//------------------------------// // Chapter 13 // Story: Always connected- Aftermath // by The-rogue-shadow //------------------------------// pplejack avoided Big Mac's eyes as she dressed in a black and purple outfit, noticing how comfortable it still felt after such a long time. She reached for the black mask, and Applejack could make out her reflection in the silver eyes. She jumped as Big Mac snatched the mask away and threw it on the ground. "This is crazy AJ! We aren't here to play dress up; we are here to bury Granny Smith." He yelled, and Applejack could see the others staring out of the corner of her eye. Very calmly, Applejack picked the mask back up and sat it on the table. She put her hoof on Big Mac's shoulder and looked him in the eyes, trying to think of the words to explain her reasons for what she wanted to do. "Big Mac, I know, I do. But can't you see all how much Ponyville has taken a turn for the worst. I mean, thugs attacking Rarity's cousin for money, this never should have happened. And this mask, it's just to give everypony hope, to let them know that there is somepony willing to stand up against the corruption and the violence and fight back for the sake of Ponyville herself. Or think about it this way, why would I have these powers if it was not to help everypony, not just to be a killing machine." Applejack said, but Big Mac just shook his head and shrugged Applejack's hoof of his shoulder, before turning and walking out of the library, slamming the door behind him. Applejack turned as she heard a snort from behind her, as DuskDrift sat up straight, looking around with bloodshot and tired eyes. Applejack made her way over and passed DuskDrift a cup of water, helping her to drink. Applejack could tell by the way that she moved that she was feeling very weak, and obviously in a lot of pain. "How does he look? Can I see him?" DuskDrift asked, referring to Spike. Applejack shook her head, helping her to lie back down. "Not right now. Applethunder is outside teaching him to fly. But ah'm more interested in how you're feeling at the moment." Applejack said, regretting that she put DuskDrift in a situation that almost killed her. DuskDrift smiled. "Oh he's a Pegasus? Cool. And to answer your question, well, I hurt all over and my vision is very hazy. I honestly think that it was just a bit beyond what I'm capable of." DuskDrift said weakly, as her eyes started to close and with a sigh, DuskDrift fell back to sleep. Applejack pulled the blanket onto her a bit more and walked back over to the mask. She slipped it over her head, taking a moment to get used to how the eyes made the world a little bit brighter. Applejack took a deep breath, stretching out all of her limbs. She took a quick look around for the item that completed the outfit; A large purple wide-brimmed hat. Finally stopping it on the hat rack near the door, she put it on, once again marvelling at how well it fit. She looked into a mirror and smiled underneath her mask, feeling a great sense of pride as she looked at her reflection. "Looks like Mare-do-well is back." Applejack said to nopony, finding it interesting at how much more confident she felt in the costume. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rainbow's thought's turned to Applejack as she cleaned the blood off her armour, finding the crystal remarkably easy to clean. She wondered how Applejack was coping back in Ponyville, and wished that she could be with her marefriend. She smiled as she pictured Applejack's face, and didn't even notice somepony sit next to her. "Thinking about AJ?" Rarity asked, making Rainbow jump. She blushed as Rarity gave her a wink. Rainbow nodded, receiving a nudge from Rarity. "Hey Rarity, I've been meaning to ask. How does your relationship…. Setup… Uh…. Work?" Rainbow asked, smiling awkwardly as Rarity raised her eyebrow. "Well… It just does. I mean, I love Black Diamond with all my heart, but I love Princess Luna just as much. The only rational option seemed to be to share myself with them both." She told her, but it left Rainbow with more questions. "And how do Diamond and Luna feel about the arrangement?" She asked, and Rarity sighed, looking off into space. "As far as I know, they have no problems with it. I mean, Diamond had some trouble adjusting at first. But I think he's warmed up to the idea a bit more now. As for Luna… I just try to imagine how lonely she must have felt on the moon, and even before. Did I tell you that Luna attempted suicide when she was younger? I couldn't believe it. She told me that she had fallen for one of her servants, and the mare returned her affections. But then the mare's father found out, and despite the fact that she was a consort of the Princess… The mare's father killed her, ashamed to have such an abomination in the family." Rarity said, and Rainbow felt terrible, and could think of doing nothing but giving the Princess a hug. "And as soon as she found out, she had the father arrested and the only that stopped her from exacting her revenge was Celestia. Luna ran away from Canterlot and was about to drop herself into an active volcano when it happened. Nightmare moon took over for the first time, and she razed the entire village where the mare's father had been living. Two thousand ponies died because of that one stallion. And Luna mourns every single death that Nightmare moon caused, every day, all day. Except for the times that she's with me apparently." Rarity continued, and Rainbow released the breath she had been holding the whole time. She was speechless, to think that such a godlike individual like Luna was just as susceptible to the same pains that befell everypony else was astonishing. Rainbow quickly wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes as Luna herself walked through the door. Rainbow jumped of the seat and hugged Luna. Luna hugged back, encompassing Rainbow in her wings. "Is everything okay Rainbow?" Luna asked, and Rainbow could hear the confusion in her voice. "No Princess, I… I understand you a bit better is all. What was the mare's name?" Rainbow asked, still holding onto Luna. She heard Luna sigh, and could tell she was starting to cry by the tears that were falling onto her head. "Her name was Midnight… Midnight Dream." Luna said, hugging Rainbow tighter. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." Said Rainbow. "Not as sorry as I am." Replied Luna. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Applejack hid in the shadow as the new mayor of Ponyville, Flame, walked past her into his office, shutting the door behind him. Her eyes narrowed as she examined him. He was a red unicorn, with an orange and yellow striped mane and tail. From what Applejack could make out, his cutie mark was a blue flame, surrounded by six small stars, and Applejack had the feeling that she had seen it before. Flame's horn glowed and a mirror floated up to his face. He started to talk to it, and Applejack noticed him getting irritated. Flame slammed the mirror back onto the table, breaking it. Applejack stepped from the shadows in the corner of the room. "I believe that's seven years bad luck, Mister Mayor." She said, disguising her voice as best she could. Flame screamed slightly when Applejack talked, before clearing his throat. "I'm guessing that you are the infamous Mare Do Well. I thought you had left Ponyville for good. You haven't been seen in years." He said, as Applejack made her way toward his desk. "True, but everypony needs a holiday sometimes. Besides... Ponyville hasn't needed me until now. But I can't ignore the fact that there is a gang land presence here. Word on the street is that you have something to do with it." Said Applejack, smiling under her mask as a bead of sweat made its way down Flame's face. "That's preposterous. I would never be involved is such a thing." He said nervously. Applejack shook her head. She thought about when she found about Granny Smith's death, using the strength to split his solid oak desk in half with a single punch. "Lie to me again and see what happens." She threatened, and Flame's demeanour changed immediately. His nervous appearance disappeared, replaced with a cocky smirk and narrow eyes. "Ooohhh looks like I have a badflank on my hooves. Interesting. But you're right; I control the Minotaur gangs in the area. In exchange for doing what I ask, I keep the police off their tail and half of the earnings." He told her, standing up and circling Applejack. "Half? What do you gain out of it all if not money?" She asked, wary of the unicorn, watching his horn closely for any signs of magic. Flame laughed, much to Applejack's annoyance. "What do I gain? I get power. The ponies of this stupid town trust me, as long as I keep telling them that I'm going to stop the crime, they're happy. You would be surprised to learn the power that fear can bring you Mare Do Well." He said, as his smirk grew into a malicious smile. "Not to mention the fact that this war has them all extra scared of Minotaur. The businesses pay through the nose for protection, and either way, I reap the benefits. But I digress; I'd like you to leave please." He said. Applejack shook her head, advancing on him. "I don't think so. This ends now." She said dramatically, as Flame pressed what appeared to be a hidden button. One of the walls slid down to reveal Iron Will and the same two Minotaur cronies that she had stopped the day before. This time however, they were all armed with bows, which were aimed directly at her. A sudden fear gripped her heart, spreading through her body, gluing her to the floor. "You've already made a mistake Flame." Said Applejack, feeling the fear through her entire body, she focused her mind on the library. "And what's that?" He asked, raising an eyebrow. "You think I'm the same Mare Do Well as before." Replied Applejack, vanishing. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rainbow sat on a cloud, looking over the camp. Luna sat next to her, her eyes red after hour of crying. Rainbow was just as upset, after finally hearing Luna's story as well as the events that led to her mother's death. Rainbow was unaware that her mother, Firefly, was Celestia's best friend. She had only known that she had died in service to the throne. "You know Rainbow, I was thinking the other day how similar you, Pinkie and I are. We all have an incredibly destructive dark side. We all lost ponies that meant the world to us, and we all fight for others, with no thought of ourselves." Said Luna. Rainbow smiled slightly and nodded, knowing that she was right. "Not to mention that we are all fillyfoolers." Said Rainbow, laughing. Luna joined in, and Rainbow realised just how different Luna was compared to Celestia. Luna was nowhere near as confident as Celestia, nor was she as inherently deceptive about her plans. Luna was open with everypony when she made a strategy on the battlefield. And Rainbow noticed that despite the fear that Luna instilled in some ponies, she trusted Luna more than she ever trusted Celestia. "I know what you're thinking Dash. How can I be so different from my sister? Well it's simple; Celestia and I saw the world very differently. Where she saw darkness, I saw everything that was revealed by darkness, the nocturnal animals, and the sounds that only accompany the night. She only saw the world in black and white. It was always either good or evil with her, yes or no. Whereas I have always known about the grey area, where nothing is as it seems." Luna explained, and Rainbow nodded, able to see that in Luna's eyes. "You and I are alike Princess, and I'm proud of that." Said Rainbow, turning and looking down at the ground below. Suddenly she was grabbed by Luna, who kissed her. Rainbow's went wide and she struggled, but to no avail. Reluctantly, Rainbow embraced the transformation, letting Rainbow Dark throw Luna off her. She rose above Luna, shaking her head. "NO!" Rainbow Dark yelled, before closing her wings and diving toward the ground.