“Ugh...” Applejack grunts as she regains consciousness. “Again...?” she says wearily, trying to shake off the feeling of drowsiness. After a few moments, she finally regains her senses. The room is dark, the only light source hangs overhead, providing just enough light to clearly discern everything in the room. Looking about herself, she appears to be shackled to the floor, and a pair of "jaws" with wicked-looking jagged blades seemingly ready to snap at a moments notice. A similar contraption sits in the center, with a pony bound to it as well. There's a groove in the floor to the machine's right, leading toward the wall. Upon further inspection, the pony looks familiar.
“Apple Bloom!” Applejack shouts, reaching out a hoof toward her sister.
“Sis!” Apple Bloom shouts back, a fearful look in her eyes.
“You've awoken...” A voice calls out from the distance. A section of the wall lights up. The magic display of the unicorn puppet returns.
“'An want do you want?” says Applejack, her words pointed and full of anger.
“Patience Applejack, one might lose their head that way...” the voice replies.
“Wadda'ya mean by that?!” A hole opens up in the wall, and a circular saw-blade emerged. Its sights were set on Apple Bloom.
“The rules are simple, try to free either yourself or your sister, and those mechanisms you're chained to activates, with ruthless effectiveness. Take too long, and well, suddenly Apple Bloom isn't half the pony she used to be. Now, see that button in front of you, Applejack?"
"Yeah, 'an what about it?" Applejack says in a curtly fashion
"The only way to save both yourself and your beloved sister, is to say these words, and I quote: 'Apple Bloom, I never want to see you again' and press that button. Once you do, she'll be plunged down the pitfall she stands on. Though I can't say I can guarantee her safety from there...” Her heart sank as she hears these words.
“'Ya can't expect me 'ta do that!” she says defiantly, looking to find some alternative.
“You know the consequences should you refuse. You have ten minutes.” The screen disappears, and a section of the wall opens up behind Applejack. The blade begins spinning viciously, all too eager to serve its intended purpose.
“Applejack, help me!” Apple Bloom yells, her terror-stricken eyes transfixed on the spinning saw-blade. Applejack slammed her hoof into the ground in anger. How could he ask me to do something so cruel and vicious? she thought. She turns her eyes to the ground, in an attempt to combat her conflicting emotions. As time passes, the spinning blade inches its way toward Apple Bloom, A daunting reminder of the impending danger.
“Come on, Applejack, save me” she calls out to her sister, who could only regard the situation with heartache and indecision. Applejack wanted nothing more than to see her sister safe from harm, but at what cost? It would break her heart to hear those words. Though that would be the least of Apple Bloom's worries, should she say nothing. Ten minutes never seemed so long, nor so short.
Five minutes had passed and the blade was halfway to its sinister destination. “Its gettin' closer, do som'thin!” Apple Bloom says nervously, eying the blade that was now only a few lengths away from her .
“Don't worry Apple Bloom, I'll think of som'thin” she says, in an attempt to comfort her. A vain effort, as she was still torn about doing what that pony said. It would be easy enough, but the consequences? Not only would it make her a liar, but she'd have to turn her back on her own sister in a dire situation. But there was a chance the two of them would be freed if she did so. It would be fine, right?
With time almost elapsed, the blade's teeth sliced through the air, in deadly close proximity to Apple Bloom. “Sis, just do it!” She shouts, tears beginning to well up in her eyes, “it'll be fine, just have faith!” Now was the time to act. She grits her teeth.
“Apple Bloom,” Applejack yells, her voice carrying over the sound of the blade, “I never want to see you again!” She slams her hoof on the button, and Apple Bloom plummets into the pitfall, and the trapdoor closes behind her. As she fell, the weight of Applejack's words hit her hard. Even though she knew Applejack didn't mean it, it didn't make it any less painful to hear. Tears begin streaming down her cheeks.
The shackles around Applejack's legs unlocked, and she ran straight for the center. She begins pounding at the trapdoor, “Apple Bloom, are you okay?” The pounding continues, tears welling up in her eyes. “Apple Bloom, are you there?” she continues to pound on the trapdoor, shouting for Apple Bloom for a few minutes, until her voice grew hoarse and her hooves too sore to continue. “Apple Bloom...” The pounding ceased and she collapses to the floor, tears flowing from her eyes, “I'm sorry...”