Chapter one “The Awaking”
Discord raised a talon and the Elements of Harmony came flying from the necks of the six wielders that had only a year earlier defeated him.
“Oh no you don't, not this time. This time we play a new game,” Discord said as the Elements vanished from in front of him.
“The Elements, Discord what have you done with them,” Twilight demanded, despair and anger already filling her eyes.
“Calm down my little pony, in time all questions will be answered. Our last game was certainly fun, however it seemed a little unfair. So this time I will make you work for your precious Elements.”
“Work for them? What do you have in mind,” Twilight asked nervously.
“A small challenge for each of you, individually this time, if one of you fails you won't be able to use the Elements against me.”
“Let's do this,” Rainbow Dash shouted, eager to meet a challenge.
“Then we will begin,” Discord said as he snapped his fingers. There was a flash and each of the six wielders were teleported to a different location for their own challenge.
Twilight was now in Canterlot staring at Princess Clestia.
“Oh Princess,” She said and raced to her side.
“Twilight where is Discord, and the Elements?”
“Princess Discord took the Elements and...”
“TWILIGHT SPARKLE YOU LET DISCORD TAKE THE ELEMENTS OF HARMONY?”
Twilight slowly backed away from the Princess, as she sheepishly muttered “I'm sorry I...”
In the meantime Rarity was busy dodging diamonds being hurled at her by her sister.
Rainbow Dash was chasing down a replica of herself.
Fluttershy was fighting (best description of it) an extremely mean version of herself backed by Iron Will.
No one in their right mind could explain what Pinkie Pie was doing for her challenge.
Finally, Applejack was at home fighting her older brother.
“Macintosh whada ya think yer doin',” Applejack demanded as her brother charged at her. Applejack barely dodged her brother as he charged. Big Mac not expecting the dodge ran face first into a nearby tree.
Slightly dazed Big Mac, silent as ever, turned to face Applejack once more.
“I don't wana hurt you, but I'll do it if I haf ta.”
Applejack braced herself as her brother charged her once more. She tried jumping out of the way, but tripped and took her brothers charge full force. She lay barely conscious looking up at the still enraged face of her brother. She blinked once as he stepped closer to her, and then all went black.
Applejack opened her eyes to see her five best friends and the Two princess of Equestria worriedly staring down at her.
“AJ are you OK,” Dash asked seeing Applejack's eyes slowly open.
“I think so I, ahhhh,” Applejack yelled as she tried to stand. As a sharp pain went through her ribs.
“Oh are you OK,” Fluttershy asked looking incredibly worried.
“Don't you worry about me, we need to go stop Discord.”
Twilight smiled a little before saying “you're a little late Applejack, the Princesses here managed to take care of it.”
“Yeah they were AMAZING you should've seen them AJ,” Pinkie Pie began, but then was silenced as Celestia took a few steps forward.
“You are quite lucky Applejack,” Celestia said seemingly relieved, but still concerned. “I was unsure if the Elements could heal you. When we defeated Discord, we went looking for you, and found you laying pratically dead in your weeping brother's arms.”
“Is Macintosh OK? He was pretty angry under Discord's spell.”
“He's fine, he's had a week to calm down,” Twilight said.
“A WEEK,” Applejack yelled almost springing to her feet, but was quickly reminded of why she wasn't standing to begin with.
“Ow, that really hurts,” Applejack said looking to her side in agony.
“Is there anywhere else that hurts,” Celestia asked examining her side closely.
“Well I reckon my head is hurting somethin' fierce too.”
“Hmm, well it appears that there is nothing wrong, you may just be feeling some residual pain from the healing process. Luna and I were in here every day using the elements to try and heal you the best we could. Your skull and ribs were all broken or fractured, not to mention the internal damage. You are quite lucky to be alive actually.”
“Thank you kindly, Princess,” Applejack said nodding to Celestia and Luna in turn.
“OK everypony, let's let Applejack rest and get her bearings,” Celestia said as she turned and began to walk out of the room.
Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash both looked like they were about to argue, but then turned to wave goodbye to Applejack with sad eyes.
“Don't you two worry, I'll be out and about in no time, just wait and see.”
Slightly encouraged they followed the rest out the door.
When the door shut Applejack began to look around for the first time. It seemed that they had brought her to her own room at Sweet Apple Acres. She was in bed, she wondered if she had been here for the entire week. She looked outside and saw Big Mac hard at work.
“What does that foal think he's doing? He knows he can't do both my work and his.”
She attempted to get up again and cringed and fell back down.
“S'pose I can't help him much like this though.”
She sighed and fell back into bed. She hated feeling useless, she could feel how much muscle she had lost over the week she had been lying out cold. She would have to work hard for three or four weeks.
A little depressed at the thought she let her head sink back into her pillow, which felt very comfortable. She realized just how sore her entire body, her neck included, was. She laid there for a moment enjoying her pillow and then fell asleep once more.
She woke up what felt like minutes later, with Applebloom by her side.
“Sis, you're awake again,” Applebloom yelled as she charged at Applejack for a hug.
“Ohhhh, that hurts lil sis,” Applejack said as her little sister hugged her around the waist.
“Sorry,” Applebloom said as she let go. “Are you not feeling any better since the last time you woke up?”
Applejack stooped for a second to think. Then slowly tried to stand up.
“Careful,” Applebloom said in a panic and rushed to her sisters side.
“Now hold on for a minute Bloom, I gotta get standin sometime, no better time than now.”
Reluctantly Applebloom took a step back, but stayed close enough to lend support if something went wrong.
Applejack slowly stood, cringed a little, then stood up tall.
“There, see? Much better than the other day.”
Applebloom's eyes dropped an went to the side, a look Applejack knew well.
“Applebloom, what aren't you tellin me?”
“Weeeelllll, you seeee, it's like this, you last woke up four days ago.”
“Consarn it, you've got to be kidding me, I was out another four days?”
“Sorry Applejack.”
“Taint your fault Bloom, I reckon it's mine fer letin myself go back to sleep.”
“You seem awake this time.”
Applejack stopped to think about how she felt this time. Her muscles seemed a little more at ease, and her side and head didn't hurt nearly as much as they had before, but were still considerably painful. Then Applejack noticed something she hadn't noticed in a long time. She was absolutely starving.
“Hey Bloom think we can get get some grub? I'm starvin.”
“I'll go get you some sis,” Applebloom said as she quickly blocked the path to the door.
“Applebloom I can get some myself.”
“You'll have to talk to the doc about that one.”
“Ugh,” Applejack grunted and walked back to her bed.
“I wana see this doctor to give him a piece of my mind.”
“I'll send HER right up.”