The Wolves in Her Head
The sky erupted in hues of orange and pink as the sun concluded its daily journey over Equestria. Countless apples glowed crimson in the dying sunlight. A young mare donning a worn hat grunted as her powerful hooves made contact with the trunk of an apple tree. The force and strength that set the kick in motion caused ripe apples to tumble into a multitude of baskets placed below the tree. The mare swept away stray strands of golden hair and wiped sweat from her brow with a free hoof. Her coat glistened in the twilight, its orange hues bore an uncanny resemblance to the color of the fiery sky.
Those whom she was familliar with referred to her as Applejack. A wave of exhaustion overwhelmed her upon having completed her task. Her hooves were dry and cracked from countless hours of labor. Applejack carefully unbuckled a saddle bag that rested on her flank and withdrew a dented canteen. She soothed her parched throat with a few gulps of cool water before placing the container in her bag once more. The tired mare began to trot toward a vermillion barn on the horizon with dreams of a good night’s rest in mind.
Applejack shivered as a gust of chilly night air threated to claim her tattered hat. Protruding roots and wilted leaves littered the ground beneath her hooves. Alien plants from the Everfree forest were slowly consuming the once unsullied fields of Sweet Apple Acres. The young pony quickened her pace as the dark forest drew near. The darkened woods inspired fear in her heart as she raced past. Suddenly, the sharp snap of a twig shattered the once pristine silence. She halted before the wall of gnarled trees. A low growl emanated from a decaying hedge. The mare’s heart beat rapidly in her chest as panic overwhelmed her. Her throat grew dry in mere moments. She struggled to steady her shaking hooves as she backed away from the forest’s edge. She broke into a gallop and raced toward her desired destination at top speed.
They were coming for her. They only came when she was alone. Applejack could feel their hot breath on her face and she could see their amber eyes glisten. The Timberwolves were after her. Yet, the Timberwolves who haunted her alone were greater in size than the tormentors of the common pony. Not only did they vary in size, but these fiends were composed exclusively of decayed, rotten limbs of trees. Not a pristine branch could be found within their massive physical manifestations. These beasts were after her and all who may stand in their way.
The frequency at which her sharp breaths escaped from her chest increased exponentially. Her hooves pounded the ground rhythmically, each step bringing her closer to her sanctuary. The Timberwolves emerged from the woven mesh of greenery. To the mare’s astonishment, they did not give chase. Rather, the pack slowly stalked the panicked pony on her frantic homeward journey.
The massive barn grew closer with her every step. Once the manic pony set hoof on the winding dirt path that led to the Apple family estate her tension released. She knew that her family would support and protect her in a dangerous situation. She had no doubt that as a unit they would be able to banish the vicious predators that stalked her.
Finally, she reached the oaken door that shielded the house’s interior from nature’s elements. The rusted hinges groaned in resistance at her ingress. Upon entry she swiftly swung the door back into its wooden frame and deployed each lock affixed to the barrier. She lingered at the doorway for a few moments. Her coat was dampened by the sweat that flowed freely through her pores in her state of anxiety. She gasped for air to oxygenate her tired lungs. Her mane, once tied loosely, had become unsightly after her burst of rigorous physical activity.
“Applejack? What’s wrong, sugarcube?” A tentative voice called.
Applejack spun around to face the pony from which the speech had emanated. A small elderly mare gazed at her granddaughter with worry.
“Granny Smith!” Applejack cried, “You gotta’ help me. It’s them Timberwolves, They’re a fixin’ to eat me up."
“What now?” The elderly mare inquired, “It aint Timberwolf season, dearie. Are you sure you caught sight of em’?”
“Sure as the day is long, Granny. See fer’ yourself.”
Granny Smith approached the window cautiously and glanced outside. Not a single beast’s presence could be confirmed by her gaze.
“Applejack… I can’t see head nor hide of them Timberwolves...” Granny Smith began.
“Aint’ a lie. I saw em’ with mah own two eyes.” Applejack cried in desperation.
“Did you take yer meds this mornin’, dearie?” The ancient mare asked. Her brow was furrowed in concern.
Applejack felt her cheeks and muzzle become hot as her rage consumed her. “I told you, Granny, I don’t need em’! I aint crazy! The things I see are real… Jus’ nopony aint ever around to see em’.”
Granny Smith spoke softly in an attempt to sooth her granddaughter’s nerves, “Sugarcube, you aint crazy, yer’ just… sick. Schizophrenia aint somethin’ that just comes and goes in a day. You gotta’ take yer’ meds, sugar, if ya’ll want to get better. Ya’ hear? Them Timberwolves aint’ nothing to be afraid of, they aint real. They’re all in yer’ head. I’ll show ya’…” Granny smith placed a shaky hoof on the doorknob and began to turn. Applejack’s eyes widened in renewed panic.
Before her grandmother could complete the rotation Applejack leaped upon her. “NO!" She shrieked as she withdrew a knife from her saddle bag. She couldn’t allow Granny Smith to permit entry to those savages. In a blind rage Applejack plunged the knife deep into the green mare’s chest. Granny Smith screamed in pain and horror. She began to convulse as spurts or crimson blood flowed freely from the wound in her chest. Applejack stood atop her dying relative, completely devoid of emotion. The corners of her mouth lifted upward to formulate a grin. She was safe. Granny was yet to remove the great wooden barrier that stood between her and the Timberwolves when Applejack ended her life. Applejack realized that it was no longer her family’s reponsiblity to protect her, but responsiblility to protect them.
“Applejack?” A deep voice called. She turned to meet the gaze of her elder brother. The red stallion stared in horror at the morbid scene and studied the droplets of blood that stained her mane and flank. “Did you…?” Big Mac asked his sister. His voice wavered as he spoke. It was apparent that he had come to fear his sister.
“I did." Applejack smiled. I saved you. I saved you n’ Applebloom n’ Granny Smith. Aint no Timberwolves gonna get us now.”
“Timberwolves?” He asked. He nervously glanced out into the fields beyond the farmhouse only to find it desolate. “Applejack, there aint nothing there.”
Applejack began to laugh. “Why, Granny said the same thing! I know that they’re out there, Big Macintosh, but don’t you worry. I’ll save all of you. Isn’t that right, Granny Smith?” The lifeless corpse remained motionless.
The stallion began to retreat to the recesses of the house. He then strengthened his resolve and charged at Applejack. A dangerous mare such as she must be restrained. He pinned the orange mare onto the oaken floor with hooves both muscular and nimble.
“What are ya’ll doing?"Applejack screeched. She struggled to escape her brother’s grasp but found herself to be inferior. “I saved ya." She then heard the rusted hinges of the door creak sharply. She watched in terror as the wolves passed through the barrier as if it had no physical matter. “LET ME GO! WE’LL BE KILLED!” She writhed in his arms as he struggled to restrain her. In desperation Applejack gripped the knife between her teeth once more and thrust her torso upward.
The knife planted itself in the eye of Big Macintosh with a sickening squelch. His cries resonated throughout the house. He struggled to remove the knife from his ocular appendage as blood poured from the gash. Applejack removed the knife from the eye of her brother and stabbed him once more through his skull. The bone split on impact and the sharp vessel punctured his newly exposed brain. He ceased to shriek and his body went limp. Applejack grew increasingly fearful upon taking notice of the predators' close proximity with her. She fled without reclaiming the knife.
She dashed up the flight of stairs toward the bedroom of her younger sister, Applebloom. Applejack found her huddled beneath her bed. Applebloom had been startled by the pained cries of her relatives.
“Applebloom, I’m here to save ya’." Applejack yelled triumphantly. She tenderly embraced her shaking sister and removed the filly from the sanctuary under her bed.
“Applejack…” Applebloom whispered. She clutched her sister’s side fearfully. “Sis… I heard screams… Big Macintosh and Granny Smith, are they okay?”
Applejack smiled warmly at her younger sibling, “They sure are, sugarcube. And yer’ gonna be okay too. I saved em', and now I'm going to save ya'll.” At the doorway she heard the scratching of claws against polished flooring. The Timberwolves had ascended the stairs.
“They’re here. Don't you fret, sis, I aint' giving you up to them motherbuckers."
Applejack released Applebloom with great force. She flung the filly away from the doorway, toward the bedframe. Applebloom collided with the headboard. Her skull cracked on a sharp wooden corner and her neck snapped from the impact. Blood slowly seeped from a fissure in her head. The crimson liquid collected in a pool beneath her lifeless corpse. Applejack smiled. She had succesded in bringing salvation to her beloved family. Her only remaining task was to evade her relentless persuers.
Applejack pulled a chord on the ceiling that revealed a hatch. From the hatch a ladder followed. She swiftly clambered up the metal structure into the attic above.
The attic was littered with timeless family heirlooms, each item shrouded by a veil of dust. With each step she took the ancient floorboards creaked. She cautiously extended a hoof to close the hatch that had granted her entry. She knew that this would not prevent the Timberwolves from capturing her. If they had the ability to pass through walls, then surely the ceiling would be no challenge. Applejack lay crumpled on the floor in despair. Suddenly, she recalled the family’s possession of a cetain tool that would assist her in preventing her apparent consumption.
She sought out a box in which she would find the item she desired to gain access to. Finally, she discovered a case of birch with an array of floral patterns engraved on its polished surface. Applejack removed the lid slowly. She now possessed the item that would aid her in escaping her inevitable fate. Between her hooves she held a relic of great power. The smooth metal that encased its inner workings was cold to the touch. She smiled once more as she brought the item to meet her forehead and pulled the trigger.