I'll Protect you

Nightmare slowly lifted fom the grounds of the castle where her defeat as Nightmare Moon had occured a year before.  The armor making a coat that shimmered silver in the moonlight, the wisps making a mane of fire and a tail that smoldered.  Claws across it's hooves.  It was no mare it realized.  It wanted revenge.  It wouldn't handle all six together, but maybe the element of Magic alone would let it win.


Twilight had been on her way to Zecoras hut when the weather took a turn for the worst.  Twilight shook her head and trotted faster, knowing the route well enough.  However, things began to look out of place until she nearly ran head first into Zecoras front door.  She giggled and gently knocked.  Twilight found quite a surprise when she saw Applejack there with several baked treats for Zecora.  She began to giggle, "Applejack, what are you doing out here?"


The Cowpony only smiled to Twilight in her warm way, "Just bringing a few treats to Zecora here because nopony remembered to invite her to the party a couple nights ago.  Hopefully Zecora, we get to make that party later for you, busy Zebra that you are."


Zecora began to chuckle, "Your honesty is always a relief.  My heart is always open to such strong belief."


Applejack smiled as she looked to Twilight, "I'll head home with ya Twilight.  Besides, Rainbow Dash is supposed to meet us for that picnic with the others later.  You still ok with not coming, Zecora?"


Zecora nods gently,  "As much fun as it would be, to sleep tonight I must get my special tea."


With that, the two ponies headed from the hut waving their goodbyes to Zecora.  They did however pause when a powerful fog rolled in with the rain.  The two looked to each other, Twilight blinking as she sees an odd light, looking toward it for a moment.  She tilts her head, "What kind of light could that be?"


With a long glance, Applejack finally replied,  "That is a campfire, Twilight.  Somepony seems to be camping out here in this dangerous place.  We should go tell them right quickly and get them out of the forest before something gets them.  I know I wouldn't want to spend the night here."


Twilight smiled to her friend but nodded, the two galloping quickly toward the campfire.  As they approached, they didn't see how deep the fog was getting as the light from the campfire cut so easily through it.   As they finally ended up before the campfire, a pony leaps from the flames of the campfire, neighing out and stomping the ground before them, eyes focused on Twilight.  A deep roaring laugh cut through the air as the two looked shocked at the form.  Twilight moved back, "A Nightmare from legend."


It let it's flaming mane and tail push high as it glared at Twilight, "Revenge is so close, that I finally have my chance,"


A splotch of mud now covered Nightmares eyes, causing it to whinny and try to fling the mud off, Applejack tugging hard on Twilights tail to get her moving as the unicorn seemed frozen.  After the momentary hesitation, Applejack had her unicorn friend galloping away.  


Twilight checked behind her to only hear the roarous neighs, the fog keeping their path erratic.  Twilight realized however, that if this Nightmare wanted revenge, all it would have to do is follow their hoofprints in the muddy ground.


With concentration that caused her to slow, her horn glowed with a gentle light as their hoofprints began to go off into the foliage, moving with illusions that she hoped would slow down Nightmare.   She wouldn't be able to keep it going for long, she knew.  Applejack did her best to keep them on a constant gallop.   However, the more Twilight concentrated and galloped, the easier it was for Twilight to get tired.  The glow finally weakening  as she was soon panting in their hard gallop.


Applejack pushed Twilight and tried to get the unicorn to move as the roaring whinny came closer by the second. Without the others around to tame the beast, it would end in disaster for the two grounded ponies.  Her horn finally going dark as she collapsed to her side, panting hard. AJ only freezing up as she looked down in surprise and concern for her dear friend. Twilight panting and looking up at AJ with a grimace for hiding how bad it was. They weren't near enough to Zecoras hut to leave Twilight.  


She'd be overtaken by what was coming before Zecora and AJ could get back. Rainbow Dash would be out looking for them though. If the speedster Rainbow Dash saw the fight, she'd be able to save Twilight and AJ could save herself. Twilight steeling herself for of all things, "I won't make it, Applejack. Get Zecora, leave me. You can get her here in time."


Applejack stopped her before she could go further, "I don't abandon my friends, Twilight. Sugarcube, ever since you came into our lives, you've changed it for the better. Everypony that calls you friend has learned something about themselves, about you. There is nopony among us that can say they aren't proud to be your friend. Remember me and my stubbornness during Applebuck season? You finally made me see sense when I would have tried something that wouldn't have ended well."


Yet the triple red apple cutie marked mare wasn't done yet telling her heart to her friend,  "You gave your faith in Pinkie when she needed it most during the Hydra attack because she didn't care about her Pinkie Sense if she thought it would make her lose you.  That alone should tell you how much you mean to our premeire party pony.  You even broke the ice with Zecora and taught us to not judge others so quickly."


The mares eyes were wet with tears yet a proud smile was beared on her face, "What about Rainbow Dash when we showed she didn't have to hide from us when shes feeling her worst during the competition in Cloudsdale?  I thought she was tooting her own horn, but when she collapsed in the weather factory, you were the first one to offer what she needed.  Encouragement from her friends."

The smile wouldn't leave Applejacks face as she recalled her thoughts,  "When we all gained our chance to go to the Gala?  You didn't want to abandon any of us when it meant a chance at dreams that we all had.  Our reasons were our own but you showed us our biggest reason.   To go with our friend who loves us, and wants us happy.   When you showed us a loyalty to not only us, but our dreams, practical and otherwise."


The orange earth pony wasn't done yet it seemed, "When Rarity was captured, we didn't do anything except rush out to save her and show she has us for friends? You were leading the charge, despite the fact me and Rainbow are supposed to be the fastest ponies on the ground in Ponyville.  I could have taken Spike and we would have gotten there first.  We needed your judgement though and we knew this."


Applejacks smile turned just a little more serene, "Fluttershy when she got to know Philomena?  You told us the story.  You didn't want her taken from you or from Ponyville.   I remember that smile from after we faced the Manticore.  You were as touched from her kindness as anyone in Ponyville.   Sugarcube, you knew she'd help us against the dragon.  She saved us all that day.  It meant a lot to her sugarcube, that you believed in her so much."


Applejack pressed closer as she had laid her heart out to this unicorn who meant so much to her, "I'm not leaving you alone, sugarcube."


Twilight couldn't think of anything to say to that except to let tears fall from her eyes, "Then what are we supposed to do, Applejack? If we let that creature catch us,"



Applejack cut in with the only other words she would say, "I daren't say what is on my mind, Sugarcube. You are my friend and there is nothing I can think of I wouldn't do for a friend like you. That is the honest truth."


Applejack slowly put her fathers hat on Twilights head as the unicorn looked up in exhaustion and worry. She saw the scowl and pain in Applejacks eyes. She saw tears of stelward honesty from her friend as the workhorse turned and left the unicorns side, charging with a snort as tears came unbidden for a single fear. That she wouldn't see her dear friend again for doing this. She had no regrets doing this as she steeled her green eyes, not hearing her name called again and again from Twilight Sparkles lips as the unicorn could only watch and yell out for fear of losing her friend against the creature AJ had decided was worth fighting to protect her.


The amalgation that AJ was about to face had claws on their hooves, a Ponys face, flame for a tail and mane, eyes that seemed permanently soaked in blood and a coat as dark as night. Nightmare had found them, despite the strength of it's reduced form, it's fury could surely handle a weakened unicorn.  It stomped it's hoof to the ground and snorted fiercely as it hooved the ground.  


It charged Applejack in it's haze, only seeing the earth pony as a mere distraction.   The last time, Applejack hadn't shown her fierce bucking ability.  The orange pony launched to the side of the charge and went forehooves first before bucking hard into the chest of the Nightmare.



To say the nightmare was surprised was an understatement.  The orange earth pony had derailed it's charge and the wet ground didn't help as it crashed into foliage and brush.   Applejack had a smirk despite tear stained eyes.  A flare of heat made Applejack leap aside and look back quickly at the small blast of fire that would have taken her hat if she still had it.  


She moved carefully as the fire mane and tail of the Nightmare  burned hotter, but fizzled as strongly in the cooling rain. The two stared down at each other, Nightmare stepping forward and lashing a fireball from it's mane at the rodeo pony.  Applejack leaps over it and could smell burnt hair.  Another glare set from her snout as she looked into Nightmares eyes, "You burnt my tail."


That declaration would have been enough for Nightmare to enjoy, if it wasn't for the fact a trail of rainbow suddenly sent her flying back into the brush, Twilight and Applejack looking to the form of Rainbow Dash.  The fierce glare that the cyan pegasus had told volumes to any who knew her.  Twilight felt a hoof on her back and looked back to see Zecora smiling brightly to her.  Twilight  blinked as Zecora opened a saddlebag on her side and brought out a flask, gently tapping Twilights jaw.  Twilight could tell it was bitter from the scent and closed her eyes, opening her mouth to Zecora.


Zecora helped by putting a little pressure to Twilights snout before pouring a small gulp of it in.  Twilight was up on her hooves in seconds, hat still on her head as she pulled up enough grass to feed Applejack, finally feeling the bitter taste finish.


She looked over to find Nightmare panting hard, crashed to the soaked ground.  Applejack and Rainbow Dash smacking their hooves together as Nightmare looked defeated.  Applejacks tail was half as long with the edges seared.


Twilight finally put Applejacks hat back on her head as she moved to Nightmare, "Please stop hating everypony just because you were locked away on the moon.  There's no more need to hate.  We can be friends."


Nightmares eyes opened and it neighed hard, throwing Twilight off and glaring at the pony.  It's mane and tail had not reignited as it watched the three ponies standing there together.   It turned slowly back from the way it had come, "Only the hero of Equestria could dare make such a move.  I do not want friends, especially not with you.  You elements of Harmony, bearing the magic so deep within.  Still you succeed, still you win!  I will stay in this forest, forever more the rival of ponykind.  I will test your successor someday, Magic."


Nightmare found Rainbow Dash in front of her and Applejack on the other side as Twilight approached,  "If there is one essential lesson that I learned from all my friends, Nightmare it is this.   That being alone in the world is a terrible fate for anypony, and that you don't have to bear the weight of the world all your own."


Nightmare twitched as it tried to hide the tears, Applejack smiling to Twilight and Nightmare, "I told you sugarcube, you make all your friends better for knowing ya."


Nightmare finally breathed out, "I will come to your homes once a year, all of you. No matter the distance.  I will come before Winter, after the leaves are shaken from their trees.   I will return to the Ancient Castle of the Princess Sisters where I was born, and restore the home I was born in.  Mayhaps I will be remembered, mayhaps I will not.  I am defeated by the force that returned your precious Princess Luna.  Your friendship is strong, Magic.  Perhaps it gives me hope."


Nightmare left them as her mane and tail flared in strength, her promise to test the Elements of Harmony still in the minds of it's bearers, even as they headed home with light hearts.  Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and Rarity wouldn't believe this adventure.