“All right, crusaders,” said Apple Bloom from her position behind the lectern. “We need more ideas to find our cutie marks, and we need ‘em now. Sweetie Belle, what do you got?”

“Well, my sister Rarity’s going gem hunting today,” Sweetie Belle said. “Maybe we could get our cutie marks in gem finding.”

“I heard Rainbow Dash is going flying today,” Scootaloo added. “Maybe she can teach us to hang glide!”

“Naw, I already tried that,” Apple Bloom replied. “Besides, doesn’t Rainbow Dash go flyin’ every day?”

The three fillies spent a few minutes brainstorming ideas and rejecting most of them. It was usually the hardest part of any crusader meeting, but Apple Bloom didn’t mind, especially today. She didn’t know why, but she felt like something big and important would be happening soon, and what could possibly be bigger or more important than getting her cutie mark? Even Pinkie Pie was going around warning everypony about an impending doozy—at least, that’s what Sweetie Belle said—so it seemed only fitting that they put some extra effort into picking the day’s activities to make sure they got the best cutie marks possible.

“Maybe Rainbow Dash can show us how to knock lightning out of clouds,” Scootaloo suggested.

“Maybe Zecora can show us how to make some potions,” Apple Bloom added.

“Maybe Rarity can show us how to make dresses,” said Sweetie Belle.

“Maybe you can head on home, where I told you to stay before I left this mornin’,” said a very unhappy orange mare standing in the doorway. “There’s trouble brewin’, and the last time Pinkie felt a doozy comin’, it wasn’t pretty.”

“Aw, c’mon, big sis,” Apple Bloom protested. “We’re just havin’ our weekly crusader meetin’. Besides, I haven’t left the farm.”

“Home, young filly,” Applejack said. “And you two best be headin’ home as well.”

With heavy sighs, the three fillies left their clubhouse with Applejack bringing up the rear. “She didn’t used to be so strict,” Apple Bloom muttered.

“We didn’t used to have a crazy evil witch livin’ in the forest,” Applejack replied.

As if to emphasize her point, a loud boom tore through the orchard, nearly knocking Apple Bloom off her hooves. When her ears stopped ringing, she looked up to see her big sister yelling at a rainbow-maned pony lying in a heap on the ground. “Consarnit, Rainbow Dash, can’t you warn us when you’re about to do a sonic rainboom?”

“It wasn’t me!” Rainbow Dash protested, rubbing her head as she sat up. “I was just rearranging some storm clouds for the shower this afternoon!”

“Well, if it wasn’t you, then what was it?” Applejack asked.

“You think I know?”

“Maybe it was a cannon,” Scootaloo suggested. “Hey, what if we got our cutie marks for being shot out of cannons?”

“That’s enough,” Applejack snapped. “Whatever that noise was, it can’t be good.”

“I’ll head into Ponyville and see if the guards know what’s going on,” Rainbow Dash said.

“I-I don’t think you need to do that,” said Sweetie Belle, pointing at the sky with a shaking hoof.

“What do you…” Applejack’s voice trailed off when she saw the sun moving quickly toward the horizon. In seconds, the sun was gone, and a full moon had taken its place in the sky. “What's goin' on? It ain’t night time yet!”

A cackle echoed through the orchard, seeming to come from all directions at once. “It’s her,” Rainbow Dash whispered. “It’s Nightmare Moon!” Without another word, she kicked off the ground and sped away.

“You three, stay here,” said Applejack as she ran toward the farmhouse.

“But I thought you said—” Apple Bloom started to say.

“I know what I said!” Applejack shouted. “Stay here until me or Big Mac come and get you.” If she said anything else, the words were lost in the wind.

“Come on,” Scootaloo said, tugging on Apple Bloom’s tail. “Let’s go back to the clubhouse. We shouldn’t be outside in this weather.”

“Are you crazy?” Sweetie Belle asked. “Nightmare Moon’s coming, and my sister’s still in Ponyville!”

“Rarity’s a grown mare,” Scootaloo said. “She can take care of herself. Now come on!”

Sweetie Belle ignored Scootaloo’s words and took off towards town. “Hey! Wait!” Apple Bloom called as she and Scootaloo chased after her. “Come back!”

“Look!” Scootaloo pointed to the sky above Ponyville. Dark clouds had gathered overhead, and a swarm of what looked like dark-coated pegasi was descending on the town. If they listened closely, they could hear faint screams in the distance. “Come on! We have to stop Sweetie Belle!”

Apple Bloom normally would have enjoyed the run from Sweet Apple Acres to Ponyville, especially this time of year. But now, she felt nothing but terror as she approached the town she called home. The screams were now mixed with the shouting of soldiers and the crackling sound of fire. She could see flames engulfing town hall, and for a moment, she considered turning around and running back to the farm. Only the need to stop Sweetie Belle kept her going.

“This way,” Scootaloo panted as the navigated Ponyville’s crowded streets. Ponies surged around them in all directions, and it was all they could do to avoid being trampled. “She’s gotta be headed for Carousel Boutique.”

They rounded the corner and slid to a halt, eyes wide and mouths agape. The boutique was entirely ablaze, and after a second, the whole building shrieked and collapsed, spewing ash and flame in all directions. “Sweetie Belle!” Apple Bloom called between coughs. “Sweetie Belle, where are you?”

A towering figure landed on the ground in front of them, spreading its black wings wide. “What’s this?” the figure said in a deep, hypnotic voice. “Two lost fillies looking for their friend?” The mare’s ethereal blue mane drifted under Scootaloo’s chin and lifted her head. “I saw you two at the Summer Sun Celebration, didn’t I?”

Scootaloo jerked her head to the side. “What did you do to our friend?” she demanded.

“It is unwise to raise your voice in the presence of your ruler,” the mare snapped.

“You’re not our ruler,” said Scootaloo. “Princess Celestia is!”

“Don’t you dare mention her name!” the mare shouted. She lifted Scootaloo in her magic and threw her across the square. The orange pegasus hit a building and slumped to the ground. “I am Nightmare Moon, ruler of the night, and not even your precious Celestia could overcome my power!”

“Overcome this!” A rainbow blur shot out of the sky and slammed into the dark mare’s chest, knocking her to the ground. “That’s for what your Shadowbolts did to Fluttershy!”

“Apple Bloom!” The yellow filly turned to see Applejack coming her way. “I told you to stay in the orchard!”

“I-I know,” Apple Bloom said. “W-we were trying to find Sweetie Belle, and—”

“And nothin’,” Applejack snapped. “This is no place for a filly!”

Apple Bloom looked around the square. The dark mare had thrown off Rainbow Dash and was facing down four royal guards led by Captain Shining Armor himself. She saw Twilight Sparkle lift Scootaloo in her magic and vanish in a flash of purple light. “I…”

“Just go!” Applejack yelled, shoving the filly back down the street. “Get out of here!”

“But I—”

“Go!”

Apple Bloom hesitated a moment longer before turning and running from the battle playing out before her. The houses and streets seemed little more than a blur, and she didn’t even notice when the buildings turned to farmland and then to wild trees. All she knew was that something big and important had happened, something she couldn’t quite understand, and whatever it was, it was certainly a doozy.