The orange mare watched as the Canterlot Royal Guard lugged the Changelings from the train and into an armored chariot lined with gold. The unconscious Changelings made no attempt to escape their clutches as they were hauled off to their prison-transport.
Townsponies passed by, glancing at the criminal monsters; some even turning to ask each other questions like, "Changelings still attack us?" or "Changelings on a train to Appleloosa? Could there already be some here?" It almost made Applejack feel bad about what she’d done.
Almost.
A loud commotion came from inside the train, bringing Applejack's full attention to it. The culprit was brought out into the open. One Changeling, the one who had told her about the "inescapable rope", was brought outside of the train, strapped to the guards back in such a way that it was unable to resist capture any way other than shouting.
“Put me down you worthless creature!” It hissed and howled. “I’ll have your head mounted on my mother's wall!” It struggled immensely, even causing the guard to stumble a little. He regained his balance and continued his canter, the Changeling growling at his failed attempt.
The Changeling spotted Applejack for the second it stopped its escape-attempt. "You!" It roared. "You filthy vermin!" The creature attempted magic, but almost passed out from the exertion; it was too weak from the fight.
The mare smiled. "I would strongly suggest you bring an army next time you mess with me." Then she muttered under her breath, "Or at least get a better rope-tyer."
The Changeling bared its teeth, hissing. "Oh, I will! We will get revenge on you, Applejack!"
Applejack grinned wider. Whatever punishment he got, he deserved. Braeburn slowly trotted behind her, watching the Changelings being loaded off. "Don't toy with your food." He joked.
The mare giggled.
"What happened on that train?" Braeburn looked Applejack over, making sure she was okay physically. "You alright?"
Applejack continued to grin as she lightly pushed Braeburn's head away from her body. "I'm fine." She nodded her head to the Changelings. "They ambushed me. Seems they don't like it when you foil their plans to take over the country."
Braeburn smiled. "Well, I know I would." He turned away. "You know where I live, so come along when you're ready." Applejack waved a hoof in confirmation. The chariot flew off as the last of the Changelings were loaded on-board.
Applejack slid onto the train again, noticing the few guards who remained in case of any hidden Changelings.
She trotted back to her original seat, luckily finding her guitar rested safely on the cushion. She strapped it around her back and exited the train. Hopefully that was the last bit of "adventure" she'd have for a while.
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Her coat and mane glowed in the sunset. The sounds of stricken chords echoed through the house once again. Although it wasn't her house, Applejack felt comfortable enough to leave the door open as she strummed the strings of the guitar. There was no specific tune; just an odd compilation of random notes sounding like some sort of melody. She watched her hoof as she hit the chords. Her legs stretched across the bed, putting her in an awkward looking position for a pony, but still comfortable to her as her head lie on the propped-up pillow.
Braeburn knocked on the open door, alerting Applejack of his presence. "Mind if I come in?"
Applejack glanced at him quickly before returning to her guitar. "It's your house, do what you want." She joked. Braeburn took that as a yes and entered the room.
"So, uh..." He paused as he sat down next to Applejack, shaking the bed and causing her to hit a wrong note. "The reason I brought you here..." Applejack stopped playing and looked into Braeburn's eyes. "The orchard's been doing pretty bad in the harvesting of, as well as the harvestable, apples, and you've been at this longer than anypony here." Braeburn broke eye-contact. "I need your help to find out what's wrong."
Applejack nodded. "Fine with me, as long as we get it fixed by Harvest." The mare returned to strumming. "I've got my own plans for that night." Harvest was a great day for her family.
But it was also the worst for her.
Braeburn grinned. "Thanks, Cuz. I really appreciate it." Braeburn stood up and left the room, closing the door behind him without so much as a glance back at her.
Applejack muttered to herself, "No problem." And continued playing...
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A crash woke Applejack from her sleep. She glanced toward the doorway, finding the door still closed. She stood up, throwing the covers off as she moved.
The mare opened the door and poked her head into the hallway, glancing down toward the foyer. There was nothing visible, but a scream that sounded outside the house threw Applejack's heart into a rampage. Applejack walked slowly toward the door that led to the living room, unbeknownst to what she might encounter.
Multiple screams sounded as she reached the entryway. "What is going on?" She cautiously reached for the doorknob.
The mare's heart skipped a beat as the door she stood next to was torn to pieces, and the face of a Timberwolf flew through it, landing on Applejack and snarling in her face. She yelped in surprise.
The wolf brought its head up to add force to its bite. Applejack took her chance and headbutted it in the chest, knocking it off her. The mare stood and rubbed her forehead as the canine regained its composure. "Can I not go a single day without some kind of monster trying to kill me?!" She yelled at the wolf. It growled ferociously in response, then dove for her again.
Applejack sidestepped its attack, allowing it to ram its head into the wall that led into the kitchen. She bucked its flank to jam its head inside the wall. The Timberwolf, unprepared for such a predicament, waved its legs wildly, hoping to get a hold on something to pull itself out. It eventually settled for pushing against the wall.
Applejack glanced around wildly, hoping to find something nearby to use as a weapon. From her own experience, its difficult to cut down a tree with hooves.
A hatchet hung on the wall opposite of the Timberwolf. Whatever its reason for being there, Applejack thanked Celestia and the nine divines for it. She ripped it from its holder, turning back just in time to watch the Timberwolf tear its head from the wall and bark at her.
The orange mare lifted the blade-hammer to her shoulder with one hoof, leaving her to balance on three. "Let's finish this." The wolf charged at her.
Applejack stepped to the right, hacking the blade-end of the hatchet into the wolf's neck and tearing it back out immediately afterward. The creature screeched in pain, falling to its side and sliding across the similarly wooden floor, hitting the wall with a small *thump*.
Applejack watched as it recovered quickly, completely ignoring the massive crack that lined its throat. Applejack spun the hatchet, now holding the hammer to the beast. "Resilient mutt, aren't you?" The wolf gave a half-bark before wincing in pain. It didn't have much of a windpipe now.
Applejack charged this time. She brought the hammer above her head, preparing to slam it onto the wolf's face.
It countered her with the same tactic she had used a moment before, sidestepping and watching her weight throw her to the ground. The creature moved in and bit down hard on her neck.
The mare screamed immensely as the pain seared through her spine. Still holding the hatchet backwards, she bent the leg holding it toward the wolf, placing the hatchet back into its previous landing point. She pushed toward herself, leveraging the wolf's neck. The creature broke off, annoyingly causing more pain as it left.
She had no damage to her muscles, though, so there was no real agony, just bleeding. She swung the hammer-end at the wolf, who had only backed off less than a meter, and slammed it into the creature's face.
The beast was flung away from Applejack, dazed by what had just happened. Applejack took the moment to hammer its head into the floor.
Swinging the tool heavily, she brought it onto the Timberwolf's skull (if it actually had one). She pummeled it repeatedly, popping chips of wood off in every direction with each hit as the head was slowly destroyed.
She stopped as the last blow completely blew the upper jaw off. Applejack calmed down as she backed away from the dead creature. Why was it there in the first place?
Then she heard howling. There were more... a lot more...
Applejack tossed the axe to the ground and ran out the front door to find something that she definitely didn't want to see.