//------------------------------// // Chapter 8 // Story: Equestrias Forever // by Pentatonic //------------------------------// Equestria ? Inside Scout transported back into the castle in one of the many hallways. She wasn’t looking forward to recounting the full events of the battle she’d witnessed. She hadn’t been able to figure out how Tsunami and his band of do-gooders knew what world to go to but no doubt the Master would have a plan, however difficult the situation may have become. However, before she could get to the throne room, Scout heard a noise coming from another room as she passed by. She stopped and a bit of a smile came to her face. It was the sound of sniffling and tears being held in. She leaned up against the door to listen. “Pretty soon, sugarcube.” She could hear Applejack saying. “Pretty soon we’ll all be together again.” Scout couldn’t resist the chance to rub salt into the wound she knew Applejack had. She let herself into the room and spoke with cruel enjoyment. “Aww. Taking some time to have a heart to heart with your picture?” Indeed, AJ was holding a picture of Granny Smith, Big Mac and Apple Bloom. Her eyes, still red with tears began to burn with anger. “What would you know about it?” She sneered, practically spitting the words at Scout. “Who have you ever lost? All you care about sneaking around and hurting ponies.” Scout just smiled. “Attachments are a weakness. Maybe if you weren’t so broken up about your family dying, you wouldn’t spend so much time in here wailing like a filly.” Applejack was about ready to buck Scout through the wall but suddenly, they were joined in the room by the Master whose mere presence was enough to end any thoughts of a fight. “We accomplish nothing by fighting amongst ourselves. Just remember when all this is done we will all get what we want.” Scout gave Applejack a smirk before leaving to wait in the throne room. The Master turned to follow before stopping. She turned back to AJ. “Don’t worry, when I form my new world, you will get your family back.” She said, a bit of softness in her voice. She walked out, leaving Applejack alone with her thoughts. - - - Back in the pocket world another Applejack was deep in thought as well. The target of her thoughts, however, stood at the other end of the room, a sinister smile on her face. Even after the success of their previous battle, she still didn’t want to let Chrysalis out of her sight. After a moment, Applejack was joined by Pinkie who had a cake in her hands. “It’s time to turn that frown upside down.” She said, presenting the cake happily. “It’s cinnamon sugar apple cake.” Applejack sighed and said, “I appreciate it, Pinkie, but I’m not really feeling like cake right now.” With that, Pinkie started pulling out other random desserts, seemingly from nowhere, trying to find one that Applejack would like. AJ chuckled a little but there was an emptiness to it. Pinkie turned her head to Chrysalis for a moment before turning back. “Why do you hate her so much?” She asked. Applejack sighed. “In our world Chrysalis and the changelings rule. They feed on love ponies feel and leave them empty. We live in camps, spending everyday in fear that they’ll find us. We have to stay in groups so they can’t impersonate anypony and get into our midst. “About a year ago my little sister, Apple Bloom went missing. I searched for weeks to find her. Some of the ponies from my camp told me to give up after a while. Usually when a pony went missing for that long, they didn’t come back. I couldn’t though. I couldn’t just give up on her. “Eventually, a few of us found a changeling prison camp. They were keeping ponies there to use as a food source whenever they needed love to snack on. We managed to take the camp down and save the prisoners. That’s where I found Apple Bloom. But it was too late. She was like an empty shell, alive but drained practically dry. “I got her home but we never really got her back. She just sits with the same blank expression on her face. I don’t know if she’ll ever come out of it.” Pinkie sat, her mouth agape, wishing there was a way to help her new friend. Then she noticed that Chrysalis had joined them. “Ah yes.” The queen said. “I remember that little filly. It took a long tine to drain all the love from her.” Suddenly, Applejack lunged at her, knocking the changeling to the floor. Pinkie managed to pull her off before she could do much damage as the others burst in. “Enough!” Shouted Tsunami. “I know how you two feel about each other but we’re not going to save anyone if all we’re doing is fighting with each other! Now both of you go cool off!” As the team led Applejack and Chrysalis out, keeping them separated, Twilight walked over to Tsunami who was rubbing his temples with his hooves. Twilight placed her hoof on his shoulder. “I know you chose each of us for a reason but was Chrysalis really the best choice? My friend, Thorax is a changeling and much easier to get along with.” “I’m familiar with him.” Tsunami replied. “He’s a good guy but he’s too nice for this. For all her faults, Chrysalis is a fighter. Don’t worry. At the end of the day, she doesn’t want her world destroyed either. She’ll work with us even if it’s to serve her own purposes.” Twilight watched him walk away and hoped he was right. All these different worlds were depending on them. They couldn’t afford to let anything stop them from doing duty.