//------------------------------// // Chapter Six: The Eve of Fear // Story: Applejack of the Green Lanterns // by Thatguywiththemane //------------------------------// The grunting of a certain orange farmer could be heard from the fields of Sweet Apple Acres as she worked amongst the grain. It was again harvest time, and the wheat needed reaping as it did every year. Applejack brought the blade of her scythe across the stalks of wheat, bringing them down so she could bind them later. It had been a few days since she had been let out of the hospital, and she had been eager to get back to work. Quilla had insisted that she get some rest before they continued training, though she conceded that Applejack was a decent ring slinger already. Applejack was more concerned about Pinkie Pie. Though she supposed that she shouldn’t be, Pinkie was unshakeable. Moments after her cast had been finished, she started planning an ‘Applejack saved the day and I got a new hoof cast’ party, which the Cakes were offering to cater free of charge. The party was later that day, and Applejack made a note to bring a couple apple fritters. It just seemed rude not to bring something to a party, even if it was for her. As Applejack reared back with her tool for another pass, the blade of the scythe flew off the haft, spinning through the air and heading for a tree. Applejack reached out with her ring, sending a tendril of green energy to wrap around the spinning blade. She caught it just before it split the bark of the tree, and Applejack brought the blade back, examining what could have gone wrong. “Ponyfeathers,” she cursed, examining the blade. The back had rusted through, meaning there was nothing keeping it in place against the screw. The blade was useless now, and it would take Iron Tongs, the blacksmith, at least three days to make her a new one. Applejack sighed as she unfastened the leather straps that fastened her hooves to the haft. Looked like she was done reaping today… Applejack looked at the construct she had made to catch the blade. Huh, maybe she wasn’t… She closed her eyes and focused, creating the curved blade and haft of the farming implement as a construct. She grinned as the scythe floated in the air, moving along with her hooves as if it was strapped to them like the old one. Applejack’s grin faded slightly and became tinged with confusion as she felt the construct. For some reason, It felt… stronger than many others she had created before. She couldn’t explain it, it just felt… right. She gave it an experimental swing, and as she expected, the construct’s blade met with no resistance as it cut the wheat. Applejack didn’t have much work left, but is still needed to get it done. She grinned as the scythe sailed through the air. Whatever made this construct different, she liked it. Hours later, out in the barn, the party was in full swing. Most of Ponyville had turned out, since it wasn’t everyday that a resident became an intergalactic cop and representative to your whole planet. Applejack had decided to come clean to everyone in town, since it would be pretty hard otherwise to explain how she managed her now famous rescue. Applejack was currently over by the punch bowl, carefully smelling the brew before taking a sip. It wouldn’t be the first time Pinkie made her “special” punch and not told anyone, and Applejack needed to work tomorrow. It didn’t smell off, so she decided to have some. Pinkie came bounding up to her, somehow still as maneuverable even with her cast. “Hi, Applejack! Are you enjoying the party? I hope you are! I really worked hard on it, and-“ Applejack laughed. “It’s a great party, Pinkie. Thank yah kindly. Ah know Quilla thanks yah, too, fer makin’ this her welcome party too.” Applejack waved to her alien friend, and Quilla waved back before returning to her conversation with Fluttershy. Applejack chuckled. “She ain’t one fer big deals, yah know. One sec, Pinkie,” she said, before turning around to look at the punch bowl. “Rainbow, if yah even think about spikin’ the punch, Ah’ll buck you half way back to Cloudsdale,” she said, through her grin. The cyan pony hovering above the punch bowl quickly hid a bottle of whisky behind her back. She chuckled nervously, then groaned when she realized she was rumbled. “Aww, horseapples. Did that ring give you some kind of super alert system?” Applejack laughed and winked at Rainbow Dash. “Nah, sugarcube, Ah just know yah too well,” she said, laughing a bit. Rainbow Dash laughed too, then flew away, heading to mingle with the other ponies. Applejack always did like the way Dash flew… “Hello, Applejack? Equestria to Applejack, come in!” yelled Pinkie, waving a hoof in front of Applejack’s face. Applejack shook her head a bit, clearing her mind. What had she been talking about? “Uh, sorry, Pinkie, Ah guess Ah got distracted…” “I’ll say! You were all like…” She swayed on the spot and her eyes went distant and swirly, as only Pinkie Pie could make them. Applejack raised an eyebrow. “Pinkie, I kinda doubt that I looked much like that.” Pinkie giggled. “Ok, maybe not EXACTLY like that, but it was close! What’cha thinking about, AJ?” AJ blushed a bit as the image of Rainbow Dash creeped it’s way into her mind again, but she shook her head to clear it. “Uh, Ah don’t remember… S’cuse me, Pinkie, Ah need to talk to Quilla ‘bout somethin’” she said, seeing that her quill-covered colleague had parted ways with Fluttershy. AJ made her way over to Quilla, who smiled as she approached. “Ah, Applejack, just the quadruped I wanted to see.” Applejack tilted her head. “Uh… Ah’m a what now?” Quilla chuckled. “Never mind. Anyway, I needed to talk to you about something. I’ve been called out of the sector on an important situation. The Green Lanterns think they’ve finally cornered a big time crime boss, and they’re calling in backup. I’m going to be leaving this sector to you, but don’t worry too much. It’s been pretty quiet lately, and I’ve quelled anything that might require Green Lantern aid. Just keep an eye out, and you’ll do fine,” said Quilla, smiling and patting Applejack on the shoulder. Applejack’s mouth hung open for a moment. She was going to be looking after the sector… alone? “Well, Alright, Quilla. Ah’ll do mah best,” she said, giving a salute. Quilla chuckled a bit. “I know you will. Now that I’ve talked to you, I’m going to duck out early. I need to head back to my planet, tie up a few loose ends before I go. Tell your friend Pinkie I had a great time, and she was very… creative with the cake,” she said, laughing. That was certainly true; Pinkie had made it shaped like the Green Lantern symbol. Pinkie Pie popped up between the two of them. “Wow, thanks, Quilla! I was worried I would run out of green frosting or green food coloring, but I didn’t! And I’m sorry you’re leaving so soon, but thank you for coming! It wouldn’t have been much of a welcome party if you hadn’t shown up! Here!” she said, producing a slice of cake, “Have a piece for the road! Or sky! Or vacuum of space!” Quilla blinked, but smiled and took the cake. “Thank you, Pinkie,” she said, walking out the door of the barn. There was a flash of light, and Quilla took off, flying high up into the sky and leaving the atmosphere. As Quilla disappeared from view, there was the sound of a huge belch. Applejack turned to look at the source of the sound, and saw Spike with a scroll in his claws. Celestia was sending a letter? Now? Curious, she made her way over to Twilight, as did the rest of her friends. Usually when Celestia sent sent something to Twilight without having been sent something first, it was important. “What does it say, Darling?” asked Rarity, looking over Twilight’s shoulder. As Twilight was about to open the scroll with telekinesis, Spike belched again. This time, a mahogany box appeared from the green flame, ornate and well made. Twilight looked down at the box, and seemed to pale, before opening the letter. She read it aloud. “Dear Twilight. I am sorry to say that this is not a social letter, though I dearly wish it were. I am sorry to intrude upon you in this manner, but I am afraid that Equestria needs you and your friends once again. “Reports have come in from many rural areas of devastating circumstances. Entire villages ravaged and destroyed, leaving behind very few survivors. The ponies that do survive are traumatized, becoming jittering, paranoid wrecks of their former selves. What is worse, these ponies’ accounts vary wildly, even in cases where they were in the same village. One might say that it was a dragon, others an Ursa Major, and still others say stranger things. One pony even claimed it was his Mother-in-Law grown giant. “Unfortunately, this is not the end of the harsh news I bring you. Luna and I have tracked the path of the destruction, and we believe that this… force is heading straight for Ponyville. If our calculations are correct, it may be there as soon as tomorrow. That is why I have enclosed the Elements of Harmony.” The five ponies not reading the letter gasped, looking to the inlayed mahogany box. Twilight picked it up in her telekinetic grip, flipping the lid open. Inside were five gold necklaces and a tiara, each piece of jewelry set with a stone in the shape of one of the ponies’ cutie mark. Twilight picked the letter back up. “I leave them with you, assured in the knowledge that Equestria could not be in safer hooves. Luna and I have decided our place is with the ponies who have lost so much, so it is with a heavy heart I must ask this of you. Defend yourselves. Defend Ponyville. Defend all of Equestria. I know that you and your friends are up to the task. Good luck, my little ponies. “With much hope and confidence, Princess Celestia.” The six of them stood there, huddled around the letter, before the sound of breaking glass caused them to turn around. Somepony had dropped a punch glass, and everypony’s eyes were on the Elements. Silence reigned for a glorious moment “Um… I think the town may have heard you,” said Fluttershy, twiddling her hooves. “Gee, you think?” said Rainbow Dash. That break in the silence was enough to open the floodgates. There was a scream, and then everypony was screaming, several rearing up on their back hooves. Applejack heard someone shout “The horror!” and faint. Another pony crashed into the refreshment table, sending the Green Lantern cake and the punch flying. Fillies were crying from confusion, while their parents panicked like frightened deer. Applejack was about to let loose a flash of light from her ring, but a voice cried out. “Hey! Shut up!” Every eye turned to the source of the voice, the cyan pony hovering above the ground. “Would you all cool it?! Come on, everypony! Yeah, we’ve got a problem, but we can handle it! Me and the girls have never let Ponyville down, so there’s no reason to think we will now! And besides, we’ve got a Green Lantern on our side!” she said, gripping Applejack’s right hoof and holding it up. “You know that we’ll kick whatever’s coming right in the flank! And you can count on that!” There was a massive cheer as the crowd rallied behind Rainbow Dash’s words, and Applejack was once again struck by her. Something about her, she just… exuded confidence. It was almost foolish, but she had enough skill to make it work for her. She just had that quality about her, a special something that made her different. She closed her eyes and shook her head a bit. Damn it, what was wrong with her? That was the second time tonight she had zoned out. Maybe she’d go talk to Zecora at some point, see if she was coming down with something. Strange as the zebra was at times, she knew her way around herbal remedies. She felt a tap on her shoulder. “You ok, Applejack?” asked Pinkie. “You were doing that thing again.” “Ah’m fine,” Applejack replied hazily. “Just… tired, Ah guess.” “Alright, everypony,” said Twilight, sparing Applejack any more confusion. “The six of us need to prepare for tomorrow. I say we all head back to the library, because tomorrow we’re going to stop whatever it is that’s coming.” “Sorry, everypony!” yelled Pinkie Pie. “Party’s over! Don’t worry, though, I’ll throw a ‘We beat the bad guy’ party after we beat the bad guy!” ` As the ponies filtered out, Applejack went up to Big Mac patting him on the shoulder. “Would yah mind puttin’ Apple Bloom ta bed tonight? Looks like Ah’m gonna be at Fort Elements,” she said, chuckling. Big Mac nodded, following the crowd of ponies out the door of the barn. Applejack turned towards her friends and smiled. “Well, let’s get to it, then.” The six Elements of Harmony sat gathered around the table, their necklaces and Twilight’s crown sitting in the center. “Alright, girls,” said Twilight, “we all know what the letter said. Whatever’s coming, it’s dangerous, but I think we’ve faced worse in the past. If we can handle a living embodiment of chaos itself, we can handle this,” she said. The other ponies nodded in agreement. “Still, if we’re going to fight it, it would be a good idea to try and figure out what it is.” “Why bother?” piped up Rainbow Dash. “Whatever it is, one rainbow shot from the Elements will send it packing.” “What if it’s not evil, though?” asked Fluttershy. “Maybe it’s just alone and scared, and acting out?” “Yeah!” yelled Pinkie. “Maybe all it needs is some cheering up!” “Could it be possible that it’s more than one thing?” asked Rarity. “Remember when those awful parasprites came to town? They certainly could cause a lot of destruction.” “I don’t think that’s it, Rarity,” said Twilight. “If it were big, like a dragon or a swarm, someone would have seen it. A traveler or a hermit pony would have reported it. Whatever it is, it’s small enough to move around relatively unnoticed by the community at large,” she said. Twilight’s horn glowed, and she pulled over a chalk board and began writing on it. Up at the top she wrote, ‘What we know’. “Ok, let’s start with what we know for sure. We know that whatever it is, it’s strong. It has to be to be able to do this. We also know it’s most likely small, or at least common place enough that no one would notice it. It also seems able to severely debilitate ponies, enough that they think they saw something they didn’t.” “Hey, wait a sec,” said Applejack. “Yah say it’s powerful, hard tah notice, and messes up ponies’ minds, right? Well, what do we know that could fool a whole heep of ponies, us included?” The whole group thought for a second, then Pinkie raised a hoof. “Oh! Oh! The changeling Queen!” Twilight’s jaw dropped, thinking it over. “Of course! If Chrysalis could overpower Celestia with enough love, she certainly could take out a few towns and feed on the love of the remaining!” “And draining the love from Shining Armor turned him into a shell,” offered Rarity. “I bet that would happen to other ponies too!” “But why would Chrysalis come alone?” asked Applejack. “Last time she had to so the rest of her army could come in. Why the solo act this time?” “Maybe she thought that smaller assault would be better,” said Twilight. “And her army could be waiting while she weakens Equestria from the inside. Taking out farming towns and such could severely hamper any military defense. An army marches on its stomach, after all.” “Well, I guess she didn’t realize who she was dealing with in Ponyville,” said Rainbow Dash, grinning. “We’ll just have to be careful about any new ponies coming into Ponyville.” “Right,” said Twilight. “Pinkie, you know every pony in Ponyville on sight, so we’ll be counting on you. Let us know right away if you see a new pony, or anypony acting strangely.” Pinkie sat up and pulled out a helmet, putting it squarely on her head. “Yes Ma’am!” “Rainbow Dash, I’ll need you to be an eye in the sky,” said Twilight. “Just keep a lookout, make sure to tell us if anything is headed this way.” “Got it!” “Fluttershy, Chrysalis might be able to turn herself into an animal, so I’ll need you to keep an eye out as well. If an animal starts acting strangely, let us know, and ask them if anything odd’s happened.” “Ok,” said Fluttershy, softly but with confidence. “Applejack, Rarity, tomorrow the three of us will be helping the town get ready for the attack,” she said. “Boarding up windows, getting the citizens to safety, that sort of thing.” “You got it, sugarcube.” “Of course, darling.” “Alright, everypony, put your Element necklace on. We need to be ready whenever Chrysalis decides to attack.” Applejack took the piece of jewelry in her hooves, feeing the polished gold. She admired the apple shaped gem embedded in it for a moment, then placed it around her neck. She was once again struck by just how natural to felt, like it was a part of her. She looked down at her ring, smiling as she realized that the two accessories were very similar in that regard. “Alright, everypony,” said Twilight, wearing her Element tiara, “go home and get some rest. Tomorrow we defend Ponyville.”