The Crusader
There were several forms of transportation in Mystica; on foot, on horseback, by chariot, by wagon, by boat, etc. Among the boats in Mystica, there were three typical types, traditional boats, land boats (boats designed and built to travel overland typically found in flatland and sand deserts), and sky-boats used to travel the air. The Charun was a unique fourth atypical type, able to be all three at the pilot's choice. The Charun was also noted for being the smallest of Princess Celestia's personal boats, however, with a skilled pilot at the starboard, it could outmaneuver all other vessels. Sadly, for a particular ten-year-old dragon, the current pilot was anything but skilled. "Can you believe her, she wouldn't even entertain the notion that my research was correct. I mean seriously, she selected me out of all the new students to be her personal appearance for the last ten years." Twilight ranted irately. Spike only screamed in fear as only a dragon his age can as his claws were dug into the mast. "She didn't have to go all Solar Flare about it." Twilight continued to complain.
Spike took a monument to see what is going on around him. He instantly regretted it. Twilight the mountain, turn left, left, LEFT! Twilight WATCH OUT FOR THE...
It has been a point of pride that no one piloting the Charun was knocked out while piloting the vessel, for the four hundred and forty-nine years three hundred sixty-three days since christening. In three days the Charun would be three times the age of the next eldest boat and would have a perfect record... if anyone else piloted the ship.
However, the Charun's perfect record was now over as Twilight had piloted it into a gaggle of geese in flight. One goose collided with Twilight. Fortunately for all the geese, they got back into formation with only a few angry honks.
For Spike, he could not and did not wish to imagine things getting worse. The Charun began to plummet in a nose-dive as Spike desperately tried to get Twilight up. 'TWILIGHT WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP!' he shouted as he, for lack of a better term, slapped Twilight trying to get her up.
"Put the hay into the apple and eat the candle," Twilight said in her stupor.
TWILIGHT PULL THE BOAT UP, PULL UP, PULL UP!
Twilight soon regained some focus, "Look apple trees, scientific name, Malus pumila. One of the major crops and exports of Mystika..." The situation then dawned on Twilight. "AND WE'RE GOING TO CRASH INTO ONE!" Twilight screamed as she desperately pulled the boat up.
I'M TOO CUTE TO DIE! Spike screamed and bailed as Twilight was able to... well to say she rights the boat would be too... kind. More accurately she managed to pull the boat up just enough to just brush the trees as it descended and came to a stop in the road leading from the temple grounds of Sweet Apple Temple to Magiville proper.
After coming to a complete stop, "Well Shining said, 'any landing you can walk away from is a good one'." Twilight said trying to calm herself and Spike. The young dragon only glared and hissed at her. "We'll get a ride on the flagship when we go home," Twilight said. Spike lighten up his ire, but Twilight could tell she's going to need to get some very special gems or meat for him to fully cool off, as he growled as only he could as he got off the boat. Well, at least he's not chasing me with his fire-breath and biting at my heels for the like he did when I stepped on his tail when I was twelve years old. Twilight thinks to herself.
Twilight could not recall ever seeing Spike so happy to be on the ground, and to honest, as she felt the earth beneath her feet, neither did she. At that moment Twilight took out her tome and turned to a blank page. She took a deep breath and placed her right hand on the Charun. Her eyes appear to change into white lights as the skyboat and tome's glow. After three seconds there was a big flash of light and once it ended the Charun was no longer present, but on a formerly empty page, an image of the Charun appeared. "Alright now to..." Twilight said as she finally took a look at Sweet Apple Temple. To most, the temple grounds look no different than an all-purpose farm with a larger allocation to apple trees than any other plants. In fact, the temple itself appears very similar to a simple farmhouse. As she looked she failed to find the holy symbols typically found at other temples, shrines, churches, and such, and in their stead, were stylized apples. "So, we should be expecting a lot of apples at the festival," Twilight commented.
I hope there is at least some meat. I doubt there will be any crystals. Spike thinks as he climbed onto Twilight's shoulder. So, what's that paladin's name again? Appletini?
"Applejack. Now, where is she?" Twilight asked and started to look around.
"S'e right 'ere," a female voice with an accent Twilight didn't know said as a gloved hand was placed on Twilight's shoulder, turning Twilight around. She stood a few inches taller than Twilight, she had skin tanned from long hours in the field, with freckles on her face. Her long sun-bleached blonde hair was tied into a low ponytail. Her eyes were green as the leaves on the trees. She was dressed in a red, leather overcoat, with bronze armor at her hips, on her shoulders, and upper torso. Not the getup Twilight expected of a paladin, she figured something more akin to Shining Armor's armor but themed more to match the divine.
"DAH!" Twilight screamed and almost fell over.
"Easy there, Sugarcube, I didn't mean t' spook ya none." The paladin said catching Twilight and helping her back to her fight. "Ah came as soon as Ah saw that skyboat almost crash into Bloomberg. Don't get many people flying over tha temple grounds. Name's Applejack Apple." Applejack properly introduced herself.
"I think I am expected, Twilight Sparkle, on behalf of the Princess' court in Chantalot concerning the Summer Sun Celebration," Twilight answered. The next thing she knew she's being scanned by the green eyes of the paladin and yet they didn't move as they stared straight into Twilight's eyes. After a second the eyes soften and a small smile grew on Applejack's face.
"So yer 'ere to check on tha caterin' an' food. Well, ya came at a good time, we're about ta have lunch. Oh, welcome ta Sweet Apple Temple. Glad ta make yer acquaintance Ms. Sparkle," Applejack said as she started to shake Twilight's hand. In reality, it was just one firm shake, but for Twilight, with her below average build and the paladin's strength, the simple shake caused her arm and then her body to shake.
"L-l-l-l-likewise. But call me Twilight," Twilight said as her body stopped shaking and she rubbed her hand and arm.
"Now lunchtime, so ya can check out tha food," Applejack said as she grabbed Twilight and led her around the temple to it's back. There Twilight saw the most concerted number of not only family but of priests. Almost 30 people, clearly all related, second cousins, being the farthest apart any of them are from each other. Some were dressed as typical clerics, others simple priests, a few paladins like Applejack. All of them gathered around an exceptionally long picnic table with a wide spread of food, several apple-based dishes, some other fruits and vegetables and various meats (mostly pig, cow, chicken and turkey). "Everyone, t'is 'ere is Twilight Sparkle. She's here ta check on tha food for tha celebration tomorrow," Applejack introduced. Everyone said 'Howdy Ms. Sparkle.' respectfully.
"It's an honor to meet everyone," Twilight replied.
"Shoot, Sugarcube, ya cannot say you met anyone until proper introductions are made." Applejack then took a breath. "Here's Apple Fritter, Apple Bumpkin, Apple Cobbler, Red Gala, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Caramel Apple, Apple Strudel, Apple Tart, Apple Turnover, Baked Apple, Apple Cider, Apple Brioche, Apple Cinnamon Crisp, Dutch Pie, Braeburn, Honeycrisp, Cortland, Fuji, Ginger Gold, Jonathan, Pacific Rose, Paula Red, Wealthy..." Applejack listed as she took Twilight around the table. Each person shook Twilight's hand, a little too forceful for Twilight's liking but after Wealthy, Twilight saw only three more people. After taking a breath after introducing Wealthy, Applejack continued "This here is Macintosh, everyone calls him Big Mac."
BIG! BIG! BIG! The man Applejack identified as Macintosh was a giant, standing just short of 7', built like a tank. He was the largest man Twilight has ever seen. Unlike Applejack, he was clearly a cleric, but with more armor than normal. Twilight feared for herself, 'Big Mac' could rip her arm out of its socket with little if any effort. However, Big Mac only held his right hand out. Twilight took it, Big Mac gently closed his hand around hers and didn't shake and allowed Twilight to be the one to initiate the shake. After that, he let go of Twilight's hand.
"Little Apple Bloom." Applejack said as she moved Twilight to the next person, a ten-year-old girl wearing plainclothes with a big pink bow in her red hair. Twilight had to admit the girl was cute. However, Twilight couldn't help but notice that she had nothing to indicate her specialized magical talent. If her family was to give a clue it would be Holy.
"And last but not least, the matriarch of the entire Apple clan, this here is not everyone, by the way, the head of Sweet Apple Temple, Sage Annie Smith!" Applejack then took Twilight to see a woman in her late eighties by appearance. "We call her Granny."
"Sage Smith... as in …. Annie Smith, the Annie Smith!" Twilight all but squealed with delight. "I cannot believe it, I am in the presence of a national hero!"
"Wait what, hero? W'ere?" the sage says as she wakes from a short nap.
"Granny Smith, this here is Twilight Sparkle, the princess had her sent here to check out the food preparation. I was just introducin' everyone and she started... how did Dash put it... 'Fan-gasming'... upon hearing you na..." Applejack started trying to bring Granny Smith up to speed.
"Do you all know who she is?" Twilight asked. Everyone just stared at Twilight mostly thinking Not another one. "Annie Smith, one of the greatest paladins in Mystica's recent history. The bane of succubi..."
"SUCCUBUS!?" Granny Smith shouted and grabbed Twilight. She stared into Twilight as if she is reading Twilight's very soul. In the distance one of the family muttered 'Not this again.' only to received a thunderous smack on the head by Big Mac and glares from the rest of the family. After what felt like forever Granny let go of Twilight. "Good news, ya ain't a succubus."
"Umm... thanks..." Twilight stammered unsure what to say.
"Don't recall every meeting an angel like ya before. But ya'll best be careful, ya here. Succubi are demons, they don't...truly...di..." Granny yawned and fell into another nap.
"And that's everyone. Now Big Mac, Apple Bloom, switch places so that Twi can have a seat." Applejack ordered. The two complied.
"Um thanks, but I really can..." Twilight started until she saw the one thing more powerful than Celestia; a sad, big-eyed, puffing lower lip Apple Bloom. Twilight couldn't help but hear a violin play a 'sad' tune as she cannot break free from the look.
Twilight, save yourself she's too cute! Spike thought as it is clear that her dragon has lost the battle of wills as he jumped onto the table and took some chicken and breathed fire on it.
"I... am really sor..." at that moment Twilight's stomach reminded her that she had not eaten at all today with a deep growl. "Okay, maybe a quick bite." Twilight gave in.
An hour later, Twilight gives a rather unsophisticated burp, satisfied with her meal. Very likely the best of her life to date. Spike too is happy as he lies on the table. "Sorry," Twilight said sheepishly, only for all the Apples to each give a much larger and longer burp in response, Apple Bloom gave the loudest and the longest of them all.
"Welcome ta t'e family, Sugarcube," Applejack said as she patted Twilight on the back as she went back to her cider. "To be fair, I pegged ya for one of t'ose 'I find them charmingly rustic', 'I always had an admiration for the work ethic of Earthborns' all work no fun Chantalot Magicborn 1% types," Applejack said as she put her mug down after her drink. As Applejack said the 'I find them charmingly rustic' to 'work ethic of Earthborn' Twilight couldn't help but noticed that Applejack's accent changed to perfectly match those of Chantalot. "With that skyboat and your dragon and all."
"How did you know he is a dragon? Almost everyone calls him a lizard." Twilight asked, being used to correcting people when they misidentified Spike.
"He's purple and cooked 'is own piece o' chicken. Ya think that because Ah am a country farm girl, Ah wouldn't notice. Ah expect that from Miss 'I am going to open a boutique in Chantalot'." As Applejack said the last bit Twilight could not help but notice that Applejack's accent again changed to match the graceful posh accent of a Manahattan debutant. "Sorry, yer new ta town. Well, ya'll meet her soon enough if you're checking on all the preparations."
"Well back to you're pegging, you're actually not far off." Applejack gave Twilight the 'That's BS' look. "I just got caught up in the atmosphere." Twilight tried to recant. However, Applejack's look didn't change. "You have a nice family." Twilight tried to change the topic.
"Thank ya kindly, Sugarcube. What about you? W'at's yar family like?" Applejack asked as she took a drink.
"Well my mother is researcher and author, my father is an astronomer, astrophysics and such, and my big brother is the recently promoted captain of the Royal Guard," Twilight answered a little self-conscious.
"Capt'n o' the Guard, hun? Protecting tha princess, 'erself? Betcha get t' see her all the time." Applejack said and took another drink.
"Funny that you mention that, I am Princess Celestia's personal apprentice. Spoke with her this morning." Twilight said as if speaking to the princess was an everyday occasion... well for her it technically is... but that's beside the point. Applejack spat out her drink hitting Spike square in his back waking him from his mid-day nap.
Applejack coughed at first, "Yer tha royal apprentice! Why didn't ya say so, we would 'ave got out tha actual silverware." Applejack said looking at Twilight in bewilderment.
"It's okay, I was never one for those kinds of parties," Twilight stated.
"Me neither. So, what's yer next stop? I can point you in the right direction maybe give you some advice." Applejack offered.
"Weather is the next thing on my list. I was advised to see a Rainbow Dash." Twilight answers as she checks her list. She also noticed the time, and realized that she arrived at Sweet Apple Temple at meridiem, she's right on schedule.
"Never understood why or how she became the overseer of the Magiville Branch of the Weather, with all her goofing off." Applejack commented as she takes another drink.
"So, Rainbow Dash is lackluster? This doesn't bode well." Twilight sighed disappointedly with the prospects.
"I never said that. When Rainbow Dash does 'er job and follows through on a mission, she's tha best at what she does. Tha problem is ta get her ta do it. You'll find 'er just ta tha south." Applejack informed as she finished her mug.
"Well, Spike and I best be going. Say, before we go, do you know why Magiville is having a Druid taking care of the music?" Twilight asked as she recalled what she read and didn't ask Celestia before she left.
"Oh, Fluttershy is great with all critters, especially birds... not ta good wid people. But watch out for 'er rabbit, Angel Bunny. That leporid is a demon. Follow me, Ah'll point ya in tha right direction, but first, ya gotta apologize ta Bloomberg." Applejack said as she led Twilight.
"Right, thank you." The two then left, Twilight putting Spike on her shoulder, as everyone took care of the dishes and cutlery. "Um, who's Bloomberg?"
"Bloomberg's tha tree ya almost crashed inta w'en ya flew over. The poor fella's shaken up mighty fierce, the last hour and scared trees make bad apples." After a short walk, the two arrived at the tree in question. "Hey there, Bloffy-wuffy. This 'ere is Twilight, she's tha one that nearly crashed inta ya wid that skyboat. Now she's goin' ta apologize for what happened. Are ya going ta be okay wid that?" Applejack said as she patted the tree and spoke to it like it was a little child. After a second. "He's ready ta listen. Now just put your hand oh him, gently, he's still a little jittery, and apologize."
Twilight never talked to a tree like this and really didn't get all this, but she really had no choice. As soon as she placed her hand on the tree she felt it tense up and then...relax... "Um... I've never done anything like this before. I am sorry Bloomberg." Twilight said to the tree. An apple dropped onto her head. "OW!"
"Bloomberg!" Applejack scolded the tree. A leaf fell onto the spot that the apple fell on Twilight. Twilight suddenly felt no pain and somehow...forgiven. "That's better, Bloffy," Applejack then turned back to Twilight. "He's a little emotional with the replanting to Appleloosa in two months. Now it's best that you not start flying on temple grounds, the other trees may not be as forgiving." Applejack said as she leads Twilight to where they met. Once there, Twilight took out her tome and summoned the Charun. Twilight boarded it and began her ascent and at a proper altitude, she started flying... North.
"Oh, for the love of... SOUTH, YOU'RE GOING THE WRONG WAY!" Applejack shouted to get Twilight's attention.
"I KNEW THAT!" Twilight shouted back as she corrected her course. Applejack and Spike both rolled their eyes.
Few beings were a frightening as her, not only could she flawlessly copy another being in appearance, diction, etc, she fed off of those who loved what she disguised as. Heck, she fed off more than just the emotions, but the very life of her victims, being a Succubus had its advantages. She appeared as a woman in her late twenties, early thirties, but still a very active woman, with barely visible horns, a pair of bat-like wings and a tail ended with a point. Her skin was fair and she was dressed leaving little to the imaging and would bedazzle those of weak will. "Lady Hydia," comes a man's voice. The succubus turned to the being that spoke, she saw a copy of herself.
"Flattery will get you nowhere, Doppelganger, but to what am I owed this disturbance," Hydia said as she walked past her copy.
'Doppelganger', changed into his true form, a gray-skinned roughly humanoid figure, "Her return is at hand and we are ready."
"Excellent. But remember, embarrass me in front of The Tantabus or Her Highness and I'll turn you all back into changelings and Chrysalis will not suffer the return of deserters." Hydia said as she cast a spell that inflicted pain on her lackey. 'Doppelganger' fell to the floor and writhed in agony along with a century of others like him, in their pain, their forms shifted to a more insect-like form. Hydia simply walked past them. She had another plan to prepare, if the doppelgangers fail her, she had to save face. "Magiville seems just ripe for the plucking," she smirked as she slipped into the shadows. The spell ended as the changelings-turned doppelgangers started to recover.
"I hate it when she does that." One of them said.
"It's either that or have no will under Chrysalis." Another pointed out. They all shivered.