Twilight slowly trotted between a pair of tall bookshelves in the now partially restored library which lay on the first level of the undertower, her hoof trailing over the spines of the ancient tomes. None would help her, that much she knew for certain, but that didn't mean she would give up yet, it just meant she needed more inspiration. Something that had yet to come no matter how long she wandered the rows of books and observed the sometimes hidden art installations tucked into the nooks of the library.

No titles seemed to offer anything that others had not already done, and there were very few that even sparked Twilight’s personal interest. She wasn't here for herself though, she was here for Applejack, and so she ignored those few that caught her eye and kept going. Until she eventually found herself wandering back into the main reading area wherein the alicorn statue still stood tall.

Sighing, Twilight glanced over to her little reading nook which contained a clean and restored desk, her writing materials, and a small pile of books. All of which had done nothing to illuminate the mysteries of the apple family or their strange bargain with the forest. Her only avenue of research left was the study of chaos magic, and though books discussing the nature of chaos were much more common than in Celestia’s library, it was still an esoteric field with little facts and a lot of speculation.

Ignoring her little desk, Twilight trotted over to the statue and looked up to where its eyes would be, noting that the same sense of calm still radiated outward from the stone pony. The longer she stared up at it, the more Twilight felt her thoughts begin to drift, and her gaze became more and more unfocused. Until it felt as though she had left the library behind, and was now lost amidst the many stars in the sky, adrift in space with nothing but her thoughts.

Thoughts that were consumed by worry and a little bit of fear. Worry brought on by the fact that she had yet to be able to help the apple farmer or her family, and fear that she may never be able to. This fear was not unfounded, as it seemed as though the elder Apples had taken the knowledge of their deal with the forest to their graves, leaving their living relatives to slowly become corrupted while the farm withered.

Worse yet, Granny Smith had begun to grow ill, a change that darkened the mood of the usually optimistic Applejack and the rest of her family. Twilight remembered well the disturbing sight which waited for her the day she arrived at the farm. Finding Granny Smith outside, Twilight had greeted the elderly Apple warmly, only to get no response, prompting her to trot a little closer. Upon nearing the tree bound pony, Twilight recoiled, for the elderly mare’s mouth was almost completely sealed by roots and bark which stopped her from being able to speak.

Twilight shook off the disturbing image of Granny Smith struggling to speak, her voice little more than a harsh, garbled whisper. Putting her mind back to the task, Twilight felt the weight of her continued failures wear on her once more. Worse yet, she was beginning to feel as though nothing would ever work, and that the Apple family was bound to simply fade away into little more than a memory. Staring up at the alicorn statue, Twilight wondered if the mare it was meant to represent would have known the answer.

“Or would you even concern yourself with what happens to a small farming family at the edge of your domain?” Twilight muttered.

“She most certainly would,” declared a soft, though distinctly alien voice.

Twilight spun around to find herself face to face with a pony-sized spider, only this one was much different from the males which roamed the upper halls. “You nearly scared me half to death, Nebula,” Twilight muttered while placing a hoof over her dead heart.

The spider laughed a strange and slightly raspy laugh. “If such a thing were possible, I would be wary, but considering your state I don't think I shall.”

Twilight grumbled and turned away from the scarred spider and looked up at the stone alicorn. “So would she really help the Apples? Cel- she kept no record of her sister, or any of her apparent siblings. The townsfolk vary as well, with some claiming that the dark mistress was the kindest pony to ever walk Equiss, while others seem to indicate that she was unconcerned with the lives of the citizenry.”

The spider trotted up beside the pony, her eight blue orbs staring up at the statue. “She is all of those things, and none of those things.” Nebula sighed and ran a hairy limb down the side of the statue. “It was true that she was mercurial at times, but she was nothing if not passionate. If she cared about something, she would die for it. If she ignored something, she would never think of it again.”

“Then how can you say she would help the Apples?” Twilight countered.

“Simple, she really liked apples.” The spider had no lips to smile, but Twilight got the distinct impression that she would be doing just that if she could. “Plus the mistress always had a soft spot for the downtrodden and those who may have had a string of bad luck. I have no doubt that she would be doing what you are doing right now, if she were here with us.”

“Really now…” Twilight murmured, her gaze drawn up to the slightly curved horn on the statue’s head. “Another similarity…”

“What did you say, dear?” asked the spider.

“It's just apparent my past self was a bridge between her, and her,” Twilight exclaimed, gesturing to the statue. “But I don't feel as though I have much in common with she who shall not be named. Yet my past self cared a great deal for both of them.”

The spider did its best facsimile of a nod. “Perhaps you simply haven't glimpsed that part of yourself quite yet.”

“It's possible, I suppose,” Twilight admitted.

The two very different beings looked up at the statue for several minutes before the spider placed a hairy limb on Twilight’s shoulder. “Thank you, by the way.”

Twilight raised an eyebrow and looked down at her companion. “For what?”

“For helping like you have. From just assisting Trixie in learning the shrink spell that allows me to move around easier to everything else you’ve done,” the spider continued. “You are a true friend of my family, and the night itself.”

Twilight smirked. “And I bet you're also thankful that I only thought to teach her that spell after she had already cleaned up a good chunk of this floor by herself.”

The spider chuckled. “I might be. Though I admit it was rather nice to simply leave that job to Trixie and let her feel as though she accomplished something important.”

“Speaking of which, how are the lessons with Rarity going?” Twilight inquired.

“Not bad. My cousin may lack some of the physiological aspects that make weaving such an intricate web easier, but she is adapting and using that magic of hers to replace the parts she lacks,” Nebula declared, only to chuckle. “Sometimes I think Trixie is having more trouble learning from a fellow unicorn, than young Rarity is from me.”

Twilight chuckled as well. “I am no teacher, I’m afraid. I may be knowledgeable, but this is my first time trying to teach a thousand years of magical study and a field of magic I didn't even know existed until very recently.”

“Still, you have a commendable amount of patience, if nothing else,” replied the spider, who pressed her hairy limb against Twilight’s shoulder one final time before pulling it back. “A trait you and young Rarity have in common, as she is proving to be a resilient student. Though I still fear it may be quite a while before she masters the art of the weave.”

Twilight smiled. “It's only a matter of time before she figures out how to do it, or concocts a better way to do so.”

The spider bobbed her body up and down, replicating a nod. “That is very true. I suppose I should also thank you for donating that gold to the restoration efforts. You’ve given us quite the boon, you know.”

A blush slowly creeped across Twilight’s face, and she looked away while scratching the back of her neck. “Oh, it's nothing. I had little need for the money anyway.”

“Still. The trade your coins have allowed for has connected my rather reclusive family to the wider world, and for that I thank you,” Nebula exclaimed, the spider bowing slightly while extending two of her legs outwards like a curtsy.

“Really, it's nothing. I have been given more than I need, and I’m just glad I can give back,” Twilight replied. “With that said, have you considered Dark Hallow’s proposal by chance?”

“Ahh yes, the funny little thestral.” Nebula giggled. “He is quite the talker, though I fear that it will still be quite a while before I will allow anyone else to enter this hallowed place. It must reclaim some of the dignity it has lost before I will accept anymore visitors.”

“But once that is done…” Twilight half asked, half stated.

“After that is done, I will allow his entrance and will agree to his little plan,” Nebula replied, before turning. “Walk with me. I find that all of this standing around is making me twitchy.”

Twilight smiled and followed after the spider as they walked out of the library, and into a hallway. “He’s going to be excited to hear that. I bet he's going to have a dozen masons on stand by until the very second you give him the okay,” Twilight remarked.

Nebula sighed. “I wouldn't put it past that excitable stallion. Regardless of his nature, his help will be appreciated. As even with the assistance of all my sons and daughter, there is only so much we can do on our own.”

The duo passed by gently burning torches, empty, but clean rooms, and freshly polished archways, their pace slow and ponderous. “I am curious. How have your own studies gone? I hope your tutelage of my favored daughter has not slowed you down too much,” Nebula inquired.

Twilight quickly shook her head. “Definitely not. In fact I would say that gaining a study buddy has helped me considerably. Having someone to bounce ideas off is great, especially since she is quite a well-versed mage, even if she would not agree with such a statement.”

Nebula beamed. “Yes, she is quite adept, isn't she? But that doesn't answer the underlying question. Have you learned anything pertinent to the mission you had so boldly proclaimed not long ago?”

Sighing, Twilight shook her head once more. “Unfortunately not. Necromancy seems to build off itself in a strangely organic manner, and in order to learn how to raise a spirit, I’ve had to master the art of enfeeblement among other such spells.” She stuck out her tongue in disgust. “I always hated curses.”

“You have mastered this first step though, yes?” Nebula replied, the spider eying Twilight critically as they passed through another arch, and by another empty room.

“I did, yes, but that only means I can raise a spirit and for only a day at most.” Twilight snorted irritably. “To raise a skeleton requires mastering a half dozen other spells, which in turn will allow me one half of the necessary knowledge to raise a zombie. And so on and so on until at the end of it all is true resurrection. Though even that spell will have to serve as a stepping stone for constructing one able to bring back an alicorn.”

“I would not bemoan your newfound knowledge overmuch. Something tells me you will need all of these new spells, given your penchant for adventure,” Nebula declared.

Twilight nodded. “True. Though I hope to avoid anymore adventures for a little while. At least until I’ve been able to pay back my friends for all that they’ve done for me.”

“Your progress is still remarkable though. It's only been a few short weeks since you’ve begun training in earnest, after all,” Nebula reminded the unicorn.

“I know…” Twilight sighed and hung her head. “It's just, there are so many variables that I’ve never had to think about before. Like the language I speak, the somatic component of the spell, and how long the target has been deceased for. Even all that is just the tip of the iceberg, and to make things worse, I think my non-necromancy spells are getting… weaker.”

Nebula stopped and turned to the unicorn. “Is that true?”

The unicorn frowned and nodded. “I’m afraid so. It seems as if the more necromancy I learn, the weaker my normal spells become. Only a few more basic things like telekinesis have been left unaffected. I can hardly even teleport anymore.”

The spider tapped her right frontmost leg as if nodding. “I should have warned you of such a possibility. Necromancy when practiced extensively tends to take over one’s soul and make it harder to cast other kinds of magic.”

“I wish you would have told me that before I began all this,” Twilight muttered angrily.

“Would that have changed anything?” Nebula shot back.

Twilight’s anger withered and vanished. “No. I guess it wouldn't.”

“Then I suppose it doesn't matter, does it?” Nebula remarked before turning and beginning to walk once more, with Twilight quickly joining her a second later.

“Still, I am going to miss how easy everything is,” Twilight murmured.

“Oh I wouldn't worry about that too much. Necromancy has more applications than any other school. I’m sure you’ll find a replacement for all of your most favored spells,” Nebula cryptically declared.

Twilight’s eyes went wide. “Really? Even teleportation? Wait, where did…” The unicorn sighed, only now realizing that the spider had somehow managed to vanish without a trace while Twilight wasn't looking. “Great, right when you got my hopes up.”

Sighing, Twilight turned and trotted back towards the library, her thoughts consumed by the slow realization that she may very well have to relearn just about everything she knew. “Stupid necromancy, stupid magic,” Twilight muttered under her breath.

Stopping before the alicorn statue, Twilight looked up into its eyes. “I hope Spike is having a good day hanging out with his new friend and getting to know the town better.”

Shaking her head, the unicorn trotted over to her desk and began to pack up her stuff. “I’ve been banging my head against this problem for too long. I need more raw data if I’m going to have a chance of figuring this whole thing out.”

She stopped just as her bags had been filled. “Plus I’ve been down here long enough that I’m starting to talk to myself again, which is never a good sign.”

Stuffing the last of her supplies into her saddlebags, the dead mare threw them over her back and swiftly put away her books. “I may even have to try out that spirit-raising spell, though I hope it doesn't come to that as disturbing the dead still leaves a bad taste in my mouth.” After placing the final book in its proper spot, Twilight turned to the exit. “Still, that's assuming I even can, as they would have been dead for over a thousand years at this point.”

She sighed. “This is going to be difficult, I can already tell.”

Walking to the orchard didn't take too long, and within an hour Twilight found that her hooves trod the winding path which lead from Ponyville to the Apple family farm. The familiar crunch of dry oak leaves was vaguely nostalgic, reminding the unicorn of her first trip to the otherworldly orchard. Now, like then, the trees seemed to ignore the season with some growing new buds while others stood naked, without leaf or needle alike.

As she walked, Twilight could feel her destination slowly coming closer, the general ebb and flow of the forest beginning to feel familiar to the dead mare. It was a stark contrast from the first time she had come here, that much was certain, as for one, the chaos no longer bothered her quite as much. The headache inducing randomness still made her curious, but she no longer wished to study everything or force the forest to act normally.

It helped that she could feel that she was on the right path this time, though the pony couldn't explain such a feeling if someone were to ask her. It was akin to a gut reaction, the vague tingle at the back of her skull telling her that this was the right way, and to just keep going. So she did just that, trodding down the winding path as the foliage which surrounded her slowly changed from oak and aspen to the more familiar apple trees.

Inhaling the scent of fresh apples, Twilight felt a smile slowly cross her face, and she couldn't help but wonder if Applejack had prepared anymore special apples for her. Her hunger died quickly though, the scent of rot overwhelming the familiar aroma of fresh produce. Turning her nose up at the smell, Twilight looked around for its source, only to find a familiar basket of apples beneath a tree that was also vaguely familiar.

The small basket contained few apples, most of which were green, all save for a single black, rotten one which sat atop the bunch. Reaching with her magic, Twilight tossed aside the top apple and winced when she heard it squelch against the ground. Trying to put that strange bit of randomness behind, Twilight continued on, though her mood had been ruined for some reason.

Trotting further down the path, Twilight found that things became even more orderly, with long lines of apple trees stretching off into the distance. Though she passed no sign, mailbox or fence, Twilight knew she had definitely entered the apple family farm. She could tell because of the basket’s appearance, as it seemed to always be there, no matter how many times Twilight visited.

The rustle of leaves alerted Twilight to the fact that she wasn't alone, a fact made even more certain by her new senses picking up a nearby heartbeat. Turning towards a seemingly random apple tree, Twilight was able to catch a glimpse of something pink before it vanished. Smiling to herself, Twilight opened her bag and pulled out a large parchment-wrapped piece of chocolate.

“I got you your favorite this time,” Twilight declared while waving the chocolate bar around. “Bonbon even added extra nuts, just like you asked.”

Apple Bloom’s head popped out from the side of a tree, glaring at the unicorn. “What did you do to Granny Smith?” she demanded.

Twilight blinked. “Nothing. Why? She hasn't gotten worse, has she?”

Apple Bloom’s eyes narrowed. “She might have.”

Twilight sighed. “Look, can we just talk about this? I’m here to help.”

“A likely story,” Apple Bloom declared, a glare remaining firmly on her face as she stomped up to the unicorn.

“Would you please just tell me what's going on?” Twilight pleaded, lifting the chocolate bar out of the filly’s reach. “If you do, I’ll give you half of the bar.”

Apple Bloom frowned. “Fine. She can't get out of bed, and Applejack won't tell me nothin’. Big Mac is even quieter than usual too. He just works all day and night without talkin’ to anybody.”

Twilight broke off a piece of the bar and handed it to the filly. “Is there anything else that you can tell me?” she inquired.

The filly snatched the piece of chocolate from Twilight’s hoof and greedily began to devour it, allowing Twilight to notice that the bark on Apple Bloom’s back had grown significantly in a short time. The green veins which extended throughout the filly’s body were also growing thicker and more numerous than ever. It was an unpleasant sign, but Twilight quickly put that out of her mind for now, she had other even more pressing concerns.

After swallowing the last of her treat, Apple Bloom looked up at the unicorn, studying her closely before nodding. “I might.”

“You are not getting anymore chocolate,” Twilight warned. “I know you don't get it very often, but you're going to get a stomachache at this rate.”

The filly and the mare stared at one another for another minute before Apple Bloom looked away, the younger pony throwing her nose up. “Hmph. I guess since Applejack trusts you, I should as well.”

Twilight chuckled. “I appreciate it, Apple Bloom.”

“Are ya really gonna help Granny?” inquired the filly.

Twilight nodded. “That is the plan, but I’m going to have to find Applejack for that to happen.”

“She was in the barn, last I saw,” Apple Bloom replied. “Come on, I’ll show ya the way.”

Twilight silently followed after the filly, her attention lingering on Apple Bloom. The unicorn grew more and more concerned. The filly wasn't moving quite as fast, or seemed quite as upbeat, though both of those things could be due to her grandmother’s current state, it didn't explain the limp Apple Bloom was trying to hide. Could it be that this corruption was speeding up? Or was it merely a natural part of life for the members of the Apple family?

She wasn't sure, but Twilight was determined to find out.

They continued to walk in a straight line, with Apple Bloom remaining quiet while Twilight contemplated the many possibilities which lay before her. “Say, Apple Bloom. How have things been going with Spike? He hasn't mentioned anyone but Sweetie Belle recently,” Twilight suddenly asked.

“That’s ‘cause him and Sweetie Belle are always busy going on their not-dates,” Apple Bloom replied, the filly sticking her tongue out in disgust. “It's gross, and I wish they would cut it out already. I wanna hang out with my friend again.”

“I’m sure that when you get a little bit older, you’ll understand,” Twilight exclaimed, only to realize how hypocritical that sounded, considering the unicorn had never even had a crush on anyone before. “At least that's what mom always said.”

“I know I’m the youngest of my friends, but that doesn't mean you can talk down to me,” Apple Bloom retorted.

Twilight shook her head. “I wasn't talking down to you, and I’m sure things will go back to normal once they figure out their feelings.” At least that's what happened in all my books, Twilight thought, the unicorn keeping that last part to herself.

The filly huffed and faced forward once more.

Leaving Twilight to sigh and merely follow the filly in silence.

After another minute or two of walking, they seemed to be near their destination, as Apple Bloom turned to her right, the farmhouse appearing a second later through a break in the trees. The brief bit of jubilation Twilight felt was quickly stifled by the sound of a grunt, followed by a heavy thump that came from nearby. Looking to the source of the sound, Twilight found Big Macintosh panting as he leaned against an apple tree, the baskets he had arrayed containing only a few of the red fruits while the rest remained in the tree above him.

The pony-tree hybrid seemed exhausted, his tongue sticking out of his mouth as he struggled to catch his breath. Even Winona who rested nearby seemed exhausted, the timberwolf puppy lying in the crook of a nearby tree. Her ears were tucked against the side of her head, and though she watched Twilight pass by, the wolf didn't move an inch.

“You comin’ or what?” asked Apple Bloom.

Twilight frowned and reluctantly turned away from the stallion and dog. “Coming,” she replied.

Trotting quickly to catch up with her guide, Twilight barely gave the old farmhouse a second glance before turning towards the distant barn. Apple Bloom had already gone on ahead, the filly darting between the open barn doors and disappearing inside. Leaving Twilight once more with her thoughts, thoughts which were growing darker by the second.

The feeling of dread was perhaps the worst part, as it had only grown each time she met another member of the apple family. Apple Bloom was usually so carefree, so seeing her grow paranoid and distrustful tugged at Twilight’s heart strings. The sight of an exhausted Big Macintosh made Twilight worry even more, as she had never seen the giant stallion get winded.

Add to that the fact that the proud and stubborn Granny Smith was stuck in bed, and things were not looking good for the Apple family. Twilight merely hoped that at least Applejack was feeling alright, or else the dead mare feared she may have to solve this riddle on her own. A thought that filled the unicorn with dread, and she hastily trotted up to the old barn before hurriedly slipping inside.

“About time you showed up,” Apple Bloom deadpanned.

Twilight sighed as her gaze lingered on the general chaos that was the inside of the barn, noting that things seemed even more disorderly than usual. “I’m sorry, Apple Bloom. I couldn't help but worry about Granny Smith,” Twilight admitted.

The filly paused mid-step, only to frown and slowly trot up the unicorn, a guilty expression on her face. “Ahm sorry too. For bein’ rude to ya,” she whispered.

“Your family is going through a lot. I understand,” Twilight whispered back, the unicorn giving the filly’s mane a rustle.

“Still,” Apple Bloom murmured, before gesturing towards the back of the barn. “Applejack’s working on the cider machine in the back. Oh, and Twilight?”

“Hmm?”

“I hope you really can help. We need it.”

Twilight nodded slowly. “I’ll try.”

With that the filly scurried out the door, leaving Twilight feeling alone only for a muffled clang followed by a curse to catch her attention. Looking around, Twilight noticed the stalls of the barn contained no animals, but rather piles of apples of various kinds and ripeness or the odd mound of tools. All save for one near the back, which contained a large brass cider press, one that Twilight remembered had been constructed nearly a thousand years ago after a fire wiped out nearly the whole farm.

Walking over to it, Twilight peaked within the stall to find the Applejack’s head and forelegs inside a circular opening at the front of the machine. The fit was a tight one, but it didn't seem to bother the pony very much, as she continued to work away, muttering curses all the while. At least Applejack seemed fine on the outside, as she looked the same, all save for a single apple which now grew from one of the branches of the tree upon her back. Twilight quickly looked down, noticing the small mound of screws, tools, and other equipment which littered the ground.

“Hey, Applejack, can you hear me?” Twilight asked, only to get no response, prompting her to try again, only louder this time. “Hey, Applejack!”

“Who the- ow!” Applejack exclaimed, the pony jumping just enough to bang her head on the inside of the machine.

Wincing, Twilight took a step back. “Are you alright?”

Applejack awkwardly took a step back, the pony rubbing her head with a hoof as she continued to grumble. “Yeah, I’m alright. Just startled me, is all. What can I do for ya, sugarcube?”

Twilight blinked, unable to not notice the deep rings which were visible under the farmer’s eyes. “Are you sure you're alright?” pressed the unicorn.

“Why do you ask? I didn't cut myself again, did I?” Applejack asked, the pony touching her face, looking for the source of Twilight’s concern.

“No, you didn't cut yourself,” Twilight replied. “I was just concerned because of the dark circles under your eyes.”

The farm pony sighed. “Oh. That. Well, don't you worry none. I may not have been getting enough sleep recently, but trust me, I’m still up to helping you with whatever it is yer here fer.”

“I was hoping to gather some more data on your farm and family as well as ask you a few questions,” Twilight stated, only to frown. “But now I’m more worried about whatever it is that has everyone so distraught. Granny Smith isn't that sick, is she? I can help pay the hospital bill if that's what you need. I haven't even touched my stipend yet.”

“Woah there, partner. Ain't no need for that,” Applejack quickly replied, raising her hoof placatingly. “This ain't an illness those fellers can help with anyhow.”

“What do you mean? Granny Smith isn't that old. Is she?” Twilight asked while scratching her head.

“Ain't a matter of age, I’m afraid,” Applejack remarked with a sigh. “The forest is about ready to have her join the orchard.”

“You don't mean…” Twilight gulped. “Oh no.”

“Yeah…” Applejack grabbed a cloth from her toolbox and wiped her brow before retrieving her trademark stetson from a nearby pole and plopping it on her head. “She can hardly move, and her constant moaning is keepin’ the whole family up.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. There isn't anything we can do, is there?” Twilight asked hesitantly.

“Not unless you figured out how to go back in time and somehow save mah ancestors who died in the war,” Applejack muttered bitterly, only to sigh. “Sorry bout that. I know you're just tryin’ to help.”

“Well, I may be able to do something, but it's going to be a long shot,” Twilight replied hesitantly, the pony unable to meet her friend’s gaze.

Applejack nodded. “Well, shoot. If there’s a chance we may as well try, right? Where do we start?”

“I had a few more questions before we did anything, but before we do that, are you sure you don't want some water or something?” Twilight asked.

“I’m fine, trust me. Nothing a little fresh air won't fix,” Applejack declared.

“Alright…” Twilight muttered.

“So what kinda questions did ya have in mind?” Applejack inquired as the mare began to trot towards the exit of the barn.

Twilight easily kept pace with the shorter-legged being, following close to her right. “Well, I was wondering if you managed to get an answer out of Granny Smith before she…”

Applejack nodded. “Eeyup, I sure did. It was close, but I managed to answer all those questions you left for me the other week.”

“Excellent, let's start with the story. Has your family tried following it?” Twilight started, the unicorn opening the barn door with her magic.

Applejack nodded her thanks before trotting out into the open air and breathing deeply. “‘Fraid so. Apparently Granny Smith and the rest of her family did their best to try and listen to the forest, but even after sticking to it for ten whole years they didn't see much of a return.”

Twilight frowned deeply. “Was there any noticeable difference? Perhaps they didn't keep up with it for long enough.”

Applejack shrugged. “Granny said the last year was a bit better, but after nine years of increasingly weak crops, it wasn't much.”

Twilight frowned and let her gaze linger on the farmhouse until they passed it by. “I guess my plan of creating that map wouldn't help very much. Not with Granny Smith at least,” Twilight exclaimed.

“I’m glad you kept that in mind, but I’m afraid I’m gonna have to agree with you on this one,” Applejack remarked. “We can't keep dealing with the symptoms anymore. We have to get to the root of this problem. Pun not intended.”

Twilight sighed. “That makes the rest of my questions more or less irrelevant.”

“I don't suppose you got any other ideas in that head of yours, eh?” Applejack inquired as the pair passed through the first row of trees.

“One, but you are not going to like it,” Twilight warned.

“Try me,” Applejack challenged.

“I’ve recently learned a new spell, one that may be able to bring back the spirit of someone who died over a thousand years ago,” Twilight explained.

“But I thought you said there was no way a spirit would linger for that long?” Applejack countered. “Or am I getting yer spells mixed up again?”

“No, you are right, but with the right added components we can effectively beseech the spirits of those who passed on from this world,” Twilight continued.

“Really now?” Applejack asked in shock. “Normally I’d be against it, but our options are running out and you make it sound like your spell thingy is more of a request which makes me feel a little better about this whole thing.”

“It is,” Twilight stated.

Applejack hummed thoughtfully as the pair trotted through the orchard, the farmer’s gaze lingering on the many dead or dying trees which marred her farm. “I’m in.”

Twilight blinked. “You are? Are you sure?”

“As sure as I can be about this kinda thing,” Applejack replied. “I may not like it, but if we can do it respectfully, and if it might help Granny, then how can I say no?”

“Oh, before we forget. Did Granny Smith happen to remember why the corruption started only to get reversed?” Twilight questioned.

“Yer talkin about those pictures we saw in the family history book, right?” Applejack replied.

Twilight nodded. “Yeah, they seemed to show the corruption being beaten back somehow. Did Granny Smith know anything about that?”

“She did, but couldn't say much, I’m afraid.” Applejack sighed and trailed a hoof through the fallen leaves of a random apple tree. “Granny said that the family grew arrogant, thinkin’ they knew better than the forest, but after they righted their wrong and showed their respect, everythin’ went back to normal.”

“Showed their respect… that word choice sounds quite deliberate. Did they perform some manner of ritual?” Twilight pressed.

Applejack shrugged. “Dunno. Granny couldn't recall anything other than that bit I told ya and even that had to be pieced together from a bunch of random stories she had been told over the years.”

“Hmmm, well hopefully the spirit will be able to help us figure that out, as something tells me it’s important,” Twilight remarked.

“Why do you sound so certain about that? What if it's just, ya know, symbolic?” Applejack inquired, the farm pony eying her friend closely.

“I don't know, to be honest with you. It just feels important for some reason,” Twilight muttered.

“I say we should trust that feeling, the head may lie, but the gut sure doesn't,” Applejack stated with a smile.

“I don't know about that. Spike sure likes to say he's hungry right after we ate supper,” Twilight countered.

Applejack chuckled. “Nah, that's the stomach, it lies all the time. The gut is different, it's totally honest. Take it from me.”

Twilight giggled and shook her head. “Right, sorry. How could I ever forget.”

“Apology accepted,” Applejack exclaimed, only for her good cheer to quickly vanish a second later. “If we’re doing this, we should do it now.”

“Right now?” Twilight asked. “But I don't even have what I need.”

“Then run back and get it,” Applejack replied, the farm pony stopping and fixing Twilight with a firm gaze. “There ain't much time, plus we gotta do this in secret and you know how much I suck at hidin’ stuff from my family..”

“R-right,” Twilight stuttered. “I’ll just run back to the library and grab my stuff.”

“I’ll meet you at the entrance to the farm,” Applejack stated before reaching forward and pulling the unicorn into a tight hug. “Thank you for this.”

“But I haven't done anything yet,” Twilight muttered.

“I know, but you’ve given me hope. Somethin’ we’ve all been a little short on recently,” Applejack exclaimed before taking a step back. “Is there anything you need from me?”

“If you can find any possessions which connect to the deceased, that would be great, but given the time period, the family history book may be our only hope in that regard,” Twilight replied.

Applejack sighed. “I’ll look through the stuff in the basement just in case. Besides, we got all kindsa junk down there from family members I’ve never even met.”

“Meet back in an hour?” Twilight inquired.

Applejack nodded. “Sounds good.”

“Alright. Good luck, Applejack,” Twilight declared, the unicorn giving her friend’s shoulder a light squeeze.

“Thanks. I think I’m gonna need it,” Applejack muttered.

Twilight stopped and bit her lip, a hoof going to one of her saddlebags. “You’ve checked them four times already, Twilight. It's fine,” she muttered to herself, chastising her continued trepidation.

Forcing herself to merely focus on putting one hoof in front of the other, Twilight slowly pushed past the worry and doubt which plagued her constantly. “This is the only way we have a chance to help Granny Smith,” Twilight whispered to herself as she turned down the road which lead to the farm.

“So what if you're going to disrespect and potentially defile the graves of the family that has taken you in and treated you like a normal person? That's no big deal,” Twilight asked herself, only to chuckle nervously. “Oh, who am I kidding? I’m definitely going to end up as a red smear on the ground the second Big Mac finds out what I’ve done.”

Sighing to herself, Twilight hung her head in defeat, barely even registering as her surroundings slowly changed, becoming slightly less chaotic and a little more organized. The unicorn only bothered to lift her head when she caught the scent of apples, the pony finding herself standing at the unofficial entrance of Sweet Apple Acres. Looking around revealed the same basket of apples that was always rested next to the road, as well as a panting Applejack who was jogging up to her.

“Find anything?” Twilight inquired.

“Only a statue that apparently belonged to Twilight Twinkle,” Applejack replied, the pony giving her bags a tap in emphasis.

“Let’s uh, save that one for last. And did you bring the book?” Twilight continued.

Applejack patted the other bag. “Sure did.”

“Only one item… that does not bode well for our chances. Even if we have the book,” Twilight murmured.

“It's better than nothin’ though, right? Come on, we better get movin’. Pretty sure Apple Bloom saw me rummaging around in the basement, and I don't want her gettin’ involved in all this,” Applejack exclaimed.

“Wait! I, uh, was just wondering if you are still sure this is a good idea.” Twilight winced and rubbed the back of her neck. “I really don't want to cause offence or anything.”

Applejack raised an eyebrow. “What are ya talkin about? I thought you said this spell a yours is respectful.”

“It is. I’m just having second thoughts, I guess.” Twilight looked down, unable to meet the farm pony’s gaze. “I know I’m just an honorary Apple, but you guys are the only family I have left, and I don't want to push you away.”

Applejack sighed and trotted over to her friend, the pony extending a foreleg over Twilight’s shoulders. “Look here, sugarcube. You are tryin’ to save the oldest Apple around and potentially the whole rest of mah family. Ain't nothing disrespectful about that.”

“I know, but…” Twilight’s voice trailed off, the words she wanted to speak eluding her grasp.

“Look, if it makes ya feel any better, most of my family would fall over themselves to help if they could. Way I see it, this ain't any different,” Applejack declared, the pony giving her friend’s shoulder one last squeeze before taking a step back. “Besides, if anyone tries to give you any guff, I’ll say it was all my idea.”

“Pfft, you, lie?” Twilight scoffed. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

“Well, believe it, buster. There is only one thing worth lying fer and that's family. Now c'mon, it's getting early and I don't want to be in a graveyard during the day. Gives me the heebee jeebees,” Applejack remarked, the farmpony’s entire body shaking at the mere thought.

Twilight chuckled and shook her head, the last speck of doubt she had left slowly vanishing. “Thanks, Applejack. Alright, lead the way.”

Applejack nodded and turned away. “Stay close, the forest gets mighty creepy this close to dawn.”

“Oh hey, Spike told me something interesting when I was gathering the supplies,” Twilight exclaimed as they began to trot down the path.

“Oh, what's that?” Applejack asked without turning around.

“Well, I had gotten curious about the comment he made about the house being over a thousand years old and after some discussion we came to the conclusion that this may not be the original Apple family farmstead,” Twilight remarked.

“Not the original? What do you mean?” Applejack inquired, the pony glancing at her friend curiously.

“Well, the timelines don't quite fit, so Spike and I figured out that someone built a nearly perfect replica of the first house on the foundations of the old one,” Twilight explained.

“Really now? Well, I suppose that explains why it had supposedly burnt down, yet Spike remembered it. Though I wonder why they would rebuild it in the exact same spot and make it look damn near identical,” Applejack mused.

“Well, if the foundation is already there...” Twilight offered.

The farmpony nodded. “Fair enough, though now that we’re talkin’... I’m kinda curious to find out how the whole fire started in the first place, and why the knowledge of whatever ritual my family was involved in was so secretive.”

“I thought you said it burnt down during the war,” Twilight pointed out.

“That's just it. The fire started during the war, but no one knows who started it, or why. Heck, the only thing we do know is some of her damnable soldiers were the ones to kill most of my kin,” Applejack remarked, before turning and spitting a loogie into the dirt.

“Add to that the fact that time doesn't exactly work the same in the forest and we have a very strange situation on our hooves,” Twilight exclaimed with a frown.

Applejack shrugged. “It's not that big a deal though right? I mean ,who cares if things don't make perfect sense.”

Twilight sighed. “I guess you're right. Still, it would be nice to have a clear series of events. If we did, there might be some manner of clue in there somewhere.”

“Life doesn't work out that way, I’m afraid,” Applejack stated gruffly.

“Let's just get to the graveyard. All these time shenanigans are making my head hurt,” Twilight muttered bitterly.

Applejack chuckled. “Sure thing. Shouldn't be too far now.”

Together the two ponies walked in silence, each one contemplating the mystery they had found themselves smack dab in the middle of. Twilight was busy trying to order the series of events that lead up to where they were now, while Applejack was still ruminating on their plan. It was a good one, the farmpony had decided, though even after assuring Twilight of its validity, the entire thing still left a bad taste in Applejack’s mouth.

Meanwhile, the sparse and semi-orderly foliage of the orchard gave way to the wild untamed wilderness that surrounded the farm. The ever present moon was blotted out by a passing cloud, its light nearly completely blocked by the many limbs of the trees which loomed over them. The darkness which at one point would have made Twilight feel uneasy now felt comforting, the shadows comforting rather than terrifying.

That changed when they noticed the black iron fence which surrounded the private cemetery, the vines and foliage rendering it almost invisible. The land rose before them, the slight hill barely noticeable until the sky opened up and the moon shone brilliantly once more. Sitting in the same position it always did, the white celestial orb bathed the open expanse in moonlight, illuminating the numerous headstones therein.

The sound of animals and insects stopped the moment they stepped foot inside the cemetery, the normal noises of the forest all but vanishing and leaving only a gentle wind to fill the void. Twilight shuddered, but kept close behind Applejack as the farmpony strode confidently into the graveyard. Though even then, Twilight could tell that her friend could also feel the tense atmosphere, and sense how the forest seemed to be holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.

“This is weird, right?” Twilight asked hesitantly as she looked around the open space.

Applejack nodded. “Feels like were bein’ watched, but not like a mean kinda bein’ watched.”

“Like someone is waiting for us to do something,” Twilight finished.

“Yeah…” Applejack muttered, only to gulp and point to a nearby headstone. “Let's start with Uncle Eastwick. Granny said he was supposedly a right honorable stallion.”

“Right,” Twilight muttered, the unicorn moving to the grave and unslinging her bags, while doing her best to ignore the urn which rested only a dozen or so feet away.

To say it was strange to be back here so soon after she had laid her previous incarnation to rest would be an understatement. Still, she had a job to do, and she wasn't about to let that stand in the way of helping her friend and her adopted family. Even if that job meant bringing back one of Applejack’s ancestors and hoping against hope that they knew something forgotten to history.

“Alright, let’s begin,” Twilight muttered, the unicorn pulling forth a dozen candles from her bag and arraying them around the grave in a simple star pattern.

Applejack stood nervously off to the side, the pony watching closely as Twilight lit the candles as well as a long thin piece of incense, which the unicorn stuck into the ground just in front of the headstone. Positioning herself at the foot of the grave, Twilight lit her horn, and began to hum a nameless tune which quickly sprung unbidden from her lips. As she sung, she moved and twisted her body this way and that, the magic coming surprisingly easy, and moving her in a manner she had not expected.

If there was one thing necromancy encouraged, it was adaptation, and so Twilight merely allowed herself to be moved by the winds of fate. It was strange and unfamiliar to the dead mare, but she had read enough to know that this was always a possibility when it came to necromancy. Though even then her resolve was challenged when her tune suddenly gained lyrics, and she could hear distant drums begin to beat.

Steeling her resolve, Twilight allowed the song to move through her, unconcerned as she had read about the ancient necromantic phenomenon called the heart song. The distant drums seemed to grow closer, and though she mostly spoke in a language even she did not understand, Twilight could feel the weight of her words. The song spoke of a hearth, of a long road upon which weary travelers tread, and of yearning for the comforts of home.

“Upon i hearth i naur na- naru, Beneath i telu ennas na- a haust; But ú- yet gum are mín feet, Still round i nas mín lothron govannon- A bragol nimloth ben standing sarn plural serni i none gar- seen but mín eriol. Nimloth a lóth a las a thár, Let hain aglon! Let hain aglon! Amon plural emyn a nen no aiwenor, aglon hain bui! Aglon hain bui!” Twilight sang, the song stopping mid-note the second the last word left her lips.

The spell released, and the grave glowed a faint purple light from deep within the earth. Twilight and Applejack alike stood hesitantly next to it, staring anxiously, awaiting the results of the unicorn’s spell. Though the glow grew stronger, more powerful, that didn't last long and the light quickly faded a moment later, leaving both beings standing there in defeat.

“I’m guessin it didn't work?” Applejack asked.

Twilight nodded. “The spirit is too far gone and its connection to this world too weak.”

“Well, we better get onto the next one then,” Applejack muttered, the pony turning away and trotting several feet to their right.

Twilight sighed, and gave the grave one final glance before nodding her thanks and retrieving her supplies. The weight of her most recent failure was significant, but Twilight wouldn't let it get her down, not while she still had a chance. Even as the song and the strange words she spoke echoed in the back of her mind, leaving the pony with the sense that the song was not quite complete.

Following behind Applejack, Twilight noticed that there were very few graves that appeared to be the same age as the one they had just passed. “How many chances do you think we’ll get?” Twilight asked nervously.

Applejack frowned. “Other than this one? Only two more.”

“Those last two, are they Apple Turnover and Twilight Twinkle?” Twilight inquired as she arrayed the candles out in the proper positions and jammed the incense into the dirt.

“Yeah…” Applejack muttered. “Let’s just hope this works.”

“R-right,” Twilight stuttered, the pony quickly getting back to work.

In a few seconds everything was in order once more, and Twilight took a moment to read the headstone more carefully this time. Verdant Fields, a doting grandmother to all but mother to none. The dates were unreadable, but the headstone itself seemed ancient enough to fit the right time period. Before she spoke, Twilight did her best to hold what little she knew of the pony close to her heart, focusing on that information as she lit her horn.

This time the song came quickly, surging to the pony’s lips as the drums continued mid-step, as if they were merely waiting for her return. Careful not to resist the tug of the heart song, Twilight poured herself into the act, doing exactly as the winds demanded of her.

“Still round i nas ennas lothron darth- A siniath road ben a dolen fen, a though mín aglon hain bui sír, Tomorrow mín lothron tul- hi té a take i dolen paths i nor- Towards i Luna ben na i Celestia. Apple, reg, a nut a sloe, Let hain glenn-! Let hain glenn-! Sand a sarn plural serni a both a dell, Fare cin eithel! Fare cin eithel!” Twilight sang.

Again, the spell released, and again the grave filled with light, a purple glow seeping up through the cracks in the earth beneath their hooves. Yet again, that glow grew dimmer until it faded away completely, leaving the two ponies to stare down at it in defeat. By now it was clear that the song was not yet complete, yet it had stopped anyway, halting after a second verse and leaving Twilight confused.

To make matters stranger, the words were becoming easier to understand, as if the language itself was revealing its secrets to the unicorn bit by bit. Yet still, Twilight couldn't quite understand every last part of it and she was left standing there, growing ever more confused the longer she thought about it.

“Same as before?” Applejack asked.

Twilight nodded solemnly. “Her business was done. Her spirit is at rest.”

Applejack sighed and turned away. “I guess we’re just going to have to try again.”

Twilight frowned and began to gather her supplies once more, her mind churning with many, many questions and very few possible answers. At least her singing voice had improved since her death, though the unicorn had a feeling that it was the magic of the soul which guided her in this regard. As the pony had not been much of a singer and had previously never even attempted to hit the high and low notes she had just barely sung.

“So, uh, what was that language you were speaking?” Applejack inquired as Twilight set out the candles and incense in front of a different grave.

“I’m not sure. It feels powerful though, but also gentle, and kind in a way,” Twilight remarked with a shrug. “It feels like the magic is slowly helping me understand it, but it's just so strange.”

Applejack nodded. “I’ll say. Though the song is beautiful, and your voice is…” the farmpony’s sentence trailed off as she struggled to find the right words to express how she felt.

“Weird.” Twilight finished with a snort. “I could never hit those notes before, or stay on key for more than a second or two. It hardly even feels like I’m the one singing and is more like I’m a puppet for something else.”

“Still. That was sure was somethin’. Where do you think it comes from?” Applejack inquired, the mare taking a step back when Twilight took position at the foot of a new grave.

“The soul, I think. I have vague memories of that kind of singing being slightly more common a thousand years ago, but I don't have any clear memories of it happening before,” Twilight explained.

“Must be a necromancy thing. At least it isn't taking as long as you thought,” Applejack offered.

“I suppose you’re right.” Twilight sighed. “Alright, Apple Turnover, let's hope you're up to helping us out, because I do not want to raise your daughter.”

Lighting her horn once more, Twilight prepared herself for the song to return, and return it did, the words all but exploding from her lips as the music surged. The drums from before had been subtly replaced with the sound of strings and a piano, making the song even more beautiful. The changes were small, and Twilight’s voice seemed to follow the tone of the music more closely, her words soft, and her movements slow.

“Bar na- adel, i ambar ahead, a ennas are limb paths na tread trí shadows na i pel -o dú, Until i elena are all alight. I ambar adel a bar ahead, mín'll amro- back na bar a haust. Hith a tindu, fán a lumb, Awaui shall thinn-! Awaui shall thinn-! Naur a calar, a aes a bas, a then na haust! A then na haust!” Twilight sang, the song ending on a somber, half-whispered note.

The spell was completed, and once again purple light shone through the earth, emanating from far beneath their hooves. Though brighter than either time that came before, this light faded quickly, leaving both ponies confused and disappointed.

“I don't understand. The song was complete, the spell worked, but she is just… too far,” Twilight murmured, the unicorn staring down at the grave as the light flickered and finally died completely.

“Are ya sure that's what happened? There wasn't a mishap with yer casting or somethin’ like that?” Applejack asked.

Twilight nodded confidently. “I could feel it deep down inside of me. The song was complete, and the spell was done correctly.”

Applejack sighed. “Well, I suppose this is our last chance then.”

Twilight nodded meekly, the unicorn using her magic to shift the candles and incense from one grave to another, all while avoiding the sight of the urn which rested between them. As Twilight did this, Applejack pulled open her bag and placed a rather strange, wooden statue in front of the next headstone. The statue which sat upon a wide, wooden base was a strange mishmash of creatures, whose body was stretched out in such a manner that made Twilight imagine the creature it depicted had been caught mid-song and turned to wood.

Its back legs were a combination of the hoof of a pony, and the scaley clawed limb of a dragon, while its long, noodly torso had the fur of a lion, and of an equine, while its tail was clearly draconic. Its right arm was that of a lion, while the left was clearly that of a griffon and it also had one bat wing, and one pegasus wing. Its face was perhaps the strangest mix, as it had the ears of what looked like a donkey, an antler of a deer, and the horn of a goat. To top that all off, it also had one large tooth, a pair of bushy eyebrows and a tuft of hair which sprouted from its chin.

The statue itself was surprisingly realistic, making Twilight feel as though it could come to life and continue its song at any moment. Shaking off that strange thought, Twilight continued to ready herself for the coming spell, going over her preparations several times. After she was certain, Twilight turned to Applejack, ready to ask the mare if she had any other last insights. Only for her her ears to twitch and her question to change just before she had been ready to speak it.

“Do you hear that?” Twilight asked, the pony slowly turning in place, trying to locate the source of the distant sound she had just noticed.

“No, what is it?” Applejack replied, the farmpony looking around nervously.

“Sounds like something really big coming this way,” Twilight muttered, the unicorn taking a step back and lighting her horn.

“I don't hear…” Applejack paused, the color draining out of her face. “Twilight, we need to run, now.”

“What are you talking about?” Twilight demanded a second before an enormous shape broke through the wall of trees.

A massive three headed creature exploded into the graveyard, its great limbs carving deep furrows in the soft earth, destroying plants and graves alike. The creature was a quadruped, with its forelimbs resembling the paws of an enormous sabre-toothed tiger. Its back legs were that of a ram, and from its tail grew an enormous cobra which loomed over the main body. From its neck sprouted two heads, one being that of a tiger, the other a ram, all three pairs of eyes glowing an angry red light, its fur standing on end.

The creature let out a wail of anguish as it thrashed its two central heads, its limbs throwing huge chunks of dirt into the air.

“What the hay is that?” Twilight demanded, the unicorn backpedalling rapidly.

“A chimera, they are usually really smart, and one even runs a farm on the other side of town,” Applejack replied quickly, the mare backing up with her friend. “We gotta take it down without hurting it too much. Ya think you can do that?”

“Maybe... why can't we defend ourselves or run away?” Twilight shouted, watching in horror as the chimera threw itself against a nearby oak tree and knocked the entire thing over with ease. “I know they are smart, but this might come down to us and it.”

“It’s obviously hurtin’ and not in its right mind. If we are going to have any hope of saving Granny Smith, we gotta stop it from destroying the graveyard,” Applejack hastily explained.

Twilight gritted her teeth and silently bemoaned her poor luck, as for one there was little chance of escape given how fast the chimera was. Beyond that, Twilight refused to run anyway, as this land meant they had a chance to save the mare who had raised her friend and potentially her entire family. If that meant Twilight was going to have to go into a tough fight with one hoof tied behind her back, then so be it, she thought.

“Stay low, keep moving, and grab its attention. I’ll layer on the curses until it can't even move. Then we figure out a way to help it,” Twilight exclaimed.

Applejack nodded. “Right, let's do this.”

A powerful roar split the night, the chimera rearing back and crying out in all three of her voices. It was enough to make Twilight’s teeth rattle, and for a moment doubt entered her mind, only to be pushed aside as quickly as it came. Lighting her horn, Twilight reached into her bag and produced a satchel of dark purple flowers, opening it quickly. Pulling one of the bell-shaped flowers, Twilight yelled a gutteral word of power before slamming the flower into the ground.

A purple tear surrounded by a circle suddenly appeared on the chimera’s right foreleg, burning away its fur, the monster nearly collapsing as its leg gave out. The bestial roar of rage turned to one of anguish, and the chimera spun, suddenly facing the two ponies. Its gaze seethed with rage, red energy sparking from the corners of its eyes a second before it lurched forward, charging the ponies with a long, lopsided gait.

Applejack sprinted forward, meeting the chimera in the center of the graveyard and ducking under a furious swipe. Reacting quickly, Applejack spun and kicked out the chimera’s knee, sending the already lopsided creature crashing to the ground. The farmpony proved too fast once more, leaping backwards out of a bite from the sabre-toothed head, and then to the left in order to dodge a second bite from the cobra.

Cursing under her breath, Twilight quickly retrieved a second flower and in moments was ready to cast the same spell again. Only this time the moment she yelled, the cobra head spun around and launched a blob of green liquid in her direction. Leaping to the side at the last second, Twilight narrowly missed the strange liquid which splattered against the ground where she had been standing a second earlier.

“Oh no,” Twilight muttered, her gaze quickly scanning the ground for any of her lost spell components only to watch as they slowly melted into a puddle of goo.

Cursing her foul luck once more, the unicorn dashed to her left, doing her best to keep Applejack between herself and the chimera. The farmpony hadn't been idle though and delivered a powerful buck to the side of the tiger’s head, sending it careening against its sister. With the creature temporarily stunned, Applejack tried to line up a second kick, hoping to end this fight before it even had a chance to truly begin.

A green blur stopped that plan dead in its tracks however, and Applejack dropped to her belly just in time to see the cobra head fly over her head. The far pony hadn't gotten out unscathed however, as a good chunk of her branches had been torn off, and a jolt of white hot pain shot through her body. Gritting her teeth, the pony scrambled back into a stand, knowing instinctively that she had little time before the tiger bit her in half.

Applejack had even less time than she thought she did, but thankfully for her, Twilight noticed this, and fired a black ray from her hoof. The spell flew true and landed smack dab between the tiger head’s eyes, causing the entire body to stumble to the side. With just enough time to get out of the way, Applejack dashed around the left side of the chimera, hoping to use this moment of weakness to knock it over completely.

Twilight’s horn burned as power coursed through her body, magic pouring out of her hoof, and into the tiger’s head. It tried to jerk out of the way of the spell, but it only managed to get about a foot before its eyes suddenly closed, and the entire left half of its body fell to the earth. With her spell done, Twilight quickly followed her friend’s lead, running to the left and doing her best to keep out of range of any counter attacks.

Thankfully for the unicorn, the chimera was plenty busy just trying to pin down Applejack, who was taking full advantage of its partially paralyzed state. The cobra head snapped, but with the farmpony so close to the chimera’s side it was hard for its fanged jaws to hit the pony and not itself in the process. Noticing this, Applejack leapt forward, grappling the base of the cobra and wrestling it to the ground, pinning it under her in a single swift movement.

Twilight silently cheered as Applejack’s forelegs wrapped around the cobra’s jaws, holding its mouth shut and effectively shutting down the second head. Readying another ray, Twilight aimed for the ram’s head, only to notice that it had coiled its right half under its body. Temporarily confused by the strange act, Twilight hesitated, accidentally giving her opponent the time it needed.

With a mighty heave, the entire Chimera flipped backwards, its entire bulk about to land directly on top of Applejack. The farmpony once more proved that she was quicker then she looked, and hopped to her hooves just in time to catch the beast mid-fall. With her forelegs now keeping the beast from crushing her, and one back leg keeping the cobra’s jaw firmly shut, Applejack could do nothing but stand there as she was slowly squished under the chimera’s bulk.

“Do something!” Applejack shouted, her muscles bulging as she struggled to keep herself from being crushed under the creature’s body.

The move had been a desperate one, and it left Twilight with few options, as even if she managed to knock the creature out, that would not help Applejack’s situation. Panic began to claw at the back of Twilight’s mind, and the urge to run or give up was nearly overwhelming, only for an idea to suddenly spring to mind. She needed to do two things at once, lift the chimera with a telekinesis spell, but also knock out the goat head.

Normally such a feat would be impossible, given the fact that a unicorn couldn't cast more than one spell at the same time, but those unicorns didn't know necromancy. Soul magic didn't need her horn to work, and thus, in theory, she could cast both spells at the same time. With no time to lose, Twilight began to go through the motions to cast another ray of enfeeblement. This time targeting the chimera’s exposed belly while at the same time lighting her horn, powering up a telekinesis spell aimed to grab the creature the second her ray fired.

Sweat and sap poured down Applejack’s back, the strain from holding up the thrashing, enraged monster exacting a heavy toll on the mare. The sheer strain was enough to make her grip weaken, and Applejack could feel the cobra begin to slip out from under her. Steeling herself for her possible demise, Applejack tried to push back, only to find that the chimera was too much for her to move.

Twilight meanwhile had just pushed through the wall of resistance, which held back her attempt to cast two spells at once and with one final heave, she released her magic. The beam of black energy exploded from her hoof as at the same time, her strange, unnatural aura wrapped around the chimera’s body. The amount of magic she needed to cast both spells was immense, and the unicorn gritted her teeth as the three-headed beast tried to fight back.

Its limbs flailed, its body twisted, but still Twilight continued to grab at it while pouring more of the black energy into its belly. As Twilight’s telekinetic grip tightened, resistance increased, with the monster flailing as hard as it could in an effort to break free. For a moment the creature seemed as though it was going to win, only for the eyes of the ram head to flicker and close.

With a triumphant shout, Twilight’s grip tightened, and she threw the creature to the right, giving Applejack just enough time to slip out from under it. The beast crashed to the earth in a heap, crushing headstones and flowers alike as it tumbled to the earth. Twilight let her spells fizzle, and the unicorn nearly followed her opponent to the ground, trembling so hard she only barely stayed standing.

Panting hard, Twilight kept her magic ready, a spell waiting should the creature stir once more. No movement came from it however, and as she watched, the red aura which surrounded its now-closed eyes began to dissipate. Leaving behind a slumbering chimera, which lay half on its side, its entire body sprawled out like a doll that had been tossed aside by an uncaring child.

With the immediate danger now out of the way, Twilight looked over to where she had seen Applejack go down. “Applejack, are you okay?” Twilight shouted.

Rising from one of the forrows the chimera had dug a moment earlier was a single orange hoof, followed by the bruised face of a familiar farmpony. “I’m in rough shape, but I’m alive,” Applejack shouted back.

Twilight began trotting over to her friend, only to wince when her right foreleg touched the ground. Glancing at the bottom of her limb revealed that it was now completely black, Twilight’s overcharging of the enfeeblement spell having evidently taken its toll on her body. Limping, Twilight trotted up to her friend just as the farmpony had pulled herself upright once more.

“Are you sure you are okay? That looks… bad,” Twilight muttered while pointing to the mare’s back.

Applejack winced as she looked over her shoulder and saw the damage the cobra had done to Bloomberg. Only a few branches were still attached to the main trunk, and even then they were almost completely bereft of leaves. Somehow one of the branches to survive was the one which had managed to produce the apple, the fruit still dangling from the green limb.

“No wonder this hurts so bad,” Applejack muttered.

“Are you going to be okay?” Twilight asked nervously.

“If Bloomberg goes, I go with him... and things don't look good for the old tree,” Applejack remarked, wincing as she plucked a branch which had been hanging on by a thread.

“You are tough though, right? You can come back from this,” Twilight pressed.

Applejack seemed pensive for a moment before shrugging her shoulders. “I got no idea. Trees die real slow though, which means we still got time to get the job done.”

“Applejack, you need to go to the hospital,” Twilight continued. “I know it's not you that's hurt, but surely they could do something for you.”

The farmpony snorted as she made her way over to the inert chimera. “You saw what happened to my parents, you know what happens if we should fail.”

“Applejack…”

The farmpony shook her head. “I’d give my life for any one in my family, besides, ain't no one around that knows apple trees better than Granny Smith. If we can help her, she can help me.”

Twilight bit her lip and looked from the farmpony to the chimera. “Fine, but we need Big Mac here, or someone as that red light we saw in its eyes was a frenzy spell. Someone or something sent that chimera after us and may very well have more tricks up their sleeve.”

Applejack glanced over the chimera’s enormous form before sighing. “Yer right. We need him, but with all the ruckus, chances are he's already on his way here.”

“Eeyup,” declared a deep, familiar voice.

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