“Fluttershy must really care for you.”
Applejack blinked. The comment had come out of nowhere, taking her by surprise. Twilight had been following her down the hallway in silence, as the two made their way to the stairs. Stopping suddenly, she turned to look at Twilight, who had halted as well and was smiling up at her.
“What makes ya say that?”
“She was extremely aggressive towards you. Mom says unless you care about somepony, it’s impossible to get angry at them. You don’t show emotion towards somepony unless you have some sort of affection towards them.”
Applejack stared at her for a moment before chuckling.
“Nah, she weren’t mad at meh, specifically. But you are right, she does care about me. Family is strange like that.”
Twilight cocked her head in confusion.
“A Pegasus and an Earthpony...Family? That must be quite an interesting bloodline.”
Shaking her head, Applejack reached up and removed her hat. Twilight’s jaw fell open at the sight revealed to her; Applejack’s skull was exposed in patches and pulling back her mane, only revealed the extreme extent of the damage. Lacking magic herself, there should have been no possible way for Applejack to still be alive; the injury was just too extensive. She spoke to the filly before her with surprising warmth.
“Family takes on many forms, Twilight. Not always by blood. Tell meh, what do ya know about the Ponyville Massacre; the Night of Fire, 8 years ago?”
Twilight, still in shock by the obscene display before her, responded in a shaky voice.
“Erm- I don’t know much. I remember being there and getting chained down by figures in cloaks. A bunch of strange chanting, a lot of pain, and then...Waking up in my mother’s hooves. She’d been crying...her eyes were puffy, but she never told me why. That’s all I remember about that night. Mrs erm-”
“Applejack, Sugarcube, mah name’s Applejack, and Ah see.”
Applejack had been mulling over Fluttershy’s words, racking her brains for a way to talk to Twilight, and now it seemed so easy as the door to the conversation opened before her eyes.
The Earthpony was extremely pragmatic in her decisions. If it wasn’t efficient, she simply would take another route. Her logic, her straight-forward thinking, was why her friends followed her lead. Though it wasn't just that; she was also the eldest of the five, and she proudly looked after the others. By her estimate, it would take about twenty minutes, before she and Twilight arrived at the ballroom to confront Pinkie. She nodded to herself, that will work, just fine. More than enough time. She placed her hat back on her head, hiding her scars once more.
“Walk with me Sugarcube. Let meh tell ya th’ tale of an apple farmer, her little sister, an’ the night that farmer sacrificed her own life to save that little sister’s.”
***
Applejack trotted down the dirt road, her sister at her side. It had been a long day of apple-bucking at Sweet Apple Acres. The two sisters were in charge of the season’s harvest, along with their older brother, Big Macintosh. It had only been a couple of years since Granny Smith, the matriarch of the Apples, had passed the torch on to Applejack. Over those years, Applejack had risen as the deserving leader of the Apple Family; having brought about the most bountiful harvest sessions in Ponyville history.
While Applejack was well-versed in bucking apples, her sister was rather new to it. To encourage her, Applejack had promised her excitable little sis a milkshake at Sugarcube Corners, her treat. Maybe it was the reward, or perhaps the eager filly had something to prove. Instead of the requested 1 basket of apples, an equivalence of 10 trees, Applebloom proudly gathered a whopping 6 baskets.
Impressed with her little sister’s work ethic, Applejack had upped the reward to a milkshake and hayburger on her. And now, the two walked down the path back home; the breeze was gentle and serene. Both were stuffed and chatting about random things. It had been a hard life for the sisters, but little moments like this one were the times they treasured most.
Then they appeared. A group of black-cloaked figures materializing out of thin air. Instantly, Applejack felt something was off about the strangers. The cloaks covered all but their eyes. They were pupil-less orbs of bright blue. The only other definable quality was that the cloaks were emblazoned with a large silver ‘NM’. Instinctively, Applejack nudged Applebloom with her hind leg to stand behind her, as she addressed the mysterious group.
“Y’all lost or somethin’?”
There was no response from the strange creatures. They didn’t move, speak, or even appear to be breathing. The silence was unsettling for the Earthpony, who attempted once again to converse with them.
“We Apples normally love all manner of creatures to visit our happy family, but Sweet Apple Acres is closed to th’ public at th’ moment. Ah’m gonna hafta ask ya ta be on yer way.”
The road they were on only led to one destination: Sweet Apple Acres. Something about the figures made Applejack wary, and the longer they stood there, the stronger the feeling of unease grew. The figure in front, who seemed to be chanting something in an illegible language, raised some kind of appendage. Applejack was unsure of what it was; it resembled a hoof of some kind but was seemingly composed completely of smoke. The chanting grew louder and a chilling blast of frigid ice filled her vision. Applejack heard Applebloom scream and then, she knew nothing more as an unbearable cold engulfed her, followed by darkness.
***
“Within a couple minutes, Ah opened mah eyes to th’ strangest thing they’ve ever beheld. Ah was chained to th’ town square fountain, while ponies walked by like nothin’ were goin on. Ah even called out ta them, but they walked on by, like they never heard meh. Ah was so confused, but then Ah realized they couldn’t, especially when one of them walked right through th’ Cultist right in front of meh. What in Tarnation?”
Applejack’s tale was cut short as the device at her side crackled to life:
“AJ come in, 500 meters from the castle, clear the halls, repeat, clear the-”
Before the sentence even finished, Applejack turned and grabbed Twilight, slamming her into the wall knocking the breath from the little filly. Twilight blinked in surprise and barely noticed the rainbow-colored blur that raced by and the glint of tempered steel. Applejack looked down at Twilight, who was resting in a newly-formed crater within the wall.
That was close! That blade was terrifying. It had been a mere millisecond, but Twilight had been able to memorize the size, shape, and weight of the scimitar within Rainbow’s clenched jaws. Celestia’s brutal teachings had become pure instinct within the small Unicorn. Though as quick as her survival reflexes were, even she wouldn’t have been able to dodge such a blow. Applejack grinned down at Twilight, a slight grimace of pain in her eyes. The young Unicorn was staring up in awe at the speed at which Applejack reacted. The once-proud apple farmer spoke to her, her voice laden with concern.
“Y’all right, Sugarcube?”
Twilight, still stunned, nodded meekly as Applejack turned away from Twilight and pulled out the box once more. Pressing the button she spoke into it.
“Dash, what’s goin’ on?”
The walkie talkie roared to life as an energetic, yet raspy voice responded.
“We got live ones! The meeting Flutters had was a success. We’ve got over 300 refugees coming in hot, AJ!”
Twilight stared in disbelief at Applejack’s back as she talked to Rainbow Dash on the walkie-talkie. A deep gash of dripping red crimson went from one side, across her spine, to the other. Unlike her, Twilight could tell from her shivering, that Applejack felt that wound. If it hadn’t been for her sudden action, Twilight knew her head would be laying on the cold stone floor. Still, Applejack didn’t cry out or complain, she just kept her tone neutral as she spoke to Rainbow; almost as though trying not to cause concern.
“Dash y’all got one minute ta get yer flank and...Squad A down to th’ parade grounds ta protect th’ refugees.”
“Wait...Squad A, does that mean what I think it means?”
Twilight watched Applejack’s shivering become more pronounced as the carpet below her became stained with the flowing crimson issuing from her gushing wound. Still, Applejack maintained her composure while speaking.
“Dash, ya know th’ instant our shield drops, them cultists will come in droves, especially with 300 refugees on th’ way. Yore squad has mah permission. Go wild.”
A loud squeal of delight erupted from down the hall and with a flash of rainbowed-hue, Rainbow Dash stood in front of Applejack, still oblivious to the wound she had caused.
“You mean it?”
Maintaining her stance, Applejack responded evenly to the exuberant Pegasus. Twilight made a mental note of how she shifted slightly on Rainbow’s approach, almost as if she were deliberately hiding the injury from Rainbow’s sight.
“Ah do, Sugarcube. Y’all can be as crazy as ya like. Have a barbeque...Just keep th’ residents away from it...dun’ wanna hafta explain why you an’ yore squad eat yer kills. In fact, Ah want ta see that green pasture painted Candy Apple Red with their innards, by night’s end. Got it?”
Rainbow’s eyes glinted and she broke out in a huge grin at Applejack’s words; gleefully revealing the crimson-stained, jagged fangs within her maw. Twilight stared at the two mares, a shiver going down her spine; perhaps she was going crazy but suddenly, it felt like her mother was standing where Applejack stood...and also where Rainbow stood as well.
It was impossible, and yet, she felt the bloodlust from Rainbow, and the absolute command Applejack displayed. It was more than just those traits though, she could feel the ruthless tyrant’s magic emanating from both at that moment. Twilight confusedly tried to understand what was happening. Why did both of these, admittedly, strange mares suddenly feel like her tyrannical dictator mother; Princess Celestia?
As Twilight racked her brains to understand the scene; she observed Rainbow suddenly throwing her hooves around Applejack in an excited hug. Twilight blinked in disbelief as Rainbow quickly withdrew her hooves, a look of shock crossing her face as Rainbow looked down at her forelegs.
The legs weren’t the normal cyan they usually were. They were covered with the same dripping, red, glistening wetness that was still dripping off Applejack’s body onto the cold stone floor, from the wound on her back. The fanged smile faded from the Pegasus’s face to a look of surprise and disgust and then replaced by a look of sheer mortification as it dawned on her what had happened.
“AJ...I’m so sor-”
Applejack stood resolute, Twilight could see the tremors in her form, yet the Earthpony seemed intent on not letting Rainbow know just how much it hurt. Keeping her voice level, she tried to calm down the panicking Pegasus.
“Rainbow…”
“I didn’t mean to- I-”
Twilight watched silently as Applejack continued her warm approach.
“Rainbow it’s-”
“How could I have been so careless-”
Applejack raised her hoof, as though about to strike Rainbow before taking a deep breath and slowly placing it back down. Twilight flinched; by merely tapping the stone floor, the granite beneath Applejack’s hoof split in two. Applejack narrowed her eyes and shouted at Rainbow Dash. A shout that echoed throughout the hallway with an almost thunderous roar.
“Rainbow Danger Dash!”
The shout caused both Rainbow Dash and Twilight to cower. Dash stiffened at the use of her full name and there was no doubt in Twilight’s mind what was going on. Twilight had heard that tone, the loud but firm, harsh but loving tone hundreds of times. Twilight ‘Luna’ Sparkle, come here! There was no mistaking it, even as those words from the past echoed in her mind. That was the voice of a mom. Even now, as Applejack spoke to Rainbow Dash, Twilight saw it, in her mind’s eye as it all played out, once more.
“Rainbow, Ah ain’t mad, Ah’m-
***
“-Just trying to get you to focus Twilight, on something far more important-”
Celestia used her hoof to lift Twilight’s muzzle, forcing her to look the towering tyrant in the eyes.
***
Applejack gazed into Rainbow Dash’s magenta eyes and smiled warmly.
“-Namely the 300 or so souls ya’ and yer squad should be protecting. After all-”
***
“-I will clean up this mess, don’t concern yourself with this failure.-”
Spreading her wings, Celestia flared them, blocking Twilight’s view of the destruction in the throne room.
***
Applejack gave a short, slightly pained laugh.
“-Dun worry about meh none. Rar will have this fixed in no time. Now tell me-”
***
“What did I tell you to do? What is it you should be focused on-”
Celestia gently leaned down to nuzzle her daughter, whispering in her ear.
***
“- Right now-”
***
“-my daughter?”
***
Standing in front of Applejack, Rainbow Dash looked smaller in comparison. That’s when it hit Twilight; Rainbow wasn’t just smaller in size, she couldn’t have been more than a year younger than Twilight’s true age. Rainbow Dash was an adolescent mare, she was a young adult. The relationship between the two was beyond evident in Twilight’s mind as Rainbow stared into Applejack’s eyes; the Pegasus’s normally cocky voice was replaced completely by an unsure filly’s.
“Gathering...my...squad, mom?”
“That’s right, Sugarcube. An’ then what, Rainbow?”
Rainbow seemed uncertain as she answered the question, almost as though the self-pride she normally had, had vanished from that single error in judgment. Could it be Rainbow was insecure about her own abilities?
“Get down to the parade grounds, to protect the newcomers. And then-then...um…-”
Nodding her head, Applejack gave the Rainbow-maned Pegasus a gentle nudge of encouragement.
“Come on, ya can do it. Tell meh, what do yeh do afterward. It’s somethin’ ya enjoy, an’ Ah’m betting from th’ growl in yer belly that yah want it quite a bit. What is it?”
“Have an awesome barbeque with the girls!”
Chuckling, Applejack commented.
“That’s right. So you made a mistake. It ain’t the end of the world, learn from it. Now plant yer hooves, bare your fangs as Ah taught ya an’ yer sisters. It's time ta take care of business. Summon yer squad. Ya got a job to do.”
Rainbow Dash’s eyes narrowed as her confidence flooded back, completely restored by Applejack’s words. Pulling out a small black box, her raspy tone once more presented itself.
“Listen up, ladies! This is Captain Dash. Wake up! We’re going hunting. You got 40 seconds to get geared and get out here before I go in and drag you out myself!”