Appledashery

by Just Essay

Abysmal

Rainbow Dash was alive, though it was the least of her concerns. Her mind was preoccupied with whatever was making a continuous, frail, whimpering noise off to her side.

"Ngrnngh..." The pegasus stirred, gritting her teeth. With weak limbs, she pushed herself up into a sitting position. Her eyes open to a dim gray haze surrounding her at the belly of a stone niche. The mare had survived Stu Leaves' toss; she landed safely at the bottom of the canyon. Perhaps it was from having extended her leather wings to perform a slow glide at the last second. She wasn't certain. All she knew was that she was in a spot where the sunlight barely reached.

Squinting, she tilted her head straight up. Philanthropy was a spider's web of hovering, interconnected platforms strung up in the center of a thin slit of bright morning glow. Rainbow had no idea that the ravine was that deep. It would likely take several minutes to fly back up to the city, and that was with normal wings.

Once again, a persistent whimper tickled Rainbow's ears. She tilted her head aside, squinting.

Something stirred several feet away, its orange body shifting amidst the shadows.

Rainbow's lips pursed. Curiously, she trotted forward on weary limbs, approaching the source of the noise. "Hello...?" She clenched her teeth. "What... who is...?"

The figure instantly jolted. A green eye glistened in the scarce sunlight, and Rainbow saw freckles.

The pegasus gasped, her body freezing in place. "...AJ?"

"Mmmff... guh..." The equine shifted about, pawing at the air with a dainty leg. "...can't... so weak..."

"Applejack!" Rainbow panted, galloping forward. She grasped the hoof. "Omigoshomigoshomigosh! How'd you get down here?! Don't tell me that you..." She froze completely. "...fell."

It was Applejack, and yet it wasn't. Rather—it was a quarter of her: a neck, a forelimb, and half a head. When her skull turned towards the light, it cut off completely mid-muzzle. The fuzzy orange flesh ended on a knife's edge, and the rest of her fractured body was hollow and gray, like a plaster shell. That, however, didn't stop the abominable sliver of a mare from grasping Rainbow's hoof with her one good limb.

"...must... powder my nose," the mare struggled to speak with half a mouth. "...for the Queen. Shindig always... grnnngh... tells me to present myself like a good Princess..."

Rainbow Dash's muzzle quivered in horror. She backed up, only to see the shattered thing dragging after her. With a squeak, she flinched back, shaking Apple Jewell's grip from her limb. Shadows were stirring all around her. Without meaning to, Rainbow Dash tripped over a pair of legs. She looked down to see a hollow orange flank flopping around like a shattered dinner plate. Just then, to her immediate left, more fractured farm mares writhed, squirming out of the shadows.

"Mama..." One hissed, its mouth moving beneath a shattered forehead. It pulled itself across the dark shoals with a stubby limb. "...please let me b-back inside. I promise to practice my etiquette."

"Fifty times for each lock," gurgled another shell of an equine, hobbling towards Rainbow Dash and grasping her forelimbs, pleading. "Brush every one before bed! I'll be good in time for y'all's coronation! Snkkkt—you'll see!"

"Please dun leave me, Mama!" A fractured head at the end of a thrashing neck wriggled between two rocks, its brittle ears falling apart. "We c-can still bring glory to Philanthropy!"

Rainbow was hyperventilating at this point. She backed up, only to feel more and more orange limbs grasping her from the crevices with arachnid desperation. She yelped and tried flapping wings that weren't there. She galloped forward, jumped high, but only managed to glide into a boulder before rolling ineffectually towards the ground. She grimaced in pain, feeling the pieces of Apple Jewell worming towards her from all sides. Panting, she climbed up onto the boulder and curled up into a ball, hugging herself. Her bloodshot eyes gazed at the figures lurching in closer and closer.

"Mama... please..."

"I'll be the best Princess, Mama..."

"I st-still love you. Dun be mad..."

Whimpering, Rainbow clamped a pair of hooves over her ears and clenched her eyes shut. The cries of the Apple Jewells turned to wails, echoing all around her.

That is... until a steaming sphere flew down, piercing the scene with a whistling hiss. The chaperone materialized on a fallen piece of metal pipework, gazing all around. "Rainbow Dash...?!"

The pegasus' eyes flew open. She looked over, shivering. "Epcot... Epcot!" she hollered.

The construct looked over. She saw the figures worming towards Rainbow Dash. Taking a deep breath—FLASH!—she converted back into a sphere and dove low.

Rainbow flung her arms out and caught the steaming object before the crowd of orange figures could reach her. As Epcot carried the two of them higher, Rainbow gazed down in horror at a veritable sea of Apple Jewells rising up like the tide, each and every one of them like a porcelain doll dropped from a great height and shattered.

Seconds later, Epcot found a cliff within the canyon wall with enough space for the two of them. It was far too high for any of the abominations to reach, so she touched down and materialized besides Rainbow Dash.

"Whew! That was a close one!" Epcot exclaimed. "While I admire your pegasus friend for his bravado, he could have thought harder before tossing you like a firework!" She smiled. "Still, should have known you would land safely. You're like a little fuzzy cat!" A beat. Epcot blinked curiously. "Rainbow Dash...?"

Still hyperventilating, Rainbow Dash inched away from the nightmarish scene below. "What... wh-what... are th-they?!"

"Hmmm?" Epcot glanced down at the orange figures as they gradually relaxed, disappearing once more into the granite woodwork. "Oh. Failed dreamscapes, I suspect."

"Failed... f-failed..." Rainbow gulped hard. "...dreamscapes?"

"Yup! Remember how I said that Shindig and her sons had programmed Applejack by building a dream within a dream for her?"

"I... I..." Rainbow shuddered. "Sure, y-yeah, but..."

"Well, they're silly mortals to think they could have gotten such a thing accomplished in one shot! Why, it took alicorns ages to perfect Cider Space."

"But they... they all..." Rainbow hissed through her teeth, her irises like pinpricks. "They all look and sound like her."

"But they're not, Rainbow Dash, I assure you," Epcot said.

"They're n-not?"

"Mmm-mmm..." Epcot shook her fuzzy head. "To make the perfect dream to encapsulate Applejack, they had to sculpt an ideal shell, only without a mold. They undoubtedly tried hundreds if not thousands of times before they got the product that now imprisons your friend here in Philanthropy." Epcot gazed down at the canyon floor with a sour frown. "Guess how they decided to deal with all the previous failures. Tsk tsk... such a waste..."

"So, they're just... th-they're just fractured pieces of dreams..." Rainbow gulped. "They're not... they're not..."

"Your friend is up there in the city, and she's in one piece." Epcot smiled. "She'll be the same pony you know once we get that shell shattered, believe me."

Rainbow breathed easier, but no relief came to her face. Instead, her eyes thinned, welling with tears. She grimaced to the point of her teeth chattering... and simply broke down. Hunched over, the mare cried, quietly... with intermintent voice cracking squeaks.

Epcot gazed thoughtfully at her. A few blinks later, she smiled, crawled over, and hugged the pegasus from behind.

Rainbow inhaled hard, sniffling. She dangled limply in Epcot's hug, her lungs quaking. At last, with a few lasting shudders, she wailed, "I love her... oh goddess I love her so much..."

Epcot was quiet, simply nodding as she held the mare from behind.

"I g-gotta save her, Epcot... I have to..." Rainbow sniffled, tears flowing as she stared pathetically into the ravine. "But I keep screwing up a-a-and it's like she's getting so far away and... and..." She heaved, eyes clenching shut. "...I-I can't even keep Stu and the others safe?! How can expect m-myself to wrench AJ from Shindig's claws?!"

"You will," Epcot said. "You're the best dreamer I've met in eons. You can do anything you set your mind to."

"I can't... I-I can't even tell her..." Rainbow sobbed, ears folding back as she hiccuped into the next few words. "I-I-I can't even share my heart and mind with the mare I love. Not even in my dreams. I can't let myself have it. I hate it." She slammed her hoof against the cliffside, thrashing "I hate myself! I h-hate myself so much!"

"You will not save your friend with that attitude, now will you? Hmmm?" Epcot smiled sweetly, nuzzling the crying mare from behind. "Maybe this is why you're here. Maybe this is why you stumbled my way."

"What... what the h-hay does th-that even mean?"

Epcot grinned. "You needed to find out that you have the power to do what most needs being done." She tilted her head aside, eyes bright and purple. "Perhaps you've always known, but you just needed a reminder."

Rainbow Dash shuddered, gazing painfully into the shadows.

Epcot hugged her tighter, giving her a tiny shake. "You will save your friend, Rainbow Dash. I'll help you in any way you can—if you need it. And then... when you're back in the real world... maybe you can try practicing dreaming without the cider." She winked.

Rainbow Dash took several deep breaths. Despite her sniffles, she rubbed her muzzle dry, bearing the tiniest bit of a frown.

"Hmmm... how curious..."

Rainbow blinked. Swallowing a lump down her throat, she muttered: "Wh-what?"

"Immortals and mortals..." Epcot hummed. "You both need hugs equally... but mortals always seem to ask for it less." She shrugged, nuzzling Rainbow Dash again. "Just funny, is all..."

Rainbow grumbled. "Yeah, well..." The tiniest of smiles crossed her wet muzzle. "...you have a stiff sense of humor."

Epcot gently nodded. "One hundred thousand years is a tough crowd..."

Comments

[RoboRed]

It was Applejack, and yet it wasn't. Rather—it was a quarter of her: a neck, a forelimb, and half a head. When her skull turned towards the light, it cut off completely mid-muzzle. The fuzzy orange flesh ended on a knife's edge, and the rest of her fractured body was hollow and gray, like a plaster shell. That, however, didn't stop the abominable sliver of a mare from grasping Rainbow's hoof with her one good limb.

...I am nearly absorbed into my chair from the cringing after THAT multiparagraph ordeal. Oh my god...

Rainbow inhaled hard, sniffling. She dangled limply in Epcot's hug, her lungs quaking. At last, with a few lasting shudders, she wailed, "I love her... oh goddess I love her so much..."

Epcot was quiet, simply nodding as she held the mare from behind.

Epcot, you're amazing. This whole chapter was amazing. So many different feels at once. From those wretched failed dreamscapes to Rainbow's breakdown and Epcot's tender care and pep-talk. Great job.

[Sam the Anti-Ninja]

Epcot gently nodded. "One hundred thousand years is a tough crowd..."

Ba dum Tss?

"Hmmm... how curious..."
Rainbow blinked. Swallowing a lump down her throat, she muttered: "Wh-what?"
"Immortals and mortals..." Epcot hummed. "You both need hugs equally... but mortals always seem to ask for it less." She shrugged, nuzzling Rainbow Dash again. "Just funny, is all..."

Once again, Epcot knows just what to do. Ye gods, I hate to think of her fate at the end of this. She doesn't have an actual body, and I don't know if RD would utilize a shard just to give her one.

Oh who am I kidding, of course she would. Nopony deserves to be alone.

[Sharp Quill]

Abysmal

Both definitions are appropriate:
1. extremely bad
2. very deep, of the abyss

[WhitewolfStormrunner]

Something just tells me that after Epcot's little pep-talk, Her Royal Madness Serenity Shindig is gonna have one very determined, to say nothing of one very, very pissed off Element of Loyalty headed her way.

Anyone wanna bet just how long it'll take Dash to get back to AJ, bring her back to herself, then bring Shindig's insane fantasy world crashing down around her fake alicorn ears?

Ya know, one good Sonic Rainboom oughta do it, I think.

[WhitewolfStormrunner]

5779248

Once again, Epcot knows just what to do. Ye gods, I hate to think of her fate at the end of this. She doesn't have an actual body, and I don't know if RD would utilize a shard just to give her one.

Oh who am I kidding, of course she would. Nopony deserves to be alone.

Well, I seem to remember that there was one in the top of that tank that Shindig was in in that one chapter. Maybe, if Dash manages to regain consciousness before everyone else, she'll use it to bring Epcot to the real world.

Just have to wait and see, I guess.

[Lightning Bearer]

Well, that was some imagery I didn't need. Thanks , JE.

[Sam the Anti-Ninja]

5779265 My guess? Ten. Seconds. Flat.
Also, you may be on to something with that Rainboom idea. But how on earth is she gonna pull that off with leather wings and steam propulsion?

[Mister Saxon]

Well, thanks for that
I didn't need sleep, anyways.

[viofriedsevey]

That was such an epic chapter I have no words, all I can say is at this point I've begun my f5 cycle at 10:30 pm daily, I think I've become addicted to this story.

[Sheendough]

5779541 Likewise.
5779265 5779373 Maybe by grabbing one of the failed AJs. If she can't pull a Sonic Rainboom, maybe an EldritchAbomination should wake her.
5779310 5779248 At first I thought that she would give her wish to Serenity, but I think yours is more plausible. Though Epcot could theoretically visit Rainbow in her own dreams when she escapes.

[Leftover of Saikano]

Well... That's nightmarish.

[Aatxe360]

5779347

The imagery was appropriate. A kick in the teeth, as it were. RD was still holding back because of the others. Stu didn't hold back and unwittingly sent RD where she needed to go for perspective and Epcot to allow RD another chance.

[BabySkittleMonster]

I am speechless. And sobbing. I think my voice has left me completely. And my lungs don't appear to be working right. Everything is just... So much. Too much. The sadness, the pain and sorrow, the sheer despair and hatred RD has, all of it. My heart can't take much more of this... I think I now need to find a nice, fluffy AppleDash that doesn't wrench my heart out and stamp all over it with studs!

[Shipmun]

This has been a frightening chapter. Every time RD gives in to her emotions and begins... well, crying, I start to really hear her voice. Normally I don't read something and imagine it audibly, so this is having an effect on me.

[zaponator]

Jesus Christ how horrifying.

[Phoenix Kitten]

I really hope that once this arc ends, Epcot gets to come with her somehow...I'm gonna miss her otherwise

[DrEggnog]

Disturbing imagery, emo feels, and tender hugs and words. This chapter was like a balanced breakfast of emotions. What a roller coaster.

[arancaytar]

What the fuuuuuuuuuck

Shindig, you have earned yourself a place on a very short list. And the only other name on it is Shell.

And please for the love of Celestia let Epcot come out of the dream world. She's so awesome.

[berrytone]

She backed up, only to feel more and more orange limbs grasping her from the crevices with arachnid desperation

I didn't need to sleep tonight

[SnowOriole]

"I can't... I-I can't even tell her..." Rainbow sobbed, ears folding back as she hiccuped into the next few words. "I-I-I can't even share my heart and mind with the mare I love. Not even in my dreams. I can't let myself have it. I hate it."

Tell her after this is over! You can do it Rainbow! (ง •̀_•́)ง