Appledashery

by Just Essay

Wake Up

Rainbow heard a shrill whistle, and only after the tenth consecutive second of convulsions did she realize it was the sound of her own wheezing breath. Once her eyes stopped rolling back into their sockets, she made out a fuzzy scene on top of another fuzzy scene. Several rapid blinks later, she realized that she was seeing a gray room housed within a concrete building.

The cider mill...

She was back on Shindig's farm. Inside her cider-making building. And before her...

"Epcot...?" Rainbow Dash whimpered. It was difficult to breathe; it was difficult to do anything. She tried lifting her head, and the world instantly spun. Rainbow lurched forward, struggling to stay seated in the folding chair beside the table and overturned goblet.

Her gaze swam over the floor. She saw a brown Stetson lying on the floor. Several feet forward, she saw an opened sliding door made out of metal and concrete. Beyond that—dimly illuminated by dull morning light through the high windows—was an array of bodies lying on gurneys. Against the far wall was the sarcophagus that housed Serenity Shindig's body... though something was off about it.

The entire device was glowing.

An alarm buzzed. Rainbow felt the temperature in the room increasing dramatically. Before her eyes, several steam pipes burst, spitting mist all across the interior. Indecipherable gazes twirled towards the red, and a high pitched whine filled the room.

Rainbow gritted her teeth.

Flim and Flam's dream had collapsed, and there was nothing left to stabilize the machinery.

Sure enough, within a minute, the glass holding Serenity shattered completely. Her body slumped forward with a stifled groan, and Rainbow saw her limbs stirring ever so slightly. Beside her, Flim and Flam shifted in their restraints, their eyelids fluttering.

Rainbow felt a nervous flutter in her chest. Before she could do anything—POWWW! The very top of the sarcophagus exploded. Shards of glass flew over Rainbow's head, but one object in particular landed on the concrete floor several feet away with a smoke trail.

Rainbow gasped. It was the chaos shard—the energy core of the machine.

With one flap of her wings, Rainbow dove onto her hooves... and promptly collapsed.

"Mmmmfff!" She grunted breathily, falling chest-first across the concrete floor. She winced, battling numbness and pain in murderous waves. Her eyes opened, and she sensed a fine sheen of sweat coating her body. "Wh-what... I...?!"

Reality came thundering towards her at a frightening speed. She didn't know how long in the real world she had been unconscious. It could have been hours... days... there just wasn't any way to tell for sure. The only thing Rainbow could be certain of was that she had been without her medication the entire time.

"Grnnngh... mfmmfff..." Straining, Rainbow tried pulling herself forward. She was able to move, but only slightly. It took a full minute to cover five inches. With eyes locked on the chaos shard, she persisted, struggling against stiff muscles to make it across the room.

All the while, the sarcophagus holding Shindig whined louder and louder. Rainbow heard more and more steam pipes bursting. It got to the point where it was difficult to see ten feet ahead, much less the farthest end of the building. Regardless, Rainbow tried, lifting her head and staring into the chamber beyond the open doors.

At that precise moment, Gustave Le Grande was stirring. Mulia Mild and Donut Joe were starting to get up from their gurneys, rubbing their heads in pain. Even Stu Leaves and the sons of Shindig were starting to fully wake. In fact, the only body that wasn't moving was—

"Applejack." Rainbow squeaked. She pulled, tugged, and fought to inch her way forward. At least, she got as far as the chaos shard, instantly hugging the thing to her chest. She panted and panted, flexing her wing muscles. Her numbness was so bad that even her feathers had atrophied—with the very tips tingling with needle-prick sensations. All the mare could do was lie on her side and gaze with helpless horror as Applejack's body continued to lie dormant. "Please... please, Applejack... please..." Rainbow's lip quivered, and her eyes moistened instantly. "Tell me it worked. Celestia... Luna... somepony tell me it wasn't for nothing." She clenched her eyes shut, shivering all over. "The cider princess lives... the cider princess lives!"

"No! Mother, no!"

Rainbow gasped. Her eyes flew open and her head jerked to gaze at the far end of the chamber.

For a brief moment, the billowing steam parted, and Rainbow could see two stallions kneeling besides Shindig's body right outside the metal sarcophagus. In a single blink, Rainbow could tell that Serenity's fate was consideratly worse than hers. The mare's body had completely paled, and her eyes were terribly bloodshot.

"Stay with us, Mother!" Flim sobbed.

"It's too late," Flam grumbled, a sweating mess. "The... the alicorns' spell! She was in there too long! There isn't enough of her that came back!"

"No! We can still save her!" Flim yelped, nuzzling the old mare close. "We can send her back! We c-can fix this!"

"Shhhh... shhhh..." Shindig gently caressed one stallion, then the other. "Felix... Frederick... you've done enough..."

"Don't say that, Mother!" Flim whimpered.

"We wanted you to be happy," Flam said, quivering. "We... we worked so hard to find a way for you to be with Father again and—"

"I... had my time with your father," Shindig murmured. "I... I know I was very cold for a very long time, but... but I-I had moved on..."

"But... but Mother..."

"It's alright... it's alright, my darlings..." Shindig smiled weakly at them. "I... I forgive you." She gulped. "I can never hate anypony for loving me so much."

"We failed you, Mother," Flam said with a shuddering breath. Tears fell from his and Flim's eyes. "We only wanted you to be happy."

"I am happy," Shindig said. "To have such lovely... handsome sons... how can I not?"

"Please Mother, don't... don't say—"

"You... you will have to learn to move on too..." Shindig murmured. "Someday... and then... then..." Her eyes rolled back as her chest deflated. "...we will be together again."

"Mother..."

"Mother? Mother!"

Both stallions buried their faces in her chest, sobbing uncontrollably. All the while, Shindig's figure went limp, her mouth hanging agape.

Rainbow bit her lip. Her ears twitched to the sound of murmuring voices. She glanced over.

Stu was hobbling up to his hooves, wincing, dazed. "I... I feel so... so..." He blinked across the steamy room. "That whistling noise. How... where did...?"

"The princess..." Mulia Mild sat up, rubbing her skull. Donut Joe helped her off her gurney as she struggled to get an even hoofing. "Is she safe? Did we do it?"

"I don't like the sound of this," Gustave said, glancing at the glowing hot sarcophagus. "That machine..."

"Say, if we're all awake..." Donut Joe blinked. "Doesn't that mean that—?"

"YOU!"

Rainbow's heart skipped a beat. She turned to look.

Flim and Flam had stood up. Their faces were wrenched in unadulterated rage—a primal sort of anger that evaporated the tears from ther eyes.

"You... you did this...!"

"If it weren't for you, Mother would be in paradise!"

"Don't you realize what you've done?!"

"It's all your fault!" Flim and Flam galloped straight for Rainbow Dash, their heavy hooves swinging towards her vulnerable body. "I swear on our Mother's life we'll make you pay—"

WHAMMM! A pair of orange hooves bucked the two stallions so hard their bodies flew across the room and ricocheted off a concrete wall.

Rainbow Dash gasped. So did Stu. Both ponies glanced aside.

Applejack swiveled back onto all four hooves, panting. "Threaten one of my friends again and you'll fly clear into the ocean, ya varmints!" Applejack tossed her mane and looked down at Rainbow Dash. "Rainbow! Y'all okay?"

"I... I-I..." Rainbow wheezed.

"What in tarnation is goin' on around here?! Where am I?!" Applejack trotted in a circle. "And what in the hay is makin' that high-pitched hog squeal?!"

"Everyone!" Gustave shouted. "The machine!"

"It's going to blow!" Donut added, already galloping out of the building with Mulia in tow. "Run like you got a pair!"

"Holy smokes!" Stu Leaves galloped across the way while Gustave flew overhead. "Rainbow! AJ!"

"Right!" Applejack had already slapped her hat on. "Let's move, Rainbow—Rainbow!" She looked over, eyes wide. "What are y'all layin' around for?"

"I... I can't... can't..." Rainbow felt the world going dark. Her eyes rolled back again as her head grew faint and fainter. "Feel like I'm gonna..."

"Land's sakes! Stu, give me a hoof!"

"Sure thing!"

"Quickly!"

The last thing Rainbow felt was Applejack's strong limbs folding around her. It was a warm enough thing to go with. With a final ounce of thought, Rainbow hugged the chaos shard to her chest and surrendered to the darkness.

Somewhere beyond the veil, she felt a loud thud, but it merged with the sound of her heartbeat, and then dwindled into absolute silence.

Comments

[Autumn Rush]

APPLEJACK IS BACK!

On the downside, poor Rainbow.

...and Shindig for that matter.

[TIAS-A1927]

Soooo intenseee!!!!!
So, Applejack doesn't remember anything. Still; that kiss, is something that, no matter the rest, Dash will not forget.

[Mister Saxon]

Well, I guess we're adding Flim and Flam to the Evil League of Evil. What's next? Starlight Glimmer?

[zaponator]

As much as I want to point and laugh at the FlimFlams and rub all this in their faces, well... Their mom did just die.
I mean, come on, man.

[zaponator]

Also I am very happy with this ending and I really hope this means Rainbow will finally be telling someone about her life-affecting terminal illness that really should've come up months ago. :P

[WhitewolfStormrunner]

Yes!!! A new chapter, and with it, Applejack is back in the house, and her rightful self! I am lovin' it!!!

Now, that said, a moment of silence for Serenity Shindig, as she finally joins her beloved Philanthopy in the Great Beyond, the Summerlands...or, whatever you guys named it...and is finally at peace.

Too bad her sons are still too stupid to see that, and were bent on revenge against the one they blamed for all this. If they were in that building when it finally blew, I don't think that anyone will mourn them very much.

I know that I won't.

And It looks like everyone got out before the Big "Kablooey!", I'm thinking.

I just hope that Rainbow's going to be alright. That last bit

The last thing Rainbow felt was Applejack's strong limbs folding around her. It was a warm enough thing to go with. With a final ounce of thought, Rainbow hugged the chaos shard to her chest and surrendered to the darkness.

Somewhere beyond the veil, she felt a loud thud, but it merged with the sound of her heartbeat, and then dwindled into absolute silence.

makes me uneasy for some reason.

Very uneasy.

Okay, yeah. I know that Rainbow isn't gonna die. It...just makes me nervous, that's all.

5910544 You and me both, bud. You and me both.

[GluttonousFruitcakes]

-Saved AJ? Check
-Got the shard? Check
-Flim and Flam got bucked into next Tuesday? Check
-Getting this excited over miniature cartoon horse words?
vvcradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/11f9cceb84c1065f4fff44e72efe0cc5_large.gif
Triple Check

[GluttonousFruitcakes]

5910544 I know right? You'd think that'd be the kind of thing your friends want to know about.

[RoboRed]

Rainbow gasped. It was the chaos shard—the energy core of the machine.

Y'know...I completely forgot that the shards were a thing...

[viofriedsevey]

Holy actual fuck. Applejack might learn of Rainbows condition, the plot is going somewhere. Good lord that just about brings a tear to my eye! I am Sooooooooo looking forward to more slice of life.

[HopelessRomanetic]

Omigosh im sooooo excited! Thanks fir the update and the great chappie!

[Lightning Bearer]

I actually gave a small cheer when Applejack swooped in. Awesome stuff. And I don't see how Rainbow can get out of this one without coming clean about her condition. Even if Applejack doesn't remember anything (and it's uncertain how much or how little she remembers at this point), at least we have that to serve as progress.

[Fishberry]

Hooraaaayy! Applejack is okay!

Rainbow Dash didn't have to kiss her!

...

Dammit!

[Skunkiss]

Awwww.... I wanted to see AJ buck Flim and Flam THROUGH the concrete wall, not just against it

Wub wub, I actually didn't expect AJ to return so fast and healthy, but I sure as hay won't complain about it

[Salad king]

WOOOOOOOHOOOOOOO!

[YoshiFawful64]

I'm getting conflicting emotions about this chapter. On one hand, Shindig just died. On the other hand, AJ's finally okay, and Epcot seems to be the only one she could use the shard on.

[Leftover of Saikano]

5910969 She will say it was the weird rock what made her dizzy. We know it does nothing to her, but other shards have had effect on ponies that did nothing more than look at it. The effects were different, but they were there.

[Salad king]

5912052 I recall one line somewhere saying that scoots is actually married to a stallion at the time shes telling the story.

[Fishberry]

5912208

Aw! No Scootabloomery then...

[Salad king]

5912232 afraid not :(

[Fishberry]

59123832

Okay. Idea for story.

Sweetie gets her mark first. The story is retrospective, told by AB in her diary.

As tale catches up to present day, becomes clear in continued crusading with Scoots, feelings are developing. AB uncertain if feelings mutual.

Story catches up to present day. AB closes diary and must decide what to do.

If none of you write this, I might.

... Great username, by the way.

[Hymmnos]

I finally manage to catch up for the first time. Words cannot express how glad I am that it happened when Applejack is back safe in the real world and not with another major cliffhanger.

[YoshiFawful64]

5912486
Doo eeet!

[BabySkittleMonster]

Does this mean... The secret's finally out of the bag? At last? Really? Yeah! Yesyesyesyesye- wait... I forgot who we're dealing with. Dashie, if you talk your way out of this with your damn silver tongue, I will murder you. Got that? I will actually f**king murder you. Glad we made that clear. *watches closely*

[Sam the Anti-Ninja]

5910524 Starlight Glimmer and Sunset Shimmer on the same team? I would read that if only for the inevitable confrontation where Twilight reminds them why she's the one with the Magic crown thingy. Forcefully.

[Phoenix Kitten]

so uh.. did the chapter title make anyone else think of this?

[LucyHorseThing]

I just ran around my house making the girliest noises ever. All I can say is SQUEEEEE!

Also, poor Rainbow.

[Phoenix Kitten]

6879539 I hope you're reading the comments as you go, that's half the fun of a skirts fic.

[arancaytar]

"I... had my time with your father," Shindig murmured. "I... I know I was very cold for a very long time, but... but I-I had moved on..."

Wait, Shindig was already dead before? Now there's a twist.

And CELESTIA ON A BICYCLE what an entrance.

[SnowOriole]

Yay! They're out! Now we just need to murder FlimFlam.

[bronyheat]

It's nice to have Applejack back, but as I feared she's forgotten. Oh well, just have to find away to be even awsomer next time Dashie...