“Eeyup,” declared a deep, familiar voice.

The two ponies spun towards the entrance to the graveyard, where a pensive Big Macintosh was observing the area. He gestured to the chimera questioningly as he walked up to the pair.

Twilight shook her head. “She won't be a problem and most likely won't have any permanent damage.”

Big Macintosh nodded, before turning to Applejack, his expression falling the second he noticed the true depth of her injuries.

“Look, I know what yer gonna say, and I’m tellin’ you right now. Don't start with me. We got a lot of work to do before we can worry about me,” Applejack declared.

The large stallion hummed and seemed ready to argue before changing his mind, nodding slowly and pointing to Twilight while raising an eyebrow.

A bark cut off Twilight’s response before it could even begin, and all three ponies turned to the chimera and the timberwolf puppy that was gnawing on its tough hide. The wolf’s tiny wooden teeth did little against the much larger creature’s hard exterior, but that didn't stop Winona from trying anyway. She bit down over and over, shaking her head occasionally, yet accomplishing next to nothing.

“Winona, get over here before you wake her up early and accidentally get flattened!” Applejack shouted.

The puppy looked towards the trio of ponies before turning and kicking a bunch of dirt on the chimera and scampering up to Applejack’s side.

“Err, as I was about to say,” Twilight began, the unicorn glancing hesitantly towards Big Macintosh. “I was hoping to bring back the spirit of one of your ancestors in an attempt to find out what manner of deal your family had with the forest.”

“And before you say anything, it was all my idea,” declared Applejack who stepped forward. “So I won’t hear no tough older brother routine out of you.”

Rather than get irritated, Big Macintosh seemed unusually reserved, the stallion’s gaze lingering on Twilight Twinkle’s grave for several long seconds. “Eeyup,” he replied after a long pause.

“So you’ll help us?” Applejack asked in shock.

The stallion nodded. “Eeyup,” he repeated.

“That's great. We just need someone to help watch our back while Twi does her thing,” Applejack added, only to wince as a jolt of pain ran down her back.

“And there is only one grave left anyway,” Twilight remarked sadly. “If this doesn't work, then… I don't know what we could even do.”

Big Macintosh sighed deeply and turned to the timberwolf puppy, pointing down at her, then to himself and finally the grave. This seemed to get his message across perfectly, as the timberwolf stopped licking Applejack’s injured leg and scrambled next to the stallion. Turning away, the pair began to patrol the area, both doing their best to sniff out whomever had tried to disrupt Twilight’s spell.

“Alright, let's do this thing,” Applejack exclaimed.

Twilight nodded and trotted over to the final grave. “Well, at least the chimera didn't ruin my circle.”

Applejack nodded. “We’re right lucky, is what we are. All yer candles are even still lit.”

“Right, just give me a moment. Necromancy requires that the caster get into a proper state of mind, lest their spell get away from them,” Twilight explained before closing her eyes and breathing deeply.

Sure she knew she didn't have to breathe, but the act calmed her and allowed her to focus on her spell. Though the magic came easily to her, Twilight didn't start casting her spell quite yet, instead focusing on what she knew of the pony she was trying to bring back. Twilight Twinkle had been young when she had passed, and seemed to have a fondness for strange creatures. Besides that Twilight knew very little of the girl, other than the fact that her former self was her aunt, sort of.

They also shared a name, one which was given to Twilight Twinkle with the intention of allowing her previous self’s spirit to continue living. It was a bit morbid in a way, but it was also undeniably beautiful, a selfless act of remembrance and also respect. Holding onto the feeling of pride, and melancholy that filled her chest, Twilight began to sing, trotting slowly around the grave as she did so.

This time there was no music that joined her, and the language she spoke was her native tongue. Yet Twilight felt as though her words carried even more power than before, her every utterance sending a vibration through the air. The only accompaniment that she received for her song was the soft whistling of the wind and the flutter of leaves on the breeze.

In a way it felt as though the very forest sung with her, the wind, the leaves, and the plants all moving in harmony, turning her song into a sort of strange duet. Twilight didn't think about that particular fact too much as her entire being was dedicated only to the small gravestone and the statue that stood before it.

“Still round the corner there may wait. A new road or a secret gate,” Twilight sang, a soft, sad smile coming to her lips as she approached the headstone.

“And though I oft have passed them by, a day will come at last when I,” Twilight continued, the unicorn vaguely aware of the fact that the tiny wooden statue was moving ever so slightly, swaying on an unseen breeze and singing along with her.

She didn't think about that though as she focused solely on the feeling she held deep down inside of herself. “Shall take the hidden paths that run west of the moon and east of the sun.”

Twilight smiled faintly, unaware of the fact that Applejack, Big Macintosh, and even Winona had stopped mid-step in order to listen to her song.

Leaning down, Twilight’s smile waned, and she brushed a bit of dirt from the grave. “Come, sweet child, give us your wisdom this day and show these lost souls the way,” Twilight whispered, the forest falling silent as she pressed her lips against the cold stone of the headstone.

Magic flowed from the mare’s hooves and was all but sucked into the dirt, pulled by some unseen force that lay beneath them. As this happened the small statue blew a kiss and bowed low before moving no more, its form becoming solid once again. Twilight lifted her head slowly and smiled down at the grave, the feelings she had held close in her heart slipping from her grip.

For a moment it had felt as though the unicorn had known the pony buried here, the feeling of connection being one akin to that which she had shared with her brother. The thought brought on a pang of guilt and longing, but Twilight brushed that aside for now. Her reunion would come, and revenge would be hers, it was only a matter of time. Which was something she now had in spades.

“It's working, Twilight. Look!” Applejack shouted.

Twilight blinked and looked over to the grave where a deep purple light shone brilliantly from beneath the earth. The light grew brighter and stronger by the second while also focusing itself on a single point, becoming vaguely pony-sized in the process. Big Macintosh appeared next to the unicorn, the enormous stallion staring in wonder as the light began to shift.

The light contorted briefly, the color changing until it was both a deep orange and a dark purple. A second later the head of an earth pony rose from the ground, her mane short and styled in a bowl cut. Her eyes were a soft mauve and contained both a sense of determination and agelessness about them.

The spirit’s neck and shoulders emerged next, followed quickly by a stocky torso and four powerfully built legs. Depicted on her flanks was an orange horizon that was illuminated by a purple starburst which just barely peeked over the edge. Though the spirit’s head only reached Twilight’s collarbone, the unicorn knew that she had been tall for her age, and that she would have grown as tall as Twilight herself given time.

She also knew that the connection they shared was deeper than what the unicorn had first anticipated, the visual similarities not ending with their height. The pony’s mane and tail also had two smaller strips of color running through them, each one a slightly lighter shade of orange and purple. Looking into the spirit’s eyes also brought forth a pang of deja vu, and Twilight instantly felt as though she was not looking into the eyes of another, but was instead peering into a mirror.

The spirit however didn't even seem to see Twilight, and turned her head to the right, in the direction of the farm house. “I feel your need, children of the soil and star-sworn,” spoke the spirit, her voice that of a child while also containing a deep power that was obvious to all who heard her.

Twilight and Big Macintosh backpedalled out of the way. “What do you mean? What's a star-sworn?” Twilight asked.

Still, the spirit didn't acknowledge the unicorn’s presence and simply began to trot in the direction of the farm’s center, leaving three confused ponies to exchange a glance before simply following after her. Twilight made it a few steps before she noticed that the ground itself was moving slightly, vines, other plants, and small animals all emerging from the forest.

The animals set about clearing debris, filling in holes, and shifting the earth while the vines straightened any toppled headstones and repaired those that had been broken. Shattered stone was gathered and plants grew between the cracks, rebuilding what had been lost in a uniquely chaotic way. The sight would have been enough to bring the Apple family siblings to tears, but they hardly even looked, as they all collectively felt the weight of destiny rest upon their shoulders.

What was happening now would shape the future of their family, and they could not turn their attention from the spirit. Twilight hastily trotted after them, her gaze having lingered too long on the strange sight, the unicorn nearly getting left behind for her curiosity. That was not the end of the strange sights however, as it seemed as though the very land around them moved according to the spirit’s whims.

The path which would have taken them many minutes to walk took mere seconds, the small group emerging out into the clearing which housed the Apple family farmstead in mere moments. Wherein they met a confused looking Apple Bloom who stood a few feet away, her jaw hanging open. She looked from Applejack to the spirit, and finally to Twilight before hastily scuttling out of the way, allowing the spirit to step fully into the yard.

“This is wrong,” stated the spirit, who shook her head as she looked out over the various buildings which lay before it. “We were meant to live as one with the forest, not to be its masters. Yet I feel as though this perversion was not intentional on your part.”

Applejack shook her head. “No, ma’am.”

The spirit frowned. “Your ignorance can be forgiven, but a ritual must be held, and proper respect given.”

“What do we have to do?” Apple Bloom asked hesitantly.

“You must burn down this affront to the forest, and give the land its respect. Only then will you be given the purity of form which you were always destined to achieve,” stated the spirit.

“Burn what down? The house?” Twilight inquired.

“The house, the barn, all must go,” declared the spirit. “I will return when you have accomplished this task. May you make haste, children of the soil.”

The spirit bowed her head and sunk into the earth, leaving the ponies left behind to glance nervously at one another.

“Are we really going to do this?” Twilight asked nervously.

“I would burn down every last inch of this place if it meant saving any one of you,” Applejack replied.

Big Macintosh nodded. “Eeyup.”

“But it's the family farm,” Apple Bloom interjected. “Wouldn't that be disrespectful?”

“The farm is not the house, the barn, or even the trees.” Applejack tapped the ground. “It's the dirt beneath your hooves and the family all around us.”

The filly sighed. “I guess yer right. I just ain't keen on sleeping on the dirt, is all.”

“Don't worry, youngun, we won't be sleeping on the dirt,” Applejack proclaimed.

Twilight glanced at the broken tree on the apple farmer’s back, noting the way that its bark was beginning to peel and slowly take on a more sickly appearance. “We had better get moving then. I’ll go get help,” remarked the unicorn.

“Nope,” interrupted Big Macintosh.

“I gotta agree with my brother on this one,” Applejack added.

Twilight turned to the mare. “Time is of the essence, Applejack, we need help,” she urged.

“This is family business, Twilight,” Applejack declared, wrapping her foreleg around the unicorn’s. “Which means it's up to us to get it done.”

The feeling of pride that surged through Twilight nearly brought a tear to her eye. “Right. Big Mac, you handle the stuff in the barn. Grab everything that can't be replaced and leave the rest. Apple Bloom, you and Applejack will unpack the house, again, grab only what you need and leave everything that you don't.”

The Apple siblings all nodded.

“What will you do, Twilight?” asked Apple Bloom.

“I will get to work constructing the fire runes which will help speed things along. Time is short, and we won't be able to wait for it all to burn naturally, I’m afraid,” Twilight declared.

“Eeyup,” agreed Big Macintosh.

Applejack nodded. “Then let's get it done, Apples.”

Twilight’s eyes were pressed tight as she ran through the spell in her mind, the various formulas and matrices coming easily, though the pony found her magic was resisting her call. With a sigh, she let the spell fall away, confident that she could at least cast it once when needed, though it would take a bit out of her. Opening her eyes, Twilight found that the Apple family was just about done with their various assigned tasks.

Big Macintosh stood outside the barn with an old plow under one hoof, the stallion tossing it into a pile with the rest of the equipment they needed to keep. It wasn't much, but at least they had managed to salvage most of the apples so even if this didn't work they wouldn't starve at least. That was a cold comfort though, one which was made even colder when Twilight glanced over to the pile of valuables that had been extracted from the house.

A few beds, a couple dozen boxes, as well as a scattering of furniture was all they had managed to extract from the house. The last and most important piece was being pulled from the house at that very moment, though she wasn't making things difficult. Granny Smith was deceptively heavy, with both Applejack and Apple Bloom struggling to carry the old pony and her rocking chair out of the house.

Granny Smith herself seemed only partially lucid, the tree which grew from her back now covering nearly her entire body, the older mare so hunched over that she looked to be about the size of a foal. She could hardly see anything due to the bark that covered most of her face, including a good chunk of her mouth. Twilight moved to help, but Big Macintosh was faster, the stallion swiftly moving into position and relieving Apple Bloom just as the filly seemed ready to collapse under the weight.

With the stallion’s help they managed to transport the older pony next to their starting position, placing Granny Smith and her rocking chair just off to the side. The older pony merely stared unblinking at her home, though Twilight wasn't certain if she even understood what was going on anymore. There was little flesh visible on the pony, and the mare now looked like a pony-shaped tree.

It was a sad sight, as was Applejack who seemed to be steadily losing color as deep rings formed around her eyes. Bloomberg was doing even worse, the tree having shed all but one of its branches and every leaf it had. Applejack stumbled next to Twilight, propped up by a helpful Big Macintosh who seemed as worried as Twilight was.

“I think that's about everything we have the time to save,” Applejack muttered between labored breaths.

Apple Bloom trotted up to her sister, Winona close on the filly’s heels. “Are you sure that's all we could save?” she asked. “There was so much stuff left in the basement.”

“All of that junk was from family that's long since passed on. It don't feel right to take it with us if we are burning the past as it were,” Applejack muttered.

“The spell is complete, Applejack, but are you sure you want to do this?” Twilight pressed. “As soon as I activate it, that's it. There's no taking it back.”

Applejack nodded slowly, her thoughtful gaze lingering on the farmstead. “It's what's gotta be done, Twilight. Ain't no point going back now, after all we did.”

Big Macintosh nodded. “Eeyup.”

Twilight sighed. “It's your call. I just hope we don't regret it.”

“We gotta try, Twilight,” Applejack stated grimly. “Do it.”

The unicorn lit her horn, and within moments the spell was nearly complete, though like Twilight had guessed, it was taking a lot out of her. With one final grunt of exertion she released the magic, activating the runes she had drawn within the barn, shed, and farmstead. Flames exploded out the windows of the lower level of the house, the entrance of the barn, and the door to the shed.

A second later the light of the moon was eclipsed by the light of the fire which hungrily lapped at the buildings, its long red teeth sinking deeper into the structures. In moments the shed was all but consumed, its supports collapsing and causing the entire thing to fall into a heap of burning wood and scrap metal. The barn was faring only a little better, but with the fire now reaching the ceiling, it wasn't likely that its luck would hold out much longer.

Granny Smith grunted suddenly, a weak hoof cracking as it extended towards the burning farmstead.

Applejack sighed and gently pushed the limb back down. “It's alright, Granny Smith, we gotta do this,” she whispered.

Apple Bloom nodded and slowly ran her hoof down the old pony’s bark-covered back. “It will all be okay, Granny. We’re going to fix you up good as new. You’ll see.”

Big Macintosh merely hummed thoughtfully, the stallion’s gaze fixed on his childhood home, which was now almost completely engulfed in flames.

The inferno’s maw slammed shut over the house, having stretched up from the first floor all the way to the roof. The heat was intense, even at this distance, though no one dared move as the act somehow felt disrespectful for a reason they couldn't quite put to words. This was, after all, the funeral of their Apple family home, and no one would look away as the wooden structure was consumed in fire.

A resounding crack came from somewhere inside the barn, and a second later the entire structure began to lean slightly before falling inwards on itself. By then the shed was little more than a pile of ash and coals, from which a thin wisp of smoke emanated. With all of the fire’s fuel now in one spot, the flames grew hotter and higher, turning the former barn into little more than charcoal in under a few minutes.

The house however continued to stand tall and proud, the ancient structure resisting the fiery inferno’s attempt to bring it down. Windows which had not already shattered now melted, small chunks of siding and shingles falling from the sides and tumbling to the earth. Yet for all of the old home’s resilience, it could not hold out forever, and after a series of loud snaps, the floor gave way. The rest of the structure quickly followed suit, collapsing straight down until there was hardly anything left.

Apple Bloom wiped away a tear and gripped Granny Smith’s hoof a little tighter while Applejack merely clenched her jaw, trying to remain impassive. Twilight could see that she too was having trouble watching her childhood home be consumed by the conflagration. Big Macintosh seemed the most moved of them all, and Twilight could see yellowy, sap-like tears budding at the edges of his eyes, though the stallion refused to shed them.

By the time Twilight looked back to the house, there was nothing left, the basement’s walls having collapsed in on the ashes, burying them neatly and leaving hardly any evidence that a building had been there at all. By then the barn and shed had burnt out completely, a breeze carrying their ashes to parts unknown and leaving only twin scorch marks to mark where they had once stood. It was a grim sight, but it was also a place ready for new growth, the earth positively humming with life and energy that was merely waiting to be set free.

As if waiting for this exact moment, the spirit rose from the ground, appearing from the exact spot she had disappeared only a short while earlier. Her ethereal eyes scanned the area, peering intently at the remains of the structures which had marred the land so gruesomely until recently. It nodded slowly, turning to Applejack, features neutral and unreadable.

“You have done as asked, and the forest is ready to give back. You have but to give your respect and in turn you will be given all that the forest promised your family a thousand years ago,” stated the spirit.

“What would you have us do?” Applejack inquired.

“You must give a piece of yourself to the forest, be it a lock of hair, a drop of blood, or a twig from your back,” replied the spirit of Twilight Twinkle, her gaze falling on each member of the Apple family before settling on Twilight herself. “Even you must make an offering. Bury your offerings in the light of the moon and all will be remade anew.”

“Will that heal Granny?” Applejack asked, her voice tinged with desperation.

“If it is the forest’s will,” replied the spirit.

The Apple family siblings exchanged a look before nodding.

“Your minds are made up, and your path is clear. I will leave you now, but not before I offer a word of warning.” The spirit turned to Twilight. “A wise being once told us that when a deep injury is done, we cannot heal until we forgive.”

With that the spirit bowed her head, her form crumbling like a pile of leaves which was quickly carried away by the breeze. Twilight found herself pondering the spirit’s words for a moment before she quickly brushed them aside. She had more important things to do, and she swiftly summoned a blade of magic before lopping off the majority of her tail.

That seemed to break the rest of her companion’s out of their reverie, each one suddenly moving with purpose. Big Macintosh reached down and in a single scrape of his hoof, dug a nearly foot deep hole in the ground. Applejack glanced over her shoulder and gripped the last apple Bloomberg had ever made before plucking it from its branch and dropping it into the hole.

Apple Bloom leaned in close, whispering something to Granny Smith, something which prompted the aged mare to nod slowly. Apple Bloom sighed, and reached up before plucking a leaf from the older pony’s back and dropping it into the hole as well as a tooth which Apple Bloom plucked from her jaw. Twilight added her hair to the mix, and lastly Big Macintosh pricked his hoof with a sharp tooth before adding several drops of greenish blood to the offering.

With that done, the stallion pushed dirt over the hole before taking a step back and glancing nervously at his family.

Applejack gritted her teeth and nodded, the pony visibly struggling to stay standing. “Well, it looks like this is it. If this doesn't work, this might very well be the end of the Apples, and if it is, well, I just wanna say it was a good run, and that I love y'all.”

“We love you too, Applejack,” Apple Bloom added, tears beginning to drip down the filly’s face.

Twilight nodded. “This isn't over yet. This will work. It has to.”

“Eeyup!” exclaimed Big Macintosh.

“I’m just gonna lie down for a moment. Let me know when Granny Smith is okay,” Applejack muttered before all but collapsing to the earth.

Twilight wanted to catch the pony, but a sudden burst of moonlight stopped her dead in her tracks. Looking to where their hole had been covered over revealed a thin beam of white that illuminated the small spot of recently disturbed earth. The light pulsed suddenly, and a moment later a second pulse erupted from the patch of dirt, the ground rippling like a pond that had a stone dropped into the center of it.

The wave quickly passed beneath the stunned ponies’ hooves, and disappeared into the distance, vanishing out of sight. The confused creatures looked around in shock, silently wondering if that had been all that was supposed to happen. A second later their questions were answered when the pulse returned from the edges of the farm, slower this time, and far, far larger.

They watched in stunned amazement as dead trees suddenly sprang back to life, new growth bursting from their rotted trunks. Whole new trees, bushes, and grass sprouted from the ground, some of which quickly grew to the point that fruit budded from their branches. Which also inadvertently revealed that the orchard now sported dozens of not only pear trees, but orange and banana trees as well.

Thick bushes of raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, and more were intermingled throughout the rejuvenated orchard, new life springing out of every crook and cranny available to it while also leaving clear paths between the rows. For a brief moment an apple and a pear tree grew taller than the rest, their trunks and branches twisting and interconnecting. Then it was overshadowed by newer trees which hid the strange fruit tree behind a wave of green.

Twilight didn't have long to ruminate on the strange trees for long, as the pulse had reached the spot where the shed used to stand. There the earth heaved, rising a dozen feet into the air before collapsing on one side, revealing an entrance to what looked like a shallow cave. Vines swiftly grew over the entrance, the mass of green twisting into the vague shape of a door, complete with a wooden handle.

The strangest event had yet to come, but before that could happen, the pulse reached the barn, and a dozen fully formed trees burst from the earth. Rising from around where the walls of the barn had stood only a few minutes ago, the trees continued to grow until they were nearly twice the height of the former farm building. Their trunks continued to expand as their canopy intertwined, forming a natural roof while at the same time the trunks of the trees met, forming a wall of wood. A door quickly sprouted a moment later, grown from two short reddish trees which grew where the old entrance had been.

Like the shed, the new barn was bigger, taller, and far more impressive, its increased height and length meaning the family would never have to worry about space again. That wasn't the end however, as by the time the barn had finished growing, the pulse had reached the point where the farmstead used to stand. The green wave passed over the foundation, and for a moment it seemed as though nothing was going to happen. Then a rumble emanated from deep within the earth and a second later the single largest apple tree Twilight had ever seen all but exploded from the ground.

The trunk was huge, easily a dozen metres across and still growing, its canopy already towering over its neighbors and still it grew. Until its trunk was slightly wider than the old farmstead used to be and the tops of its branches easily reached eight stories tall. The trunk extended about five stories up as well, and as the ponies watched, windows and doors emerged all over the tree. Branches sprouted from the front of the towering apple tree, swiftly forming an enormous wrap-around porch. The entire structure seemed large enough to house a group of ponies easily five times the size of the Apple family.

That wasn't all that sprouted from the sides though, as balconies, and even landings that seemed designed for winged beings also grew around the trunk. As Twilight watched, she could see through the windows that the interior was still shifting and changing, rooms and floors constructing themselves at a lightning pace. The unicorn didn't care to watch any longer though, as she was nervously staring down at her fallen friend who had just closed her eyes, a smile crossing her face.

Twilight’s instincts told her to move, to try and cast some manner of healing spell, but she resisted that urge no matter how painful it was to do so. Something powerful was happening, and Twilight knew that interjecting at this pivotal a moment may very well do more harm than good. And so the unicorn merely watched as the pulse passed under each of them in turn before ending at the point from which it had first emerged.

Immediately a deep green light shone from within each member of the Apple family, with Apple Bloom reacting first. The growth of wood along her back sunk into her flesh before spreading outwards, the pony’s fur and skin being replaced by an almost fleshy wood. The pony didn't seem to panic though her eyes went wide when the growth reached her tail, and swiftly replaced the hair with crimson vines from which sprouted numerous red leaves.

The same happened to her mane a second later, with the filly squeezing her eyes shut as the wave of yellowy bark briefly covered the rest of her face. When she opened her eyes once again, they revealed a pair of bright yellow orbs which glowed faintly in the waning moon light. The pony and plant aspects of the filly had fused perfectly, creating a hybrid that even stood a little taller than she had a second ago.

Big Macintosh was next, and as Twilight watched, his entire body glowed a bright green before his barky skin started to grow thicker. In mere moments the bark covered every inch of the stallion’s exterior, obscuring his startled expression beneath a thick brown exterior. Twilight wanted to help, but she shut down that urge, merely waiting and hoping that she had made the right decision.

A second later and she was proved right, as the woody cocoon began to crack and a hoof tore through the bark, long thornlike claws extending from the limb only to retract after the job was done. The stallion made short work of the rest of his woody prison, emerging from the shell a changed pony. Though he resembled Apple Bloom, in the way that he appeared to be a hybrid of pony and plant, it was evident that he was different.

His mane and tail were short, and though they looked like bark, they were the color of straw and moved like you would expect hair to. His hide was also noticeably thicker, more durable, and had a few thorns sprouting from it, though they disappeared after the stallion relaxed. His eyes were now two pits of glowing green energy which burned intensely as he looked over his new body.

“Well, this is strange,” he muttered, his hoof immediately going to his lips when he realized what he had managed to say.

Twilight silently cheered for the laconic stallion, but turned her attention away when she noticed that both Applejack and Granny Smith were glowing, though Applejack’s light was the duller of the two. The older pony seemed to react first, the mare not even moving as her barklike exterior began to twist and writhe. The tree which grew from her back shrunk, its bulk pulling inwards on itself until it was completely gone.

The wood which covered Granny Smith’s exterior grew thinner, and more flesh-like, though it still somehow managed to look old in a way that Twilight couldn't quite explain. A short white mane and tail made of clumps of white leaves grew back a second before Granny Smith’s trademark shawl was replaced by a wreath of yellow and orange leaves which grew about her neck. The pony remained still and unmoving even when her flesh stopped shifting, her body having finally finished its metamorphosis.

Apple Bloom prodded the older pony’s side nervously. “Granny Smith? Are y’all okay?”

The older pony’s eyes snapped open, revealing a pair of yellowish glowing orbs much like Big Macintosh’s. “What? Where am I? What's going on?” asked the confused and scared old mare.

“You are outside. We did a ritual to heal the farm, remember?” Twilight explained.

The pony blinked. “What are you talkin’ about, youngin? I was just in a field talking to Bright Mac and Pear…” her voice trailed off as she looked down. “Hookay Dinah! What in the hay happened to me?”

“The forest fixed you, like it did Big Macintosh and Apple Bloom,” Twilight pointed out.

“Well, would you look at that. By the stars, y'all look amazin’,” Granny Smith muttered while lifting a leg. “Lookie here, Applejack? I’m young again. Applejack?”

Everyone present looked down to Applejack who lay on the ground, her body having healed, but yet her eyes remained closed, a smile still firmly on her lips. Bloomberg was now standing tall and proud once more, though its roots now grew over the pony’s flesh, creating a sort of orangey wooden armor. This armor-like exterior even covered Applejack’s face, though it left openings wide enough for her eyes, nose, mouth and ears.

Big Macintosh leaned down and gently prodded the mare’s shoulder and when Applejack didn't move, the stallion quickly leaned down and gripped the pony tightly, pulling her up and into a hug. Apple Bloom sniffed and stepped forward, hugging the limp pony along with her sobbing brother. Granny Smith quietly joined a second later, the older mare resisting the urge to cry, though it looked like only a matter of time before she too broke down in tears.

“My poor little sprout,” whispered Granny Smith.

Twilight awkwardly stepped forward, grabbing Applejack about the neck and sobbing into the inert pony’s shoulder. The unicorn’s tears sparkled like drops of liquid moonlight, the tiny orbs of blue catching the first rays of morning sun before landing on the apple farmer’s neck. Unseen by anyone present, those tears seeped into the pony’s woody exterior and caused Bloomberg to twitch ever so slightly.

“Oh, Applejack,” Twilight whispered. “If only I had been quicker. This is all my fault.”

“No, it ain't,” Big Macintosh interjected. “If I had joined you from the start, I coulda helped against that chimera and stopped this whole thing from happenin’. If it's anyone’s fault, it's mine.”

“Whose fault is what now?” asked a familiar and confused voice.

The ponies gasped and looked up to where Applejack hung limply in her brother’s grip.

“Applejack, you are alright!” Apple Bloom shouted.

“‘Course I am. What's with the waterworks? Y'all look fine to me,” Applejack exclaimed.

Big Macintosh gently placed the farm pony back onto her own four legs. “We thought we lost you for a second there,” Big Macintosh whispered.

“The grim reaper is gonna have to wait. Something tells me I get a whole wagon load of new chores to do. I mean, look at this place.” Applejack gestured to their surroundings. “We got ten times the trees for cryin’ out loud!”

Granny Smith grinned. “Darn right ya do, but don't you worry none, ‘cause I feel twenty years younger.”

“How do you feel, Applejack? Are you alright? Does it hurt?” Twilight asked, her horn glowing as she moved Applejack this way and that, inspecting her for injuries.

“I feel fine. Better than fine, actually,” Applejack muttered, her family stepping back enough to allow the pony to stretch. “Feels like Bloomberg is actually pulling his weight instead of just sitting on my back.”

“Well, ya sure look tougher,” Apple Bloom noted, the filly tapping Applejack’s woody exterior in emphasis.

Applejack blinked. “Would ya look at that. It's like I’m some knight in shinin’ armor or somethin’.”

Twilight sighed, her horn dulling. “Three of your ribs are still cracked, but so long as you don't do anything strenuous, you should be fine.”

“Were you workin’ with busted up ribs?” Big Macintosh asked pointedly.

Applejack shrugged. “So what? We needed to get the stuff out of the house, didn't we?”

“I mean yeah, but-” Twilight muttered.

“But nothing,” Applejack interjected. “Everything worked out in the end, didn't it? Granny and I are okay. The farm is better than ever and no one can call my brother laconic anymore.”

Twilight sighed. “Your optimism is endearing.”

“What are we standing around for, huh?” Granny Smith interrupted. “We gotta whole new farm to explore and stuff to move!”

Apple Bloom snapped off a quick salute and grabbed a box before following after her grandmother. “Aye aye, Granny!”

“Atta girl. Come on, you three. It's early, and you know I ain't a fan of the sun. Let's get the essentials inside before it rises and ruins my night,” Granny Smith barked before grabbing her rocking chair and throwing it on her back as if it weighed nothing.

“Right. I better get workin’,” Applejack muttered, only for the combined intensity of Big Macintosh and Twilight’s glares to make her stop just as she was reaching for a particularly large box. “Heh, maybe I’ll just help Granny organize.”

Big Mac shook his head as he watched Applejack walk into their new house. “Sometimes I wonder if that girl doesn't have a block of marble between those ears of hers,” muttered the stallion.

“She is rather stubborn, isn't she?” Twilight mused.

Big Mac nodded before turning to Twilight. “Thank you again for all yer help. I can't tell you how much this means to me and my family. Or should I say our family.”

Twilight was temporarily taken aback. “I don't know what to say. I was just doing what any good friend would have done.”

The enormous stallion erupted with laughter which ended with him wiping a stray tear from his eye. “You didn't strike down the chimera when I knew ya could. Ya protected the family plot when ya coulda ran. You stuck around when things got strange and ya put in work when ya didn't have to.”

“Well I-er,” Twilight muttered.

“What are you two still doing out there? Don't ya see the sun comin’ up? Get inside already before ya get heat stroke!” Granny Smith shouted from the doorway.

“You heard the lady. Come on. You can worry about this junk later,” Big Macintosh stated, the stallion grabbing the unicorn by the shoulder and all but dragging her towards the farm house.

“T-thanks, Big Mac.” Twilight blushed and looked down. “I should probably get back to the library though…”

“Nonsense. Spike is old enough, and you must be exhausted,” Big Macintosh replied. “I’ll grab you a bed so you can get some rest.”

Twilight nodded weakly, the unicorn only now becoming aware of just how truly exhausted she was. “Those spells took more out of me than I thought…” Twilight admitted.

“Better bring your appetite in the mornin’. Something tells me Granny is going to be baking up a storm now that she's up and about again,” Big Mac added with a smile, the stallion holding the door open for Twilight.

The unicorn smiled faintly as she peered within the Apple family’s strange new home. “I look forward to it,” Twilight replied.

Behind them the sun slowly rose, illuminating a new farm and a forest absolutely buzzing with activity. Where once the only insects that seemed to flit between the boughs of the orchard were flies and the odd mosquito, now there were critters beyond counting. Butterflies returned immediately, spiders began spinning their webs, and beneath the earth worms began to dig in search of sustenance.

Life had returned to the half-dead orchard, and both the farm and the family started a new chapter.

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