//------------------------------//
// Chapter Seven 
// Story: Rise of the Dark Unicorn 
// by Sky McFly 
//------------------------------//

The sun was high in the sky by the time Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Thunderlane arrived at Appleloosa. They had spent most of the morning walking across the desert, since Rainbow Dash’s injuries kept her from flying. Due to her pride she refused to let Thunderlane carry her.
Thanks to the small size of Appleloosa, it didn’t take long for the three pegasi to spot Applejack crossing a dusty street.
“Applejack!” Fluttershy exclaimed happily and rushed over to hug the orange pony. “You’re okay!”
Applejack seemed surprised but delighted to see the three pegasi. “Fluttershy?” she asked. “And Rainbow Dash! And…Thunderlane?”
“How’re you doing, good-looking?” Thunderlane greeted her in what he clearly thought was a suave voice.
“Better now that yer here,” Applejack replied without missing a beat. Rainbow Dash’s jaw dropped. Even Thunderlane seemed surprised. “Jus’ havin’ a li’l fun,” Applejack grinned. “What’re y’all doin’ here? What’s goin’ on in Ponyville?”
“Uh, we might need to sit down to talk about this,” Fluttershy said. “And could we find a doctor for Rainbow Dash? Her wings are broken.”
“I don’t need a doctor—“
“Rainbow, yer wings are broken,” Applejack insisted, stern but concerned. “I’m takin’ ya t’ see a doctor.”

Half an hour later, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Thunderlane had gathered at the Salt Block while Rainbow Dash visited a doctor.
“So how’s Ponyville?” Applejack asked. “Is that jerk of a unicorn still runnin’ the place?”
Fluttershy nodded and related the events of the past few weeks.
“So it’s worse than I thought,” Applejack murmured. “What were y’all plannin’ on doin’ next?”
“I don’t know,” Fluttershy answered helplessly. “Go back to Ponyville? We could hide out in Sweet Apple Acres, maybe. It’s not like we can go to Cloudsdale or Canterlot. We’re all wanted ponies now.”
“Yep, it prob’ly ain’t wise t’ try goin’ to Canterlot anyway,” Applejack said. “By now it’ll be more guarded than Big Mac’s love life.” Fluttershy blushed. “Hold up,” Applejack continued, “you said Pinkie an’ Big Mac are plannin’ a rebellion? Maybe we should help ‘em out. Spike can take care o’ Twiligh’ and Rarity.”
At that moment, a yellow stallion trotted into the saloon and greeted Applejack.
“Hey there, cuz! You didn’t tell me yer friends were comin’ t’ visit!”
“Howdy, Braeburn,” Applejack replied. “An’ I didn’ know! I’m on the run, remember? They jus’ showed up.”
“Well, I hope y’all are comin’ to the wild west dance tonigh’ at the All Right Corral! It’ll be more fun than a barrel o’ monkeys!” With that, Braeburn headed up to the bar.
“A wild west dance?” Thunderlane repeated. He turned to Applejack. “Hey, Applejack, you want to go to the dance tonight?”
“Only if’n I git t’ go with you,” Applejack answered slyly.
“Do we have time to go to the dance?” Fluttershy asked tentatively. “I mean, we should get back to Ponyville as soon as we can…”
“Well, we can’t leave until tomorrow anyway,” Applejack reasoned. “Rainbow Dash needs time t’ heal, an’ if we leave now, we’d have t’ spend the night in the Everfree forest. We might as well have some fun tonigh’ before we have t’ go an’ save Equestria.”


***


“Are you sure we should play this for Rarity?” Spike asked Twilight as they walked through the fancy palace hallways to Rarity’s quarters.
“Of course, Spike,” Twilight answered. “Why wait?”
“Well…you didn’t hear the whole thing…”
Twilight stopped in her tracks. “What else did he say?” she asked.
“Well, he pretty much said he doesn’t care about her at all,” Spike exclaimed. “She’ll be devastated.”
Twilight bit her lip in concern. “Better devastated than under an evil unicorn’s spell,” she concluded. “Come on, let’s go…”
They arrived at Rarity’s quarters and Twilight knocked on the door.
“Who is it?” Rarity’s voice floated out of the room.
“It’s me, Rarity,” Twilight answered, “and Spike.”
“Go away!” Rarity’s voice became instantly icy.
Twilight sighed. “Rarity, we just want to talk to you. I am not interested in Styxon. Please, just give us a chance. Spike hasn’t seen you in weeks.”
After several long minutes, the door opened about six inches to reveal Rarity wearing a silk, monogrammed bathrobe and staring daggers at Twilight.
“What do you want?” Rarity asked impatiently.
“May we come in?” Twilight asked.
Sighing extravagantly as if Twilight had stained a white tablecloth or committed some similarly grave sin, Rarity reluctantly swung open the door. Spike’s eyes widened at the sight of the room within.
Dozens of candles stood in clusters among rose petals that lay scattered across the floor. A large four-poster bed stood at one end of the room, and on the opposite wall a larger-than-life-size painting of Styxon Stones hung in an ornate gold frame.
“Well,” Twilight began, “this is…”
“…disturbing,” Spike finished.
“Why are you here, Twilight?” Rarity asked, still glaring at the purple unicorn.
“You’d better show her, Spike,” Twilight said, and made her way over to the windows. She drew aside the curtains and sunlight streamed into the room. “There, isn’t that better?”
Spike pulled out the tape recorder and looked at Rarity. “Uh, you might want to sit down,” he said. Rarity daintily curled up on her bed. Spike climbed up to sit on the edge of the bed beside her and pressed “play.”
For the first few minutes of Styxon’s conversation with the Diamond Dogs, Rarity looked doubtful.
“This is some kind of magical trickery, isn’t it?” she asked, eyes narrowing. “Twilight just doesn’t want me to trust Styxon! She wants him all for herself!”
“Rarity, just listen,” Spike requested gently.
After Styxon’s revealing outburst, Rarity shook her head and said, “Styxon wouldn’t do a thing like that! There must’ve been some mistake!” But as the recording continued, she began to look less sure and more distressed.
“And what of the white pony?” Rover’s voice asked.
“You just wait!” Rarity said desperately. “He’ll tell them how much he loves me!”
Spike could hardly bear to listen to what he knew would come next.
“The white pony means nothing to me,” Styxon’s voice said, as cold as ice.
Twilight gasped. Rarity let out a long, loud sob.
“But he—he wouldn’t—he couldn’t have—how could he—that filthy mule!” Rarity seemed to progress from denial to grief to anger to grief again, all in under ten seconds. Finally she squeaked, “Spike! Hold me!” and toppled over into Spike’s arms, weeping. Spike tentatively stroked Rarity’s soft white fur while she shook with sobs. He tried not to enjoy it too much.


***


The pink and orange had begun to fade from the sky when Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Braeburn arrived at the All Right Corral for the evening’s wild west dance. Strings of lights hung on the fence surrounding the corral, creating an oasis of light and cheer in the darkening desert. In the center of the corral, ponies danced to the music of a small but enthusiastic bluegrass band, while other ponies ate and mingled at the tables that lined the edges of the corral. Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Braeburn entered through a trellis strung with lights, passed the stands of caramel apples and apple cider, and found seats at one of the tables at the edge of the corral.
“So where are Applejack and Thunderlane?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“Oh, didn’t you hear?” Fluttershy replied. “Thunderlane asked Applejack to the dance. She’s probably fixing herself up.”
“What?” Rainbow Dash yelped. “Thunderlane asked out Applejack? When did this happen?”
Instead of answering, Fluttershy stretched her neck up to peer over the crowd, and exclaimed, “There they are! Oh—wow…” She trailed off upon noticing Applejack and Thunderlane.
Thunderlane sported a checkered shirt and a fedora and beamed as he entered the corral with Applejack right beside him. Applejack wore a spring-green sundress that perfectly matched her eyes while a cactus blossom adorned her mane just above her ear. Instead of keeping her mane in her usual ponytail, she had let her wavy straw-colored tresses fall loose around her shoulders. As Applejack turned to whisper something into Thunderlane’s ear, Rainbow Dash noticed a thin braid at the back of Applejack’s head. The orange pony’s bright green eyes sparkled as she eagerly took in the sights of the dance. She hadn’t looked this excited since the Grand Galloping Gala. So why did Rainbow Dash suddenly feel like she’d rather be anywhere else but the dance?
“Is that really mah cousin Applejack?” Braeburn asked in wonder.
Applejack and Thunderlane joined Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Braeburn.
“This is so excitin’!” Applejack said breathlessly. “Y’all havin’ fun yet?”
“I’m going to go get Applejack some cider,” Thunderlane said. “Do any of you want anything?”
“I’d like some too, please,” Fluttershy answered.
“Me as well, thanks,” Braeburn said.
Rainbow Dash shook her head.
Thunderlane headed over to the cider stand.
“Applejack, can I talk to you?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“Sure thang, Rainbow!” Applejack answered. Rainbow Dash took her aside, leaving Braeburn and Fluttershy at the table.
“What are you doing?” Rainbow Dash demanded once they were out of earshot.
Applejack grinned. “What d’ ya mean? It’s a dance. I expect I’ll do some dancin’, prob’ly have a caramel apple ‘r two…”
“But…Thunderlane?” Rainbow Dash asked. “You said you’d go to the dance with Thunderlane?”
Applejack’s grin faded. “Well, what’s wrong with that?”
“This is Thunderlane we’re talking about!” Rainbow said in exasperation, as if that was the obvious answer to Applejack’s question. “He’s stuck-up and lazy and he’ll ask out anything that moves—“
“Sounds like some other pony I know,” Applejack said coldly. “I mean, except fer that last part maybe… Listen, I know he may be a tad full of ‘imself and maybe he ain’t worked a day in ‘is life and maybe I’ve only had eight or nine hours to git t’ know ‘im, but Thunderlane’s a real sweet pony. He only wants what’s best fer me.”
“There’s only one thing Thunderlane wants,” Rainbow Dash replied, “and that’s not it.”
“Oh come on, Rainbow Dash,” Applejack snapped, her freckled cheeks beginning to flush with anger. “Can’t ya see how much this means t’ me? Believe it or not, I don’t git a lot o’ suitors back at Sweet Apple Acres. Stallions don’t tend t’ see hardworkin’ farmponies like me as courtin’ material. Can’t ya let me enjoy this one time a stallion’s willin’ to treat me like a lady?” At the word “lady,” Applejack turned up her nose and tossed her mane, a gesture so reminiscent of Rarity that Rainbow Dash was caught off guard for a moment.
“Treat you like a—“ Rainbow Dash sputtered. “If you wanted—should’ve asked—I could’ve treated you like a lady!”
Applejack raised her eyebrows.
Rainbow Dash blushed. “I mean…”
“Okay, Rainbow Dash,” Applejack said. “I’m gonna go dance. You enjoy yer evenin’.” She turned to Thunderlane as he returned with the apple cider. “Come on, Thunderlane! Let’s cut a rug!” They proceeded onto the dance floor.
Rainbow Dash plunked herself down next to Fluttershy. The two pegasi and Braeburn were silent for a few minutes. Then Braeburn began, “Either o’ you mind if I…?” and gestured toward the dance floor.
“Not at all,” Fluttershy replied. Rainbow Dash shrugged.
Braeburn joined Applejack, Thunderlane, and the dozens of other ponies frolicking on the dance floor.
Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were silent for several more minutes. Then Fluttershy broke the silence.
“Applejack’s pretty, isn’t she?” she asked.
Rainbow Dash, whose eyes hadn’t left the orange pony since she had arrived at the corral, merely grunted.
The two pegasi fell silent again.
Rainbow Dash watched as Thunderlane tripped and stumbled into Applejack. Applejack fell backwards and the two ponies landed in a heap, narrowly missing the ponies directly behind them. Applejack giggled, and then grabbed Thunderlane’s hat and tousled his mane.
Rainbow Dash stood up abruptly. “I need some cider,” she announced.

Later that evening, when many of the ponies had decided to take a break from dancing, Applejack and Thunderlane still remained on the dance floor. The bluegrass band finished a lively piece and began to play a slow waltz. Rainbow Dash saw Applejack lean her head on Thunderlane’s shoulder and close her eyes as the two ponies swayed back and forth.
Rainbow Dash felt a lump rise in her throat. This was one way to break a pony that Styxon Stones hadn’t thought of.
“Rainbow Dash?” Fluttershy began tentatively. “Would you…like to dance? I mean, neither of us have dates tonight, and it seems like you’d rather be out there on the dance floor…”
Rainbow Dash emptied and crushed her fifth cup of cider.
“I’m going to bed,” she grumbled, and walked away from the bright lights of the corral without looking back.

Applejack and Thunderlane left the dance long after Fluttershy threw away Rainbow Dash’s trash and went to bed. Applejack was still flushed with excitement even after leaving the corral behind. When they had drawn away from the festive lights, Applejack looked upward and noticed the multitude of stars dotting the midnight sky, more than she had ever seen back in Ponyville.
“So, I heard you rescued Rainbow Dash from the palace dungeons,” Applejack began. “That’s no small feat.”
“Well, Fluttershy helped,” Thunderlane replied, in an unconvincing attempt at modesty. “Hey, sorry I kept stepping on your tail…I must have four left hooves. How many times did I—“
“Fourteen. But don’t you worry ‘bout a thang. I had a great time.”
They slowly proceeded down the starlit street, flanks brushing each other occasionally as they walked. It was silent, but not uncomfortably so. Applejack glanced at Thunderlane. As she watched his eyes roam among the stars she could see no sign of the self-assured, cocky façade the stallion normally wore. Instead, she wondered if Thunderlane’s mind was racing too, if his heart was beating as fast as hers was.
Too soon, they arrived at Braeburn’s house, where Applejack was staying. The two ponies ascended the steps to the porch. When they reached the front door, Applejack stopped and turned to face Thunderlane. Their eyes met for a moment, and then they both started talking at once.
“Well, thanks fer—“
“It was great to—“
They both paused and giggled.
“Thank you fer askin’ me to the dance,” Applejack said finally. “This was the best night I’ve had in a while.”
“It was my pleasure,” Thunderlane replied.
They fell silent again. Their faces were now so close that Applejack could see her reflection in his bronze-colored eyes. Then the twin Applejacks disappeared as Thunderlane closed his eyes and began to lean toward her. She wished her heart wouldn’t beat so loudly. Surely Thunderlane could hear it too. She did her best to swallow her nerves and leaned forward as well.
All of a sudden, Applejack heard Rainbow Dash’s voice in her head.
There’s only one thing Thunderlane wants…
In a moment that felt like an hour as time seemed to slow, Applejack raged an internal battle in her mind. The situation was exactly how she imagined it would be as a filly. Thousands of stars shone down from overhead as she returned from a perfect date with a handsome stallion. But could there be truth in Rainbow’s words?
Applejack turned demurely to the side and Thunderlane’s lips gently landed on her freckled cheek. She looked slyly up at the stallion and said, “Hanky-panky on th’ first date? That ain’t how courtin’s s’posed t’ work.” She grinned. “Next time, I expect ya t’ take me out t’ dinner first. G’night, Thunderlane.”
Thunderlane grinned, trying to hide a blush. “Goodnight, Applejack.”
Applejack looked fondly at the stallion one more time, and then went inside to bed.