Appledashery

by Just Essay

Retchpositioning

"From what I can tell, the forces of Shindig have taken your companions," Epcot said. "Under the escort of the mortals named Flim and Flam, of course."

"They certainly are doing a lot of the Queen's dirty work, those two." Rainbow's nostrils flared as she stared up at the thin sliver of light forming along the top of the ravine. "Is it just me, or is it getting darker?"

"A great deal more time has passed by in this dreamscape than you might expect," Epcot replied. "I do believe the aforementioned 'coronation' will be happening in less than eightteen simulated hours."

"Then I guess I'd better start flying," Rainbow Dash said. She paced around the edge of the cliffside where the two were perched, flexing her muscles. "I can't very well do much down here."

"Do you think you can ascend quite so easily?" Epcot asked, purple eyes a-flutter. "Perhaps it'll be better if I give you a bit of a boost... or several."

"That'd be super, super appreciated, girl," Rainbow Dash said with a tired smile. "But, really, I could use your help in another area."

"Just name it and I'll frame it!" Epcot grinned, eyes shut. "Heeheehee...!"

Rainbow exhaled. "I don't suppose you... uh... you g-got any bearings on where exactly Shindig's creepy sons took Stu and the others? Or Applejack, for that matter?"

Epcot gravely shook her head. "I'm very sorry. I was so preoccupied in finding you that I neglected to sense where your mortal companions were being escorted across the dreamscape. Please forgive me, Rainbow Dash." She hung her head, ears folded. "I'm a bad, bad chaperone..."

"Hey... you helped me when I most needed it," Rainbow said, gently laying a hoof on the mare's shoulder. "Besides, everything happened so quickly. It's not like Stu gave either of us a friggin' choice."

"I did linger around long enough to see the fruits of his actions," Epcot said. "Your friend kept the forces of Shindig preoccupied—at least long enough for them to forget about dredging you from the ravine."

"Yeah..." Rainbow sighed, nodding slowly. "He really did go out on a limb for me and the others, huh?" She blinked, then paled. "Epcot, is he...? I mean, d-did Stu...?"

Epcot shook her head. "He was alive, last time I checked. I suspect that won't be the case for long, though. It's quite likely that Flim and Flam wish to make an example out of him. Your other friends too."

"Mrmmmfff..." Rainbow rubbed a hoof across her brow. "I hate to say it, but this puts me right back to where I began. All of us are split up and the Coronation's happening even sooner. Heck, I'm worse off than I began!" A blink, and she smiled nervously in the chaperone's direction. "Okay, that's not totally true. I've got you by my side."

Epcot grinned. "Happy to be of service."

"I bet you are. But still..." Epcot paced some more. "...if you're too far away from our buddies to know where they're being taken, then that makes it all the harder for me to find them and free them."

"Erm..." Epcot fidgeted with her dress. "If I may be so bold, Rainbow Dash, I don't think I should be the one you need to depend on for information right now."

"Huh?"

"Think carefully. We've already stumbled upon a source of knowledge on Shindig's way, albeit a fragmented source of knowledge."

Rainbow blinked, confused.

Epcot pointed grimly into the heart of the ravine.

Rainbow turned to gaze at the squirming shapes beyond the shadows. She grimaced. "Awwwww Luna Poop..." She retched, then looked awkwardly at Epcot. "...for real?"

"I'm not quite fond of the prospect either, but we haven't much of a choice now."

Rainbow Dash took a deep, deep breath. She wheezed, then murmured, "For Applejack..."

Epcot smiled gently. "For Applejack."

Comments

[Aatxe360]

crymore.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/rei.jpg

[WhitewolfStormrunner]

You know, the more I read of this on Shindig's crap, the more I've come to hate her even more than I do her sons.

(And that's saying something, trust me!)

Anyway, by the time that Rainbow and Epcot are done down there in the abyss with those poor "Apple Jewell" experiments, finding out what they can, like I've said before (on several occasions), I've just got a very strong feeling that that crack-brained bitch is gonna have one very pissed-off Pegasus coming her way ready to to do her a world of hurt!

And after what she's done; to AJ, Stu, and everyone else (but most especially to Applejack); I almost want to see Dash put a much-deserved end to her (Celestia and Luna only know that her foul soul belongs in Tartarus, with Tirek and the rest of the fiends and abominations!), but I don't know what that would do to her mortal body in the real world.

(Not that I really care, but, unlike her, I'm not a heartless, soulless monster who doesn't care who she hurts, just so she can get her precious husband back.

And on that note, it makes me wonder what he'd think about all this nonsense.

I almost wish that we could know for sure.

[FloydienSlip]

Huh. This'll be interesting.

[Aatxe360]

5786023

Sounds like a trap.

Will what she learns from Applejack clones drive RD to distraction? What if parts of the shells contain a little bit of the original? Would they amount to enough to make noticeable changes outside the dream?

[Mister Saxon]

derpicdn.net/img/2012/1/2/6/large.png

[viofriedsevey]

Epcot is becoming a dear friend, to me as well as Rainbow Dash. Why do I care about fictional characters so much?

[RoboRed]

Epcot gravely shook her head. "I'm very sorry. I was so preoccupied in finding you that I neglected to sense where your mortal companions were being escorted across the dreamscape. Please forgive me, Rainbow Dash." She hung her head, ears folded. "I'm a bad, bad chaperone..."

Hnggg...Epcot...too cute...

"Think carefully. We've already stumbled upon a source of knowledge on Shindig's way, albeit a fragmented source of knowledge."

Rainbow blinked, confused.

Epcot pointed grimly into the heart of the ravine.

...Ugghhh....This isn't going to be fun at all.

[TwilightUCrazy]

Calling it: The second Rainbow leaves the "dream world", she'll be paralyzed as all fuck.

[WhitewolfStormrunner]

5786122 In a way, I'm inclined to agree.

Unfortunately, I have to say "I don't know" to all of these questions.

Ah, heck! I'll give it a bit of a go, anyway.

1) I don't know, but I certainly hope not!
2) That...would unnerving, to say the least......
3) See my answer to #1.

[Aatxe360]

5786445

Oh. I replied to you because the best end I can see for Shindig is for her to go through that doorway so she can be with her husband...or what she thinks is her husband.

5786440

That's a great premonition.

[WhitewolfStormrunner]

5786509 Hmm, okay.

And you do have a point.

The only question that I have is...what if what she's been talking to, and planning to use Applejack as the "host" of, is indeed not her beloved husband, but...something else?

Something...horrible.

*shivers*

Now you've got me thinking about all sorts of lousy scenarios!

[Aatxe360]

5786570

Now you've got me thinking all sorts of lousy things!

I'm proud of myself for that.

[Mister Saxon]

5786440 That would be dramatically appropriate, but if I remember correctly, didn't she quaff, like, most of her potions in preparation for dashing (ba dum tss) for Ponyville? This was just before Stu jumped the gun on going into Cider Space.

My guess is that Romulus and/or Don Canter's men and/or etc. will be there, or in Ponyville when everyone wakes up.

[Simple Facade]

Epcot pointed grimly into the heart of the ravine.

Unngh... Next chapter is gonna make me feel.

5786440
That's crazy talk, but I certainly won't put money down against it.

5786509
Yes, this. Somebody's gotta end up going through that door.
(Can't help picturing Sirius Black & the 'Veil' in Harry Potter: OotP)

[Aatxe360]

5786576

For the time that passes in Cider Space, it's difficult to tell how it is correlating where their meatbags are in relation.

Nah, next few chapters may not be heartstrings feel-worthy, but they might be sticky or oily.

[Lightning Bearer]

So I wasn't entirely wrong about those prototype Apple Jewells. At least they'll be able to stick it to Shindig by helping Rainbow.

[Mister Saxon]

5786632 Well, if you think about it, it has to be pretty damn quick. For example, in the several hours that Shindig, Flim and Flam had, they were able to judge all of the contestants, choose AJ, factor her into their 'reality,' and build all these failed shells. Now, they've got 18 hours left to go in Philanthropy, if that. I doubt more than a day will have passed outside by the time this is all over.

[Mister Saxon]

5785941 Hey, welcome to the party!
Did you bring the beer?

[WhitewolfStormrunner]

5786572 You would.

*baps you*

[Sheendough]

5786652 I was thinking the same.
5786422 ThisIsGonnaSuck

[Aatxe360]

5787418

Meh. Shindig&Sons knew of them were long before they were given invitations. Word had to spread slowly and quietly for something this grand. Maybe the only test they had was how far into Cider Space they could dive... If they were judging by something on the outside alone, everything would have been prepared long before the contestants entered the picture and the show would have had a lot more costumes and masks.

Time will still have moved differently, but didn't Epcot help clear her of foreign substances at one point so RD could focus on the Cider? Could that have been literal? Profuse sweating, vomiting, bladder failure?

[Sam the Anti-Ninja]

For Applejack! For Freedom! For cuddle rights!

[Leftover of Saikano]

5785984 But Tang is not really quite the same a cider.

[zaponator]

Oh joy! Back into the nightmare pit we go.

[DrEggnog]

I like that the disembodied Apple clusterfuck pit wasn't just for a one time freak out and will continue to be relevant plot wise.

I also like that Epcot isn't constantly in bubbly mode and can support Rainbow in these troubled times.

[arancaytar]

Whelp, time to emotionally torture Dashie some more.

[bronyheat]

Well, going to call it a night before I read what's next; the author does emotional/physiological horror very well.
Sorry Dashie, I suspect things are going to get... Grimdark.