Chapter 76: The Last Roundup
A couple of weeks went by on the farm and the whole family was buzzing with excitement as, even though the apples growing and starting to ripen, the Apple's were helping Applejack to practice for some event called the Equestria Rodeo Competition, which has a huge cash prize and it was something Applejack had signed up for. She was practicing for the past couple of weeks for the event, running a race track with hurdles alone it with mud holes underneath them, jumping over the hurdles and the holes at the same time while going from it to the Hay bale toss, which was a single hay bale with a rope tied to it, so she picked it up and spun around, tossing it as far as she could, passing the line and looking very proud of herself. Spyro, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Rosy Hearts were watching eveyrthing, Rosy using the Force to watch as Spyro taught her a force technique to let her see through the force, when Applejack walked over, barely even breathing hard.
"WOOHOO!" Apple Bloom exclaimed. "Applejack, yer sure to knock everyponies head off at the Equestria Rodeo competition!"
"Oh shucks Apple Bloom, Ah sure hope so." Applejack replied.
"Hope so?" Apple Bloom asked. "Ah know so! You're the ten-time rodeo champion of Ponyville! Why, you got more blue ribbons than any pony in Ponyville ever! And Ah can't wait for my big sister to win every blue ribbon in Equestria and bring home the title of 'Equestria Rodeo Champagne!'"
"Yeah, you're sure to win!" Scootaloo said. "Hey Spyro, think we can go with her?"
"I wish we can." Spyro replied. "But unfortunately we got a lot of work to do for when the apples are nice and ripe. But that doesn't;t mean we can;t wish her luck."
The young prince walked up to Applejack and they kissed each other, hugging one another to show his support for the young farm mare. After a little while, Spyro and Rosy walked into town to see how preparations were going for Applejack's big send off for when she left for the competition, finding that Rainbow Dash was setting up the banner on the town hall, which was falling apart as the roof was basically destroyed, how he didn't know. He was about to call out to her, but then a bolt of lightning shot past her, the rainbow maned Pegasus ducking the random bolt, but singed the tip of her tail.
"Derpy, be careful!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, finding Derpy was jumping on a storm cloud. "Don't want to do more damage than you've already done."
"Sorry Rainbow Dash." Derpy said. "I just don't know what went wrong."
As she said it, she was suddenly electrocuted, a few black spots on her as she looked to be dazed.
"Yeah, it's a mystery." Rainbow Dash said sarcastically.
"Hey Rainbow." Spyro said. "Hey Derpy."
"Oh, hey Spyro!" Rainbow Dashsaid.
"Hi Spyro!" Derpy said.
The gray Pegasus mare was flying backwards and ended up rear ending into a damaged post, toppling it over, which Rainbow Dash flew down to try and catch it, but was pushed down with it and crashed through the floor, Spyro and Rosy running over to her to see if she was ok, even Derpy flew down to check on her, lowering her head into the hole.
"You ok Rainbow Dash!?" Derpy asked. "Anything I can do to help!?"
"No, nothing!" Rainbow Dash said, flying up and looking very scared. "In the name of Celestia, just sit there and do nothing."
Derpy did as Rainbow Dash asked, she sat down on the floor to not do anything, but the floor started to crack underneath her and broke, the gray Pegasus grabbing Rainbow Dash to try and prevent herself from falling, but ended up dragging her with her, falling down the hole and crashing.
"My bad!" Derpy said.
"Ouch, that's going to hurt in the morning." Spyro said.
"Sounds like Derpy fell through the floor again." Rosy said.
"And she took Rainbow Dash with her." Spyro added. "She's not going to be a happy camper with Derpy."
A while later, the entire town gathered at the town hall, chanting Applejack's name right as Mayor Mare came up to the podium, clearing her throat as the crowd chanted her name.
"Everypony, can I get your attention?" She asked as the crowd chanted. "Attention please!" The crowd then stopped chanting, allowing Mayor Mare to talk. "Yes, we are all here today to send Applejack to compete in this years Equestria Rodeo Competition in Canterlot!" The crowd then cheered for her again, Applejack waving her hoof to the crowd, thanking them for their cheers. "And, I would like to thank Applejack in advance for generously offering her prize money to help fix the town hall."
"Yeah Applejack!" Derpy shouted, falling backwards into the hole as Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes.
The crowd then started to clap their hooves on the ground, causing a mini earthquake that even Spyro was impressed with while Pinkie shouted for her to make a speech.
"Oh shucks, I'm not one for speeches." Applejack said.
"Alright, no speech then!" Pinkie said, the pink party mare running off.
"But..." Apple Jack said, getting Pinkie to come back. "This here is the nicest send off anypony could ask for. Ya'll have been cheering me on in every rodeo since I was a little, little pony. So, it only seems fitting to use my winnings to help fix up town hall. Ah promise to make Ponyville proud!"
Everyone needs the crowd then started to applaud Applejack again, making the farm mare smile and blush while walking to the train station with her friends and her family, the train already there and waiting for her to get on right as they arrived.
"Now Ah want you to show them highfalutin rodeo ponies what a real rodeo ponies like!" Granny Smith said.
"You betcha Granny Smith." Applejack replied.
"And be sure to bring back all that money!" Mayor Mare said, looking very excited.
"You betcha mayor." Applejack replied
"And be sure to have fun!" Pinkie said, appearing right in front of her. "And don't be nervous. Or if you are, be sure to use that nervous energy you have to be even better than you are before. And be sure to eat peanuts and popcorn and taffy because taffy gives you lots of nervous energy!"
She then pulled out a bag of taffy from her mane and started to chow down on it, everyone disgusted, but Spyro just shook his head at her and walked up to Applejack.
"Just do your best AJ." Spyro said. "That's all you can do because, no matter what, win or loose, you're always number one to me."
"Ah'll do better than mah best hun." She said, the two giving each other a kiss. "Ah'm gonna win this whole thing by a landslide."
"The train for Canterlot is about to leave." The train conductor said. "All abroad that's coming aboard."
"Guess that means me." Applejack said, giving Spyro another kiss before boarding.
"See you in a week!" Rainbow Dash shouted.
"With lots of new ribbons!" Apple Bloom shouted.
"And all that money!" Mayor Mare shouted back.
"Darn tootin!" Applejack replied.
As the train started up and left the station, everyone ran after her, shouting goodbye to her as the train was running, the young farm mare waving to them as the train was on it's way to Canterlot.
"And drink lots of Sarsaparilla!" Pinkie shouted, everyone looking at her in confusion. "What? Give you lots of extra sass!"
Everyone just shook their heads at the random party pony, heading back into town to do their tasks while they let their friend do what she does best in rodeos, but on the train with her, Applejack was watching as the little town went farther and farther away, sighing to herself as her friends wouldn't be there to support her, but failing to noticed a familiar red tail in the car seat farthest away, the tail being pulled in to keep the farm mare from noticing her. A week passed and everyone was excited, especially Spyro as he couldn't wait to see Applejack again as he had a special surprise for her that he made after finishing his secret project, everyone was setting up the banner and some balloons for the orange earth pony, most of which were her family who were all gathering at the barn to greet her with a surprise party that Pinkie had planned for her when she arrived.
"Oh, I hope Applejack is surprised by this surprise party!" Fluttershy said excitedly.
"Isn't that the point?" Rainbow Dash asked, bringing some streamers up to the rafters.
"I know." Fluttershy replied. "But I hope she isn't so surprised that she gets startled. Because while being surprised can be nice, being startled can be very startling."
"SURPRISE!" Pinkie shouted, scarring Fluttershy and caused her to fall on her back.
"Oh, Pinkie, you startled me." "Fluttershy said.
"Sorry Fluttershy." Pinkie said, helping the shy Pegasus up. "I was just practicing my surprise for when we surprise Applejack with this super cool party for becoming Rodeo Champion of Equestria. SURPRISE!"
She startled the poor lemon yellow Pegasus again, causing her to fall down again, which Spyro couldn't help but snicker at his friends, finding a hiding place as soon as Twilight said someone was coming, everyone hiding in any spot they could find as the lights went out. When the door opened, the lights went n and everyone shouted 'surprise' to their friend, only it wasn't Applejack, but a mail courier, who looked very happy as today was his birthday according to him. He presented a letter, which Twilight took, but before closing the doors, Pinkie gave him a slice of cake, making him grin ear to ear as he looked very happy.
"So, who's it from Twilight?" Apple Bloom asked. "What's it say?"
"It's from Applejack." Twilight replied, everyone listening to what she was about to say. "Family and friends, not coming back to Ponyville. Don't worry, will send money soon."
Everyone gasped at what she said, all surprised that Applejack wasn't coming back home.
"Applejacks... not coming back?" Apple Bloom asked, tears welling up in her eyes.
"What do you mean she's not coming back!?" Rainbow Dash asked. "She loves Ponyville.
"And she loves Sweet Apple Acres." Granny Smith added.
"And she loves her family!" Apple Bloom shouted. "Even Spyro!"
"Oh, something dreadful must have happened to Applejack to make her not want to return." Rarity said.
"Oh, she must be hurt, or sad, or scared." Fluttershy said.
"I hope not." Spyro said, walking up. "This doesn't exactly sound like the Applejack we all know. We need to go and see what happened."
"So what are we waiting for!?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Let's get going!"
The girls all ran out of the barn followed by Spyro and Rosy, but Spyro stopped where he was, turning to looked back at the Apple Family, who were all very sad.
"Don't worry, we'll find her." Spyro said. "I promise, we'll search everywhere to find her and bring her home."
"Ya'll are the best." Apple Bloom said, running up and hugging his leg.
"Thank you ." Granny Smith said. "Thank you all."
Spyro nodded his head and the six of them ran in the direction of the train station, boarding the next train to Canterlot and heading towards the capital of Equestria, everyone ready to do whatever it took to find their friend. When they arrived, they immediately got off the train and rushed straight to the place where the rodeo was held, finding that everyone was busy cleaning up, so they got to work asking around. Rarity went over to a couple who were taking a break, asking them if they saw Applejack, even showing them a photo, but they didn't know where she was. Pinkie tried asking a rodeo clown, following him while moving on a large ball like the clown and showing him her picture, but he didn't know where she was either, deflating the ball she was using to walk on. Twilight then tried a couple of cleaners, who knew nothing, the same with Rainbow Dash as she asked a pony moving a barrel. Fluttershy then tried the one who was resting on the roof top, but he was rude to her and said he didn't see anything and telling her to get lost, which Spyro had to bite his tongue before he ended up saying something he'd regret later. Even Rosy tried to ask a couple of stallions if they saw her, but they were more interested in hitting on her, saying they did see somepony matching Applejacks description, but she sensed their true intentions through the Force, glaring at them as she knocked the stuffing out of them, twisting one of them into a literal pretzel and the other using a barrel to hide his flank, his tail completely shaved off and a black eye for their troubles, which Spyro patted her on the shoulder, proud of her for defending herself from a couple of perverts.
They then sat down, everyone looking miserable as they didn't get a single clue as to where their friend was or went, their hopes fading as the day was about to end.
"Karabast." Spyro said. "We'll never find AJ at this rate."
"You're looking for somepony?" A mare asked. Spyro turned around to see a coral colored pony with an auburn mane, wearing a rodeo hat when she looked at the photo of Applejack, instantly recognizing her. "Hey, I've seen her."
"Really!?" Spyro asked, everyone's mood changing in a heart beat. "Where!? Where did you see her!?"
"She boarded the train for Dodge Junction after the rodeo ended." The mare replied. "She left yesterday, so she should still be there."
"Thanks ma'am!" Spyro said.
The group then rushed out of the stadium, running to the train for Dodge Junction, watching the scenery change from a grass covered area to a desert waste with stone ridges everywhere. While on the train, everyone was trying to do something to keep their minds off the long train ride, Twilight reading a book she brought along, Rarity was designing something with her sketch pad, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were playing I spy after Spyro explained the proper way to play the game while he and Pinkie played a game of Jacks, which Spyro never played before, but quickly got the hang of it as Pinkie explained the game. He and the pink mare were taking turns tossing the ball and grabbing jacks, but all the while Pinkie was drinking a lot of sarsaparilla, Spyro looking over and seeing all the bottles piling up next to her, which made him worry for the party mare.
"Pinkie, I'm only going to tell you this once." Spyro said. "If you drink all that sarsaparilla, you're going to be holding it in for the whole train ride as there isn't exactly a bathroom on this train."
"Are you kidding!?" She asked. "I'll have you know mister that I got myself an iron bladder! I can hold it for hours without needing to go."
"Bet you a bag of candy you will be needing go to the bathroom before we get there." Spyro said, extending his hoof to her.
"You're on!" Pinkie said, shaking his hoof. "At the end of the day, you'll be owing me a bag of candy!"
She then bounced the ball into the air and swiped all the jacks off the table before the ball bounced, the two of them laughing and enjoying themselves as they rode the train. After a little while, the game of Jacks started to get boring, so Spyro voted for a nap, finding an empty seat and lied down on it, closing his eyes as he felt exhausted after asking around and running around to find any information to the whereabouts of their friend. But as he was napping, he suddenly felt like he was falling, landing in the middle of a patch of dry dirt, looking around to find that he was in the middle of the wasteland, but before he could move, he felt the train run past him and then heard something that sounded like screaming, looking to his right and found that May was standing above Applejack, her blade raised above her as a dark aura surrounded her, however, instead of striking Applejack down, May turned her head, her eyes no longer yellow, but green as she looked horrified, a look of pain on her face as she cried.
"Help me." She said.
He was suddenly yanked back as he flew into the chasm, images of their memories as friends flashing by as he screamed in fear, feeling like he was falling when he saw her Keyblade, the one she had before it was corrupted and a scene where she gets struck by it. Before he could try and understand more about what he was seeing, someone shook him awake, finding that it was Fluttershy who was shaking him gently as his eyes slowly cracked open, looking to the lemon colored Pegasus mare as she looked nervous.
"Oh, sorry Spyro." She said. "I didn't mean to disturb your nap."
"It's alright little butterfly." Spyro said, stretching out his legs. "What's wrong?"
"Oh, nothings wrong." She replied. "We're almost at Dodge Junction. Twilight wanted me to wake you up."
"Thanks Flutters." Spyro said, giving her a peck on the cheek, which made her blush profusely.
He walked over to his friends, who were all waiting to arrive at the station, noticing how eager they were to get off and start looking for their friend, but Pinkie looked like she was about ready to burst, her hind legs crossed as she tried to hold her bladder, now regretting drinking all that sarsaparilla, which he smiled as Pinkie now owed him a bag of candy.
"I hope this lead doesn't turn out to be a dead end." Rainbow Dash said. "I don't want to go home empty hoofed after we promised to find her."
"I don't know how we'll break it to the Apple Family." Fluttershy said after getting over her shock.
"I don't know how we'll break it to Ponyville." Twilight said.
"I don't know how I'll make it to the next stop!" Pinkie said, looking to be miserable.
"Well, someone owes me a bag of candy." Spyro said, smiling slyly.
A little bit later, they all saw an old looking town with plenty of Earth Pony's around wearing some cowboy hats and a few vendors around.
"So this is Dodge Junction." Spyro said, looking out to the town.
"According to the mare, she was last seen here after the rodeo." Twilight said.
The group then got off the train and were about to start looking, but Pinkie immediately rushed past them to find the nearest bathroom, saying something about pickles before knocking on a door to an outhouse that someone was using.
"Hurry! Hurry! Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!" She said, looking like she really needed to go. "Hurry it up in there!"
The door immediately swung open, smacking her in the face as the pony in it walked out, revealing it to an Applejack, SPyro's heart leaping for joy when he saw her.
"Geez Someponies." She said.
"Applejack!" Spyro and Pinkie said at the same time, startling her.
"I found her!" Pinkie shouted, getting their friend's attention. "I found her! I found her! I found her!"
AJ!" Spyro said, running over and hugging her, which she seemed most shocked to see him and their friends. "I was so worried about you! I thought something horrible happened to you!"
"Oh Applejack, thank heavens we found you." Rarity said, causing Spyro to end the hug.
"We're so glad you're safe." Fluttershy said.
"I found her!" Pinkie kept saying, jumping in the air as she did. "I found her! I found her! I found her!" She then stopped in mid-air, crossing her legs as her need to go to the bathroom over took her happiness. "Be right back!"
She then rushed to the bathroom, slamming the door shut so she could go to the bathroom while the others walked with her.
"Uh, hey everypony." Applejack said, Spyro instantly sensing how nervous she was. "What's up?"
"Why didn't you come back to Ponyville!?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Why did you come here?"
"Yes, why here?" Rarity asked.
"Are you ok?" Fluttershy asked.
"Do you have any snacks?" Pinkie asked.
"Girls, please." Spyro said, walking over and wrapping his wings around her. "AJ, what's wrong? Why didn't you come back?"
She wanted to answer, but she didn't, turning her head away from Spyro as he could sense how scared she was about something, knowing something was wrong.
"Applejack!" A mare said. They turned to see a cream colored mare with a red mane and a couple of cherries for a cutie mark standing a little ways away, looking very friendly. "Are these some of your Ponyville friends?"
"Yes ma'am." Twilight said.
"And, if you don't mind me asking, who are you?" Spyro asked.
"Why, I'm Cherry Jubilee." The mare answered. "Boss of Cherrio ranch. And you must be the prince she was telling me all about! I gotta say, you're cuter than I imagined." She then walked down from the porch she was standing on and walked over to them, Spyro retracting his wing as she walked over. "Why, I saw her compete in the Equestria Rodeo competition. I have never seen a pony win so many ribbons in all my life."
"Aw shucks Ms. Jubilee." Applejack said. "You don't have to go into all that."
"Oh, so modest." She said. "Anyway, I could always use a pony with quick hooves and a strong back."
"Quick hooves?" Spyro asked, instantly questioning what she meant by that. "Strong back? AJ, what's she talking about?"
"Oh, I can answer that." Jubilee answered. "She said she was looking for a change in scenery, so I snapped her up as quick as I could and brought her here to Dodge Junction." She then turned around and walked away, but not without sneaking a quick glance at Spyro. "Well, I'll let you catch up wot your friends. See you back at the ranch."
As she left, everyone was looking to Applejack, the farm mare sweating as she knew she was in trouble, especially when she looked to Spyro, knowing he would figure it out in no time.
"Change in scenery!?" Rainbow Dash asked, looking annoyed. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"It's no big deal everypony." Applejack replied. "Ah just thought cherries would be a nice change to apples. Thats it, nothing to it, end of story."
"AJ, we know you better than you know yourself." Spyro said. "That was a horrible story."
"Yes indeedily it was!" Pinkie said.
"Sorry guys, but there's nothing else to tell." Applejack said, walking away. "Thanks for checking on me, so you can all go home now. Tell mah family hi and that Ah'm A-ok."
"Not without you." Spyro said, using the Force to lift her up and turn her around. "You left your whole family heart broken when you said you wouldn't return."
"Look, Ah appreciate ya'll for coming to find me, truly, Ah do." Applejack said. "But Ah didn't ask ya to come looking for me." She then pushed past Spyro and away from her friends. "Ah have nothing to tell and Ah'm not going back to Ponyville."
She then stomped off, running away from her friends to make sure she didn't talk to them, but Spyro could sense that she was hiding something, something she was ashamed about.
"I don't care what she says, she's hiding something from us." Twilight said.
"Twilight's right." Rainbow Dash said. "We gotta get her to spill the beans."
"She had beans!?" Pinkie asked, clearly annoyed. "I told her I was snacky!"
Everyone just ignored the pink mare and immediately started asking around for where the cherry ranch was at, following the directions from some of the locals until they reached the ranch, which they immediately entered and found Ms. Jubilee at her desk.
"Ah, your majesty, welcome!" She said excitedly. "How may I help you?"
"Actually, I was hoping to speak with you for a little bit about AJ." Spyro replied.
"Why certainly." She replied. "And what about you dears?"
"Well, we'd like to work with Applejack for a little while." Twilight said. "See why she decided to give cherry picking a try."
"Well, I'm not one to turn down some hard workers." She replied. "Go through the door to my left and get yourselves ready, I'll be with you after I am done talking with the young prince." The mares, except for Rosy walked to the door and entered the room, the door closing shut. "So, what is it you wished to talk about dear?"
"Well, I was wondering if she told you the reason for why she wanted to work on your farm." Spyro answered. "Did she give you a reason for wanting to work for you?"
"Well, she said she needed a change from bucking apples, so I offered her a job picking my juicy and scrumptious cherries." Cherry Jubilee replied.
"That doesn't sound like mo... er, Applejack to me." Rosy said, making Spyro raise an eyebrow at her for correcting herself. "Was there another reason besides needing a change in work?"
"Not that I know of." She replied. "I know of her family and saw how much she misses them, but she said she needed this kind of work until she was ready and able to leave."
"But she won all those ribbons, why would she not want to come home?" Rosy asked.
"I have a hunch." Spyro said, having an idea as to why Applejack was refusing to come home yet. "Thank you for your time Ms. Jubilee."
"My pleasure your majesty." Ms. Jubilee replied.
The two ponies then walked out of the office right as the ranch owner went to the room where his friends entered to see if they were ready to get to work, but outside, May was on a nearby ridge, overlooking the town and grinning to herself, finally able to have tracked down Applejack right as a dark crystal; shot out of the ground as a dark aura allowed it to float in the air.
"What is your progress minion?" Malefor asked.
"I've tracked the Element of Honesty to this town." May replied. "She's all alone. When she goes into the fields, I'll eliminate her there, while she's alone."
"You had better." Malefor said. "My return depends upon you destroying the Elements of Harmony or their users. Without those confounded jewels, this world will kneel before me."
"I understand master." May said, looking down, but then saw Spyro and Rosy walking out of the ranch house. "Blast! Spyro's here."
"If he is there, so are the others." Malefor said. "I am sending you a little present, should give you an advantage." A shard of dark Aether shot out of the ground and flew towards May, who used her magic to levitate it to her. "Use this when you see fit. Make sure the prince and his friends are destroyed."
"Yes master, I will not fail you this time." She replied, the crystal shattering.
Back on the ground, Spyro and Rosy were walking around town while waiting for their friends to return when they found a local cafe and restaurant, ordering something to eat while they waited. While they waited for their food, Spyro was thinking about what Rosy said, how she caught herself as she was talking to Cherry Jubilee about Applejack and wondering what she was going to say before she corrected herself. A little while later, their food arrived and they started to eat, but as they did, Rosy could sense what Spyro was thinking, wiping some food from her mouth as she took in a deep breath.
"So, what did you think the reason is for Applejack to not return to Ponyville?" Rosy asked.
"Let's first discuss what you were about to say." Spyro said, sensing her discomfort. "When we were talking to Ms. Jubilee, there was an instant where you caught yourself before you said something. Care to explain?"
"Well... it's... complicated." She replied. "Plus, I've already messed with the timeline just telling you I'm your daughter."
"Well, it can't get any worse than it already is now can it?" Spyro asked. "Tell me, what were you going to say?"
"Dad... I..." Rosy said, trying to come up with a good excuse.
"Rosy." Spyro said, leering at her for an explanation.
"Dad, where you found me, it was the door step of Sweet Apple Acres." She answered, finally cracking. "I was five months old when you and Applejack found me there, abandoned by my parents. You and Applejack raised me, at least, for a little while."
"And what doesn't that mean?" Spyro asked, now curious to why she said that.
"I'm sorry, I've said too much." Rosy replied, going silent to not say anything else.
Spyro was now curious about what she had said about raising her for a little while, immediately growing suspicious of her until he could feel the presence of his friends, turning to find them walking over to them looking happy with themselves.
"Hey girls." Spyro said. "Have any luck with Applejack?"
"Well, sort of." Twilight replied. "We tried to strike up a conversation with her while sorting the cherries, but we ended up making a mess and got nothing out of her."
"So we resorted to the big guns." Rainbow Dash said, everyone looking to Pinkie Pie. "No pony is able to hold out long against Pinkie when she starts talking for too long. You'd be saying anything just to get her to stop."
"Heh, no argument there." Spyro replied. "Did she tell you why she doesn't want to return to Ponyville?"
"Not yet." Rainbow Dash replied. "She said she'd tell us at breakfast tomorrow morning."
"Tomorrow?" Spyro asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Don't worry, I made her Pinkie Promise." Pinkie said. "She'll definitely tell us."
He admired Pinkie for being so optimistic about their friend, but Spyro had an uneasy feeling in his gut, telling him that Applejack might not be there. As night came, everyone rented a room for the night and went to bed, but he was still awake as he had an idea as to why Applejack didn't come home, but mostly, he was more focused on what Rosy said, about he and Applejack raising Rosy for a little while before she opted to not talk anymore about the subject. He slept on it for a while before waking up early in the morning, sneaking out of his room and flying outside and onto the roof of the patio, lying down and waiting for the someone, which after a little while, Applejack was quietly sneaking out, not even noticing Spyro.
"Sneaking away are we?" Spyro asked, making Applejack look up in fright, realizing she was caught.
"Ah'm sorry Spyro, but I can't answer their questions." She replied. "And Ah'm not going home either. At least, not yet."
"AJ, you know they won't stop searching for you." Spyro said, getting up and hopping off the roof and in front of Applejack. "We won't stop looking for you. We're your friends, we don't care what had happened, we want to make sure you're safe and sound. Plus, I missed you." He then reached up and put his hoof to her cheek, which she just closed her eyes as her head pressed against his hoof. "For the past week, I really missed you. Your family missed you. We want you to come home."
"A-Ah'm sorry Spyro." She said, turning away front him. "Ah just can't!"
She then ran away from him, heading to the train station to catch the early morning train out of Dodge Junction, leaving Spyro alone outside for a minute before he went back inside, walking down the hall right as the girls came out.
"Morning Spyro." Twilight said.
"Morning girls." Spyro said.
"Ready to get some answers from AJ?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Let's hope so." Spyro replied, knowing Applejack wasn't there.
"Don't worry you two." Pinkie said. "She has gotta fess up after making a Pinkie Promise." Twilight then knocked on the door to Applejacks room, which it swung open. "Good morning Applejacks! Are you ready for-" She then stopped talking as they saw the room was empty, having already left, which Spyro knew about as he tried to slow her down long enough to give the others a chance to wake up. He looked to Pinkie, who looked very angry as her eyes turned red and yellow, steam coming out of her ears as she was furious. "No pony breaks a Pinkie Promise!"
She then ran out of the hall, leaving everyone alone before they ran after her, following the enraged pink party mare as they ran after Applejack, hoping to catch up with her before she left. At the train station, Applejack was running in place, waiting for the train to arrive so she could get away from her friends, though she felt awful for what she was doing, she didn't want to admit anything to her friends as she felt embarrassed by it.
"APPLEJACK!" Pinkie shouted, the orange farm mare looking to see her friends running to her, but saw a very angry Pinkie Pie. "YOU BREAK THAT PROMISE!"
The orange farm pony felt her blood go cold as she looked around for a way to escape, finding a carriage and running towards it, hopping into it.
"Getty-up fellas." She said. "I gotta get the heck oughta Dodge."
The stallions pulling the carriage then ran ahead, leaving her friends behind as they ran away.
"She's getting away!" Pinkie shouted.
"Oh no she won't!" Twilight said.
She looked to her right and there was an empty wagon with a couple of harnesses attached to it, which Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy strapped themselves to it, pulling the other girls with the wagon while Spyro was flying in the air, having a Birds Eye view of the situation as they chased after the farm mare and the stage coach she was driving. As they were chasing Applejack, Fluttershy saw a bunny in the road and was about to slow down, but Spyro swooped down and picked the bunny up, putting the little guy down on the ground to allow his friends to keep up with the coach, ramming into it to try and get her to pull over, which she just glared at them.
"Ah'll pay ya double if you can outrun them." Applejack said, the stallions running faster in order to outrun them.
"We'll pay you triple if you stop!" Twilight shouted, which the stallions started to slow down.
"Quadruple if you leave them in the dust!" Applejack said, the stallions rushing forward and leaving behind a cloud of dust, making all, but Spyro cough.
"Rude!" Rarity said.
"Get them!" Pinkie shouted, still looking annoyed. "GET THEM!"
Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash then started to run faster, catching up with the coach and allowing Pinkie the chance to jump onto the carriage, confronting Applejack.
"Applejack, you broke your Pinkie Promise!" Pinkie said. "Apologize!"
"Pinkie, Ah did not break mah promise!" Applejack retorted. "Ah told you, Ah'd tell ya everything at breakfast! And I didn't come to breakfast, Ah couldn't come to breakfast, not if it meant telling ya'll what happened! Ah'm sorry Pinkie, but Ah can't tell ya'll the truth. Ah just can't."
"Well, I heard a sorry in there, so it will have to do for now." Pinkie replied. "I'll get a real apology later. Rarity catch me!"
Pinkie then jumped off and falling into Rarity, knocking the both of them off the wagon and into the desert, Spyro groaning at what Pinkie had just done, but then looked up, his eyes bulging out like Tom the cat as he saw they were heading straight for an incoming train. He prayed that Applejack would stop, but she took the reigns and made the ponies run towards the train, shocking Spyro as his friend was putting her life and the lives of four stallions in danger, but she managed to outrun the train, avoiding it as it ran by, blocking his friends and celebrating as she got off.
"YEEHAW!" She shouted.
"Lady, you're trouble!" The stallion said, abandoning her.
"Ah, who needs ya?" She asked. "Try catching me now!"
A second later, the two Pegasi leapt up and flew over the train, the orange farm mare forgetting that a few of her friends could fly as they landed. She then made a break for it to get away, but Rainbow Dash got out of the harness and flew after her, slamming into her and making her dump the contents of her saddle bag, revealing a bunch of ribbons, but none of them were blue, but were a variety of color from orange, to green, purple, and a few red ones, everyone seeing all the ribbons while revealing that Spyro's hunch was right.
"Fine, now you know." Applejack said, getting up and sitting down.
"Know what?" Twilight asked.
"The ribbons." Spyro answered, looking down at them. "She meant the ribbons."
"Well, she has a lot of them." Twilight said. "Just like what Ms. Jubilee said."
"But none of them are blue." Spyro said, putting the pieces together. "She felt embarrassed that she didn't get a single blue ribbon or didn't get the prize money, even after promising to win it, hence the reason why she didn't want to return to Ponyville."
"He's right girls." Applejack said, on the verge of tears. "Ah came in fourth, third, even second, but never first."
"But, the telegram said you would send money." Rainbow Dash said.
"I think that's where the sudden change in scenery comes into play." Spyro said. "She was working at Ms. Jubilee's ranch to make money, enough to help repair the town hall, like she promised."
"That's right." Applejack said, getting up and walking past Spyro. "After the big send-off Ponyville gave me, Ah didn't have the nerve to return empty hooved, even after what Spyro said before Ah left, I just couldn't return failing to keep at least one of my promises."
"Oh AJ, none of that matters." Spyro said, walking up and wrapping his wings around her. "You're not a failure."
"And we're your friends." Rainbow Dash said. "Like Spyro said, we don't care if you came in fiftieth place, you're number one in our books."
"So, you're not sad or disappointed?" Applejack said.
"Of course not little Apple fritter." Spyro said, giving her a peck on the cheek. "No matter what, you're our friend, and nothing will change that."
"But, what about the mayor?" Applejack asked. "How do Ah tell her I don't have the money to fix the broken roof?"
"Oh Applejack, we can always find another way to fix the roof." Fluttershy said. "But if you don't come back, we won't be able to repair the hole in our hearts."
"Couldn't have said it better myself little butterfly." Spyro said, wrapping his spare wings around her and causing her to blush.
The five ponies on the ground all hugged, which they heard Rainbow Dash starting to cry, which she wiped away the tears, trying to act cool, but failing as they all laughed.
"How revoltingly sweet." May said, making everyone turn around to face her. "Looks like a regular soap opera here."
"May." Spyro said, calling his Keyblade as everyone else did.
"Hello 'old friend.'" She replied, a dark smile on her face as she looked to Rosy. "And look, you made a new friend. A useless, blind pony pretending to be a Keyblade master. How cute."
"Oh, this blind little pony will show you she's no pretender." Rosy replied.
She then rushed forward and engaged May, the two striking the other's Keyblade to get a hit in as they flipped and rolled out of the way of spells and heavy hits, leaving Spyro behind to protect his friends, but out of nowhere, Applejack rushed forward as Spyro shouted for her to stop and engaged May as well, the two friends working together to attack the dark Keyblade wielder, forcing Spyro to join in to protect the orange farm mare, but was too late as May knocked Rosy to the ground and back hoofed Applejack to the ground, standing above her as her weapon spun, using her magic to create a barrier and prevented him from stopping her.
"Thus ends the Element of Honesty." May said, raising her Keyblade to deliver the killing blow.
"APPLEJACK!" Spyro shouted, using his blade to hit the barrier as the others rushed forward to help.
As May brought her blade down to finish Applejack off, Rosy suddenly appeared and used her blade to block the attack, pushing against May as she backed away, her gray and cloudy eyes turned to Sith eyes, but were still cloudy as she let her anger take over.
"Don't you dare harm my mother!" She exclaimed, surprising Applejack and May as the others arrived, not able to hear what Rosy said.
"Wha?" Applejack asked. "What are ya talking about?"
Rosy didn't answer as dark flames crept over her body, a dark aura surrounding her as she released her anger, disappearing in a cloud of black smoke and reappearing, the earth erupting in molten fire as she directed it to May, who jumped and dodged the bombardment of molten rock while she used her magic to make the cacti come to life, the prickly plant as they uprooted themselves and approached May and swung at her, but she dodged them and slashed through them before throwing her Keyblade and hitting Rosy in the head, causing her to fall to the ground and fall unconscious as the cacti fell to the ground, the barrier breaking as Spyro rushed forward. Knowing she was out numbered, she smiled as she took out the crystal, dropping it to the ground and letting it sink. As he arrived,t he ground erupted again, this time an Ancient Earth Golem rose out of the ground, looking like the golem from the Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon, roaring out as flames shot out of it's mouth. It crawled out of the ground and stood behind May, forcing Spyro to back away as he stared in pure terror at the massive rocky monstrosity.
"You really thought I'd attack without a game plan?" May asked. "My master gave me this crystal to create a golem powerful enough to destroy at least one of your pathetic friends. You got lucky last time back in the Caribbean, but you won't be as lucky this time. This time, you don't have your Nobody friends to save you."
"Maybe." Spyro said, pushing up and standing on his hind legs. "Maybe not. All I really need, is a powerful friend of my own."
At that moment, he called upon the power of the Aether, the purple aura surrounding his forelegs again as the same kind of energy surrounded him.
"Seriously?" May asked. "You're trying that again? I'm ready for you this time pal. I'm stronger than what I was before, you can't destroy this golem with just the Aether now."
"Who said I was doing that?" Spyro asked, confusing her.
They then heard storm clouds above them, everyone but Rosy looking up to see what was going on when they all noticed purple tendrils of energy rising into the air, so everyone looked back down and saw Spyro had raised his left foreleg into the air and the energy was coming from there while his right leg had energy going into the ground. May wondered what was going on, but decided to attack as he was in a vulnerable position, but then felt the earth underneath her rumble, sensing that something was wrong, she looked back up to see what he was up to, only to heard something screech, hearing what sounded like wings, but it sounded more like rocks being rubbed against each other, but when he clouds parted, her eyes widened in shock as a flying golem came down form the sky, looking like a massive bird of prey, but it had clouds making up it's body along with the earth, picking up the enemy golem and carrying it into the air, screeching out before dropping it once it was high enough, causing it to land on the ground hard and creating a small earthquake while the massive bird flew down and started to harass the enemy golem.
"You can make your own golems!?" She asked in horror.
"Malefor isn't the only purple dragon, now is he?" Spyro asked.
Enraged, she charged forward and attacked Spyro, the two of them exchanging blows and jabs right as Rosy joined in, both father and daughter fighting the dark mare, which was proving to be effective as both he and Rosy knew each other's moves somehow and fought in tangent, flipping and spinning around each other to get a hit in on May as she was slowly becoming overwhelmed, blocking and dodging the duo's assault until she had enough, charging up the power inside her and releasing a massive shockwave that threw the two off. Spyro fell to the ground immediately while Rosy was pushed back to Applejack, but got back up and ran forward to help her father, but the ground erupted again and this time there were a few Grublins that got in her way, forcing her to fight them as May slowly approached Spyro, who shook his head and looked for his Keyblade, finding it was a ways away, so he tried to get up, but May pushed him back down, grinning at him.
"I must admit, you and that blind pony make quite a good pair in combat." May said, breathing heavily. "But in the end, my power is superior to yours, little prince."
She then raised her Keyblade to destroy him, but Spyro called for another blade, a flash of blue light with seashells appeared and there in his aura was May's old Keyblade, using his magic to swing it again, but it seemed time started to slow down for the both of them, May slowly looking as a look of fright appeared as her old Keyblade came at her from her left side, pulling her head back, but the magical weapon managed to strike her across the eye, making her yelp and scream in pain as she staggered backwards, breathing heavily and giving him a chance to get back up, raising his former friends Keyblade to defend himself.
"It's over May!" Spyro shouted. "This ends now!"
"S...Spyro?" May asked. She raised her head and much to his surprise, the eye he struck was completely different. Instead of the yellow eyes she currently had, her left eye was now a light green like he remembered with the area around it looking to be a lighter shade of blue, seeing a look of confusion on her face. "Spyro... is that... is that really you?"
"May?" Spyro asked, lowering his weapon as he slowly approached. "May... No, no this has to be a trick. I'm not falling for it."
"Spyro... what's going on?" May asked. "Where am... AHHHHH!"
Suddenly, a dark aura surrounded May again, this time she looked up and as if pleading for help, she reached out her foreleg, which he instinctively did the same thing, reaching out to save her, but the darkness covered the eye that was hit, returning it to yellow and the area around it a dark blue. She then tried to strike him, but he flipped backwards, spinning a little bit to put some distance between them when he landed half way between Rosy and May, looking down at her old Keyblade and wondering what had happened, looking back up to try something. When May charged again to attack him, he blocked her attacks, then tried attacking, only to be blocked until he broke her block, slashing her across the chest and making her yell out in pain, staggering backwards again, but where he struck her was a lighter shade of blue, peering into her heart and saw a lot of darkness in it, but this time he could see a few patches of light in it, remnants of her former self, looking up to her.
"You... still have light in your heart." Spyro said.
She then covered the area she was hit, the dark aura corrupting the area again as she charged forward, but he dodged her attacks, striking her as she flailed around to hit him, but every time she did, it left her open for a counter attack, hitting her in a random spot every time as the ark aura tried to recorrupt her, but it soon got to a point where she was hit too many times in random spots to where the darkness couldn't corrupt her again. This time he flipped backwards and held his friends Keyblade like a samurai, the two standing in place as they waited for one or the other to make their move, standing there, eyeing one another until they moved with lightning speed, Spyro on the opposite side of May as she was on the other side of the arena, but she suddenly collapsed to the ground, badly injured as he turned around. He walked over, but the golem he created flew above them, screeching out in victory as it landed on the ground, looking to Spyro as if awaiting for new orders.
"You did well my friend." Spyro said, petting the golem as he stared into its large gray eye. "Go now and rest. I shall call upon you when you are needed."
The massive golem bowed and flew back into the air, flying into the clouds before turning into multiple separate clouds and disappeared from sight, returning his focus to May, who had multiple areas on her body that seemed to have been purified, clutching her left shoulder as she starred at him in anger, but her eyes were flashing between yellow and green, indicating that the darkness holding her was fading as the light was finally able to fight back. He ran over to see if he could finish the cleansing, but dark purple flames shot out and instantly burned him, not even his dragon DNA kept him from being burned as a black crystal shot out form the ground and Malefor's image appeared.
"May, return to me." He said. "Now." Without hesitation, May immediately created a corridor to darkness and walked in, limping as she got away while the corridor closed behind her while the crystal turned around to face him. "So, you are the Prince of Light and Darkness. I am honored."
"Malefor." Spyro said, pure venom in his voice.
"I mist admit, you surprise me." Malefor said. "You made your own golem and you nearly destroyed my strongest servant."
"It's not difficult to do." Spyro said. "And I'd advise you to keep your filthy paws away from this world if you know what's good for you."
"Hahahahaha, amusing." Malefor said. "Don't worry, little prince, we will meet, in person."
The crystal shattered and left him alone, dismissing both the Keyblade he was holding while his returned to his side, dismissing it as he stood out in the open, looking down to his hoof and realizing that there was a chance to save his friend, smiling to himself as he finally had a way to save her from herself.
"Spyro!" Applejack shouted, she and Rosy running up. "Ya'll alright hun?"
"I'm ok AJ." Spyro replied. "How about you two?"
"Ah'm fine, but ya'll got some explaining to do." Applejack said. "Why in all of Equestria did Rosy call me her mother?"
"It's... complicated." Spyro replied. "I'll explain on our way home."
Spyro walked with Applejack and Rosy back got their friends, who had finally gotten past the barrier and ran up to them to make sure they were ok, all of the ponies who were there walked with them back to the train station. At Malefor's floating island fortress, May was walking into the main room, holding her shoulder as she approached the statue, the dark energy in the massive stone dragon glowing as she approached.
"I'm sorry master." She said. "I failed you."
"You have indeed failed me." Malefor said. "It seems you still have some light inside of you holding you back."
"I promise you, I will cut that light out if I need to." May said. "He will not best me again."
"I know he won't." Malefor replied. "My return is neigh, but the key to my freedom has yet to be found."
"I searched all the worlds I could." May replied. "It's no where to be found."
"Perhaps." Malefor replied. "But I can feel it. It is close. Go fix yourself up in the healing chamber. I have some work to do."
May then walked out of the room while Malefor conjured another black crystal, this time sending it to Equestria, but this time in a place in the outskirts of Equestria, the darkness in the statue glowing a dark purple as if smiling to himself. On the train, the girls were all excited to be heading back after finding their friend, but furthest away from them, Spyro was explaining to Applejack how Rosy told him she was his daughter in the future, how she came to them for some unknown reason while Rosy explained to Applejack why she called her mom as they found her on the door step to the farm house, the farm mare in complete shock at what she was hearing.
"So... yer saying... she's our daughter?" Applejack asked, still processing what she was told.
"I know, surprised me too." Spyro replied. "Took me nearly a week just to process it myself."
"But, how?" Applejack asked.
"Twilight sent me here." Rosy replied, making the two of them look to their friend and back to her. "In the future, the sisters were defeated by a pony who called himself the Dark Overlord. He defeated Malefor and Organization XIII, commanding an army of Grublins and a few Heartless, ruling over Equestria with a tyrannical rule."
"He took over Equestria?" Spyro asked. "How? Where was I?"
"That's just it, no one knows." Rosy replied. "You disappeared after Malefor used some kind of spell some time after you defeated May. We don't know what kind it was, all we know is that it had a seriously negative effect on you, causing you to leave Equestria. So, Twilight sent me back to before you left Equestria, right on her birthday, which she still had the necklace you gave her, using it as a focal point in time to send me back."
"So, any idea on how to prevent this from happening?" Spyro asked.
"No clue." Rosy replied. "All that Twilight told me before sending me back in time was that you would find the solution. You just needed to use the amulet with the green stone."
They had no clue as to what she was talking about, wondering what she meant by an amulet with a green stone, leaving Spyro completely clueless as he looked to Twilight, wondering why she would give such cryptic instructions, saying he'd find the solution if he didn't know how he'd find it. But as he was thinking about what Rosy said, he suddenly noticed something, his eyes widening in shock as he realized they were short two ponies.
"Um, girls, where's Pinkie and Rarity?" Spyro asked.
Everyone looked to him, just as surprised as he was as they realized that they had left their friends behind in the desert. On the rails, Pinkie and Rarity had gotten a cart which they had to lift up and down on, going along the rails as they made their way back home to Ponyville.
"What do you think Rarity?" Pinkie asked. "Chimicherry, cherrYchanga. Chimicherry, cherrychanga."
"When I get back Rainbow Dash, you're going to get it!" Rarity said.
The two ponies kept on pushing the cart by moving the handle between them up and down, continuing on their journey home as the sun started to set as the night came.