“Apple Bloom! Are you there! Apple Bloom wake up!” A voice called, but it was distant. I realized my eyes were closed and I opened them, but everything was out of focus. As it slowly grew clearer, I saw the shapes of Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, along with what appeared to be a blue pegasus, and a red earth pony.

“Good thing ah was headin’ to Canterlot, might have not been able to help you Dash.” A voice said, one that sounded familiar.

“She’s awake!” Scootaloo shouted.

“What happened?” I asked as I got myself up.

“Well, everypony followed you to the waterfall, but you passed out when you hit the water. I grabbed you along with Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, but I got separated from the rest. It might be for the best, because if that ‘Rabil’ is hunting down the Elements, he won’t be able to take us all out in one swoop.” Rainbow Dash told me. I noticed Big Macintosh, he must have been the one heading to Canterlot.

“Apple Bloom, you could have gotten yourself hurt, but ah’m too darn proud of you for saving a lot of ponies lives.” Mac said. I was a bit relieved, but Dash frowned when she noticed the bag Scootaloo had.

“What’s in there?” She asked. Scootaloo looked at Sweetie Belle and I, silently asking if we should tell them. We both nodded.

“This.” Scootaloo said as she took out the book.

“That? Why do you have a book called ‘The Power of the Cutie Mark’?”

“Read the introduction.” Scootaloo said. Dash grabbed the book and looked at it, along with Big Mac.

“Oh my Celestia, that means...” She breathed. Big Mac had the same look as Dash. “Why wouldn’t Twilight know about this, or Celestia? I wish everyone else was here.” Dash thought aloud.

“Excuse me, but if we are trying to figure out a way to get our Cutie Marks, we can’t just sit here.” Scootaloo said.

Big Mac seemed to agree saying “Eeyup.”

Then I thought of something, “We need all the other Elements.” I said.

“What?” Dash asked, not believing what I had just said.

“Ah have a feeling we’ll need their help.” I explained, “We should head to Ponyville, they probably got back there.”

“We don’t know if they’re even there, and even if they are, there’s probably that evil colt’s soldiers there!” Scootaloo said.

“We don’ have much of a choice, and what’s there to lose? From the looks of it, nopony has ever heard this prophecy until us. Maybe Rabil hasn’t either.” I said. Everyone looked conflicted, and I had enough, “Ah’m going, don’t know about the rest of y’all.” I said as I started to walk in the general direction of Ponyville.

“Ponyville’s that way, Apple Bloom, and don’t think we’re just gonna watch you leave.” Big Mac said as he pointed a hoof in another direction.

I blushed a bit and said, “Right, let’s go then.”

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“Ah’ll be darned, looks like Ponyville was able to defend itself pretty good.” Big Mac said as we looked at Ponyville, there was a stack of armored colts piled up on the bridge.

“Who in tarnations there!” A voice shouted.

“It’s just me, Dash, and Apple Bloom and her friends.” Big Mac informed. Granny Smith turned a corner holding an apple pie as a weapon.

“Dagnabit, you had startled me Macintosh.” Smith scolded. Mac gave a small smile,

“Is Applejack here?” Dash asked.

“Ah think she went with the purple unicorn to the library!” Smith said. We ran over there, and Dash knocked on the door.

“LET US IN!” She shouted. I heard a small “eep!”, probably Fluttershy, in the background as the door opened, with Applejack standing there.

“Oh, thank goodness yer alright. Now, Apple Bloom, I am not lettin’ you outta mah sight! We’re in a too darn dangerous situation, and Rarity said the same fer you Sweetie Belle! Now both of y’all get in here!” Applejack ordered.

“No.” I said.

“Apple Bloom, now is not the time fer -” Applejack said with growing fury.

“Come on, Applejack, we gotta find a book that explains this!” Twilight shouted from inside the library.

“Don’t get your hopes up, there’s no weakness to this guy apparently!” Spike shouted.

“Everyone, ah have somethin’!” I shouted.

“Apple Bloom, you need to sit yer a-” Applejack shouted.

“EVERYONE STOP YER MOUTHS AND LISTEN TO WHAT THE GIRL HAS TUH SAY!” Big Mac shouted, clearly irritated. Applejack seemed both frightened and even more irritated at this, and everyone inside seemed to stop.

“As ah was sayin, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and ah found a book earlier today, and we want you to read it.” I said. Applejack looked curious, but tried to cover it with irritation. Didn’t work that well. Scootaloo got the book out, and gave it to Twilight.

“Read the introduction aloud.” Scootaloo said.  Twilight read it, slowly becoming horrified as everyone in the room realized who the book was talking about. Everyone was silent until Rarity spoke up.

“Why wouldn’t Celestia know about this?” She asked

“Beats me.” Scootaloo said.

“Well, if this is true then we should probably get -” Applejack started to say, but Twilight cut her off this time.

“I think it should be up to Crusaders on what we should do.” Twilight said. Applejack didn’t look happy with this at all, and tried to establish that we were children.

“We don’ even know who wrote the darn book, why should we think these three are some prophesied heroes from ancient times?” She said.

“Because, Applejack, you wanna deny, fer some reason, that we children might be the ones we need to rely on.” I said.

Applejack looked genuinely hurt by this, and said, “That ain’t it at all, Apple Bloom.”

“Then, why? Equestria needs our help, and we need help, and you refuse to give it to us!” I asked. She sighed and I could see her tearing up a bit, and Big Macintosh seemed to be too.

“Ah’m afraid to lose you, Apple Bloom.” She said.

“If ah have to be lost, who cares? Equestria is at risk here!” I said.

She looked at something in the distance, and said, “You ever wonder why you’ve never seen yer ma and pa?”

“Come on, yer jokin. I know you and Big Mac are mah parents! You guys just call me sis to be nice!” I said.

She actually looked a little uncomfortable with that, and said, “Yer wrong, Apple Bloom.”

“Fine, then who are mah parents?” I asked.

“Yer ma and pa were both geniuses, Bloom. Yer father, Golden Apple, was possibly one of the smartest businessponies to ever grace Equestria. Yer mother, Pacific Rose, was one of the best hardworkin’ farmers. They also were great parents to me and Big Mac, fer a decent amount of time, at least. Then, about ten or so years ago, yer father needed to get to Appleloosa fer something, and he was never seen again. Yer mother, on the other hoof, died givin’ birth to you, and before she died I made a promise to her. So did Big Mac, we promised we would treat you as a daughter, and that we would make sure that you grew up tuh be a good mare. I feel like ah’m betraying yer mother by just letting you do this.” Applejack finished.

I was shocked, my parents had really just gone away, just like that? I kinda understood what Applejack was thinkin’ and -

“Uh, not to interrupt the revelations, but we may have a teensy problem, that might just be an entire army heading for here.” Spike said.

“We need to get everypony out of here, now!” I said. For a second, everypony except for Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle just stood there, then seemed to realize that they needed to listen. Everypony ran off to get others out of Ponyville and I ran for Zecora’s. The trip seemed to take less than a minute, and I told Zecora she needed to run now.

“Apple Bloom, you must listen quickly. For this message, is of grave importance to your group of three. I must stay to distract the being of evil, and you must find the last princess, who is in grave peril, Rabil’s soldiers are already in pursuit of her.”

“Cadence? Come on, you need to come with us.” I said.

“My Apple Bloom, you must understand, there is some things in life that are inevitable. If I do not distract them, Rabil will find you and your prophecy. Now go, Apple Bloom.” I hesitantly ran back for Ponyville and then I tripped over a branch. A darn branch.

As my head hit a tree trunk, I heard Spike’s voice shout, “Apple Bloom!”

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My eyes opened, where was I? This definitely wasn’t Ponyville, but the surroundings looked familiar. I realized it was Canterlot Castle, but it didn’t look the same. What was happening? My head turned and looked down a balcony, to see Zecora struggling against guards! I tried to move to help her, but it seemed like I was just watching something play out.

“Well, well, if it isn’t the rhyming foreign zebra, Zecora.” A voice emanated, from me...

“I am not frightened by you, evil being of doom!” She shouted defiantly.

“I am not looking for that result,” I said somehow, realizing it was Rabil speaking. I seemed to move into the floor and up right in front of Zecora. “Although, it is surely an enjoyable side benefit.” Rabil spoke.

“What do you want me for?” Zecora asked.

“You are going to tell me if you know of any prophecy that tells of one who can defeat me.” He said. Oh no, Zecora! Please, please don’t! I thought.

“I know of no prophecy, that tells of one who can defeat your being.” Zecora lied.

“Are you sure, I can tell when you lie.” Rabil said, putting his face directly in front of hers.

“Very well, the only who can defeat you,” she said, NO ZECORA!, “Or is a threat to your power, is the last princess, Cadence.”

“Fool, if you think that is a secret, you are stupid. I already knew she was a threat. Kill this imbecile.” Rabil said. The guards put a blade through her body, and she died. No, Zecora. I thought, if I could cry I would. “Rid this place of her, along with her blood.” Rabil said as he walked off. This was just disturbing, the colt obviously had no empathy.

“Emperor, sir!” A voice said, and Rabil turned around.

“Commander, come with me.” Rabil ordered. The commander colt walked out into where the Royal Gardens used to be, almost all of the statues had disappeared with the exception of the Discord one. “Even though I created him, I still like having alternate input to my ideas.” I heard Rabil think. Wait what? I was inside his mind now? “Have you found anything from Ponyville?” Rabil asked.

“No, sir. We were unable to find anything of use.” The Commander replied.

“This is just too easy, my sister wouldn’t have seriously thought I wouldn’t return. She has to have had a plan.” I heard Rabil think. Rabil turned his attention towards Discord’s statue. “Do you know who this is?” Rabil asked.

“Discord, the spirit of Chaos.” The Commander replied.

“Indeed, although our goals may be, similar, I have never agreed with his methodology.” Rabil said.

“What do you mean sir?” The Commander inquired.

“What I mean is that although we both have the goal of dominion over all, his methods are a bit, destructive. We must make sure we have a dominion to rule over.” Rabil turned back to the Commander. “I apologize, I do occasionally muse on things aloud.” Rabil said.

“Why did you let them get out, sir?” The Commander asked.

“The Old Guard? Because otherwise we won’t be able to crush an insurrection in one fell swoop.” Rabil replied. Then, it seemed like I was moving, but to someplace that seemed, indescribable.

“Hello there, Apple Bloom.” A voice said, it was definitely not Rabil’s it sounded more feminine.

“Who are you? Where am I?” I asked as I looked around. There were shapes that defied physics, twisting in on themselves in ways that were impossible to replicate, much less explain.

“Where you are does not matter, but I am Naqril.” The voice said. Something walked up, and it seemed to have both the shape of a pony and something else, something I’m not exactly sure about. “But right now, time is of the essence, Apple Bloom.” Naqril said. She seemed to frown a bit, and said, “You’ve seen my brother, Rabil. I know you and your friends must stop him.”

“Why? How can we, I mean you can obviously just give us our Cutie Marks and we won’t have to worry about as many deaths. And didn’t he kill you?” I demanded.

She seemed to chuckle, muttering, “Death is just another journey.”

“What?” I once again implored.

“Your Cutie Marks will come when the time is right, but let me warn you. My brother cannot be reasoned with, nor will he ever agree to an opponent’s demands, however deceiving he may be. You cannot trust him no matter what he says. You must trust your friends, and yourself.” She said.

“What about the prophecy, who wrote it? Why doesn’t anyone else know about it?” I asked.

“I’m afraid I cannot answer that question.” She answered.

“Why did I see Rabil?” I asked, I knew I was asking a lot, but I needed to know.

“He burned his imprint onto you, and only you, when he killed Celestia and Luna, along with killing and threatening others in front of you.” She said, then continuing quickly, “Take a look down there.” She gestured over to what seemed to be a hole, with an extradimensional border. I saw myself along with Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Applejack and the others. “You won’t be able to do much until later, but for now, you need to go help your friends. Good luck.” She said, as all of the sudden I felt myself falling.