"This isn't the pony way of doing things," I pleaded in a tone approaching hysterical as the five of them tilted their horns down at him. She definitely heard me, and it seemed to cause her great anguish as she pondered what awaited me if he was killed. She closed her eyes and proceeded anyway.  

"You wouldn't!" cried Discord in disbelief, laying on his back with his hands opened in begging-style. I was now in a deep state of panic that was unparalleled to anything I'd ever experienced.

"There must be some other way," I urged them.

"Do it," said Shining Armor, looking at her and waiting for the command. "Do it!"

"Look at me! This isn't fair!" I cried, as I swished my tail around behind me and tears welled in my eyes. But Shining Armor's arguments prevailed, and she ignored the two of us. The rest of them followed her initiation. Standing there with Applejack on the scorched hills of Equestria under the glistening moon with hundreds of ponies watching, we prepared for the final blow. While Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and even Rainbow Dash covered their eyes in sadness away from the scene, she went back and fourth between them and me. I couldn't return her gaze. I just remained fixed on Celestia.

My head was swirling. I didn't know what to think. My heart was in a state of absolute chaos. Never before had I truly feared staying a dragon forever; Discord's voice tore me in different directions. End her embarrassment, AJ. I collapsed to the ground once more and covered my eyes. That's not true! She doesn't care what they think! My sudden uncertainty is what made it so horrible. There wasn't any escape. All the irrational fears and worries were now on full blast, echoing in my head. Give your child his real father... Maybe you want to spend the rest of your fatherhood as a monster! An image of myself playing the banjo for them all was followed by a picture of Applejack crying by herself in the barn played in my head. Voices of various ponies, male and female, old and young taunted me in all directions. Human was bad enough, now she's married to a dragon! That is one messed up family... Can you imagine what it's like when they kiss?? Poor kid has a dragon dad... I moved my claws from my eyes to my ears. I was being tortured in the deepest depths of my being.

I looked up beheld as their horns glowed, and the harshest silence of all descended on the night as everypony braced for his impending demise. I watched Discord's wide eyes stare death in the face, and my fears exploded and the words screamed in my head. He's our last chance. Not death!! You can't let that happen!!! I turned my head and clutched my heart. I have to... I turned up once more and lost it.

"Stop! NOO!"

In a rash moment of blind panic, I lunged forward and rammed into Shining Amor with the top of my head, sending him flying into Princess Celestia, simultaneously sweeping both Princess Cadence and Twilight off their hooves and onto the ground with my tail.

"Ahhhhh!!!!" cried Shining Armor as he grimaced in pain falling onto his back alongside Celestia. I looked over in a hysterical panic as I saw the other two female princesses I'd knocked over struggling to get up. Twilight looked up from the ground at me, her expression shocked and hurt beyond measure. It slashed through my soul, and I brought my claw to my forehead in angst as I cried out. I looked beside and watched as Princess Luna's horn shot beams into Discord's open hand, before he raised his other hand and sent a blast of magic from it that caused her to go flying back.

"That's my boy!" he muttered in a tone that combined both seriousness and excitement. He suddenly flew up over the crowd and aimed his magic at Princess Celestia and Shining Armor, who were unprepared and powerless to stop him. "My turn," he muttered, and with some intense concentration, since he was still somewhat drained; he tied the two of them together on their backs with some kind of glowing green chord in what took maybe two seconds before he twirled around to other three royals. The three of them looked up in fear, holding their hooves up with futility before they suffered the same fate as they cried out in exhaustion.  

It was all happening so fast. What do I do? What do I do?? The royal guards began shooting magic from their horns as Discord raised his claws and embraced it, his expression more focused then few I'd ever seen. As they began pooling their energy together on him, he stood in the middle of the circle once more as I raised my claw over my eyes to block out the blinding light, crippled by my despair and unable to move. This time it was met with different results. He resisted their magic for a few moments, and then with fierce concentration, he put all his efforts into one giant push that sent waves of magic in all directions, knocking everyone down but me (though I too almost lost my balance). Without the aid of the big five, they were no match for him. With high effort and focus, he shot more beams from his hands that managed to tie nearly half of them in his green chord while the others struggled to get up. As he approached exhaustion, he shot one final stream of magic that blasted the others back into the ground to the point where they were too tired to get up. Then he turned around and tied together Pinkie, Rarity, and Rainbow, who had been watching in terror.

"Ah," he sighed, sinking to the ground with heavy breathing and relief.

"What did I just do?" I said fearfully as I observed what had come of my actions. It seemed almost the only light now was the glowing green light from the magical chords that held the royalties, and one tree a few hundred yards that away that was a fresh blaze of fire. The weary prince and princesses were trapped and helpless, coughing and wheezing miserably, and the sight of it filled me with the most crippling kind of pity and regret. Truly I had loved and respected these ponies, even though some of them I had never met until now.

"You did good," he said, but his words far from comforted my bleeding heart. I looked over into the river and saw all the ponies of Ponyville watching everything, standing still in the dark as the current ran through their legs, some of them holding their foals. They were all looking at me with complete and utter sadness, as though devastated and betrayed. AJ... What have you done? I saw them, and when I thought my emotions had reached rock bottom, my feelings of despair began to dig. Up until then I didn't fully comprehend what I had done. I had freed Discord. Of all people, it was the one who had the most reason to despise him.

"That was worth the wait," he said with a devious grin of triumph, and still catching his breath. "I wouldn't try anything more if I were you. My orders are now... your orders," he said threateningly and suddenly angry to the remaining royal guards who were not tied up. When they leaned back and cowered, he went back to his smirk as he looked around at everyone with a satisfied grin. "Well... what have we got here tonight, kids? Let's see, before getting down to business, let me just establish a few new quick rules," he continued happily, with that same smirk on his face. Regret was screaming through me as I watched him breathlessly. I was terrified, and I felt so horrible that I was even too ashamed to look at Applejack.  

"Di-discord," I began, as tears were now a given as they streamed down my cheeks.

"Rule number one; AJ here is second in command. He tells you to do something, you do it. Unless you hear otherwise from me, of course. You're fine with that, right?" he said chuckling, looking over at me as though I shared his enthusiasm.

"Rule number two," he said, turning to the frightened Ponyvillians wading in the river. "Nobody says anything mean about their little baby," he said, giving a quick side nod to us. It seemed like there was little actual care in his command, if anything it was more of a mock-tone. Meanwhile, I was beginning to lose it as my legs nearly gave out from under me.

"Rule number thr-" he stopped mid-sentence as his attention was suddenly drawn to the five royals who gasped at his feet, looking up at him with faces of pitiful sorrow and helplessness. His eyes narrowed and his lips curled into an evil smile as his gaze reflected a stunning realization at his impending vengeance. I observed this, and suddenly I was overcome with even more despair. Twilight especially had been my good friend, and had made sure I fit in with the rest of Ponyville. Applejack had been friends with her since way before I'd ever even come to Equestria. Now she was at the mercy of Discord, if there was any. I never meant for any of this to happen, of course. But I had let my panic and fear get the best of me into causing it.

"D-Discord, Discord p-please..." I stuttered as I choked on my own words, begging him. With all my heart, I didn't want him to do anything to them, and also ripping me apart was my realization that the family must've been so disappointed in me. Granny Smith, Big Macintosh... I still avoided Applejack, which was tearing me apart even more so on the inside. I was beyond broken at this point. How could I fail Applejack? She was the only one who could ever console me, she was the only one in whom I could find true happiness, but I was at a point where it was too painful for me to even turn around and look at her. I had never hurt more on the inside then I did right then. I'd disappointed my image of sweetness itself. It was so bad I actually had to look away and cover my eyes, as my tears fell freely to the ground.

"So polite!" he said, turning to me with an amused grin that summed up the whole situation's gravity. My only thought was somehow saving this situation and preventing any harm to the ponies around me.  As usual, my thoughts were dominated by Applejack, but they were no longer thoughts of joy, but of pain. Because I had done this.

"Just... d-don't hurt them, I'm begging you," I whispered as I raised my claw pleadingly.

"Excuse me?" he said with a half smile, raising his eyebrows. His expression showed flashes of terrifying rage deep within. "You saw what they nearly did! They would've iced me if it weren't for you!"  

"I-I know that, b-but," I continued, stuttering. I had to soften his anger somehow. My own heart depended on it. "D-don't, don't, p-please don't," I muttered. I was so crippled in fear and failure that I was mumbling the words of my lips almost incoherently. Tears were flowing down my face as I reaped the fruits of my rash decision and all the horrible realizations came to me. What had I done? Discord raised his eyebrows unamused at first, looking at me with contemplation, but then he turned his eyes down at my claws and chuckled before coming back up to my eyes with a shrug.

"Look, you've had a busy day! All this excitement and running around... I tell you what. I will spare you from any further distress tonight. When you wake up, you'll be both human and the second highest ranking being in all Equestria. Sound good?" he said, his eyes widening with his smile.

My legs trembled. My heart stopped. My senses began to dull as my vision was limited to his smirking face in a sea of darkness. I stared frozen in the most paralyzing despair of my entire life. No... He was going to put me asleep and then leave me for dead. When I woke up, my failure would be complete. Equestria would belong to Discord, and I would have to look Applejack in the eyes as she told me the fate of our friends. He raised his claws to snap his fingers, and darkness swallowed my entire being. I began to force myself to look behind and face the one around whom my entire life revolved.

* * *

Howdy ya'll. Applejack here. No intro needed, I reckon. After my hubby so bravely beat that dragon and saved all our hides, that yellow bellied monster showed up. My poor boy was so distraught and troubled, it just broke my heart watching it all play out. The whole time I was just tryin' to help him, but there wasn't no moment of peace. Now we was in the biggest pickle we ever climbed into. Discord was aimin' in to put him to sleep for good. Well, for the night at least. And let me tell you, he was gonna be one sad buddy when he woke up. Oh my goodness, I was so scared of that happening to him. The truth is, I didn't blame him not one bit when he knocked over them princesses. That Discord is greasier than a bucket of crisco, and he'd been gettin' in AJ's head, tellin' him stuff 'bout me. He'd fought it off as best he could, but that Discord is sly. I knew 'cause I got the same treatment, only mine was about AJ of course. That's how you go after my heart right there. And it don't feel good, let me tell ya.

"AJ?" I called. My voice was mighty tender. With all my heart, I just wanted him to feel better. On top of that, I wanted to free my friend Twilight and the other princesses. I was so scared that something bad was gonna happen.

Just as AJ turned around and looked at me, I saw Discord behind him raising his claws to give them a snap. I went to run up there, but when he turned around, the look in his eyes kept me in place. I put my hoof on my mouth. They were so sad lookin'. He looked like he done somethin' horrible to me and was ashamed of himself. I had never seen that look in his sweet blue eyes before. I ain't never wanna see it again.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered. I couldn't do nothin' but watch as Discord snapped his claws. But when they snapped, there was nothin' of it. He didn't fall asleep or nothin'! Discord looked mighty frustrated. He kept snappin' 'em, but he still didn't get nothin'. Seemed like he had spent a whole payload and was lackin' some luster. I was sorta confused as I thought about it, and super anxious of course. AJ and I, well we'd had rough night up to this. I'm usually so happy, but seein' him getting the welcome he got from all them ponies in town hall, and then his battle against that dragon, well let's just say I don't know how much I can take of that. I ain't tryin' to complain none, but boy howdy. It was heavier than a mountain.

"Have to do everything yourself," muttered Discord as he began floating up behind AJ with his claw stretched out, who was still lookin' at me with the saddest eyes I ever saw. Suddenly my heart cried out my mouth. I knew if he fell asleep, that could be the end of it. I was scared stupid of something happening to my friends. But he was gonna be so sad. I couldn't bare the thought of that.

"AJ look out!"

His eyes widened, and he turned around real quick, but Discord's claw hit him on the forehead and he was limp as a bone fish fallin' to the ground.

"Noo!!!"

I ran to him faster than the wind. As I galloped I held out some kinda hope that I was gonna save him before he fell down, but I was too late. He crashed down and laid out helpless on the ground with his eyes shut and his mouth open. I fell down on my knees next to him and bit my hoof. Even as he lay asleepin' he looked heartbroken. It'd been a long time I looked at him when he was asleep. He used to look so peaceful 'cause his heart was so happy. Happy to be with his family. To be with me. And by golly was it ever mutual. Now he was so weary looking. So ashamed of himself. I lifted his head in my hooves. It was the only way I could console myself cause I just love him so darn much. But it made me so sad. I held his little head and rocked it back and forth. That Discord had done made me cry. It's alright, sugarcube. It's gonna be alright.

"Now where were we?" said that slimeball, looking right at the princesses with a big and nasty smile. The sight of my hubby coupled with the sound of his voice made me one mad mare. He didn't sound too happy neither, but he don't know the meaning of that word. He hurt my sweet boy. "Oh, that's right. You know something? I tried to be nice..." he said, as he towered them all. "For Fluttershy's sake."

  "How dare you do that to my AJ!" I said, standing up. He wasn't finished, but I didn't care none. He done messed with the bull. He thought he could ignore me.

"But you five are just such... pains ... in my fanny," he said, as he stood over the four princesses and the prince. He looked up at the rest of them to make sure they wasn't tryin' to escape. He wanted them to see it. "Don't leave now, it's almost time for the show! Don't worry, this show's on me, I won't charge you this time. Now that you're all good and ready, without further delay, step right up kids! Witness firsthand the amazing amount pain these little show ponies can take."  

"You ain't doin' to nothin' to my friends," I told him as I stood stouter than a bull. He looked over and raised his eyebrows, followed by a little smile. I knew he thought I was some kinda hoe handle upstairs bein' a country mare and all, and didn't take me too seriously. He looked back at his more important business and aimed his claws at them.

"For our first act, let's start out low and work our way up," he said with the chuckle of a devil. Suddenly I saw my friend Twilight and the rest of the good princesses looking up with faces that were mighty scared. That caught my attention, it sure did. Now I had to worry about my husband and my friends. Suddenly his claws blasted some kinda bright red magic that hit them all. Each one of them cried out as they wriggled around like worms on hooks. It was so weird and awful seeing the princesses reduced to something so humble. Twilight was in a whole lot of hurt right then, and it hit me in the heart when I saw her like that.

"Twilight," I whispered with horror as them lights lit my face up. Meanwhile, Discord was havin' just a swell ol' time standing there watching them with that smirk of his. I looked back at my beloved little hubby, and some kinda rage came over me. I'd more than enough of this. While he was all focused and distracted on them, I ran forward and gave him the best buck these two hind quarters ever did give. That kick was for all he'd done to my AJ, and what he was tryin' to do to my friends just then.

Discord went flyin' some feet 'fore he finally came down hard in his face. Take that you dirty sidewinder. I looked over at the princesses, I figured this was their time to get him. But instead of helping us, they just sat there reelin' from his shot, and Twilight looked like she was scared for me now. They was powerless, that green rope of his must of been some kinda magic taker away thingy.

After groaning in pain like a sissy, he stood up and fast and looked back at me mighty angry. I looked in his eyes, and suddenly I didn't feel so strong. My ears fell and my legs buckled. Uh oh... I knew I done put myself and my foal in danger. And I felt mighty bad for it. I went from strong and angry to weak and scared. Usually I had AJ for times like these, but he was fast asleep.

"That," he said with a crazy smile, "was simply not polite." He was madder than a wet hen and floating towards me. Suddenly he stopped. He just stopped and looked at me, like he was thinkin' of what to do with me. I took a gulp and looked over at Twilight. She was just as scared as I was, and just as concerned for me as I was for her. I looked back and braced for the horns.

"Nap time for you too."

He raised his claws at me, I was outa breath at that point, and he shot some kinda magic at me. It hit me like a brick and sent a wave of weird feelings through my whole body. I was so tired all a sudden, but I couldn't let myself fall asleep! Nooo! My legs began to move as I fell sideways, and my mind was slipping into dreamland. With my last bit of strength I looked around and saw my hubby sleeping there. My brave little sugarcube. AJ... I took a few steps towards him and collapsed right beside him. The last thing I remember is looking into his eyes and falling directly under his neck.

I was back at the orchard, and it was nighttime. There was a dusting of snow of the ground, too. I looked up and saw all the stars twinkling, the trees were bare, and the air was chilly. It was almost wintertime. The moon lit up the trees that I spent a mighty long time in my life buckin' through. I knew I was asleep. I knew I was dreamin'. I remembered everything that just happened, too. I knew I was right in AJ's neck. And Twilight and the rest of them royalties was only a few feet from me getting the ugly horns of Discord's wrath. Suddenly in my heart I craved one thing; my husband AJ. I wanted only to see him. I had to find him and tell him how much I do love him. We'd been through so much, we tend to lose sight of the important stuff, that bein' the little stuff. If ya'll remembered we shared a dream just a few hours before.

"AJ?" I called. I started trotting through the orchard, and in two shakes of a sheep's tail, I was galloping through like a barrel pony in a rodeo. This was a dream, so I didn't have to worry about hurtin' my foal. "AJ? Where are you?" I cried again. But I couldn't find him nowhere. I was gettin' mighty lonely. My heart was gonna be so heavy if I couldn't find him. I didn't know if I could go on no more, to be honest. My soul was so weary from the night's troubles that it felt like I might not make much longer. I darted through those trees that I was so familiar with, craving the only creature I ever loved. Where are you? I was about to start crying again if I didn't find him. I think I already had again. I raced through them trees, lookin' desperately for him.

Suddenly I spotted him. He was human again, and for an itty bitty second, I smiled a little on the inside, but it quickly took a hike once I saw how he was. He was wearin' his trademark jeans and a t shirt with one of them cowboy vests, and they ain't real warm. He looked mighty cold.  He was on the ground, sitting on his rear with his head buried in his knees. He was cryin', and he was hurtin' something awful. My heart dropped. I knew right then that we was sharin' a dream again. I knew it in my heart. I could feel he was in so much pain, but that was so wrong to me seein' how kind and brave he is.

"AJ! We sharin' a dream again! It's me, Applejack!" I said, running up beside him and standing right in front of him.

He turned his head up, and any trace of happiness in me was outta there lickety split. It was the saddest thing I ever saw. His blue eyes were ashamed beyond measure. They were pleading, like that of a little foal. They reflected his soul, innocent as a little one. They were so full of love. But they were so sad. He was weeping and sniffling.

"AJ," I said, as my own eyes were now spoutin' tears. I knelt down in front of him so I was on his level. "I love you with all my heart, but I think you should know how sad it makes me to see ya like this."

"I failed you, Applejack," he said, burying his face in his hand. I was so amazed to hear his sayin' that. It was so far from the truth. "I let all Equestria down."

"No you didn't," I said, shakin' my head as more tears fell down. I had never seen like this before.

"You saw what I did," he said, looking at me with that same stare that coulda made the worst monster in the world feel bad. Even Discord. "I let that crazy psycho take the reigns of everything. He's gonna torture Twilight! And the other four of them! Then you and our foal are gonna be living in fear for the rest of our lives. And it's all my fault!"

"AJ, you can't blame yerself for that!" I said, choking on my own words. It didn't seem to help him none. "You love me don't you?" He looked up with wide eyes, as though surprised to hear me ask that. I knew that was the way to get him.

"Yes," he whispered, as he looked into my eyes. His eyes backed up his answer to the max, same as they always have. "With all of my heart."

"Then you have to trust me," I said, and he stared on like a foal once more. I knew my words meant more to him anything else, and he pondered it in his heart. "You had pity for him. Despite all he's done to you. And you had pity for me! That's why I love you so much!"

"Everything Apple Bloom did was in vain. She went to all the trouble, and now what is she gonna say when she finds out that I-?" he said, sobbing. "And you hate being married to a dragon!"

"Why are you sayin' this?" I said, lookin' at him shock. I was truly hurt by that. Of course her efforts weren't in vain. Of course I didn't hate bein' married to him.

"You said yourself that our foal deserves to be held in his real father's arms! You know what I am," he said, sniveling and gesturing to the sky with his hands. At first I didn't remember that, but then I did. I musta said that right around the time we came to the agreement to send AB away to Canterlot to warn the princesses. Right then I felt bad for sayin' that, real bad. But I didn't let that keep from doin' my job.

"You *are* his real father," I said tenderly, as we cried together. He looked up again with that same look as he pondered my words with wide, open eyes. "Whether you be a dragon, or a human, or a pony, or a mouse... You are his real father, and your love for him is real. There ain't no one else but you, sugarcube."

"Y-youre, you're not embarrassed?" he asked, as his eyes beamed wide with wonder.

"Why would I ever be embarrassed of you?" I said, utterly shocked and putting my hooves on his cheeks. "It's one of the earliest lessons we learn, sugarcube. It ain't on the outside what matters. And it ain't about what other ponies think. What matters is that you never lose sight of the thing that makes it all worth it; friendship. I'm prepared to live happily ever after with you as a human or a dragon. You are my baby's daddy, and you're the best friend I ever had."

He stared at me with his wide puppy dog eyes, breathing heavily. I was beginning to feel a change in his heart. It wasn't there, yet, but it was comin'. Mine had a ways to go too. It wasn't gonna be happy until he was. I pondered everything from our wedding to our trip to Manehattan to our adventures here in Ponyville. Suddenly I started to sob. I was sobbing because I loved him so much, and it caused me so much pain to know what he'd been through. I admired him with all my soul.

"Truly, you've taught us to love one another," I said, as I looked away into the stars. He demanded that I look at him, as his eyes beamed with unparalleled care. "You've been more help with Apple Bloom than I could ever-" I looked down and let my voice catch itself before I choked up anymore. It hurt so bad. "Honey, you've rescued my heart from despair so many times. Can't I just rescue yours for once?"

"Oh Applejack," he sobbed, and he hurled himself forward and threw his arms around me, to which I threw my front legs around him. "You have," he sobbed, as as we buried each other's head into the other. "I love you so much," he cried, as we cradled each other back and fourth.

"I know," I said, as I rocked him back and fourth. Suddenly the sun rose over the valley and shone it's glorious light on us. He pulled his head back and stared into me with his expression of burning love, and a smile that was enough to send any country girl to heaven (and I returned it to him of course). The sorrows in our hearts that had sealed us together finally melted away. The warmth of his gleaming love conquered all other feelings, and mine in his, as the only  thing on our minds was the other. Our hearts came together and finally tasted the true happiness they so desperately needed.

"But what about Discord?" he said, as his smile faded into concern. Before I had time to answer, suddenly the world began turning dark again, and we could hear what sounded like invisible rays of magic being blasted while the screams of Twilight and the other princesses filled the air.

"What's happening?" I said, as both us stood up in fear. "AJ!"

"I think- I think we're waking up!" he shouted,  as the blasting of them rays of magic stopped, followed by a few late shrieks and the sound of Discord's sour laughter.

"To answer your question Twilight, it wasn't all a show. Just most of it," he said, followed by a horrible silence. "Now for the punchline," we heard his wicked voice say. After which some even more intense blasting noises followed by loud, curdling screams came. AJ and I looked at each other with wide eyes, before he started to fade from my vision too. Suddenly everything went dark and I felt myself laying on the ground with his scales on the back of my head. The two of us sat up at the same time and looked at each other more shocked then squirrels caught in an electric fence. Twilight! We looked over and saw to our horror that Discord, who had his back turned to us, was wrecking our five royal friends with them rays of red magic that lit up the valley. It was so loud that he hadn't heard us back, much less see us. Though the ponies in the river all saw us with gasps, and some of the guards too, Discord was too mad and distracted to notice.

"What's the matter, can't ya take a joke?" he growled, as he tortured them to the point of dyin'. "Let's just kill the old draconequus, he won't care! I can laugh about that! Why can't you?"  

It was a terrible and heartbreaking sight to see, it was. One of my oldest friends wiggling in worse pain than I'd ever seen her along with our other good prince and princesses. AJ looked around with a wide open mouth to go along with his eyes, the lights flashing in his face, before he settled on the prince and princesses. His first face was of deep concern and sadness for them, then I saw it turn to pure anger as he looked over at Discord. He stood there and thought, with heavy conflict in his eyes, before he walked forward towards the king of chaos of himself. Only right then did I realize what was happening and that adranaline stuff kicked in higher than it ever has as I looked on without a breath.

I watched in some kinda shock my husband grab Discord from behind in his mouth before he clamped down with all them sharp teeth and wouldn't let go.

"No! NO! NOOOOO! NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!"

The entire valley watched as he dragged the screamin' draconequus away from the princesses in his mouth.

"AJ! THE TREE!" I shouted to him over the loud blasts as I pointed towards the only flames left in the hills while I ran behind him. While Discord used the last of his magic with his best shot on AJ - them bright red beams from his claws - he fought through it and took a few steps sideways fore' he flung him with all his might towards the burning tree.

"But I was just kidding!!!!" he shouted as he flew towards the burning tree. Having shot his payload on Twilight and AJ, he couldn't do nothin' but watch as he went right into them flames. His coming together with them was met with a blindingly bright explosion as all that magical energy was released from his body. The light and noise finally died down, and we was left with just the moon and the stars, with only my own breathing.

"AJ, we did it!" I whispered as I looked over at him. But my smile wasn't long at all. I looked over, and he was layin' on the ground with his eyes closed. Oh no!