"Into every generation a Slayer is born: one mare in all the world, a chosen one. She alone will wield the strength and skill to fight the Vampires, Demons, and the forces of darkness; to stop the spread of their evil and the swell of their numbers. She is the Slayer."

Twilight looked up from the book, seeing Spike just staring at her, looking puzzled. “Is that book supposed to be about you?”

Looking back at the lines she had read, she shrugged. “I don't know, Spike. I am good at magic, but I don't see how anypony can think I am some sort of legendary hero. I mean, this book is full of all sorts of training, attacks, fighting styles. I have never been much of a fighter, and I don't know if I can do any of this hoof-to-hoof combat.”

“But Twi, why else would Princess Celestia send you the book? She must know something you don’t. You gotta be the Slayer!” Spike was pumped about this. His best friend, already the best magic pony in Ponyville, an the Element of Magic, was also a heroic Vampire Slayer!

“Really, Spike. I don't see that the book has anything to do with me.” She used her magic to flip through the pages. “There are some spells and charms I can use, but all this fighting, it’s just not me. I would need to find another pony to teach me how to fight like this, even if I WAS the Slayer.”

“You gotta be the Slayer! You’re special, you’re a mare, You’ve already fought monsters and demons. I mean you are the Element of Magic!” Spike jumped up onto the table to peer at the book. “I mean really, if the ultimate weapon against a vampire is some old book, then who else to use it than the world’s biggest bookworm?”

Glareing at the dragon crossly, she closed the book with a thump, locking the clasps. “We need to do more research! I need you to help me find every book you can find on vampires, and fighting. I especially need anything that mentions this mystical Slayer, and how to fight the vampires.” She levitated her saddlebags onto her flanks, and stashed the heavy grimoire inside. “I am going to talk to Applejack. If anypony knows about kicking flank and fighting, it would be her. I hear she won first prize wrestling bulls in last year’s rodeo, so she should be able to give me some pointers on bucking vampires.”

Spike nodded. “Ok Twilight, you can count on me. I will find every book I can find on the subject. uhhh... Right after I eat breakfast.”

The unicorn rolled her violet eyes. “Whatever Spike, just have them ready by this afternoon, I need as much information as I can get before it gets dark, in case the vampire comes back.”

She finished her preparations, grabbing an old exercise gi from her closet. She hadn’t worn the thing in ages, since she took that self-defense class at the academy. But she kept it around, because she had a crush on the instructor. She was too embarrasses to ever tell him, which worked out fine. He always did tend to spend a bit more attention on the colts he taught. ‘Ugh, what was I thinking!’

Having everything she needed, she bolted out the door and made tracks for Sweet Apple Acres. She didn’t have much time to get the help she needed if she was going to help save Ponyville, and live up to her mentor’s expectations of her.

As Twilight approached Apple Acres, she started looking for her friend. Stopping by the house to ask Big Mac, she was told that Applejack was out inspecting the orchards, and where she could be found. She headed into the groves in search of the earth pony, and quickly found her sitting under a rather large and old apple tree.

The orange pony looked up at the sound of her friend’s approach. “Hey thar Twilight! What brings ya out ta these parts?”

The lavender pony paused a moment for breath, having ran most of the way. “I- I... Whew, sorry. I need your help Applejack. There is something really bad happening in Ponyville, and the Princess wants me to stop it.” She levitated the book out to explain.

The earth pony looked curiously at the large tome. “What’s that thar? Some big ‘ol spell book? And what’s wrong in Ponyville? Ah hain't made it inta town since yesterday.”

“Well, this is a book that Princess Celestia sent me, and it tell all about a curse that I think has fallen on somepony in town. They found a body this morning, and I think whoever killed them was under this curse.”

“Hold on now, Sugacube.” Applejack interrupted. “Ah thought you done went an said there hain’t no such thing as a curse? Remember when we all met Zecora, and that poison joke stuff? You were pretty darn dead set agins’t it.”

Twilight sighed. “Yes, that’s what I thought as well. However, the Princess informed me that I was wrong. Curses do exist. They are just very rare, and they are a very old, forbidden magic.” She opened the book to show her friend. “This curse is called Vampirism. It transforms the victim into a creature of the night, making them crave blood, and infecting those they feed upon.”

The earth pony grimaced at the thought. “Well that sounds downright nasty! What kinda evil critter would do sucha thang? And what am Ah supposed ta do bout it? Fightin curses sounds more like yer thang, Shug.”

The unicorn sighed, and flipped the book to the section on hoof-to-hoof combat. “Yes, spells are normally my thing. However, it says here that the slayer will need to combat the vampires to destroy them. The curse can only be lifted by defeating the head vampire.” She stomped her hoof in frustration. “That means, if I am to be the Slayer, I need to learn how to fight!”

Applejack looked sideways at her friend, taking in her small frame and slight build. “Ahh... No offense Twi, but you ain't zactly the fightin type. Yer a bit runty in tha muscle departmen, ann ya cain’t learn propa fightin from a book.”

Twilight snapped the book shut in frustration. “I know, Applejack! But that is exactly why I need somepony to teach me. Somepony like you!” She looked pleadingly at the orange pony. “I know you are tough and strong, and I heard you won some competitions in the rodeo for wrestling and bucking. I really need somepony like that to teach me how to fight, so that I can defend Ponyville and end the curse.”

Raising an eyebrow, the freckled pony gave her a very serious and appraising stare. “Do ya undastan what yer askin thar Twilight? Ah cain’t teach nopony fightin overnight. Ya gotta be raised to it, an it takes yea’s o’ practice ta be any good at it. Ya cain’t jus start scrappin an expect ta not get hurt, let alone learn how ta fight.”

The unicorn was nodding at this. “I understand, Applejack. There are spells in this book that will help. Spells for fast healing, resistance to pain and injury. Even spells to make me learn faster and grow stronger.” She rifled through the chapters in the book as she listed the various spells and incantations needed to make her into a stronger fighter. “The one thing the book can’t do is teach me how to fight properly. You are right in that, I cannot learn fighting from a book. I need a teacher. I need you, Applejack.”

The cinnamon mare sighed deeply, looking down at her hooves in defeat. “Oh, alright. You win Twilight. Iff’n you kin use them spells like ya say, mebbe Ah kin teach ya some.” She raised her head and gave the unicorn a stern look. “But Ah hain’t goin easy on ya! Thas not mah way. Ya buck, or git bucked, an no complainin’ when ya git a lil bloody.”

Twilight nodded, her jaw set in a determined pose. “I promise. I will do whatever you say to learn what I need to know.”

Applejack sighed, and nuzzled her friend. “Ah know ya will, Sugacube, Ah know ya will. Ah jus don't like the idea of buckin mah friend’s rump without her deservin it.” She paused, looking down the hill towards the farmhouse, lost in thought for a moment. “Go cast yer spells, Twi. Meet me at tha barn inna hour, and be ready to git yer rump kicked. Once we start, it belongs ta me.”

The unicorn swallowed nervously, unsure what she was getting herself into. Unable to voice a reply, she nodded and set off to the library to prepare herself for the training.

An hour later, Twilight was back at the barn, shaking with nervousness, but feeling stronger than she ever had. The spells she had cast made her feel full of energy, and able to focus like she never had before. She was always a fast learner, but now anything she looked at, she seemed to get it. This did nothing to detract from the fact that she was about to go head to head against her friend, and it was most likely going to hurt.

“You ready Sugacube? Ah’m gonna rough ya up a bit, ta see what ya kin handle.” Applejack pawed the ground. “But first, I wanna see what ya know.” She grinned and beckoned with a hoof. “Come at meh sis!”

Twilight nodded, then steeled herself, pawing the ground herself. She gritted her teeth, then charges head first, horn forward, and tried to knock the orange pony down. As she was within striking range, the earth pony suddenly sidestepped, and a nudge behind her shoulders sent her careening into a nearby bale of hay.

Getting up with a groan, she shook the hay out of her mane and looked around to see her friend with a serious look on her face. She was not enjoying this, and she was not happy.

“That was mistake numba one, Shug. You took yer eyes offa me.” She stomped the ground again. “Now, get up, and try again. This time don’t take yer eyes off me for anything, and watch how I move.”

Twilight blinked and shook her head. Was Applejack losing her accent? She seemed to be more serious than ever, and the look in her eyes made the lavender mare cringe inside. She shook herself, looking straight into the orange pony’s eyes this time, and charged once again. This time as she approached, she saw the eyes flicker tot he side, a moment before the sidestep, and a hoof shot out to continue the unicorn’s forward motion uncontrolled. it was only a gentle nudge, but combined with her own momentum, she was unable to react fast enough to stop and prevent being launched into another hay bale.

“What the hay Applejack? How do you move so fast?”

“I don't move fast, Twi, you did. I just step aside and help you on yer way. You provide all the energy needed to land on yer face, and I just guide you there.” The cinnamon mare still hadn't even cracked a smile. Deadly intent was written across her face. This was no game to her, and she was being entirely professional in her lessons.

“Hmm...” The librarian pondered what she was learning. “So the momentum is just transferred to a new target so that instead of moving me, you merely deflect my own attacks back on myself.”

“Uhh... Ain’t that what I said?” The earth pony dropped her serious face to look confused a moment.

The unicorn rubbed her neck. “Yea, sorry. Just trying to rationalize it in terms I can understand, so that I can apply the lessons to my future training.”

“Whatever helps ya learn better. Just so long as ya don't keep makin the same mistakes.” She rolled her eyes at her booksmart friend. “So, you ready to try again?”

Breathing deep, Twilight merely nodded, and braced for another run. At a nod from Applejack, she bolted forward, eyes ahead, head down and out, ramping up speed to charge her friend. As she neared the other pony, the same dodge came into play, but this time she was ready. She stepped into Applejack’s feint, ducking under the shove, and slammed her shoulder into the orange pony’s legs, knocking them out from under her. She continued, past, barely feeling the impact, and skidded to a halt as she turned to face around.

The earth pony was getting up off the ground, a wicked grin on her face. There was no merriment in her eyes, however as she got to her hooves. “Good. So you can be taught, and you can hit. Now let’s see if you can take one.”

Applejack leaped into the air, and came down on top of Twilight, her forehoof catching her across the shoulders and driving her to the ground. Pain blossomed across her back and her breath was forced out of her as she slammed into the ground. She quickly recovered as the pain seem to flow away and the orange pony shifted her weight off of her. The pain reduction and healing spells were working as advertised.

Starting to get up, she quickly found herself immobilized as the other mare’s legs were wrapped around her neck in a complex hold. She could barely breathe, and her joints cried in agony as they were forced to an unnatural angle.

“Ahh, dammit Applejack, what are you doing?

The farmer lowered her muzzle the struggling mare’s ear. “This is called a submission hold. You won’t be able to move until I let you. And I can hold this here move as long as I like.”

“Ok, ok, I submit. I can’t move and it hurts like hay.” The lavender mare stopped struggling and let herself go limp.

Releasing the hold, Applejack took a step back, then boxed her friend’s ears. “You wanna learn ta fight? Or just roll over and get yer flank handed to ya?”

Panting, the unicorn got to her feet. She stretched, feeling her joints pop loudly into proper alignment. “I wanna learn. I’m sorry. Just thought it would be different.”

“Hmph...” The earth pony spit, then gave a stern gaze at the smaller pony. “Ok, lets try a more direct approach. I want you to hit me as hard as you can.

Twilight grimaced. “You want me to to hit you?”

“C’mon, Twi. Do me this one favor.”

“Why?”

“Why? How much can you know about yourself, if you’ve never been in a fight? So come on and hit me before I lose my patience.”

“This is crazy” The unicorn started to turn away.

The earth pony stamped the ground. “So go crazy. Let ‘er rip”

“What, like in the face?”

Applejack rolled her eyes. “Surprise me.”

“This is so stupid...” Twilight tried to swing her hoof as hard as she could, and the orange mare didn’t even flinch. The swing goes wild and she winds up hitting her in the side of the head.

“Ow! Motherbucker!” Applejack reared back, her hoof cupping her ear. “You hit me in the EAR!”

“Oh, Celestia, I’m sorry!” Twilight tried to get a look at the injury.

“Ow, Luna! Why the ear, Shug?” The orange pony took a few steps back.

The lavender pony looked abashed. “I dunno, I guess I bucked it up.”

Applejack took her hoof away from her ear, pawing at the ground with a snort. “Naw, that was perfect!” A crazed look was in her eye as she tensed for an attack.

Twilight gulped, as the earth pony charged her in turn. She tried to dodge as the other pony had done earlier, but the move was anticipated. Before the impact, the orange mare spun in mid-air, landing both rear hooves in a massive double buck in Twilight’s chest. She felt the wind burst from her lungs as she was propelled backwards through a nearby wooden divider. Pain lanced through her body and her leg screamed in pain as a sickening crack heralded injuries from the impact.

“CELESTIA FUCKING LUNA! AAHHH!! THAT HURTS!” She screamed louder than she had ever done in her life as the pain burst past her spells trying to deaden the sensations. She rolled onto her back, her foreleg sticking at a crooked angle, and waves of pain clouding her vision as blackness tried to overtake her.

Blinking in surprise, Applejack trotted over to help. “Dear Celestia, Twi! I didn't think ya had that kinda vocabulary in ya.” She winced and hissed as she saw the brutality of the injuries she had inflicted on her friend. “Oh no, Shug! I didn't mean to rough ya up so badly. Oh Celestia, what have I done?” She started to panic, as the purple pony writhed in pain before her.

Blood gushed from a head wound, staining the lavender coat crimson, and a sickening whiteness of raw bone poked from a broken foreleg that was now pointing at right angles from the rest of her haunch. Bloody foam flecked her friend’s muzzle, and one eye was bright scarlet from busted vessels.

She saw a sliver of wood lodge in the unicorn’s side, and quickly pulled it out. Surprisingly the wound began to close and the blood to stop almost immediately. As she watched, the other wounds were beginning to close, but the compound fracture continued to be a gristly sight.

Twilight blinked back tears that flooded her vision, and tried to concentrate. “It-it’s ok. J-just help me. Help me get the bone set, and the magic..AH! The magic will d-do the rest.”

The orange mare shook her head, confused. “Ya mean the spells ya cast? They can fix this? Bloody Luna, Twilight! The bone is sticking out! how can ya fix that? Ya need a doctor.”

“No! There’s no time. It’s already started to mend. We have to set it quickly.” She was barely able to concentrate enough to pull a tool off a nearby rack, so she could bite down on the wooden handle. She held her injured limb up to Applejack and pleaded with her eyes. “Daaweeeeff! Daaaweef nao!”

Swallowing hard, the blond maned mare reached forward gingerly with her hooves, and pushed down on the exposed bone. Twilight screamed in pain through the gag, and squeezed her eyes shut. Somehow the bone slid smoothly into place, as if guided, and the skin began to knit over the wound almost immediately. There was almost no blood at all, and soon all that was left was a patch of bright pink hide, vaguely resembling a scar.

The lavender mare was still panting, and spit out the bit. Her breathing slowed, but her eyes remained closed. After a few agonizing minutes, she opened them and smiled at her friend, who had nothing but worry written on her features. “Thank you, Applejack.”

“Don’t thank me Twi. Ah did that to ya, an Ah shoulda known betta then ya let ya talk meh inta fightin. Ya jes hain’t cut out fer it.” She shook her head. “That’s enough. I hain’t teachin yer no mores.”

Fresh tears sprang into the unicorn’s eyes. “You have to Applejack! If you don't teach me, then what happens when I have to fight something that really does want to hurt me?” She gingerly began to get to her hooves, putting weight on the already healed leg. It felt bruised, but otherwise took her weight. “See, I’m better already. The spells make me stronger, but I need your skills to know how to use that strength.”

The orange mare flopped down at her feet, looking up with tears of her own in her eyes. “I dun wanna hurt mah friends, Twilight. Ah cain’t!”

Twilight looked down at her friend, and nuzzled her. “I know you would never hurt me. And you won’t hurt me. But sometimes to grow stronger, you have to take some bruises. Just please, consider it. I really need your help. I mean, who else can I get to teach me?”

The farmer grew silent, staring at the ground. After a long moment, she whispered. “Rainbow Dash.”

“What was that?” The unicorn looked surprised.

“Rainbow Dash kin teach ya.” She looked back into her friend’s eyes. “After that race we ran, me an Dash spent some... time, together. We got to wrasslin round, and she beat me squarely. Ah neva seen a pony move her hooves so fast in mah life.”

“Are you saying Rainbow Dash, OUR Rainbow Dash is a fighter?” Twilight shook her mane in disbelief. “I know she’s fast and all, and shes gotta be tough with all the times she crashes, but a fighter? Most pegasai would rather fly away and dodge than stay and fight.”

Applejack got to her hooves. “Not this filly. She may goof off, but she has some serious moves on her. Ah may be able ta teach you to be tough, strong an defend yerself, but that mare will teach ya to be FAST.”

Making a decision, the orange pony nodded. “That’s what you should do. You bring yerself back here tomarra, and Ah will give ya some strength trainin. In the meantime, you need ta go talk ta Dash about fightin.”

The unicorn threw her hooves around the earth pony in a hug. “Thanks Applejack. I won’t let you down.” She pulled back and looked at her friend strangely. “I gotta ask though. When we were training, what happened to your accent?”

“What ack-sent? Ah hain’t got no ack-sent!”