Pinkie Pie had never met CHAOS. She had heard it was the guiding force behind CAKE. She had also heard it was made up of a family of identical looking siblings. Pinkie stood in the darkened room wondering if that was true. She also wondered if peanut butter and squid was really as bad as she had heard. Peanut butter was salty and so was squid. Perhaps the flavors dried your mouth out and...
“Hello, Pinkie Pie,” said a voice from a table of color-coded Commander Discords. She gaped in amazement.
“Hi, Commanders,”she bubbly replied. “Did you guys find the magic mirror pool too?”
“No, Mrs Pie, we are not the same Discord,” explained a red glowing Discord. “We are...his brothers.”
The rest of the Commanders nodded in agreement.
“Wow! That puts twinsies on a whole new level,” Pinkie gushed. “Like eightsies.”
“That’s not the point, Mrs. Pie. We’re discussing the incident with Fluttershy.”
“Oh well, first Fluttershy climbed into the Eva and she was all mopey and scared. Then I said Eva Launch and out went Eva Unit-01. Then we told her to take her step first. She did but then that angry angel grabbed her and..”
“We don’t need to hear about the entire fanfic,” explained yellow Discord.
“Oh, then you just want me to talk about episode 16? Where Fluttershy began all scared of Rainbow. Then she ran back into her room and remembered what Applejack said.”
“Tell us about the angel attack, Mrs. Pie,” demanded orange Discord as he rubbed his head with his claw.
“Oh well, Fluttershy walked out towards the unknown sphere in the sky carrying a stick I told her to use.”
“Why a stick?” interrupted Blue Discord.
“Well, duh, you shouldn’t poke an unknown flying thing with your hoof, silly.”
“Shouldn’t she have used a weapon of some sort?” inquired Red Discord.
“Well I would have felt really bad if the sphere was a new friend and we hurt it.”
“None of this matters my..’brothers’,” sighed an exasperated Yellow Discord. “All she has to tell us about is what happened to Fluttershy after Unit-01 was swallowed. “
“Oh, that’s easy,” Pinkie said waving her hoof dismissively. “I don’t know.”
“What do you mean?” implored the Yellow Discord.
“I mean, I don’t know what happened,” explained Pinkie plainly. “I didn’t ask her.”
“But how are we supposed to know what happened?”asked that annoyed Red Discord. “If you didn’t ask her, how are we supposed to know if the angel attempted to make contact or not?”
“Ooo, I know! You could ask but it’s probably better you don’t! Fluttershy nearly died in that entry plug. She came out all sad. No matter how great my parties were, she didn’t cheer up. Her girlfriend, Rainbow Dash, was able to get her to smile at least. I don’t want to see her all sad again if you guys ask her too many questions.”
“What did you say?” asked the shocked Blue discord.
“I said I didn’t want you asking her sad questions,” stated Pinkie.
“No, about Rainbow Dash.”
“You can ask Rainbow Dash but she wasn’t there silly,”explained the perky party pony.
“You said something about Rainbow Dash.”
“She made her smile.”
“It sounded like you said she was her girlfriend,” the Blue Discord clarified.
“Oh, they have been dating for a while now. I know it might affect their fighting performance but I thought it was better than them fighting all the time and pushing each other away.”
“You’re free to go,” declared Yellow Discord.
“Okie dokie lokie,”responded the pink ball of energy. Then she bounded away.
CHAOS waited until she left the room. They looked at one another in silence for a moment.
“Well this is a fine kettle of fish,” Blue complained, breaking the shocked silence.
“It seems that ‘Commander’ Discord has been lying to us,” lamented Red.
“This is what we get for trusting a Discord that can’t even choose a color to be,” insisted Blue.
“This was supposed to bring us together, not pull us apart,” informed Yellow.
“Maybe we should end this now,” suggested Mauve the unusually quiet Discord.
“You have said that at every turn,” reminded Blue. “We need to get this travesty back on script. But until we think of something we have no choice but to rely on ‘Commander’ Discord’s judgement.”
“I shall issue a written warning,” announced Beige Discord monotonously, much to the exasperation of the other Discords.
***
Applejack arrived at the hospital with a bag of apples in her mouth. She nodded knowingly at the nurses as she passed. She trotted to the familiar hospital bed where her younger sister, Apple Bloom, lay. Tubes, and wires surrounded the poor fallen foal. Applejack placed the apple bag on the dresser next to the bed.
“Mornin’ Apple Bloom, how are ya feelin’ today?”Applejack asked warmly. She paused for the briefest of seconds before continuing on. “It seems that Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy are gettin’ on fine. It’s almost kind of irritatin’ if ya ask me. It feels like the incident with “Ms. Pushy Lips” didn’t even happen. Ah just hope Fluttershy knows what she’s doing.
“Sunburst is doing ok. He drones on and on about how great and interestin’ the magical systems of the Evas are and what sort of defensive spells they use. He even told me that the AT field of those things is actually the edge of its soul. Silly huh?
“Starlight has been followin’ me around. Ah try ta act like Ah don’t know what she’s after but she’s pressin’ real hard. Ah thought for sure that if Ah didn’t show her any interest she’d turn ta fancy Sunburst. Them two have been inseparable fer years. Ah think he likes her. But it seems she’s dead set on me. Not that Ah’d mind too much o’ course but Ah don’t want to hurt my friend.
“Oh don’t you worry Apple Bloom. Yer big sis will find somepony in this mess that is ma life. Heck Ah’m sure even you’ll find somepony after all this is over. Now you get on healin’ and leave the worryin’ ta me.”
Applejack began the routine of remaking Apple Bloom’s bed and brushing her mane. She finished by adjusting the overly large bow that Apple Bloom had customarily worn.
Then her happy light hearted face fractured a little bit and her smile became a cringe. A single tear slipped out of her eye but she angrily caught it with her hoof. She told herself she wouldn’t cry in front of Apple Bloom anymore. She didn’t want to show her any reason not to come home from wherever she was. She glanced back half expecting a disappointing look from her comatose sister but there was none. She sighed then the smile was placed back on as easily as any other chore she did. She gave her sister a hug and turned and left the room.
She stalked past the nurses and tried desperately not to hear the words that inevitably came.
“Oh is she such a thoughtful sister,” they’d begin. “It’s a pity that her sister will never regain consciousness.”
“Really?”gasped the new nurse. There seemed to be a constant stream of them since the angels started to appear on a regular basis.
“It’s true,” would remark the older, more hardened nurse. “The doctor said she was in a permanent vegetative state. That poor filly will never wake up. I just hope her sister isn’t putting her own life on hold for it. Apple Bloom is going to remain as aware as the apples she always brings her.”
“What do you normally do with all those apples?” asked Rookie Nurse.
“We give them to other patients. We don’t want to waste them.”
Applejack fought the burning in her ears and blood. Apple Bloom was not a waste of apples. There is still hope. You never give up on family. But with each passing day the routine was getting harder and harder to maintain. She found herself dizzy from the effort of it. But she didn’t want to burden anypony else with her problems.
To Applejack’s jaw-dropping surprise she found Starlight waiting for her outside the hospital. Of all the stubborn fillies. She just couldn’t seem to get the hint. There is no reason to keep showing up. With Apple Bloom’s life in stasis, Applejack’s had become so as well. If Apple Bloom was truly not going to wake up Applejack felt she had no right to continue her on. But there the pink unicorn was still waiting.
Starlight saw her from a distance and raced up to her. A small smile graced her lips but Applejack’s dour expression removed it again.
“Mornin’ Starlight, what brings ya out here?” Applejack asked already knowing the answer.
“Oh me. I was just, you know, looking around, admiring the interesting view... of the hospital,” Starlight trailed off. Her smile contained a mixture of confusion, and uneasiness.
Applejack shrugged and played dumb. “It’s alright, Ah guess, as hospitals go.”
“Yeah, I was thinking of becoming a nurse actually so I thought I’d look around,” Starlight tried to clarify.
“Uh huh, well most of that stuff happens inside the hospital, Ah suspect,” Applejack tried saying as dryly as possible. She felt a twinge of guilt as she noted Starlight shining red cheeks. The feeling annoyed her and she picked up the pace towards school.
Starlight kept in tow but muttered to herself in embarrassment. She desperately tried to think of anything else to say to keep the conversation flowing but it took all she had just to keep pace. Soon the school approached and all the time for conversation ended. It took her so long to get up the nerve to meet Applejack at the hospital but now she felt like she might have just annoyed her further.
Applejack felt more guilt as she watched the downtrodden suitor break off from her to fulfill her class room duties. She knew her coldness hurt Starlight today. Some part of her desperately wanted to reciprocate the unicorn’s feelings but she wouldn’t abandon Apple Bloom. Dates and relationships take time. That would mean less time to spend at the hospital.
A small flash of thought filled Applejack’s mind. Maybe if she did pursue it she would be less lonely. She could share the burden of guilt and both of them could visit Apple Bloom everyday. Heck with a unicorn as talented as Starlight maybe she could even heal Apple Bloom. But that would be using Starlight for her own ends. Apple Bloom wouldn’t want to be part of that. It’s best if things stayed the way they are.
Applejack’s frustration was augmented as she came across Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash making googly eyes at each other. Applejack rolled her eyes as she approached. What right did they have to be so happy when monsters can attack at anytime?
“C’mon you two,” the orange mare barked, “get a room.”
Fluttershy’s expression looked like she was just splashed with cold water. She slowly sunk deeper behind her desk as her face flushed. Rainbow also reddened but scowled at the rudeness of Applejack.
“Hey,” Rainbow retorted,” don’t take your lack of awesomeness out on us. You could have a special pony if you just dropped your bad attitude.”
Applejack narrowed her eyes at the speedster and she coldly sat at her desk. She stared off to the ceiling. The teacher began his normal drone of the day. Applejack’s ear twitched as she listened for a half a second about the second impact. It’s always the second impact. The only thing that affected her life from second impact was that her family had to move their orchard underground. The fertility of the soil dissipated so the Apples found what nutrients they could and moved to an underground greenhouse. The orchard wasn’t as vast but it survived.
The class dragged on and Applejack could feel her brain ooze. She felt ornery. The room was too stuffy. The comments of the nurses still swarmed in her head. Apple Bloom might not actually get better. The thought caused Applejack’s heart to freeze. What if her body finally did give out? It was almost too terrible to think about. She felt a tear threatening to run again. She blinked quickly and looked around hoping no pony noticed. She caught Starlight staring at her again. She noticed. The concern was written all over her face. Applejack placed her head down and pretended to sleep.
Thankfully the bell rang and released Applejack from her anguish. Finally the best part of the day arrived. Lunch. She pulled her bag embroidered with her triple apple cutie mark on it. She had made apple dumplings and Brown Betties.
A timid hoof poked the hungry farmpony in the shoulder.
“Applejack?”
She didn’t need to turn. She knew who it was. Starlight stood next to her nervously looking around. The classroom had practically emptied for lunch. There was no pony around to look nervously about.
“What’s up?” Applejack tried her best to keep her frustration out of her voice.
“I know you’re a good baker. I mean I heard. I haven’t snuck any crumbles off your desk to taste it or anything,” the unicorn rambled with a nervous laugh. “But a friend and I are learning to bake. I was hoping I could bring you some of the results and get some pointers.”
“I don’t see why not,” Applejack shrugged.
“Great,” beamed Starlight backing away. “I’ll bring some tomorrow then. Hope you’re hungry.” She backed into the wall next to the door. Her face went beet red and she rubbed her neck with her hoof. “Oh, who put that wall there? Haha. Bye.”
Starlight turned and ran through the door and down the hall.
Applejack snorted. Only an idiot would miss what was going on. She should let the poor filly down properly but when Starlight had that pleading face she looked so cute.
What would Apple Bloom say in this situation? The little filly would probably insist she go for it. Her and friends had been such hopeless romantics. But Applejack wasn’t exactly sure how she felt about her other than guilt. Perhaps she should try to talk to Sunburst about it. She didn’t want bad blood between them if he found out from a third party about Starlight’s feelings.
***
Starlight searched and searched. Finally she found her best friend talking quietly to Fluttershy. She watched Rainbow and her girlfriend fully involved in some conversation. She was about to back away and give them space when Rainbow waved a hoof at her.
“Starlight!” the cyan pegasus shouted across the field. “Come on over. We don’t hang out as much.”
“Well I don’t want to interrupt your special pony time,” Starlight explained.
“Oh, we see each other a lot anyway,” said Rainbow with a dismissive hoof wave. “Not that I don’t want to see more of you,” she winked at Fluttershy. “But you have been hiding a lot. What’s up? How are things?”
“I’m going to let you two talk,” said Fluttershy as she slunk away. “I’m going to see how Sunburst and Applejack are doing.”
“Yeah, yeah, go talk to your knuckle head friends,” teased Rainbow.The timid pegasus flew off. Rainbow turned and faced her best friend.”Starlight, what have you been up to?”
“Do you really mean that?” Starlight asked, suddenly concerned.
“Mean what?” Rainbow Dash could feel the hesitant tone in Starlight’s voice.
“Do you really think Applejack and Sunburst are knuckleheads?”
“Well, uh, Sunburst is ok. I mean, he’s your childhood friend so he must be cool in some way,” Rainbow tried desperately back petaling. “But Applejack is stubborn and thick headed and bossy. You remember how she barged into my place and told me how to treat my girlfriend. I mean, who does she think...” Her words died as she finally saw the saddened face Starlight wore. “Oh no! Really?! Her?!”
“You just don’t see her as I do,” Starlight explained. “Sure, she can be brash and stubborn but she’s honest and caring as well. She walks everyday to see her sister in the hospital. She doesn’t complain about all the work she has to do on that family farm of hers.”
“I mean I do respect her but I can’t see her like that.”
“Am I stupid? I mean, we have nothing in common at all. I love magic and studying and organizing. She loves outside and apples. I try to make sure my clothes are clean. She wears that same hat everywhere. It makes no sense, does it? I’m not even sure I’m getting through to her at all. Maybe I should just give up.”
“Never give up. If you want something that bad don’t ever give up. If subtle doesn’t work on somepony as thickheaded, I mean, as steadfast as Applejack. Then try more obvious. If you want Fluttershy and I can help you two at least get closer. Then maybe you can make your move.”
“Thanks RD,” Starlight said confidently. “I may not get the answer I want but at least I won’t have to awkwardly hide how I feel anymore.”
“I just can’t believe I didn’t notice.”
***
“Of course I noticed,” explained Sunburst. He and Applejack sat on the roof eating their lunch together. “Starlight has been my friend for a long time. I can tell when she likes a pony.”
“Then you’re not mad?,” asked Applejack uncertainly.
“Of course not, AJ. Sure there was a time when I felt a special something for her but I gave that up when I noticed her checking out mares. She had a hard time coming to that realization on her own but I supported her every step of the way. “
“That’s mighty kind of ya.”
“That’s what friends do. I’ll support you if you want to pursue this with her as well.”
“Consarnit!” Applejack spat. “Ah don't know what ta do. Ah was kind of hoping you’d have a problem with it. That way Ah could just feel better just droppin’ it. But if you are for it, Ah guess Ah have decide one way or the other.”
“You should decide soon,”warned Sunburst. “Once Starlight puts her mind to something there is no stopping her.”
Fluttershy burst on to the roof with such excitement that both her friends were taken back a bit.
“Oh, um, hi,” the pegasus said meekly to their expectant faces. Sunburst and Applejack looked at each other then began to laugh. “Oh did I say something funny?”
“Nah, ya just came out so quickly Ah thought ya had trouble. Then all ya say is ‘hi’,”the cowpony guffawed a few more times. “Thanks. Ah needed that.”
“Oh is something wrong?”
“Nothin’,” Applejack said and fixed Sunburst with a stare. “Nothin’ ya need ta concern yourself with.”
The three sat back down to eat. Applejack finally felt at ease with the situation. If only she knew how she truly felt without all these other factors.
The day passed by. Applejack casually allowed her mind to dream over what could be. Could she date Starlight? Was the pink unicorn somepony she could get along with? How much did they have in common? Could Starlight be somepony Applejack could love? She had never dared to imagine what a relationship would be like before.
Throughout the day the thoughts kept at her. A little dream here. A small thought there. Her Grandmother caught her staring off into the distance a few times. It was unlike her. She dismissed Granny’s concerns with excuses of weariness. She agreed to sleep it off and worry about it the next day.
The next day seemed to refuse to come. Applejack tossed and turned in her bed as visions of what could be ran through her head. She wasn’t ready for something like this. She had to focus on taking care of Apple Bloom and the farm. Again the nurse’s words floated into her ears. “She’s in a vegetative state. She’ll never wake up.”
The tears started flowing again. This time Applejack had no pony to hide them from. She let them come. She filled her pillow with a soggy mess that left her looking for a new one.
Consarn this line of thought. How could she think of her own happiness with Apple Bloom the way she was? But if her sister was never going to change when would it be ok to move on? Apple Bloom would have been the first to champion her happiness. Perhaps she should honor her sister's way rather than wallowing in guilt and self pity. The exhaustion of the mental circles caused her to finally fall into a fitful sleep.
***
Applejack found herself in a mental fog the next day. Her brain was tired of thinking and wondering. She just needed the matter to drop. She found Apple Bloom in her normal place in the hospital.
“G’mornin’ Apple Bloom,” the tired farmpony said without her normal chipper tone. “It’s been a heck of a day yesterday. Nothin’ really changed per say. Ah did talk ta Sunburst. He thought Ah should give Starlight a chance. Turns out he gave up on her a while ago. But Ah’m not sure. Ah don’t know what to do right now. Ah sure wish you were here ta talk to. It’s awful lonesome on the farm without ya.”
“Umm Applejack?” a voice hesitantly asked from the door.
Applejack turned wide-eyed to see the young nurse from yesterday.
“My name is Coloratura. I’m sorry to overhear but I can’t stand to see another pony in such pain. It’s why I became a nurse,” the nurse said and walked in.”I think you need to follow your heart. I know you have a hard life right now with your sister and all this angel business but that is why now, of all times, you should follow your dreams. If you don’t stop to let yourself be happy then you’ll never be. Of course it’s not my place to say one way or the other.”
Applejack stared blankly like she’d been hit with a cart of apples.
“Umm, thanks Nurse Colora..Coloratera?” the stumped mare stammered.
“You can just call me Rara. All my friends do.”
“Ok, thanks Nurse Rara. It’s right nice of ya to offer me advice. Sometimes Ah have trouble gettin’ out of my own head. And thank ya kindly fer takin’ care of ma sister so well. It looks like ya even adjusted her bow.”
Nurse Rara blushed. “Well I saw how well you care for her and thought I should do the same. I’ve been talking and singing to her as well. I hope it aids her spirit.”
“Thank ya,” Applejack said while gritting her teeth. She cried enough last night. She didn’t need to make a spectacle of herself here.
The nurse nodded and left the room. Applejack turned back to Apple Bloom.
“Well, that don’t beat all,” the cowpony said. “It’s nice gettin’ advice from ponies that care like that. Perhaps Ah should give this opportunity a try. Ah’ll see you later Apple Bloom. Ah know you’re in good hooves.”
Applejack excitedly left the room and trotted her way out of the hospital. She felt lighter somehow. Just the knowledge that other ponies understood her plight and were helping in the ways they could made her feel connected to others. The loneliness didn’t seem so daunting. Heck, perhaps she could give this relationship a go.
***
Applejack watched as the clock clicked slowly towards lunch. Starlight hadn’t met her at the hospital like she had hoped. Perhaps her cold response had put a stop to it. But the unicorn was in class. Applejack stole a few glances and felt her doing the same.
Starlight had carried in a large brown bag. Applejack suspected it was the baking work she had mentioned the other day. The cow pony caught her constantly checking the bag as if it was going to wander off. Only a few minutes to go. Applejack’s brain was starting to get fuzzy with anticipation. Was she really going to do this?
Suddenly the overhead speaker erupted with sound.
“Ms Applejack, report to the principal’s office please. Ms Applejack to the principal’s office.”
Applejack stared at the loud speaker for clarity but it said no more. She looked and saw Sunburst’s inquisitive look. She shrugged and stood up. Slowly she passed by Starlight swallowing a large burning lump in her throat. She could feel Starlight’s eyes on her. With each hoof she felt a little rubbery under that scrutiny but knowing it came from a place of attraction made her feel a little steadier.
That is until Applejack wondered why she was being called. She knew she hadn’t done anything recently. Suddenly a thought flashed in her head like a cold bucket of water.
Apple Bloom.
No, Apple Bloom was fine this morning. No changes in the regular routine. She even had an extra nice nurse watching her. Then why did Applejack find herself galloping down the hallway in a cold sweat? Just how long was this hallway anyway?
Applejack burst into the principal's office, wide-eyed, with her main practically standing on end.
“What’s wrong with Apple Bloom, Principle Cheerilee?!” she blurted.
The room was silent with shock. Principle Cheerilee stood confused and flustered with Applejack’s sudden appearance. On either side of her stood Ms. Pinkie Pie and a purple unicorn that Applejack remembered from Ms. Pinkie’s party. Both of their expressions mirrored Cheerilee’s.
“Nothing,” answered Cheerilee with a reassuring voice. “This isn’t about Apple Bloom. This is about you.”
Applejack let out a large sigh and felt woozy as the sudden adrenaline rush left her. “Oh thank Celestia,” she whispered. “So what is this about? And why is Ms Pinkie Pie here?”
Ms. Pinkie Pie took a sudden deep breath. “You’re going to be a Magical Foal!”
“A what now?”
“No Pinkie,” reprimanded the unicorn. “I told you on the way here she wasn’t magical. I’m sorry for Pinkie. My name is Twilight Sparkle, I remember you from the party. One of Fluttershy’s friends right?”
“Right,” echoed Applejack hesitantly.
“We recently received word from the Mareduke institute that you are the Fourth Foal,” Ms Twilight declared smiling from ear to ear.
“Fourth for what? Have Ah won a prize or somethin’?”
“Not really a prize. More like an opportunity,” explained the lavender unicorn. “You have been chosen to be the fourth Evanstallion pilot.”
“Yay,” shouted Ms Pinkie as streamers shot out from around the room.
Applejack’s face fell. A flash of Fluttershy screaming jumped across her mind. She had looked so fierce and frantic back then. She suffered immensely from piloting. Applejack herself had to help pick up the pieces of her fragile ego on more than one occasion.
Now they wanted the cowpony to do the same. It seemed impossible. She never imagined herself in one of those large magical machines. She had no idea what she should do.
“Are you sure? Ah mean is it possible this Mareduke made a mistake?” inquired the stunned Applejack.
“Pretty sure,” assured Ms Twilight. “It’s a special type of pony they are looking for. They think you’d make a great pilot.”
“Right,” came the hollow and uneasy response. “It’s not that Ah doubt ya’ll. It’s just that Ah ain’t never been seen as special by no pony.” A brief vision of Starlight’s face reminded her that she just lied. “Ah mean ta say. Ah haven’t done anythin’ special. Ah’ve only been good at helpin’ with the family and the farm. Who's gonna help with that if Ah’m out fightin’?”
“We talked to your Granny,” began Ms Twilight.
“She gave us pie!” interrupted Ms Pinkie with a shout.
“She said not to worry about your chores,”continued Ms Twilight. “She still had your brother and plenty of family members to call on for help.”
“Ah see. What about Apple Bloom?”
“You’ll still have time to see her, silly,” winked Ms Pinkie. “We can move her to our special hospital. It’s the best around.”
“Do ya have them fancy machines and magics that could make Apple Bloom better?”
“We have the state of the art medical devices and the best healing wizards in all of Equestria,” explained Ms Twilight. “If there is a way to cure Apple Bloom. They’ll find it.”
“Golly,” Applejack found herself saying. “If you’re going ta do all that then you have found yourself the hardest workin’ pilot in all Equestria.”
Applejack placed her hoof out to Ms Twilight with a look of pure determination on her face. Ms Twilight smiled and took to the offered hoof. The next thing she knew was the earth seemed to be shaking. It didn’t stop until the farm pony let go.
Applejack turned to leave then looked back at them.
“Can Ah ask ya fer something else?”
“Sure,” Ms Twilight said as her mind reoriented.
“Could ya make sure that Apple Bloom’s new nurse Coloratura goes with her? She seems to be the nicest nurse I’ve ever met and she knows how to really take care of a pony.”
“No problem. I’ll call for the transfer myself.”
Applejack nodded her head and left the room. She trotted down the hallway a few feet before the gravity of the meeting nearly floored her. She stumbled on gelatinous knees that wobbled in too many directions as she made her way toward the classroom. She felt her cheeks redden as she thought of her friends reactions. She couldn’t let them see her like this. She was supposed to be the strong one. She steered her trembling legs away from the classroom and back toward outside. Sitting on the real earth always gave her comfort when she felt out of sorts.
***
Starlight waited and waited for Applejack’s return. She clutched the brown bag of her baked goods close to her. Lunch wore on and Applejack was nowhere to be found. Her unease forced her into action. She made her way up to the school roof where Applejack’s friends normally ate.
Starlight was surprised to find Fluttershy there. She was talking to Sunburst, her knucklehead friend. She snickered at the thought idly wondering where Rainbow Dash was.
“I heard the second branch of CAKE just simply vanished,” Starlight heard Sunburst explain.
“Vanish,” gasped Fluttershy. “But why and how?”
“No pony knows, but I heard that they’re rushing Eva Unit-03 here as fast as they can. Do you think they chose a pilot yet?”
“No pony has told me anything if they did,” explained Fluttershy.
“There is no way I could be in one of those things,” sighed Sunburst. “I enjoy reading about the magic involved but I could never do what you do, Fluttershy.”
“Oh, I don’t do that much. I just.. Starlight? Are you ok?”
Starlight felt her cheeks flush and redden as Fluttershy looked at her. She felt the brown bag push tighter against her chest as her magic reacted to her tense mental state.
“I’m a,” the class representative stammered,” I’m just looking at the beautiful day. Uh huh. Yup. No problems here.”
“Starlight!” scolded Sunburst with a sharp tone. “You know you can tell me anything and Fluttershy is one of the kindest ponies in the school. There is no need to lie to us.”
“Alright,” sighed Starlight. “I was looking for Applejack. Then I heard you ponies talking about those war machines and started to get scared. She hasn’t come back from the principal’s office yet. Do you think something happened with Apple Bloom?”
Sunburst stood up and looked at Fluttershy with wide eyes. Fluttershy was equally concerned.
“We have to find her,” Sunburst determined. “I’ll check inside the school. You fly around the school grounds in case she’s still here.”
“What should I do?” asked Starlight.
“We can’t leave until school is over. But if we can’t find her I’m going to need you to teleport to the hospital where they’re keeping Apple Bloom.”
“Right,” nodded Starlight. “Oh I hope she’s ok.”
***
Applejack felt the cool breeze. The leaves rustled pleasantly. The earth felt safe and soft. Then dirt filled her nose as quiet yellow wings disturbed the ground.
“Oh thank goodness,” said a sad soothing voice. “Applejack are you ok?”
Applejack sat up and looked at the worried pegasus. She blinked a couple times trying to figure out what happened. Then she remembered. She had sat by the tree to clear her head when the sleeplessness of the night before had caught up with her. She snorted and got herself off the dusty ground.
“Sorry ta worry ya,” the orange pony said. “Ah just kind of fell asleep. Nothin’ else ta worry about.”
“So everything is ok with Apple Bloom?” asked Fluttershy.
“Yeah. No need ya fuss. She’s fine. Ah’m just tired is all. A long day workin’ on the farm. Nothin’ else. Ah better go. Ah got few more chores at the farm ta do. If ya can tell the teacher and our friends that Ah’m ok. Ah’d be much obliged.”
Applejack didn’t wait around for a response. She quickly galloped home leaving Fluttershy stunned. She tried not to look back. She just wasn’t ready to tell anypony about the Eva yet. It wasn’t until she was well away that she remembered Starlight and her brown bag.
“Shoot, so much for me being so dependable,” Applejack chided herself. She wasn’t really paying attention to her hooves and they automatically took her to the hospital. She looked up at it and sighed. She might as well go in. She was here already.
The cowpony walked toward Apple Bloom’s room when she heard the most beautiful song. She looked around and noticed it was coming from Apple Bloom’s room. She rushed inside and found Nurse Coloratura singing to herself as she attached the feeding tube to Apple Bloom. The nurse nearly dropped the end as Applejack entered.
“Oh Applejack,” Nurse Coloratura gasped, placing the tube down on a sterile field. “What brings you here now? Aren’t you supposed to be in school? Did something happen?”
“Ah uh,” Applejack stammered in response. “Ah was just uh, worried. About Apple Bloom. Just got a bad feeling is all.”
“Oh,” cooed Coloratura. “There is no reason to worry. She’s fine. Her breathing, pulse and mentation are all normal.”
“Oh, thank ya,” the farm pony said sheepishly.
“You know we nurses are trained to deal with patients but we are ponies first. I don’t need any special training to know something is bothering you. If you want to talk about it. I will listen.”
“Oh, that’s ok. Ah’m fine. Nothin’ really to say.”
“How did things go with that mare you mentioned?”
“Well, Ah, uh,” Applejack’s face blazed a shining crimson.
“How about this? I’ll leave you here with Apple Bloom. You can tell her what’s going on and I’ll be outside trying not to listen.”
Applejack stared at her wide eyed. The nurse didn’t wait for a response and walked out. Applejack looked at the small form of Apple Bloom resting. Nothing changed. Despite all that had happened today. Applejack felt like her world had just twisted around itself but here was Apple Bloom staying exactly as she was.
“Ah um. Howdy Apple Bloom. It’s been a long day. First that mare Ah was tellin’ ya about was there with her baked goods but Ah didn’t get a chance ta eat them. Ah hope Ah didn’t offend Starlight by running off the way Ah did. It’s just... Ms Pinkie Pie came by the school today. Another pony named Twilight Sparkle was there as well. They told me, Ah’m gonna be an Eva pilot like Fluttershy.”
Applejack could feel the tears beginning to stream down her face.
“Ah know them Evas are what hurt ya and Ah shoulda turned ‘em down flat. But they said they’d move ya to a better facility. They even have medical unicorns to help make ya better. Now don’t you worry Apple Bloom. Ya gonna be fine. Ah even told ‘em to have Nurse Rara transferred with you. So don’t you worry about nothin’.
“Ah’m just a little worried about movin’ in those big robots. Ah watched Fluttershy fight that nasty bug thing and it didn’t look too fun. But then that dunderheaded Rainbow Dash can do it. So Ah shouldn’t be so worried. But Ah am. Ah don’t know how to prepare for stuff like this. Ah don’t know where to start. This ain’t nothin’ like we have on the farm.”
Applejack’s panic was cut off as a hoof wrapped around her neck and hugged her. She leaned into its owner and felt the warmth radiating from it. She leaned into that warm feeling and let the stress and worry leave her for a little while. Then she opened her eyes and noticed Nurse Coloratura standing outside the doorway watching. Applejack gasped and looked at the pony hugging her. She found herself face to face with a brightly blushing Starlight.
“Starlight wha,” fell out of Applejack’s mouth as her mind tried to grasp reality.
“I couldn’t stay at school,” Starlight awkwardly replied. “I saw you talking to Fluttershy then run off. I was worried. I knew where the hospital was and teleported here. They stopped me at the desk but that nurse there walked by and told them to let me in. I’m normally not so forward but I couldn’t bear to watch you anymore. So you’re going to be an Eva pilot. That could be pretty cool. I'll cheer you on from the ground for sure. Applejack, I kind of have a confession to make. I, um, like you. I’m sorry if I came off as annoying or weird these last few weeks but I didn’t know how to tell you.”
Applejack just stood there with her mouth open. She glanced over at Nurse Coloratura who pushed her hoof forward at her. She shook her head quickly.
“Ah’m not used to having somepony so keen on me before,” began the startled cowpony. “And if in ya asked me yesterday Ah would have turned ya down flat. It doesn’t feel like ma life has much of a direction to go. With Apple Bloom here it feels like Ah’m kind of stuck here as well. But it ain’t so. In thinking about it, it didn’t make sense to put a hold on ma life. If it was me in that bed Ah would have told her to live her life for me and not use me as an excuse. Ah think she would say the same thing ta me.”
Applejack rubbed her neck with her hoof.
“So Ah guess what Ah’m sayin’ is that Ah’m willin’ to give it a go,” the cowpony concluded. She barely finished her statement when her face was blocked by a purple mane. She felt that warmth again as Starlight rushed in and embraced her. Applejack returned the warm hug. She glanced at Nurse Coloratura and noticed her grinning and biting her lip.
The new couple walked out of the room. Applejack turned to the nurse and mouthed “thank you”. The nurse nodded.
They made it outside and the fresh air brought new hope in Applejack. She turned to Starlight.
“Thank ya fer comfortin’ me when Ah needed it,” said Applejack. “Ah’d be obliged if ya don’t tell any pony about me .. you know.. cryin’.”
“Oh of course not,” gasped Starlight.
“Thank ya. Well it looks like we’ll be seein’ more of each other. Ah’m not quite sure what to do here. Ah’ve never had a girlfriend and all. Am Ah supposed to kiss ya or hug or what?”
“Oh, a hug is fine,” Starlight quickly agreed. “I think we shouldn’t push it too fast. We’ll get there when we do”
“Well alright then,” Applejack said. “Ah gotta go. Ah’m meetin’ Ms Pinkie Pie at my farm soon for my first Eva test. So Ah’ll see ya soon.”
The orange mare gave Starlight a quick awkward hug then galloped off towards home.
Starlight watched her go. When she was fully out of range, Starlight leaped into the air.
“I did it! I did it!” she shouted. “I finally asked her out! I have to go tell Rainbow Dash.”
The world went green as Starlight’s teleportation spell took her back towards school. It had just let out and Starlight frantically looked for Rainbow. She saw her and Fluttershy walking towards their apartment and trotted after them.
“So do you think they chose the new pilot yet?” asked Fluttershy.
“Well I..”, Rainbow began. Her eyes widened and she began looking around for the strange sound she heard.
“Pssdt.”
It sounded again. She caught sight of Starlight slowly trailing behind them. Starlight motioned towards her when she saw Rainbow catch her eye.
“Hey Fluttershy, why don’t you go on ahead. I’ll meet you back at HQ,” Rainbow Dash.
“Oh ok,” Fluttershy nodded, glancing back at Starlight. She smiled sweetly at Starlight. Starlight returned it and waved her hoof.
“So what’s up?” asked Rainbow when Fluttershy was a little further away.
“I did it!” declared Starlight triumphantly.
“Woah, that’s awesome. But you should probably remind me what it is. You’ve got a lot of projects going on.”
“I told Applejack how I feel!”
“Really?! That’s awesome. Of course it seems a bit fast as I only learned about it yesterday.”
“Oh right, well it has been a bit longer than that. But she said she would give it a try!” shouted Starlight. “I am seeing Applejack!”
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this pumped up ever! We gotta celebrate. I know. Pinkie Pie throws the best parties. I’ll tell her about it. She threw an awesome party for Fluttershy and I.”
“That sounds great. But we’ll have to wait until she and Applejack get back.”
“Get back? From where?”
“Oh Applejack went with Pinkie Pie for some sort of Eva thing,” Starlight blurted, not thinking.
“An Eva thing?! Applejack?!”
“Yeah she was picked to be a pilot. Oh shoot, was I supposed to keep that a secret? Applejack didn’t say. Of course she didn’t actually tell me. Oh no! My first act as her girlfriend and I might have given away her secret,”Starlight fretted and danced on her hooves.
“Woah, woah, calm down Starlight. I’m not going to tell anypony about it.”
“Not even Fluttershy.”
“Especially not Fluttershy. It’ll just be between us. I just can’t see Applejack as an Eva pilot,” Rainbow admitted.
“Is it hard?”
“Well it’s not easy. There are daily tests and ...”
The necklace Rainbow Dash was wearing emitted a bright flash then began pulsing a deep red.
“Speak of the devil,” Rainbow sighed. “Sorry Star. I gotta go. It’s probably an angel.”
Rainbow Dash sped off in the direction of CAKE headquarters.
Starlight sighed. She suddenly felt all the warmth and excitement drain out of her. Her girlfriend was now on the front line of the angel attacks. All she could do was cheer her on and hope.
***
Applejack tried to listen to Twilight as she explained how the magic machine worked. She caught something about an entry plug and synaptic connections but it didn’t make a lick of sense. She felt her head start to swim after a while.
“Um would it be ok if in ya just explained what Ah’m supposedly do?” Applejack finally interjected.
“Of course,” Twilight agreed. “Right now all you have to do is put on the entry plug suit and sit in the seat in that tube.”
“Yes ma’am,” Applejack said and grabbed the black suit from Twilight. She found a changing area. Then cautiously took off her normal track style suit and put on the baggy slippery outfit. She carefully took off her hat and placed it in the suit behind her back. Then she marched back to Ms. Twilight. She caught her and Ms. Pinkie conversing as she walked in.
“Wow, Twilight this new facility is smaller compared to the other one,”Ms Pinkie exclaimed.
“Couldn’t be helped,”Ms Twilight said. “It was hastily thrown together to house Unit-03. Since the explosion of the second branch in Dodge Junction Celestia wanted Unit-03 with the other Evas for better protection.”
“What happened at the 2nd branch anyway?”
“No pony knows. It just vanished along with all the ponies that worked there. It seems they tried to attach the new S2 engine in an Eva. Oh Applejack your ba..” Twilight suddenly placed her hoof over her mouth and tried to hide the smile that erupted across her face.
Ms Pinkie glanced at her and started chortling. “No pony told you about the button,” she managed to say.
“What button?” asked Applejack, feeling stupid.
“The one on your hoof,” said Twilight stifling her own giggles.
Applejack pressed the button and felt the suit suddenly constrict to her skin. She felt the neck tighten. She felt very self conscious. She was never one to show much of her body.
Suddenly Ms. Twilight let out a renewed peal of laughter. “What is…what is...that?” she breathlessly gasped. She placed her hoof on Applejack’s back and began poking her hat. Applejack turned red as her prized possession was discovered.
“Is that your hat?” Ms. Twilight finally surmised.
“Yes ma’am,” the cowpony admitted sheepishly.
“Well you can’t take that in with you.”
“Sorry, Applejack,” explained Ms Pinkie,” but rules are rules. We’ll take good care of it here.”
Applejack pulled her hat from the suit with her teeth and gave it to Ms Pinkie who took it with a lock of her mane somehow. Applejack backed away a little perplexed.
“Climb into the entry plug, please,” requested Ms Twilight.
“Yes ma’am,” was all Applejack could think of to say. The whole ordeal was so surreal to her. There were so many gizmos, gadgets and who-knows-whats around her she felt out of sorts. She gingerly climbed inside the white tube and found the seat they mentioned. The hatch closed with a click and then she felt the tube move forward.
“Oh no! Not the orange stuff again!” Applejack bemoaned.
“It’s ok,” said Ms Twilight’s voice through a speaker inside. “Just breath like you normally would.”
The display screen filled with colors and then Applejack could see outside the large black robotic earth pony.
“You’re doing great, Applejack,” exclaimed Ms Pinkie.
“Umm Twilight?” said a voice that Applejack didn’t know. “What’s this wave developing here?”
“That’s strange it looks like a..”
“An angel! My Pinkie sense can feel it. Oh no! The Eva’s arm is moving!”
There was a large explosion then everything went black and Applejack couldn’t see anymore.
***
Fluttershy sat in Unit-01. She had been called in suddenly and was told the next angel was approaching. She was told that Pinkie and Twilight were in a different facility and that Commander Discord himself would lead them. She felt uneasy. Discord could be a little demanding. She shook her head to clear her doubts and tried to talk to Rainbow.
“So is everything ok with Starlight?” the third filly asked.
A small video screen appeared displaying her cyan girlfriend. “Nothing. It’s umm stuff I can’t talk about.”
“Oh sorry to intrude then,” Fluttershy hurriedly apologized.
“Enough chatter you two. Time to get your game faces on,” commanded Commander Discord. “I have mine on, see.” He placed his red-tinted glasses on and interlocked his fingers in front of his mouth. “Now no one can tell if I’m talking or not.”
“Why do you need to do that?” blurted a confused Rainbow Dash.
“Something about animation cost or something. The same reason the backgrounds hardly move,” the Commander dismissed. “Look! There is your target.”
The screen zoomed in on a large silhouette emerging from behind a nearby hill. It’s form looked familiar.
“Oh my gosh! Is that an Eva?” shouted Rainbow Dash. “Don’t tell me that’s Unit-03.”
“Alright, I won’t tell you,”said Discord testily. “I’ll just say it rhymes with ‘spoon it Brie’.”
“Wait! If that’s an Eva does that mean some pony is in there?” asked Fluttershy.
“Well not just some pony. We don’t let just some pony in there,” explained Discord. “But it hardly matters now. You have to stop it.”
Fluttershy felt her eyes widen and her pulse increase. Her mouth went dry and a cold sweat started to run down her forehead. “But that could hurt them,” she protested.
“If you don’t stop it, it could hurt us all,” the Commander explained.
“Don’t worry Fluttershy,” reassured Rainbow. “I’ll stop it.”
Fluttershy watched her screen as Rainbow charged in with a confident determined look on her face. A shadow loomed across that face. Fluttershy watched in horror as a large hoof struck the outside of Dash’s screen, cracking it.
“Dang it, I forgot how strong a kicker she is,” Rainbow cursed.
“Wait,” gasped Fluttershy,” you know who that is?”
“You mean she never told you?!” shouted Rainbow in disbelief. “No I don’t. Or at least I am not supposed to.”
“Wait, it's somepony we know.”
“I’m sorry Fluttershy but...”
Rainbow Dash’s screen turned to static as a large impact echoed in the distance.
“Rainbow?”
“It knocked me down too, Fluttershy,” came the flattened tone of Maud’s words. Another impact sound resonated through the Ponyville 3 as Fluttershy watched Unit-00 crash into a nearby hill. It didn’t get back up.
Unit-03 emerged from behind the hill. Fluttershy could see the black metal armor gleaming as the sun reflected off of it. It was another earth pony type. This one looked far thicker than Maud’s model. Its eyes glowed green as it locked on to her Eva.
“Oh no! It’s coming!” Fluttershy shouted.
“You have to take it down!” commanded Discord. His tone was much sharper than Fluttershy had ever heard before.
“But the pony inside is..”
“Trying to kill you!” interrupted Discord. Panic was starting to show in his voice.
“No, I will try and stop it but I won’t hurt it.”
“How are you going to do that? It’s a lunatic angel!”
“I’m going to try and talk to it.”
Fluttershy presses the speaker button on in her cockpit.
“I know you’re in there, other pilot,”the pegasus began. “I don’t know who you are but I need you to fight the angel inside that Eva. I can tell you’re a strong pony because you are an Eva pilot. We have to go through a lot but..”
Her speech of goodwill and togetherness was cut short as Unit-03 whipped around backward and lashed out with its back hooves. Fluttershy was able to backup fast enough to avoid the full impact but the hooves clamped to the sides of her Eva’s head. They pulled it down to the ground so quickly that Fluttershy at very little time to acknowledge it. The strong back hooves lifted her Eva’s head up and began to rapidly smash it into the ground over and over again. Fluttershy felt like her own head was going to cave in. She struggled to speak despite the pain in her face.
“Please don’t do this. I’m sure there is a way we can work urrrk,” Fluttershy desperately tried reasoning.
The angel’s Eva switched tactics. It had wrapped its back hooves around Unit-01’s neck in a way that was impossible for normal pony legs to bend.
“We..can..”
“See!” demanded the hissing tones of Discord. “It’s trying to kill you! You have to destroy it!“
“No...the...Eva.”
“Turn down the Evas pain receptors so we can have a conversation without so many periods,” Commander Discord informed the computer mares.
Fluttershy took a large gasping breath.
“We can still try talking to it,” she gasped. “The Eva is a living thing. So is the pony inside. It’s not the magic constructs we’ve been fighting so far.”
“Fluttershy every angel has been a living thing,” Discord flatly informed her.
“You mean...”
“You have destroyed all the angels thus far. This one is no different.”
“No, I won’t.”
“Fluttershy it’s going to kill you!”
“I don’t care!” the irate pegasus shouted. “You made me a monster! I deserve to be destroyed! I will not hurt another being!”
“No!” shrieked Discord in palpable anguish. “I will not stand here and let you die! I’m ending this!”
Suddenly Fluttershy’s screen and monitors went dark. The discomfort Fluttershy felt around her neck was gone. She felt tears streaming down her face. She felt limp and weak. She felt hurt and angry. Her friends lied to her. She had hurt and killed so many things.
The lights came back on and the display screen showed Unit-03’s hind legs. Fluttershy looked around in confusion and shock.
“What is happening? What is happening?!” she shrieked.
“This is the dummy plug system,” explained Discord. “If you won’t protect yourself. I will do it for you.”
“No Discord, this isn’t good. Hurting other ponies never leads to..”
The yellow pegasus stopped speaking as she watched her Eva wrap its hooves around the other’s back hooves. The entry plug filled with pure rage as her biomechanical magical beast started to fight back. It began pulling the hooves off its neck. Then it attacked the Eva’s knee joints. Fluttershy felt the pop of Unit-03’s knees under her own hooves.
“Oh my goodness,” whimpered Fluttershy and looked at her hooves in disbelief.
Her Eva aimed its drilling horn at Unit-03’s back.
“No, no, no.”
It pulled the offending Eva down through its ruined back legs and stabbed it in the back of its head. The drill screeched as it began tearing through the Eva’s armor plating. Unit-03 struggled and tried to buck its attacker off but with only two working legs it wasn’t that effective.
“Please, please, stop,” moaned Fluttershy in a tear choked whisper.
“I, um, can’t,” came a bewildered meek sounding Discord. “This is a new system. I can’t find the off button.”
The drill made its way through the armor and blood started pouring from the wound. Unit-03 frantically whipped back and forth until the drill pierced to the bone. Blood streaked Fluttershy’s display screen but she could see that the enemy Eva had stopped moving.
“Oh my.. oh,” she wept and hyperventilated.
Her Eva began moving again. It withdrew its bone and blood encrusted horn and pushed the other Eva’s body down. In a fit of pure hatred it began stomping on the lifeless body. Each fall landing on Unit-03’s head.
“Why is it still going? It’s going to kill the pilot!” Fluttershy screamed at the top of her lungs. “Turn it off! Turn it off!”
“I’m sorry! I’m trying!” frantically shouted Discord.
Unit-03’s head exploded with a sickening crack and pop. The entry plug shot out and landed a few feet away. Unit-01’s head followed it as it rolled. The Eva slowly plodded after it.
“It’s after them! Discord! It’s after the pilot. We have to save them! Hurry!” Fluttershy’s panic was palpable. She put her entire weight into moving the controls. Nothing happened.
“Ahh here it is,” Discord’s voice conveyed over the speaker. “The dummy plug manual. Now where is the index? There. Off.off.off. Where are you? There you are, you little urchin. Page 33. Page 33. Page..”
“Discord! It’s coming! I can’t stop it!”
The Eva’s shadow darkened the usual brilliant glow of the white entry plug. A single hoof lifted in the air over top of it.
“Noooo!” Fluttershy belted with all her might.
“There,” cried Discord.
The Eva shut down. The high pitch hum of its engine whined down. But the momentum of its hoof brought it down with a hefty thud. It easily broke through the entry plug hull and crushed it. A large crack spit down the rest of the tube revealing the unconscious form of Applejack.
Fluttershy looked down at her. She stared at her good dependable friend. The only pony who stood up for her. The pony that supported her relationship even though she didn’t like it. The pony who protected her. The pony who forgave her even though she hurt her sister. Her friend was crushed under her own Eva’s hoof.
There were no words that accurately described how Fluttershy felt. The horror, the sadness, the rage all tried to flood her body at once. It erupted in a piercing, gut-wrenching shriek that haunted all in the control room.