//------------------------------// // Finding Applejack // Story: The Broken Mare // by darkangel_31314 //------------------------------// “Twilight? Is… is that you, sugercube?” Twilight spun about, her eyes going wide at the sight before her. It resembled Applejack, talked like Applejack… but couldn’t be Applejack. The orange mare had a brace clamped onto her right foreleg, her signature Stetson was missing, her blonde mane no longer braided but trimmed and draped over her neck. Tired eyes stared in disbelief at Twilight as she limped forward. “… but… you’re…” She whispered, reaching out a hoof toward Twilight as if trying to believe she existed. “… Applejack?” Twilight managed to find her voice. The mare in question suddenly threw her hooves around the unicorn. “TWILIGHT! Oh thank Celestia yer real! Yer alive!” The farmer cried into Twilight’s mane. “…” Unable to say anything, Twilight just hugged her friend back with a heavy sigh. “… yes… I’m alive…” Finally pulling from the hug, Applejack smiled, tears flowing freely down her face. “… It’s good to see you… I always knew you’d come back! Come on, hun, let’s get you checked out at the hospital, then we’ll get a letter to the Princess. Oh! You’re probably hungry too after all that time, so we can stop by the stall and I'll leave A.B. in charge, who knows-” Twilight finally had to force her friend to stop talking with a hoof to the nose. “Applejack.” She said sternly, eying her friend carefully. “… I need to know. I need to know what happened…” The orange Earth Pony looked back in suprise. "You... you don't know?" “… I… I don’t remember.” She looked down at the cobblestones that made up the town square, her ears drooping sadly. “The last thing I remember is you visiting me at the Library after we got back from Canterlot.” The only noise for at least a few minutes was the sound of ponies going about their business through the market. “… I... I understand, sugarcube… it was hard on all of us.” She shook her head. “Ah well, come on. Let’s get you to the clinic and looked over. I’ll… I’ll explain later.” She forced a smile. “A.J… you’re holding something back.” Twilight fired right back. “I promise, hun. I just… need to get over the fact you’re still alive.” She shook her head and limped off, forcing the pregnant unicorn to trot to catch up. The two walked along in silence. It lasted for just over another full minute. "A.J.! There you are!" Came a familiar voice from the apple stall bearing the logo of the best apple orchard in Equestria. Behind it was a familiar filly who stared with wide eyes at Twilight. "Who... wait... is that?!" "Yea, it is, Applebloom. She just walked into town. I need you to stay here and tend the stand, I'm taking her to the hospital to get checked out." "Um... sure thing, Sis..." The young filly continued to stare at the disheveled unicorn as Applejack plucked a Granny Smith from its display, flipping it to be caught by Twilight's telekinetic field. "Come on, Twilight." The Earth Pony gave a weak smile. "Let's get ya to the clinic before we get any more interruptions... Twilight sighed and took a bite. She gathered some of her stray thoughts together. “A.J… where’s Fluttershy? I passed by her cottage on the way into town.” Another pregnant pause - and not because of the foal in Twilight’s stomach. “Lives on the north side. We’ll be seeing her at the hospital, she works there now.” Came the simple, neutral response. Twilight could only sigh in frustration. “Ever since I woke up, I’ve been trying to figure out what happened, why I can’t remember anything, why I’m pregnant, why things have changed… how much time has passed?” “Wait… you’re with foal now?” Applejack suddenly stopped and glanced at Twilight’s belly, an angry scowl coming across her face. “… and you don’t remember who knocked ya up?” She resumed walking, muttering a few choice curses under her breath. Definitely not like Applejack. First the faded accent, and now blatant cursing? This brought Twilight up to a halt, scowling at her changed friend, tossing the half-eaten apple into a handy wastebasket. “Applejack!” When the Earth Pony looked back; “I am not going another step until you tell me what happened! What happened to me? What happened to your leg? Where are the rest of our friends?” The scowl on the Earth Pony’s face vanished, a sad, longing look replacing it as she looked at her leg. “Twilight… you were abducted by the ghost of Nightmare Moon. Me and Dash fought to stop it, to save you…“ She tapped her leg brace on the ground. “But as you can see, we failed.“ She looked back up at her friend who had all but risen from the dead. “You’ve been missing for over a year now." The unicorn in question suddenly dropped to the street. Her mouth hanging open, unable to form words. Applejack placed a reassuring hoof on her friend's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Twilight... we... we tried..." The tears resumed their flow down her face. "A... year?" A nod. "A whole year..." A beat. "Nightmare Moon?!" She looked up aghast. "We weren't sure, to be honest." She shook her head. "We were at the castle in the Everfree. You were near the alter where we fought her. Then the next thing we know, me an' Dash were racing after a black cloud... I'm sure you remember it..." It was Twilight's turn to nod. "Those glowing gold dragon eyes were sure convincin' too..." She shook her head. "Come on, darlin'..." Applejack turned and walked away. Twilight sighed and hung her head as she followed her friend down the street to the large building bearing the pink cross. She barely paid attention to the ponies around her as Applejack said something, shouts were given in response, and she was ushered into a side room and laid on a bed. Another shout, and a call for a certain Doctor. Then, a reply. "... Oh Sweet Celestia, Twilight!" It was immediately followed by a butter-colored Pegasus clamping her forehooves around Twilight's neck. The unicorn could do nothing but cry.