined a hoof in feigned interest.

“Princess Celestia doesn’t allow anypony to see her raising or lowering the moon.”

“Imagine that.” Applejack took another swig and motioned for Twilight to continue. “What’s another reason you choose to worship her?”

Twilight reluctantly conceded the point to the farmer. She knew her next blow was unbreakable. “Well... there’s the Reward Eternal.”

“Ah, the very bedrock of the True Faith, so I’ve been told. Would you care to explain to a poor, uneducated heathen exactly what the Reward Eternal is?”

Twilight cleared her throat. This was part of her faith that she knew well. She’d written several papers on the subject. “As the True Faith dictates, on the longest night of the thousandth year the stars will aid in the escape of the beast Nightmare Moon from her prison in the moon itself. She will extinguish the sun and plunge Equestria into the Night Eternal. All ponies who do not follow the True Faith will be left behind to freeze and starve for a full one thousand years of unending darkness.”

“Goodness.” Applejack murmured. “And what about the followers of the True Faith? What happens to them?”

“The Faithful will be taken to the Reward Eternal, a realm of never-ending light and peace. There they will dwell with Princess Celestia until the next thousand years have ended.” Twilight smiled at the thought. “Then She will return to Equestria, ultimately defeat the beast, and bring about the never-ending Age of Light. The dead will live and no one will ever have to die again. Just peace, love, and the worship of Princess Celestia  forever and ever.”

“Woo boy. Sounds like a time and a half.” Applejack finished her cider. “Is that all there is to it?”

“Isn't that enough?” Twilight raised an eyebrow.

“So everypony is equal in this Reward of yours?”

Twilight snorted into her cider and came up giggling. “Of course not. The Most Faithful will be placed on either side of Princess Celestia and rule by her side.”

“I think I’m startin’ to get the picture. Everypony's equal in Her eyes, but some ponies are more equal than others.”

"I wouldn't put it that bluntly..."

Applejack put her mug aside and touched her hooves together. “So... when does this all start poppin’ off? When are the thousand years ended? When does Nightmare Moon get sprung from her jail?”

“Well, nopony knows.” Twilight swallowed the last of her cider and put the mug on the floor. “That’s why we must all be sheltered in the warmth of Her Loving Light. Nopony knows when the end times will be upon us.”

“So yer not tryin’ to convert me or my ponies at all.” Applejack mused. “Yer just tryin’ to save us.”

“Yes.” Twilight sighed blissfully. She was finally getting through. “Only by abandoning your false gods and accepting Princess Celestia into your heart can you be saved from what is to come.”

“And you fer sure know this is all going to happen?”

“Yes!”

“How?”

Twilight froze again. “...What?”

“How do you know? How do you know Nightmare Moon could bust loose any day now? How do you know this Reward Eternal exists at all?” She shrugged her shoulders. “Has anypony ever seen it?”

“Seeing isn’t always believing, Applejack.” Twilight resisted the urge to pout. This wasn’t going how she’d planned it at all. The earth pony should’ve been on her knees begging for salvation by now. “I believe in the True Faith. Many of us do.”

“And many of us don’t, Miss Twilight.” Applejack stood and stretched. “I don’t begrudge you your beliefs and I only wish you didn’t begrudge me mine. We just wanna be left alone. Is that so bad?”

Twilight glared at her. “I'm trying to save you from yourselves. You worship at the altars of ignorance and false gods.”

“As do you, from my perspective.” For the first time, Applejack’s look hardened. “You could not fathom the elements of our world, Miss Twilight. Your mind is just too small.”

Twilight bristled. “I resent that.”

“Doesn’t feel too good being called stupid, does it?" Applejack scoffed as she shook her head. "Y’know, I really do pity you.”

“Pity me?!” Twilight jumped to her hooves. “How dare you…?”

“Yes, I pity you. I pity you in that you are so slavishly devoted to a deity that expects blind worship and yet gives nothin’ in return. You go without the basest pleasures of our world, and why? Because she tells you to? When’s the last time you had a drink of good hard cider? When did you last dance in the light of the moon?" She smiled a secret smile. "When’s the last time you had a really good ruttin’ just for the hay of it?” She shook her head again. “You give and you give and you give and you get nothin’ for it.”

“Oh, you’re one to talk. What is it you told me?” She put on an exaggerated southern drawl and crossed her eyes. “’They’re here to be worshiped and we are here to worship them.’” She uncrossed her eyes and glared once again. “What do your gods offer you except lies, death, and timberwolves?”

Applejack’s eyes narrowed. “Our gods reward us in ways you’d never believe.”

The tension in the air grew thick…

“Ya’ll need any more cider?” Apple Bloom poked her head into the room.

Applejack’s smile returned as she looked at the filly. “We’re good, sugarcube. Gettin’ to be mighty hungry though. Why don’t you throw in a few dumplins?”

Apple Bloom returned the smile. “Yes, Mama.”

When the filly had left, Twilight cocked her head. “She called you Mama.”

“That’s ’cause she’s my daughter. Right perceptive of you.” Applejack tapped the rim of her hat. “Youngest member of the family, remember?”

Twilight searched her memory for any other ponies she might’ve seen on the farm. “Where’s her father at?”

“I expect tilling whatever field he was headin’ for after he dropped you off.”

Twilight’s jaw dropped. “Mac is…? But he’s… Your…”

“Heat comes on strong some years.” Applejack smirked. “When that happens, then it’s any port in a storm. The gods blessed me with Apple Bloom after that hot summer night.”

Twilight took a step back, not bothering to even try and hide her outrage.“That… that’s disgusting.”

“That’s nature, Miss Twilight. That’s what stallions and mares do.” She winked. “Word around town is that yer own brother is quite a sight to see. You can’t tell me the thought ain’t never crossed yer mind…”

“I believe I’ve had enough of this conversation.” Twilight turned and marched from the room and into the kitchen. 

Apple Bloom looked up from the ice box with wondering eyes. “Arent’cha gonna stay for brunch?”

Twilight looked at the filly, a maelstrom of emotions in her heart. The pony was an abomination, a thing borne of incest and lust. She was a walking, talking sin. Her very existence was an affront to all she believed in…

Yet she was still just a child. An innocent. Pure.

She smiled as gently as she could. “I’m afraid not. Thank you for the offer.” She trotted out the back door, ready to run back to Ponyville…

“Miss Twilight Sparkle?”

Twilight looked up to find a grey mare with crossed eyes floating overhead. She held an envelope in her mouth. When the pegasus  dropped the letter, she caught it with her magic and tore it open.

It was from Shining Armor.

She read it as quickly as she could and spun to find Applejack standing in the door’s threshold. “Somethin’ wrong?”

Twilight brandished the letter. “My brother has been to the school-house and discovered that not only is Sweetie Belle an actual resident of this village, but that she is also apparently deceased.”

Applejack’s eyes widened in surprise. “Is that so? Well, what do you think could have happened?”

Twilight drew herself to her full height and looked down at the earth pony. “I think Sweetie Belle was murdered... under circumstances of heathen barbarity. It is my intention to return to Canterlot and report my suspicions to Princess Celestia Herself. She will undoubtedly demand a full inquiry takes place into the affairs of this heinous village.”

“Just an inquiry?”

Twilight bared her teeth a little. “Perhaps a bit more, in your family’s case.”

“You must, a'course, do as you see fit, Miss Twilight.” Applejack also stood to her full height. She now was now a full inch taller than the unicorn. “But I’ll thank ya not to threaten me, my family, or my town. We may be a bit backwoods, but even we’ve heard what’s happenin’ in Saddle Arabia.”

Twilight wilted only slightly. “I wasn’t suggesting…”

“Perhaps it's just as well that you won't be here tomorrow, to be offended by the sight of our Summer Sun Celebration.” Applejack nodded her head slightly. “Enjoy the rest of yer stay in Ponyville, Miss Twilight.”

Understanding that she had now been dismissed, Twilight spun and trotted away without returning the nod.

When she was gone, Rainbow Dash floated to the ground from her hiding place in the clouds and grinned at Applejack. “She got under your skin a little, didn’t she? I can tell.”

“Ain’t no laughin’ matter, Dash. The last thing we need is Celestia sending an army of Twilight Sparkles after us.” She spat into the dirt. “This has to go off without a hitch.”

“Everypony’s doing great so far. Pinkie’s ready to go…” Dash put a wing around her best friend. “Don’t worry, AJ. The gods are with us.”

“I know. Believe me, I know.” She gestured towards the kitchen door. “Want some brunch?”

Dash licked her lips and nodded enthusiastically.

“Good. Just don’t fill up too much.” Applejack spared a final glance at the road. “We’ve got a busy night ahead of us.”
> Chapter 5: Pinkie's Song
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twilight Sparkle washed down the last of her sandwich with another sip of water and eyed her brother from across the table. “No.”

“No?” Shining Armor stared at her in shock. “What do you mean ‘no?’?”

“I mean that I don’t want to stay in this village a minute longer than I have to. You said the teacher already told you Sweetie Belle is dead. What purpose would there be in digging up her grave?”

“They’ve lied about everything else so far, Twily.” Shining Armor glared at the wall. In the next room, they could hear the revelers singing their drunken ballads much as they had the night before. “Maybe they’re lying about the filly being dead as well. I just want to be sure.”

“I understand that, but we have to think logically here.” Twilight took another sip of water. “Tomorrow is the Summer Sun Celebration. There’s no way in Equestria that they’re going to allow you to desecrate their burial ground on a holy day.”

“That burial ground is anything but holy.” Shining Armor grimaced as he thought back to his sunset stroll through the old churchyard after sending his message to his sister. “There’s a tombstone in there that reads ‘Here Lieth Bulk Biceps, Protected by the Ejaculate of Serpents.’”

Twilight felt her stomach turn at the idea. “And you found her headstone?”

“No. The stallion tending the grass said that it hadn’t arrived yet. But he confirmed that the newest grave belonged to a filly named Sweetie Belle. I asked him if he knew how she died, but he said he didn’t.” Shining Armor sighed and stared at his uneaten sandwich. “I just need to exhume the body, Twilight. If I can exhume the body and confirm the cause of death wasn’t natural, I can come back with a full platoon and launch a proper investigation.”

“Nothing about this village is natural.” Twilight muttered.

“How’d the conversion of Applejack go?”

Twilight’s face fell further. “Badly. She’s a zealot. They all are. I fear there’s no chance for peaceful conversion here.” She sighed. “It might be another Saddle Arabia.”

“That’s… disappointing to hear.”

Twilight looked up at her older brother. “Shining Armor?”

“Yes?”

“You served a tour in Saddle Arabia last year, didn’t you?”

A rush of memories flooded Shining Armor’s mind. “Yes.”

“We… we’re doing the right thing, aren’t we? We’re saving those ponies.”

“Of course we are.” Shining Armor forced himself to take a bite of his sandwich. It tasted like sand and blood on his tongue. “If the unconverted won’t save themselves, then we must do it for them.”

Twilight looked at the row of photographs. “These ponies… they don’t seem evil. They seem happy in their ignorance. Would it be so bad if we just… let them be?”

Shining Armor raised an eyebrow. “They’ll be happier basking in the warmth of Her Loving Light.”

“But I don’t want to have to share Her with them!” Twilight snapped. “If they want to wallow in the darkness of their old gods, then I say let them! Let them be left behind when the thousand years are ended and Nightmare Moon returns! What would be gained from forcibly converting the ponies of Ponyville? Why do we need drunks, sex maniacs, liars, and madmares?” Twilight thought of little Apple Bloom. “By the Sun itself, even the children of this town are impure to their core!”

“Twilight…” Shining Armor pushed away from the table.

“How many of your fellow soldiers have died trying to bring Saddle Arabia in line? How many of my fellow students have died? How many have died screaming? And for what?” Tears began to run from Twilight’s eyes. “You weren’t there, Shining Armor. You didn’t see the cool sureness in that mare’s eyes. S-she wasn’t some ranting lunatic. She wasn’t an idiot. She was educated and well versed, not just in her own religion but ours as well! She put questions in my mind and I… I…” 

Shining Armor pulled Twilight close and hugged her. She returned the embrace and sobbed into his coat. “Twily, it’s alright…”

“She made me doubt, Shining Armor!” Twilight wailed. “She put doubt into my heart and Princess Celestia knows everything and She’ll see that doubt and She’ll say that my faith isn’t strong anymore!”

Shining Armor stroked his sister’s mane and shushed her, just as he’d done when they were younger. 

Twilight’s sobs eventually petered off into quiet sniffles, and she snuggled closer to Shining Armor’s warmth. It was comforting in her brother’s arms. As a filly, this was where she had always felt the safest. He had always been bigger than her, stronger than her. She only knew true peace when he had his hooves around her, when she could smell the soap and shampoo in his coat. It always felt so nice when she could hear his heartbeat…

“Word around town is that yer own brother is quite a sight to see. You can’t tell me the thought ain’t never crossed yer mind…”

Twilight gasped and pulled herself out of Shining Armor’s embrace. “Don’t…!”

Shining Armor stared at her in confusion. “Don’t what?”

Twilight quickly wiped her eyes and drained the last of her water. “We’re leaving first thing in the morning. We’ll report to Her Majesty and we will follow her instructions to the letter.”

Shining Armor tried to shake off his sister’s bizarre behavior and nodded. “Alright. You’re in charge, after all.”

“No.” Twilight stared at him intently. “She is in charge. She is always in charge. We can never forget that.”

“Who wants dessert?”

The siblings turned at the sound of the sing-song voice and watched as Pinkie Pie made her entrance into the room, two servings of her special crumb cake resting on a tray balanced on top of her head. “Twily, you really should try the cake before we leave. Miss Rarity wasn’t kidding.” Shining Armor licked his lips at the sight of the desserts… and certainly not at the plump pink mare carrying them.

Twilight rolled her eyes and reached for one of the plates. She sniffed it, gave a small nibble, and then dove in.

“Told you.” Shining Armor laughed as he set to work on his own.

Pinkie Pie giggled, her eyes flicking between the stallion and the mare. She watched them carefully as they polished off the pastry, down to the last crumb. She waited for the first sign, anxious as to which of the unicorn siblings had gotten the…

Twilight yawned. “I’m exhausted.”

Pinkie Pie’s grin got even bigger. Jackpot. The gods were indeed smiling on her this night.

“I’m not surprised. You had a big day.” Shining Armor shook his head. “I’m surprised I’m not passing out myself. Actually, I’m feeling kind of wired.”

Pinkie Pie started bouncing on her hooves in excitement.

Twilight began to slump, her eyelids drooping. “I think I’m gonna get to bed…” 

Shining Armor stood. “I’ll walk you to the library.”

“No!” Pinkie exclaimed suddenly. “Uh, I mean, I’ll get her there. I’ll get her there lickety-split. Pinkie Promise.”

Twilight stared at the pink mare woozily as she got up from her chair. “What’s a Pinkie Promise?”

“I’ll tell you some other time.” Pinkie Pie winked at Shining Armor as his sister leaned against her side. “You can go on up to bed, Sergeant. I’ll take care of her.”

“Thank you, Pinkie.” Shining Armor kissed Twilight’s head. “Sweet dreams, little sis.”

Twilight smiled, already half asleep. “Love you, BBBFF.”

Pinkie Pie cocked her head in confusion. “What’s BBBFF mean?”

“I’ll tell…” Twilight yawned hugely. “…you some other time.”

Shining Armor watched the landlord’s daughter help his sister out of the room and stretched. No, he wasn’t tired at all. He considered going outside and running a few laps, but found that the idea of running was not terribly appealing at the moment. No, what he wanted to do right now more than anything was

(a mare)

Shining blinked rapidly. Where had that come from? He took a sip of water and glanced over at the door that led to the still rollicking party. Maybe he could go talk to some of the ponies there. Maybe they would be more open to talking now that he knew Sweetie Belle was dead and they were deep in their cups. Maybe those two mares he had seen last night would be

(kissing…kissing each other… kissing him… kissing parts of him…)

Shining Armor shook his head and wiped his brow. He was shocked by how sweaty he had suddenly become. Was the room getting warmer? He drained his water and put the cool glass against his forehead. It clinked off his horn and he shivered as the clink and vibration ran through him. What was going on? What

(did Pinkie’s sweat taste like)

Shining Armor snorted and unconsciously pawed at the hardwood floor. This feeling was different, yes, but it still felt strangely… good. It felt like electricity was rushing through every muscle of his body. He could feel his blood racing and rushing and

(hard… need a mare… need to rut)

Shining Armor shifted his weight and gasped in horrified shock when he felt something slap against his stomach. A quick glance down confirmed his worst fears and he bolted up the back stairs towards his room before anypony could see him or his shame. He made it to the modest guest room and slammed the door shut, locking it securely. He threw himself onto the bed, wincing at the pain and pleasure rushing through his erection. He rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling. What was happening? He’d always maintained such perfect control of his baser urges. Even when Cadance

(Cadance)

His eyes widened as his mind flooded with images of his pretty pink princess. “No…” he whispered desperately as thoughts of her consumed him. Her smile, her eyes, her laugh, her hair

(her flanks… her lips… her legs…)

Shining Armor whinnied in frustration as his hips flexed. The thoughts of his fiancée started becoming more lustful in nature. He fought against them, fought with every scrap of will he had

(Cadance’s mouth wrapped around him… her eyes staring up at him… her legs holding him tight against her as he took her… pleasured moans and whispered vulgarities in his ear…)

Even as he fought, his hooves drifted down his sweaty coat and touched the mottled pink and black flesh that jutted from him like a sword. His teeth clenched at the feeling

(Cadance’s face on the mattress, her flanks in the air… beneath him… crying out as he took her… rutted her… bred her…)

“Sergeant?”

(The pink mare turns and looks back at him… her wings are gone… she’s plumper… she smiles at him… She winks…)

“Shining Armor?”

Pinkie Pie.

Shining Armor tore his hooves away from his stallionhood and flung himself at the door. He pushed against it with his hooves, his full weight holding it closed. “What…” His voice cracked and he quickly cleared his throat. “What can I do for you, Pinkie?”

He heard her sit down on the other side of the door. “Now that you mention it, there’s several things you could do for me. Or to me.”

Shining Armor became aware of a strange scent filling his nostrils. It was more potent than his own sweat, something alien and unfamiliar to him.

“Shining Armor?”

The scent was clouding his mind. His brain began feeling sluggish. He shook his head quickly and put his forehead against the door. “I-I’m afraid I’m in no shape to help anypony out right now, Pinkie.”

“I wouldn’t say that.” She giggled. He heard her take a deep breath and exhale with a dreamy sigh. “I can smell you. So strong, so virile… so ready.”

Her tone was now low and thick, like syrup. He began to realize that her voice sounded like his own thoughts did. “P-please forgive me, Pinkie. I don’t know what’s c-come over me.”

“I do.” He heard her shift on the ground. The scent was stronger now, and his ears detected a strange, squishy sound. “In our culture, we consider it good fortune when a mare goes into heat in the midst of the Summer Sun Celebration.”

Alarm bells started going off in Shining Armor’s sluggish mind. The scent…

“I’ve heard in Canterlot that mares cast spells to disguise the smell of their estrus for appearance’s sake.” She moaned as she shifted once again. “I can’t imagine the torture. To have nopony aware of your driving need while you’re surrounded by stallions who all must smell so good…”

“Pinkie.” Shining Armor wiped the sweat from his face. “It might be best that you leave. I can’t… I can’t control…”

“You aren’t supposed to control it, silly.” She laughed again, like tinkling bells. “That’s biology. Your body wants what it wants, just like my body wants what it wants. And tonight my body wants you.”

Shining Armor panted, trying desperately not to breathe through his nose.

“Don’t you want me, Shining Armor?”

“Pinkie Pie…”

“Don’t you want to feel me under you? Don’t you want to be inside me?”

Shining Armor groaned and smacked his head against the door.

“I want you, Shining Armor. That princess of yours never needs to know. I want you so bad I can taste it.” He heard her stand and put her front hooves on the door. “I want you on top of me. I want to feel you drive that stallionhood as deep into me as you can. I want you to rut me until I can’t see straight.” He heard her growl as she pushed against the door. “I want you to take me as hard as you can. I want to be your mare, if only for tonight. Nopony needs to know. Nopony needs to know how good and hard and deep you give it to me tonight…”

Her vulgarity and brazenness made Shining Armor moan again. His hips flexed without thought, sending his ramrod hard erection knocking against the door. 

“Oh? What’s that?” Pinkie’s voice was breathy but still playful. He had to put his ear against the door to hear her. “Is somepony knocking?” 

And then, to his amazement, she began to sing;


“Heigh ho! Who is there?

No one but me, my dear.

Please come say, 'How do?'

The things I'll give to you.

A stroke as gentle as a feather

I'll catch a rainbow from the sky

And tie the ends together.”


Her hooves began to tap against the door in a strong, steady beat. Her voice was melodious, hypnotizing, as she continued;


“Heigh ho! I am here

Am I not young and fair?

Please come say, 'How do?'

The things I'll show to you.

Would you have a wondrous sight

The midday sun at midnight?”


He imagined what she was doing on the other side of the door. He imagined her swaying her hips to the song, her tail swishing in the air and fanning out her scent. Without realizing it, he began to breathe through his nose again as she continued singing;


“Fair maid, white and red,

Comb you smooth and stroke your head.”


Shining Armor’s last rational reserves began to give way. His base primal instincts and desires began to claw into the forefront of his mind. Still Pinkie sang, like a siren drawing him into her drowning pool;


“How a maid can milk a bull!

And every stroke…”


He put his ear against the door to hear her final whispered words;


“…a bucketful.”


He could take no more.

With a growl, Shining Armor’s magic tore the door from its hinges and hurled it across the room. 

Pinkie Pie fell onto four hooves, her coat just as sweaty as his. Her eyes shined with the same primal desire that filled the stallion. She panted, her own arousal dripping down her back legs. She smirked at him. “Hi.”

His magic seized her and hurled her onto his bed. 

She let out a little squeal as her stomach hit the mattress and she writhed on the comforter, grinding herself into the fabric. She looked back at him, breathing heavily. “Don’t keep a girl waiting, Sergeant.”

He practically threw himself across her back, his weight driving the air from her lungs. Judging by the way her tail lifted out of the way, she didn’t mind. Shining Armor buried his nose in her mane and breathed deep, her smell driving him wild with want. Following instincts as old as his species, he mounted the pink mare, his forelegs wrapped tightly around her barrel. 

She nickered softly as she felt his length rubbing along her stomach. It seemed that even the most talkative pony is town was out of words at the moment.

Not wasting a single moment more, Shining Armor drew back and buried himself to the hilt in the mare. He snorted pleasurably at the sound of fulfilled joy she let out and the sudden hot tightness that surrounded him. He gripped her tightly as he began to rut her, pounding into her with wild abandon. He was lost in her softness, her wetness, her smell… There was no True Faith. There was no Cadance. There was only the mare beneath him and his biological need to claim her.

Pinkie Pie’s tongue lolled out as the stallion above her really got to work. No virgin had ever taken her like this before. His hardness reached a spot deep inside her that nearly made her scream with pleasure. She bit down on the comforter to keep from biting her tongue. She braced herself as best as she could and began pushing back against his thrusts, trying to take him even deeper. The burning heat in her loins demanded satisfaction from something only he could provide. She needed what he had and she needed it now.

Shining Armor’s hips were a blur of motion as he drove himself into Pinkie Pie again and again and again. He craned his neck and bit down on the pink mare’s poufy mane as he railed into her. 

Pinkie Pie screamed in ecstasy when he pulled on her mane. She came harder than she had in months, but the fiery heat remained. “Sh-Shining Ah-Armor!” She stammered, her voice inter-broken by the force of his thrusts and her own sounds of pleasure. “Pl-please… f-fill m-e. I n-eed i-i-t!”

Shining Armor could barely process her words, but her tone leaked into his brain, her moans and cries driving him to the inevitable conclusion. 

“G-give it to m-me!” She begged as she came again. “B-b-breed me!”

Shining Armor released her mane and came with a roar. He buried himself inside her warm wetness one more time as his seed poured into her. 

Pinkie Pie sighed with pleased relief as he painted her insides. The burning at last began to subside and she felt herself finally starting to relax. Her tenseness faded and she slumped, held aloft only by the stallion’s forelegs.

Shining Armor’s orgasm finally subsided and he collapsed on top of the panting mare. Without his support, they crashed to the bed and lay there, breathing rapidly. They both shuddered a bit when Shining Armor’s softening length left Pinkie with an audible pop. 

The room smelled of sex and the air was filled by the sounds of their pants and satisfied murmurs.

Pinkie Pie turned her head just enough that she was able to lick Shining Armor’s cheek. “Thank you.”

“For what?” Shining Armor began to come out of his heat-induced haze.

“For my foal.”

Shining Armor blinked and tried to clear his head faster. “Your foal? But what…?” He thought back to before the haze had settled on his mind. He thought back to dinner. To Twilight.

To the crumb cake.

Things started becoming more clear and he stared at the mare in horror. “Did you drug me?”

“Kinda yes, kinda no.” Pinkie Pie giggled. She rolled onto her back and stretched. “We have all sorts of potions and remedies thanks to plants that grow in the Everfree Forest. My favorite is an herb you can chew to prevent pregnancy during heat season. All the fun without worrying if you’re ready for a foal or not. In your case, I used a leaf that really gets a stallion’s engine revving. Just a little, though.” She smirked at him. “You were so pent up that all you needed was a little push, and then my heat did the rest.”

Shining Armor nearly fell off the bed as he backed away.

“Aw, was it bad?” Pinkie Pie pouted. "I try to make everypony's first time special..."

“Yes. I mean, no. I mean…” Shining Armor suddenly felt trapped. The air was suffocating.

“Wow. You really filled me up.” Pinkie Pie was lazily drawing circles on her belly with a hoof. “I wonder if that means I’m gonna have twins.”

Shining Armor stared at her. “But you said you have an herb…”

“I said we have an herb.” Pinkie Pie winked at him. “I never said I’d eaten any lately.”

The walls were closing in on Shining Armor. He’d lost control of himself. He’d bedded a mare before marriage. He’d betrayed Cadance. He’d impregnated her. He’d sired a bastard…

He was no longer pure.

Shining Armor turned and ran from the room, from Sugarcube Corner entirely. He raced through the quiet village, not knowing or caring where he was running to. All he knew was that he had to get away…

It suddenly occurred to him that he must be having a nightmare. Yes, that was it. That was the only thing that made sense. His time in the village had given him a nightmare in which he had lost control of himself and betrayed every facet of his life in a single stroke.

His running had brought him to Town Square. He spied the fountain, sprinted to the edge, and dunked his heated head into the blessedly cool waters. Surely that would shock him awake! He pulled back, taking a deep gasp of air, prepared to find himself back in his bed at the bakery, or (Celestia willing) in his own bed back home. But, no; he was still in Ponyville. He had still shamed himself and... 

Somepony behind him coughed.

He spun to find a trio of mares standing across the way. He recognized two of them as the seamstress, Rarity, and the schoolteacher, Cheerilee. The mare standing between them was an orange earth pony with a hat of tanned leather on her head. “Who…?”

“Good evenin’ to you, Sergeant Shining Armor.” The mare tipped her hat to him. “Don’t believe we’ve been properly introduced. The name’s Applejack.” She smirked at him. “Out for an evenin’ stroll, are we?”

Applejack. The village’s spiritual head. Their true leader. He saw more ponies approaching from between the dark buildings. He spied stallions and mares by the dozen. They were all staring at him. “What is the meaning of this?”

“I’ll tell you what it ain’t, Sergeant. It sure as shootin’ ain’t personal.” Applejack took the hat from her head and tossed it behind her where a large red stallion caught it and hung it from a nearby lamp-post. “It’s just how things have got to be sometimes.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Maybe that’s for the best, Sergeant.” Cheerilee chuckled. “Ignorance is bliss, after all.”

“It is midnight. The Summer Sun Celebration has begun.” Applejack recited carefully, measuring each word. “Has the seed been planted?”

“That's putting it lightly.”

Shining Armor tried to turn to face the laughing voice behind him, but it was too late. Pinkie Pie landed on his back and her forehooves wrapped tightly about his neck. His knees buckled from the sudden tackle, but before he could react his head was alive with pain. He screamed as something hard within a cavern of warmth and wetness closed around his ear and pulled. He registered an awful tearing sound and then Pinkie Pie was gone. He put a hoof to his ear to check the damage and found only wetness and torn strips of flesh.

He stared in horror as Pinkie Pie landed nearby, his ear dangling from her lips. Before he could say anything, it vanished into her mouth. She chewed for a moment and then swallowed. She stuck her tongue out at him, either in jest or to show that she'd indeed just consumed a piece of him.

“We thank thee, Sire, for planting the seed in the waiting soil. We thank you also for your gift of the fertilizer that will help the seed to grow.” Applejack spoke again. She turned to Pinkie Pie. “Fair Maiden, will you share in this gift of soil the Sire has generously given?”

Pinkie Pie licked her lips and nodded enthusiastically. “Yup! Uh, I mean…” She straightened up and tried to look dignified. “My Lady, it would be an honor both to me and the chap who will soon grow within me if you would share in the Sire’s gift.” She smiled at Shining Armor. “’Tis a bountiful feast.”

“May the gods look upon thee with love, Fair Maiden. May their blessings be upon you and upon us all.”

Shining Armor looked around frantically for some kind of escape route, but they were all around him now. Dozens and dozens of ponies were tightening the circle. It looked like every adult pony in town had come out for the occasion. He looked up and saw the rainbow maned pegasus who’d first greeted him hovering just above, her eyes locked upon him.

She looked like she was drooling.

Shining Armor whimpered as the blood ran down his face from the hole where his ear used to be. He began hyperventilating, his complete terror stifling his attempts at casting a proper shield charm. “Stay away from me!” He cried.

“Feed the seed. Feed the seed.” Applejack began chanting as the circle started to close. The ponies of the village mimicked her, beating their hooves into the ground in time with the chant as they drew closer and closer. “FEED THE SEED! FEED THE SEED!”

The chanting and the drum-beat of approaching hooves drove Shining Armor back against the rim of the fountain…

The fountain!

He realized he still had time to drown himself before they reached him. Surely that would be a preferable fate than the one they were preparing to bestow upon him. 

But no, he couldn’t give up. He could fight his way out! He was a trained and dutiful member of the Royal Guard. He had training these ponies could never even imagine. All he had to do was locate the point where their line was thinnest and…

The chanting had stopped. The drum-like beating of hooves against the ground had stopped. 

The night was still and quiet. 

The villagers were all around him, barely five feet away. They stared at him in icy silence. He could smell them, the excitement running through them.

Pinkie Pie winked at him.

He looked at her. “Wait…”

They rushed him.

The stallion fought off the first few, but soon the first bites and hard smacks with hooves eroded his resistance. He screamed as they began on him. He screamed until they tore away his ability to scream anymore. He didn’t die for quite a while, not until after he could feel them tearing into his core.

For the next few hours, the square was a flurry of bloody red activity. Ponies tore off pieces of the offering and ran off to devour them in private corners of the area. Others settled beside twitching body to nourish themselves directly from the source. The unicorn seamstress and the earth pony schoolteacher played tug-of-war with a leg, growling like playful wolf pups. A cheer went up when the earth pony farmer held aloft the warrior’s heart and bit into it with as much relish as she would a freshly picked apple. The pink earth pony, the evening’s Fair Maiden, blushed when her adopted father and the mayor brought her the tool the warrior had used to plant his seed. Joyful tears filled her eyes as she began to eat the offering. 

As the moon made its way across the sky, the sheer joy and jubilation of the occasion began to work through the ponies in other ways. Soon the night was filled with pleasured moans and screams as an impromptu orgy broke out. With coats stained red and bellies full of the sacred feast, they licked and sucked and rutted in the dark of the night. The orange earth pony looked on approvingly as her brother rutted the schoolteacher whose muzzle was buried between the legs of the seamstress. The bakery’s owner approached her and offered himself with a careful kiss. She returned the kiss with gusto and turned dutifully when they parted. She moaned when she felt his weight on her back and grinned widely when he sank into her.

The Fair Maiden, the only mare expressly forbidden from participating in the carnal celebration lest she risk dilution of the offered seed, looked on proudly from her seat of honor on the rim of the fountain. Her hoof traced small circles on her red-stained belly. The hollow skull of her stallion sat beside her, watching the proceedings with empty sockets.

And so it went for hours until everypony gathered was spent. The picked-clean bones of the offering were gathered and carried away with great reverence while other ponies began washing away the remaining blood with water from the fountain. By the time the sun was rising, the ponies were all in bed, and it was though the square had not been touched all night.

Through all of this, Twilight Sparkle slept a dreamless sleep in the village library’s small sleeping nook. She smiled as she dreamed of her brother.
> Chapter 6: The Procession I - Black Sheep
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The tinkling of the bell above the door in Sugarcube Corner made Twilight groan in agony. She put a hoof to her head and rubbed around her horn in a fruitless attempt to massage away the pain.

“Miss Twilight!” Carrot Cake exclaimed happily. He placed one last fresh baked muffin in a display case and smiled at her. “A glorious Summer Sun Celebration to you!”

Twilight groaned again and waved a hoof in his direction. “Please keep your voice down. I woke up with the most awful migraine.” After a moment, she added, “And a glorious Summer Sun Celebration to you as well.”

“Is there anything I can do for you? Muffin, perhaps? Just came out of the oven.”

Twilight shook her head and looked towards the stairs. “Is my brother up yet? We need to leave if we’re going to be back home in time for the festivities.”

Mr. Cake’s smile faded. “Well… I’m afraid your brother is gone, Miss Twilight.”

Twilight’s eyes shot open, the pain in her head all but forgotten. “What do you mean he’s gone?”

“A chariot from Canterlot showed up in the middle of the night.” Pinkie Pie poked her head out of the kitchen. “Something about calling everypony in as extra security for the holiday.”

Twilight raised an eyebrow. “Why didn’t he come get me?”

Pinkie Pie grinned. “We went to fetch you, but you were sleeping so peacefully that he said to just let you follow in the morning.”

Twilight couldn’t help but smile. “That does sound like something my big brother would do. He’s a good stallion.”

“The best stallion!” Pinkie Pie’s giggle was interrupted by a small burp. “Uh… excuse me?” She wilted before Mr. Cake’s warning glare.

Twilight decided she didn’t need to bother with anymore Ponyville weirdness for the day. “Thank you for the food these past two days.” She bowed slightly. “If my brother didn’t settle the bill, then please send it directly to the Royal Treasury.”

“Oh, he settled just fine.” Mr. Cake smirked. He looked to see Pinkie Pie now giving him a taste of his own look. “What?”

“Right. Well then.” Twilight pushed the door open with her back hood and backed out of the bakery. “I hope you have a wonderful Celebration.”

Twilight spun and started galloping towards her balloon as fast as she could manage. Now that her brother had already departed, there was nothing holding her back in this infuriating and bewildering village.

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN THE FUEL’S GONE?!”

Rainbow Dash gritted her teeth at the harsh scream that came from the unicorn. “Like I said, Miss Twilight; somepony came and drained all your fuel last night.” She looked back at the deflated balloon and shrugged. “Probably some kids messing around.”

Twilight’s eye twitched as she examined her transport. Besides being deflated and having no fuel to speak of, it seemed to be in fine shape. She tried to take a deep, calming breath. “Fine. Where can I get more fuel?”

Dash put a hoof to her chin in thought. “The local handy-pony might have a bit saved up. I could check.”

“That would be very nice of you.” Twilight looked around for the train station. “Do you know today’s train schedule?”

“Uh, it’s the Summer Sun Celebration.”

Twilight smacked herself, shocked at her own stupidity. “No trains on holidays. How could I forget?”

“Look, I know you want to get to Canterlot ASAP.” Dash lifted herself into the air with a single flap of her wings and smiled. “I’ll go find Time Turner and see what he’s got as far as fuel goes. Do you wanna wait here?”

Twilight shook her head in resignation. “No. I guess I’ll go read in the library.”

“Great. Then I’ll send somepony for you when it’s all fixed up.”

Twilight sighed as she watched the pegasus shoot away. So much for not being held back in the town. Trying not to let her head hang too low, she started back for the library.

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Twilight breathed out huffily as she closed yet another tome. It had been at least an hour since Rainbow Dash had set off to find any available fuel. She was running out of patience… as well as books to read that weren’t so exceedingly long that she would be upset if she didn’t finish them. She pushed away from the table and trotted over to give the shelves a final cursory look. Surely there had to be something of interest in this Celestia-forsaken village to occupy her time until…

Her eyes found words upon a spine that she hadn’t noticed before; ‘Ponyville Queens of the Summer.’

Intrigued, she grasped the suspiciously not dusty book in her magic and floated it closer to examine it. It was a large, flat piece, clearly meant for a coffee table or display case. She opened the cover and found an old photograph expertly pasted to the page. The black and white photo featured a filly of indeterminate age beaming at the camera from atop a wagon filled to the brim with apples, carrots, and all kinds of freshly harvested produce. There was a caption hoof-written just below the photo’s border; ‘Sun Blossom.’

Twilight began flipping through the pages at a rapid pace. Each page had a similar photo and caption. There was always a smiling filly astride a huge harvest with her name inscribed beneath. There seemed to be a picture for every year since Applejack’s grandfather had come to the village. Her lips tightened as the pictures became more modern and she began to recognize some of them from the wall of Sugarcube Corner’s dining room. She even recognized a few mares she’d met. There was Pinkie Pie, and Applejack herself. And the seamstress, Rarity.

Twilight’s eyes caught on the unicorn’s full name; Rarity Belle.

She smirked. So Rarity had been lying as well. No surprise there. She reached the last page and gasped, her magic nearly dropping the book to the ground.

It was the photo that had been missing from the bakery. Last year’s photo. The Queen of the Summer that year had been… Sweetie Belle.

And the harvest was a disaster.

In the picture, Sweetie Belle was clearly trying to smile, but it didn’t really take a trained eye to see the tears welling in the corners of the filly’s eyes. The cart upon which she stood was barely filled at all, and the meager bits of produce all around her were shriveled and small.

The wheels of Twilight’s mind began to spin as the pieces began to fall together. “There's hardly any produce.” She whispered to herself. “The crops failed. And it's Sweetie Belle.” She gasped again as everything clicked into place. “Sweetie Belle was the Queen of the Summer and the crops failed!” Her magic haphazardly tossed the photo album back onto the shelf. She started scanning the shelves for a book she’d skimmed over the day before. “Now, what do the old religions say about crop failure…? Ah!” She found what she was looking for and pulled it quickly to her. She took the text on pre-Celestian religions back over to her reading table and began flipping through the pages until she found what she was after. She froze when she landed on the page she’d been seeking, headed by a single, stark word. She whispered it aloud in the silence of the library.

“’Sacrifice.’”

Ignoring the sudden coldness in the back of her mind, Twilight began to read aloud. "’Primitive ponies lived and died by their harvest. The purpose of these early Summer Sun Celebrations was to ensure a plentiful autumn, traditionally the season of apples. In pagan, pre-Celestian times, however, these dances were not simply fun festivals. They were frenzied rites ending in a sacrifice by which the dancers hoped desperately to win over the god of the sun and the goddess of the fields. In good times, they offered produce to the gods or slaughtered farm animals, but in bad years, when the harvest had been poor, the sacrifice was a pony. In some cultures, it would be the leader of the community itself that was offered to the gods.’” She pictured a smirking orange earth pony, tipping a Stetson to her. “’In others, the most beloved virgin.’” The mental image became a grinning pink mare with a mane like cotton candy. “’Very often he or she would be kept hidden for months preceding the ceremony, just as the Sun is hidden in winter.” She pounded her hoof to the table as the final piece of the puzzle revealed itself. “That’s it! Sweetie Belle's actually not dead! They faked her death in order to prepare her! Prepare her for… sacrifice...” She quickly returned to the book. “’Methods of sacrifice differed. Sometimes the victim would be drowned in the sea or… burnt to death in a huge sacrificial bonfire.’” Twilight’s mouth was suddenly very dry. Surely, heathens that these ponies were, they would not be so depraved as to burn a little filly alive?

Surely.

And really, how bad could the harvest have been? The scale would have to have been truly disastrous if anypony would even think about…

But then she remembered the rotten smell at Sweet Apple Acres. How strong it had been just over the hill.

She had to be sure.

Twilight closed her eyes and concentrated. She’d only mastered the winking spell recently, and she knew that she would only be able to use the ancient method of teleportation a few times without injuring herself. She pictured the spot where Applejack had stopped their little stroll the day before. Eyebrows creasing with the effort, she cast the spell. She felt a terrible pressure for just a moment. At the same time, her ears popped and she could barely detect a flash of light so bright it shone through her eyelids. She suddenly felt the sun’s warmth caressing her back. She opened her eyes and couldn’t suppress a grin at her success.

She’d made it. She was right back on the spot where she’d been, just below the crest of the hill. All around her were lush, blooming apple trees. Reflexively, she breathed deeply… and gagged at the sudden intrusion of a terrible, noxious aroma.

The smell of rot.

Uttering a prayer to Celestia, she crested the hill and found what she had been hoping not to see; rotten apple trees. Rotten apple trees as far as the eye could see. Their bark was turning black, their branches bending dangerously. Twilight was not in the least bit surprised to find that this portion of the orchard was right on the boundary of the Everfree Forest. Vicious black vines stretched from the borders of the tree line and plunged into the once fertile soil.

Twilight’s breath caught as everything became suddenly, horrifyingly clear. Applejack’s grandfather had been a scientist. He must’ve found a way to draw the very ambient magic from the Everfree Forest in order to make the soil of Ponyville extra fruitful.

And now the forest, so very slow moving and so very much alive, had finally decided to take back what was stolen.

Ponyville’s days were numbered… but they believed they could turn the tide with…

“Sacrifice.” Twilight whispered. She began to pace in a circle, puzzling quickly for what the right course of action would be. She could keep quiet until safely back in Canterlot, but then what little chance there might be of saving Sweetie Belle would be gone. She could directly confront Applejack, but the mare held every pony in town in her sway. Twilight had little doubt that, with a word, the farmer could have the citizens coming for her with torches and knives. But surely there was somepony in town who could help her. Somepony who would place a little filly’s life over some silly superstition. Oh, she wished her brother was here…

“That’s it!” She cried, instinctively casting the winking spell before she’d properly focused on a destination. She ‘oomphed’ as she collided with a stack of wooden structures, their aged and rotted forms giving way beneath her was she landed. She grimaced at the smell of the long neglected pews of the church, cast carelessly into the back-alley in which she’d arrived.

She stood quickly and peeked around the corner. Everypony in the street seemed to be heading for the town’s square to join the huge crowd already gathered there. Recalling the town maps she’d studied in her bored reading session, she quickly figured a back route to her destination; Carousel Boutique.

Surely Rarity would care that her sister was the intended victim of some ancient, monstrous rite.

Sticking close to the walls, Twilight briskly trotted down the street, getting dangerously close to the crowd as she reached the first turn she had to take. The crowd, despite its size, was strangely quiet. She could clearly hear the accented drawl of the farmer-priestess. Despite herself, she stopped for a moment to listen.

“Alright everypony, listen up!” Applejack was standing atop a hastily constructed platform that ringed the square’s fountain. She’d removed her hat and was using it as a fan. The day was already sweltering. “We’ll all reassemble here at town hall at twelve. That’s twelve sharp, ya’ll. Don’t be late. Ya'll don't have an excuse. It’s a holiday.” She grinned at the few laughs her little joke got. “Once we’re all accounted for, we’ll process through the village and the countryside by the route which has become sacred to our rite.” She paused for seeming dramatic effect. “This year, at the end of the procession, as ya’ll already know, a holy sacrifice will be offered up to Belenus, our most sacred god of the Sun, and to Epona, our beloved goddess of fertility and protector of our orchards, in order that we can imbue them with renewed power and to quicken the return of our crops!” A cheer went out and Applejack let it carry for a moment before raising her hoof for quiet. “Now, due to the… extreme… nature of this year’s rite, we have imposed an age limit. Nopony who has not reached breeding age will be allowed to attend. Ya’ll can drop off your little ones at the post office. They’ll be looked after just fine there…”

Twilight had heard enough. Her suspicions were now all but confirmed. Of course they wouldn’t want their little ones there to see one of their own ritualistically slaughtered. It might give them nightmares.

She raced on as fast as she dared, only stopping once or twice to hide from some strolling pony. At last, she reached her destination. And what luck! Rarity was only just returning from Applejack’s little pep rally. Twilight approached the unicorn just as she slid her key into the door’s lock. “Miss Rarity?”

The seamstress gave a little jump and a squeal of surprise. She spun and held a hoof to her chest. “Miss Twilight! Weren’t you ever taught it was rude to sneak up on ponies like that?”

Twilight looked around. “May I speak with you? Inside, I mean?”

Rarity raised an eyebrow at the other mare’s odd behavior. “I suppose there wouldn’t be any harm.” She returned to the unlocking of the door. “Have there been any further developments in the…” The instant the door began to open, the unicorn found herself being rudely shoved into her own shop. She turned, indignant, and watched the other mare lock the door behind them. “Miss Twilight! I must protest this…”

Satisfied with the door, Twilight turned and eyed Rarity coldly. “I know Sweetie Belle’s your sister, Rarity.”

Rarity shook her head. “As I already told you, I don’t have…”

“Enough games!” Twilight nearly shouted. “Enough lies! Sweetie Belle is your sister and, more than that, Sweetie Belle is alive.” The purple unicorn stared down at her white counterpart. “I don’t know what sort of game you maniacs are playing, but it has to end. Practicing your heretical rites is one thing, but killing a child? Do none of you have a scrap of decency in you?” She pointed at the door. “I don’t know what they told you, but Sweetie Belle isn’t dead. They’ve hidden her away. She’s the sacrifice, Rarity. Your own baby sister is the offering to these heathen gods of yours.”

Rarity’s mouth was set in a hard line. “I think you should leave now, Miss Sparkle.”

Twilight’s jaw dropped. “Did you hear anything I just said? Your sister…”

“I cannot tell you again, Miss Sparkle. I don’t have a sister.”

Twilight wanted to slap the mare. It was only a last minute bit of willpower that she didn’t. “In the name of Celestia, Rarity; what kind of sister are you that can stand by and see your own flesh and blood slaughtered?”

Rarity said nothing at first. She only pushed past the mare and re-opened the front door. Her magic coated Twilight and heaved her outside where she landed a few feet away on her haunches. The seamstress eyed her carefully. “Miss Sparkle, I lied to you when I told you I hadn’t lived here long. The truth is that I’ve lived in this town my entire life. These ponies, our ‘heathen gods,’ they have been the constant in my life. They were there for me when my parents were taken away. They were there for me when my fiancee died. They are everything to me, and I would do anything for their sake.” She turned to close the door, but spared a look back. “If I were you, Miss Sparkle, I would go back to Canterlot. I would stop interfering in things that are no concern of mine.” She shook her head sadly as the door closed. “You'll simply never understand the true nature of sacrifice.”

Twilight sat in the dirt for a moment, trying to process the last few minutes. Ultimately, she gave up and started back for the library.

There was still time to save Sweetie Belle… even if she had to do it entirely on her own.
> Chapter 7: The Procession II - Chop
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The hands of the clock ticked inexorably onward to the hour of twelve. The echoing ticks and tocks of their endless march fell into cadence with the pacing hooves of Twilight Sparkle. She glanced at the time-piece for the umpteenth time and groaned in frustration. Time was running out. Every minute that passed was another gone in the ever-shortening lifetime of the filly Sweetie Belle. There had to be something she was missing, some puzzle piece she hadn’t considered, some book she hadn’t…

There was a knock at the door.

Twilight looked sharply up, but said nothing. She froze, waiting for her visitor to announce himself. Weren’t all the ponies assembling for their little parade? Who in Equestria would be…?

A second knock. “Miss  Twilight?” A familiar voice called out.

Mr. Cake. The baker.

Twilight grimaced. “Can I help you with something, Mr. Cake?”

“I wanted to bring you a little something to eat. I had a feeling you wouldn’t be joining us today, and I know Time Turner won’t be able to fuel up your balloon until this evening. I whipped  you up some cupcakes before I shut down the shop for the day.”

Twilight’s growling belly betrayed her. “That’s… very thoughtful. Please come in.” The door swung open… and Twilight had to repress a scream as a leering monstrosity bearing a tray of brightly frosted cupcakes barged in. “What in Equestria are you wearing?!” She demanded.

Carrot quickly regained his footing and, after placing the tray on a nearby table, lifted off the crudely carved over-sized horse head he was wearing. He grinned sheepishly. “Didn’t mean to scare you. I’m the Fool in the procession this year. I have to wear this while I dance around and act like a… well, a fool.”

Twilight raised an eyebrow. “I don’t get it.”

Carrot laughed as he jingled the bells attached to the tall hat on the mask’s head. “Well, the Fool is the King for the Day. It’s really quite interesting…”

He continued to talk, but Twilight was thinking of the procession. Applejack had said the procession would end with a sacrifice, so logistically Sweetie Belle would be located at wherever the parade would end. If Twilight could follow the parade from a distance, they would lead her right to the filly. Her gaze landed on the mask Carrot was still showing her. She took in the rest of his costume, how the ridiculous frilly sheet covered the whole of his body… “Mr. Cake?”

“Yes?”

“Where exactly in the procession will you be?”

His chest swelled with pride. “Right at the front, next to Applejack.”

She smiled. Perfect. Why follow the procession, when she could be right at the front, ready to snatch Sweetie Belle and bear her to safety before anypony else knew what was happening? Her horn lit and she lifted a cupcake from the tray... as well as the tray itself. “What flavor did you say these were, Mr. Cake?”

“Why, they’re apple of co…!” The reverberating bang of the tray colliding with Mr. Cake’s head drowned out his last words prior to unconsciousness. He dropped like a stone, out cold.

Twilight worked fast. She quickly stripped the earth pony of his costume and pulled it over herself. Satisfied that even her hooves were covered, She lifted the wooden horse head an examined it. The tall jester’s cap looked to be just big enough to conceal her horn. She lowered it over her face and smirked when her horn slid right into a slot in the cap. Clearly the role of the Fool had been played by a unicorn once before. Knowing time was of the essence, she gave Mr. Cake a cursory glance to ensure he was still breathing and raced out the door to where the procession was due to begin any minute.

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

The sun shone down on the fertile green grass that surrounded Ponyville. A slight breeze crossed the air, carrying aloft birds and their songs. Squirrels and other small woodland creatures chased each other or gathered small nuts along the long dirt path that led away from the little town, chittering all the while.

Slowly, gently, a new sound made itself known. 

The birds stopped their singing, as years of instinct had taught them to recognize this sound and remain silent so long as they could hear it. The squirrels nimbly climbed the nearest tree and hid themselves away in convenient holes. Even the wind seemed to die down, almost in deference to the new song.

A steady, repeating drum beat. And joining it, as the procession made its way over the first hill out of town, a rhythmic and hypnotizing melody played by a trio of young ponies wielding brass instruments.

Thus came the procession of Ponyville’s Summer Sun Celebration.

Two ponies led the way; one decked out in the elaborate yet shabby costume of a fool, the other an orange mare clad in a flowing sun-dress and bonnet. Behind them came nearly every adult mare and stallion in the whole of the town, each dressed in their very best. They swayed rhythmically to the music with each step they took. Some wore carved wooden masks bearing the images of rabbits and birds. Others wore hoof-made crowns of flowers and wire, gifts from the colts and fillies still too young to take part in the Celebration.

The two lead ponies scampered and pranced along the trail, occasionally crossing the other’s path. The pony wearing the costume of the Fool would stumble more often than not, as though they were unfamiliar with the feel and dimensions of the costume. The mare in the sun dress tried not to show her frustrations, but it was difficult when the Fool kept stepping on her tail. The orange mare calmed  herself as best as she was able, telling herself that the procession would not last long this year, just to the edge of the Everfree Forest.

Applejack smirked beneath the ceremonial bonnet. A shorter than usual procession, yes, but this was only the beginning of the day’s festivities…

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Twilight didn’t know how much longer she could keep up the ruse. Her hooves were screaming at her from the dancing and her muscles were strained to the breaking point from holding up the deceptively heavy costume. Only her sheer willpower kept her from heaving the whole of the wooden monstrosity from her body.

She silently prayed for Princess Celestia to give her the strength she required to see this task to completion. 

Just before the procession reached the tree line, Applejack stopped her frolicking and held up a single hoof. The drums and brass band fell silent as one, and everypony stopped dead in their tracks. All eyes focused on the brush. After milking the moment for all it was worth, Applejack put her hoof to her lips and blew a single, shrill whistle. 

Big Macintosh emerged from the trees… with a little unicorn filly by his side.

Twilight’s breath caught in her throat as she finally, after all this time, saw Sweetie Belle in the flesh. The filly looked around nervously at the assemblage, her spotless white dress hanging limply around her small body. She looked nervous and slightly confused. Of course, why wouldn’t she be? How could any filly possibly comprehend the horrors that her own friends and neighbors were preparing to visit upon her? How could anypony so young fathom such betrayal, especially from her older sister, from the only family she had in this world…

Twilight closed her eyes and concentrated. It would be simple. All she had to do was wink over to Sweetie Belle, then wink the two of them safely away. She focused all her magic into her horn, repeating the silent mantra of the spell in her head, picturing the spot beside Sweetie Belle as best as she was able…

“Belenus!” Applejack’s strong voice cried out. “Our most beloved god of the Sun! Look upon this, our gift unto you! See how she comes before you of her own free will! See how she comes before you untouched and pure, a virgin in both body and mind! Accept her, and grant us your favor, if that so be your desire!”

...It wasn’t working. Twilight didn’t understand. The spell wasn’t working. Why wasn’t it working? Why now of all the times… She didn’t have time. The sacrifice was about to commence. She had to act and act now!

Before she could talk herself out of it, she rushed past Applejack, galloped over to the little white filly, and hurled the bulky wooden costume at Big Macintosh with all the strength she had. 

Mac took the full force of the hit and fell with a grunt and a great thud.

Before he could recover, Twilight snatched Sweetie Belle up by the nape of her neck and tossed her onto her back. “Let’s go!” She cried as she galloped into the only place that might offer any safety; the Everfree Forest. Twilight heard the hoof-falls as the villagers began to give chase, but she didn’t stop to look behind her.

“Who… who are…?”

“My name is Twilight Sparkle.” She panted as she jumped over a tree root. “I’m here to rescue you.” She dared to stop for a moment and looked around for a trail of some kind. “But it won’t be much of a rescue if we get lost in this place.”

Sweetie Belle pointed a hoof at a nearby oak. “My friends and I play down there sometimes. There’s a glade where we play hide and seek.”

Twilight smiled as she took off running again. “Well, we’re gonna play hide and seek alright. We’re gonna find a nice place to hide and we’re gonna let them seek while I figure out why my magic isn’t working and… AH!” Twilight screamed as the ground seemed to dissolve beneath her hooves. Suddenly she and Sweetie Belle were falling in darkness. The fall was short but the impact still knocked the air from Twilight’s lungs. She looked around in confusion. They were in a pit or a sinkhole of some kind, probably twelve or thirteen feet deep and six or seven feet wide. Twilight turned her attention to Sweetie Belle and gave her a once over. “Are you alright?”

Sweetie Belle sat up, rubbing her haunches where she’d landed. “Uh huh.”

Twilight did a quick walk-around of the pit. Her first thought was that the bit had only recently been dug. Otherwise, why wouldn’t Sweetie Belle have warned her about it? But the pit's walls were smooth, like they'd been here a very long time... She looked at the little unicorn’s horn. “Can you use your magic?”

“Uh huh. Why?”

Twilight grimaced. “Because mine’s not working. You could lift yourself out and go get help while I distract…”

“Maybe you can’t use your magic because of that thing on your horn?” Sweetie offered in her most helpful tone.

Twilight stopped still, reached a hoof up, and felt the cold ring that encircled her horn. Despite its coolness, it still gave off a strange heat… a heat that she’d felt before. After all, weren’t these very devices used to punish young unicorns that lost control of their magic or tried to advance their own studies too quickly? “Silver.” She murmured. “A magic suppression ring made of silver. But how…?”

“Maybe you should’ve checked that costume before you just shoved it onto your head?” A voice full of good humor drawled from above.

Twilight looked up to find the pit surrounded on all sides by villagers. There was Rarity beside the fuchsia mare that must’ve been the school-teacher. There were the two mares she’d seen observing the orgy by the fountain. There was Pinkie Pie. And Big Macintosh. And Rainbow Dash. And Mayor Mare.

And there was Applejack, her costume discarded and her familiar hat back on her head. She smirked down at the unicorns with ultimate satisfaction written across her face.

Twilight squared herself, ready to defend the filly even if it cost her own life…

“Did I do it right?” Sweetie Belle asked.

Twilight’s eyes widened as she looked over at Sweetie Belle. The little mare no longer looked confused or scared. She was practically bouncing up and down on her hooves, looking to Applejack with wide, smiling eyes.

She looked elated.

And, in the back of her mind, Twilight Sparkle finally began to understand.

“You did beautifully, dear Sweetie Belle. Just beautifully.” Applejack called down as Rarity’s magic lifted the filly from the pit and pulled her into a warm sisterly embrace. The villagers crowded around her for a moment, patting her mane and telling her how wonderfully she’d done.

Rarity nuzzled her little sister and kissed her forehead. “Mother and father would be so proud of you, darling.” She set her down, took her hoof, and began leading her away. “Come along now. We need to get you back to town. Your friends can’t wait to see you.”

Applejack watched them leave before turning her attention to the pit’s sole occupant. Her chest swelled with pride. She relished the moment just a while longer before tilting her head down in a bow. She swept her hat from her head and stretched it out as though it were an offering.

All around her, the other villagers copied her and bowed as well.

Applejack’s eyes remained locked on Twilight’s. Outside, she was reverent, but inside she was laughing joyously. “Welcome, Fool. You, by the grace of the gods, have come of your own free will to the appointed place. The game, at last, is over.”
> Chapter 8: Summer is A'Comin' In
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twilight looked around at the bowing villagers, trying to figure out an escape plan. “So I was right. You all really were playing a game.”

“Yes indeed. The game of the hunted leading the hunter.” Applejack rose from her bow and the villagers obediently followed suit. “You came here to find Sweetie Belle, but you never once considered that it was us who had found you. One of our own brought you to our attention, and then we put together this little ruse to bring you here. Since you’ve arrived, we’ve controlled your every thought and action. To put it as simply as possible, we convinced you that Sweetie Belle was being held hostage and prepared for sacrifice because our crops failed last year.”

Twilight snorted. “That part wasn’t a ruse. I saw the photograph. And the orchard.”

Applejack nodded. “Eeyup, they failed alright. Disastrously so... pretty much for the first time since my grandpappy first came here.” She frowned. “The blossom came like normal, but the fruit withered and died on the branch. Then the trees started dyin’ as well. We knew that we’d offended the gods, and that somethin’ had to be done before things got even worse.”

“A sacrifice?”

Applejack’s smile was without humor. “It’s worked for us in the past. Remember our little issue with the timberwolves?”

Twilight stared at her in mounting horror. “You killed one of your own?”

Applejack shook her head. “Not back then. Ya see, farm animals are fine in most cases, as we learned back then, but their acceptability is… limited. A little foal can be even better, but not nearly as effective as the right kind of mare.”

Twilight gulped. “What… what do you mean the ‘right kind of mare?’”

There was a sparkle in Applejack’s eyes. “Turns out that it’s you. You, Twilight Sparkle, are just the kind of mare we need, as our informant in Canterlot told us. You, uniquely among all others, were the one we needed.”

“A mare who would come here of her own free will.” Rainbow Dash grinned.

“A mare that has come here with the power of the Princess, by representing her laws.” Cheerilee offered.

“A mare who would come here as a virgin.” Pinkie Pie snickered.

“A mare who has come here as a Fool.” Rarity returned to the pit’s edge. She winked down at the purple unicorn. “You are the Fool, Twilight Sparkle, for you have come to the place of slaughter wearing a crown of silver, and who but a fool would do that?”

Twilight looked around at her captors. Never before had she felt so small, so powerless. In desperation, she reached inside for the one thing that had always given her strength in the past; her faith. “I am a believer in the True Faith, and, as a believer, I hope for resurrection.” She watched the impassive faces for any change. “And, even if you kill me now, it is I who will live again. No matter what you do to me, you can never change the fact that I believe in the Reward Eternal, as promised to us by Princess Celestia.” When the faces above her didn’t change in the slightest, she quickly reiterated her point, more for her own benefit than theirs. “I believe in the Reward Eternal as promised to us by Princess Celestia!"

“That’s good.” Applejack’s smile was gentle, like a mother lecturing her foal. “For your steadfast and unwavering belief in Celestia, we shall bestow upon you a rare gift these days; a martyr's death. You will not only have the Reward Eternal that you so desperately seek, but you will sit with the Most Faithful, just as you’ve always desired.” The smile fell away like a dried corn-husk. She nodded at Rarity who obediently lit her horn.

Twilight felt magic encase her body and lift her from the pit. She could do nothing as Rarity set her on the ground and Cheerilee tied a rope around her neck. Rarity’s magic released her just as it floated over a gown of white silk. The white unicorn and fuchsia earth pony sang softly as they pulled the gown over Twilight’s head in a manner that was almost reverent. 

Applejack gave her a once over and nodded her approval. “Come then. It is time to keep your appointment with the Wicker Mare.”

At once, Twilight understood exactly what they meant to do to her. She started to panic, tugging on the rope around her neck. “Wait! Will all of you just wait and listen to me for a minute?” She looked around at the blank faces of those she had lived around for the past few days. “You are about to commit murder. Can’t you see that?” She waved her hooves frantically to no avail. “There are no old gods! There is no goddess of the field, no god of the sun. There never was! There is only Celestia and Her Loving Light. Can’t you understand?” She thought back to her conversation with Applejack as she grasped desperately for salvation. “Your crops didn’t fail because the gods were displeased with you. They failed because your strains failed. Fruit is not meant to be grown so close to the Everfree Forest! It's against nature! Don't you see that killing me is not going to bring back your apples?” Still, they only stared at her. She turned to the only pony that could help her now. “Applejack, you know it won't work. You just have to show them the orchard I saw. Please tell them. Please tell them it won't work.”

Applejack’s face was stone, the face of a true believer. “I know it will.”

Twilight advanced on her. “Well, then don't you understand that if these crops fail this year, and they will fail next year, that next year… next year, you're going to have to have another blood sacrifice?” Twilight saw the slightest flicker of doubt in Applejack’s eyes and she pressed.  “And next year, Applejack, no one less than the spiritual leader of Ponyville will do.” Twilight pointed a hoof at the earth pony as though marking her with a brand. “If the crops fail next year, Applejack, your people will have to kill you during the Summer Sun Celebration.” She paused. “Or your daughter.”

At the mention of Apple Bloom, Applejack’s eyes hardened. “They will not fail.”

Twilight felt the walls closing in. “But… but don't you see I'll be missed? They'll come looking for me. My brother…”

“Your brother is dead.” 

It felt as if the air had been knocked from Twilight for a second time. “Wh…what?”

“You are our offering to Belenus, Twilight.” Applejack sneered. “He was our offering to Epona.” 

“He gave me his seed, and then he gave us his flesh.” Pinkie Pie chimed in, rubbing her stomach.

Twilight couldn’t focus. This had to be a dream. This couldn’t be real. “That… that isn’t…”

“I ate his heart myself.” Applejack added, licking her lips as though remembering a favorite meal.

The look on Applejack’s face combined with the thought of what had befallen her brother caused something in Twilight to break. “You… bitch!” she screamed, lunging at the farmer. Her hoof swung out and connected with Applejack’s face, staggering the earth pony. The attack was only stopped by a hardy tug on the rope by Macintosh that pulled Twilight away from the other mare.

Applejack recovered quickly. She reached up a hoof to wipe her lip and observed the blood that came away. “You’ll be with him soon enough, Twilight. And in the unlikely event somepony does come seeking you, there will be no traces of you either.” She nodded to her brother. “Bring her.”

Twilight tried to resist at first, but the tight rope about her throat soon forced her to join in this new, and final, procession. She observed as they walked steadily towards the edge of the trees, back to the sunshine of the day. As they approached the final boundary, she turned desperately towards Rarity. “Rarity, please just think about what you're doing! You know this isn’t right. No religion is worth killing anypony!” 

“Is that so?” Rarity responded without even looking at her. “Then please, enlighten me; just what is all that business in Saddle Arabia about?” When Twilight didn’t immediately answer, Rarity simply pressed on. “I told you that you could never understand the true meaning of sacrifice, Twilight. While our beliefs may be different, while our gods may wear different faces, in the end they all demand the same thing.” She finally looked at the unicorn, her gaze steadfast and unwavering. “In the end, it always comes down to blood.”

Twilight’s response was lost as the procession finally passed the final boundary of trees. Twilight blinked away the sudden blast of sunlight. She beheld what they were heading towards, and her final resolves finally broke. “Oh, Celestia, no!”

In the center of the field had been erected an enormous structure of wicker and rope. It stood over twenty five feet tall and was shaped in the rough image of a mare on all four legs. Each leg was hollow and filled with all manner of livestock, from chickens to pigs and even a pair of young calves. They lowed and cried in confusion and terror at their situation. The wicker mare’s chest was hollow, but an open door waited to be closed on the unfortunate occupant who would take the place of her heart. A ramp led down from the cavity to the ground where straw and wood were piled high in preparation of what was to come.

Mr. Cake stood at the base of the ramp, a torch held in his grinning teeth.

Twilight’s hooves locked and would carry her no further. She pulled desperately at the rope, unmindful of the friction burn. The great stallion’s strength still carried her forth. All the while, she kept screaming. “Celestia! Oh, Celestia, no! Princess Celestia! No, no, dear Princess Celestia, please! No! No!”

Applejack checked the position of the sun in the sky and nodded at her brother once again.

At her signal, the great red stallion hoisted the squirming mare onto his back and marched on towards the ramp. Despite Twilight’s struggles, he climbed the ramp easily and tossed her into the heart of the wicker mare. 

Twilight felt the rope go limp and rushed back the way she came, but the door, woven so solidly that it was as hard as wood, had already been sealed and tied up. Desperately, Twilight bit at the cords holding the door in place, gnawing at them like her very life depended on it. 

Applejack waited until Mac had pulled away the ramp and taken his own torch from the waiting pile. After ensuring Rarity and Cheerilee were already in place with their torches, she turned her attention to the shining sun. She removed her hat and tossed it to the wind, then lifted herself up on her hind legs and spread her hooves wide in a gesture of offering. “Oh, Belenus! Oh mighty god of the Sun! We know we have displeased thee and humbly entreat that you accept our sacrifice! Accept it, and make our blossoms fruit once more, if that is your will.”

Righteous fury filled Twilight’s heart at the sound of Applejack’s words. She looked down at the villagers that were now encircling the structure, waiting patiently for what was to come. She hated them, these blasphemous heretics. They had filled her heart with doubts, had played with her like a foal’s toy, and now they intended to kill her. And for what? In a fruitless attempt to stave off the inevitable? Her rage bubbled over and she cried out to be heard over Applejack. “Hear ye the words of the Princess!” She screamed, imitating the voice of her father at one of his most passionate sermons. “Awake, ye heathens, and hold! It is She who hath lain waste your orchards as punishment for your blasphemies! It is She who hath made them bare in return for your lack of faith! The Night Eternal comes, and ye shall find no safe haven!” She pushed a foreleg through one of the door’s small holes and gestured wildly at the assembled ponies. “Ye shall be left in the brutal and unending cold, barred from Her Loving Light for all time! Ye shall waste away! Ye shall know no peace!” She glared at the back of Applejack’s head, willing the earth pony to turn and face her one last time. “Ye shall all die!”

Applejack did not look back. She settled back on all four hooves and took a single, short breath. “Reverence the sacrifice.”

As one, the four torch-wielding ponies stepped forward and touched the flames to the kindling at the base of the wicker mare. The hungry flames went to work immediately, spreading fast and rising even faster. The animals in the mare’s legs began to shriek in earnest as they felt the approaching heat of the inevitable.

Twilight smelled the smoke and fell back on her haunches. She watched as the villagers completed their circle around the wicker mare. As the drums again began to play, they all rose up on their hind legs, began to sway their hooves back and forth in a perfect dance, and then together… they began to sing;


“Summer is a-comin' in


 


Loudly sing cuckoo!


 


Grows the seed and blows the mead


 


And springs the wood anew!


 


Sing cuckoo!


 


Ewe bleats harshly after lamb


 


Cows after calves make moo!”


 


Twilight could feel the heat of the fire rising below her. She coughed as the smoke became thicker. She’d never imagined things ending this way. How could she? She’s always striven to be the best she could be, the most faithful of the flock. How could she of all ponies deserve such a horrifying fate? She began to weep, not just for herself, but for her brother. They should never have come to this place.

She supposed there was only one thing left to do.

“Dear Princess Celestia.” She sniffled, pausing to cough once more. “I humbly entreat You to the soul of this, thy servant, Twilight Sparkle... who…” Another cough. She wiped her muzzle and forced herself to continue. “Who will today depart from this world. I beg of thee; do not deliver me into the Nightmare’s hooves or put me out of mind forever.” She felt the flames licking her tail and forced herself to stand. She pushed her face against the door and gasped desperately for fresh air. “While I suffer now, let me not undergo the real pains of the Night Eternal, your Majesty, because I die unshriven and clean. Please establish me in that bliss which knows no ending, the Reward Eternal, where Your Most Faithful will dance and sing for You unto the very end of time.” The tears came again as she looked upon the sun, that ever-watchful and all-seeing eye of her beloved…

Despite the heat, a chill went through Twilight’s blood. Princess Celestia was supposed to be all-knowing and all-seeing. That’s what she’d been taught from birth. It was the greatest deterrent against sin in the True Faith, that She was always watching you. But if that was the case…

If that was the truth, then why wasn’t Princess Celestia rescuing her?

Twilight Sparkle felt her tail catch fire, but that was nothing compared to the pain that flooded her as she realized the truth. She reached desperately for the sun, screaming herself hoarse with the last of her air, begging the goddess to whom she’d devoted her life to come now, to prove her wrong, to reward her faith and chase away her doubts! “CELESTIA!” She screamed. “CELESTIA!” She screamed the name over and over again until the flames finally rose to claim her, and then she simply screamed.

Down below, the residents of Ponyville continued to dance and sing, wide smiles on their faces as the red and orange and yellow flared in the heart of the wicker mare, burning flesh and offering the sacrifice to their gods. They sang louder to be heard over the screams, and continued to sing even after the screams had faded away;


“Bullock stamps and deer champs


 


Now shrilly sing cuckoo!


 


Cuckoo! Cuckoo!


 


Wild bird are you!


 


Be never still, cuckoo!”


 


Applejack led her ponies in song and dance until sunset. And when the head of the wicker mare finally collapsed into the rest of the inferno, a single tear ran down her face.

She knew the gods had been pleased.
> Epilogue: Sunset
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


11 Months Later


Applejack used her hat to wipe the sweat from her brow as she looked around at Ponyville’s town square. The villagers were already hard at work preparing for this year’s Summer Sun Celebration, touching up faded paint and making small cosmetic repairs. She spotted Rainbow Dash giving the grand tour to their new arrival from Cloudsdale, a butter yellow pegasus with a mane of vibrant pink. She grinned as the rainbow-maned mare stepped just a little too close, allowing their wings to brush against each other. Dash had already told her how open her new friend was to the old ways. What was her name again? Flutter something? Her grin faded as she recalled the discussion she and Dash had had just the other night…

“I’m just sayin’ that if it comes to that, she’s as good a candidate as anypony else. She’s an outsider. She’s a virgin…”

“You can scratch that second bit off. Mac and I took care of that the other day.”

Applejack glared. “That was right foolish of you two. If we need somepony else, do you really want us to have to pick from our own?”

Dash snorted. “You sound pretty sure we’re gonna need another one. I thought all that from last year was supposed to…”

“It was.” Applejack snapped. “But it don’t hurt to be prepared.” She turned to walk away, but Dash muttered something under her breath. “Care to repeat that?”

Dash looked at her evenly. “I just said that maybe Twilight was right. Maybe we needed to offer up somepony… better.”

Applejack closed her eyes and took a deep, calming breath. She could still see the odd look in Rainbow Dash’s eyes when she’d said that, when she’d looked at her…

“Applejack?”

The earth pony looked up as a pegasus she hadn’t seen in a long time floated down and landed beside her. “About time you decided to pay us a visit.” She smiled and pulled the stallion close. “We’ve missed you.”

Flash Sentry returned the hug. “Sorry. Things have been crazy hectic in Canterlot lately.”

Applejack took in the insignia on his uniform and smiled. “More hectic than usual, Sergeant?”

“Very much so.” Flash dipped his head and lapped at the water in the fountain. “More and more ponies are getting fed up with the Saddle Arabia situation. A lot of parents are starting to wonder if losing their precious fillies and colts is really worth it.”

“And the Princess?”

“She’s making fewer and fewer public appearances. Ponies are starting to ask questions. They’re beginning to doubt.”

“And the True Faith?”

“Losing followers every day.”

Applejack chuckled. “Maybe we should send some more invitations for the Celebration this year.” She caught the look on his face and shook her head. “Actual invitations. But while we’re on the subject…”

“Nopony suspects a thing. The official story is that Shining Armor and Twilight Sparkle had a lapse in faith and fled, fearing Her wrath.” He looked sheepishly at his own reflection. “I’ve even heard a rumor that they ran off to be… together.”

Applejack had to laugh. The idea that two of Celestia’s most faithful were now being remembered for a sin they hadn’t even committed was perfectly ironic. What she wouldn’t give to see Twilight’s face, wherever she was now. Her laugh petered off when she saw Flash’s face. “What’s wrong?”

“Was it worth it?” He asked. “Were they worth it?”

Applejack put a hoof on his shoulder. “You really liked them, didn’t you?”

Flash Sentry shrugged. “Shining Armor was a hardass, but Twilight…” He sighed. “I really thought she was coming out of her shell.”

Applejack pressed her forehead to his. “It’s not always easy doing the will of the gods, Flash. Sometimes we have to give up the things we love the most.”

“Did it work, though?” Flash pulled away and looked around. “Did the gods…?”

Applejack just pointed a hoof towards a nearby opened window. 

Flash looked over and saw Pinkie Pie cooing over a crib that held a tiny foal in swaddling clothes. The little filly’s coat was pure white, her mane sunshine yellow. “That’s…”

“Eeyup.” Applejack nodded. “We were all expecting a little prince, but Pinkie calls her ‘my little Surprise.’”

“Cute.” Flash’s eyes scanned up and saw the hand-carved mobile that spun over the filly’s head. Some pieces had been painted, but some still retained their original bone white. He shuddered as he briefly imagined his former boss’ fate, but quickly forced the thought away. “It might be better that she’s a filly. It’ll be easier to get her into the royal court.”

Applejack nodded and turned to leave.

“What about the orchards? Did that part work too?”

Applejack paused. “…Not as well as we’d hoped.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Applejack turned to face him and considered telling him the truth. “It just means... it means that they’re comin’ in a little slow this year. We still have plenty of time.” She kicked a pebble away and watched it bounce. “Plenty of time.” She murmured.

“Applejack, is there something you want to tell me?”

Applejack looked at her foal-hood friend, he who had told them of the perfect offerings and delivered them like gifts, and wondered; did she want to tell him? Did she want to tell him how even more trees were dying? Did she want to tell him about the creatures of the Everfree Forest suddenly growing new boldness and lurking in the village at night? Did she want to tell him how a half-starved Ursa Minor had staged a midnight raid and carried off Mr. Cake? Did she want to tell him how Rarity and Rainbow Dash and Cheerilee and so many others were now looking at her like all this was her fault? Should she tell him of the whispers she was already hearing that said that maybe last year the two sacrifices hadn’t been enough?

Could she tell him that the whispers claimed that perhaps this year… this year there would need to be three?

More than anything, did she really want to tell him about the packed suitcases? About the oiled and ready to roll wagon? About how a brother and sister were already planning on ensuring their own safety, not to mention that of their most precious joy?

She watched as Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle ran by, laughing and accompanied by a little orange pegasus. They were quickly followed by a hassled looking Rarity. The seamstress spared Applejack a smile…

…but Applejack swore there was something else there behind those blue eyes.

“Applejack?” 

The farmer shook off her thoughts and smiled reassuringly. “Nope. Everythin’s fine. Honest apple.” Before he could respond, she pulled him close and whispered in his ear. “I really have missed you, sugarcube. Care to walk this lady home?” She slowly dragged her tongue across the lobe. “There’s a reward in it for you if you do.”

Flash shuddered pleasurably and offered the mare his foreleg. “Shall we?”

Applejack put aside her feelings of doubt and worry and took the offered appendage. Together, the two ponies trotted down the path towards Sweet Apple Acres.

As they left, everypony in the square stopped what they were doing and watched. Dozens and dozens of eyes observed the pair, but most watched the mare in particular. They watched until they were long gone, then returned to their work as though they’d never stopped. Preparations had to be completed, after all.

The sun would soon be setting in Ponyville.


THE END