//------------------------------//
// Chapter 39 
// Story: My Little Pony: Morphing is Magic 
// by Tricondon 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 39

Applebloom

The airship shook violently around me. Screeches and cries of pain filled the air, and I swear I saw a phoenix fly by my window. Part of me wanted to see if a dragon was going to show up as well, but Dessie thought it was best to stay hidden and out of danger. And since she was in control of my movements I couldn’t do anything about it.

<C’mon, Dessie, Ah wanna see!>

<For the last time, no,> Dessie said gently. <If another controller were to recognize you as my host body they would report my desertion.>

I liked Dessie; she wasn’t like my first Yeerk, the one who taunted and teased me. Sure, she started that way, but it didn’t last very long, and there was always an awkward feel to her voice, like she was hesitant to do this from the beginning. Now she always speaks softly, a lot like how Applejack sometimes talks when I’m feeling down. 

<They’re too busy with the others,> I pointed out. <If we keep low they’ll just overlook us.>

<Look, we’re not going above deck and that’s final.> Dessie huffed as we quickly ran through the corridors of the ship, ending up in a large mostly-empty room. 

<Woah, this place is huge. You could fit a year’s supply of apples in here,> I said in awe. <Ah wonder if Applejack can get one of these.>

<I doubt it,> Dessie muttered as she squirmed her way under a large abandoned storage crate. Above us the roof groaned from what I thought was something hard hitting it. Or at least I thought so. 

<You think the others are alright?> I asked, not able to think of anything else.

<Sure they are. Those Andalites have a habit of surviving even the worst situations back on Earth.> Another explosion rocked the ship, though Dessie didn’t seem concerned. <Can’t imagine anything terrible would happen to them here. Plus, your sister and her friends have also proven to have a knack for overcoming difficult situations.>

<Yeah! Applejack’s the Element of Honesty!> I said excitedly. <An’ Twilight an’ her friends are the other Elements! There’s nothing they can’t do!>

<So long as they possess the ancient artifacts, of course,> Dessie said thoughtfully. <If the Visser were to obtain them, I doubt your sister and her friends would be able to stand up to her.>

<There ain’t no way they can steal the Elements, they belong t’ Applejack and the others!> I shouted, a little angry. <Though there was that time with Discord, but that was diff’rent!>

<I... Applebloom, these Elements most likely do not work the same way you perceive them.>

<What’d ya mean?>

<Well, it’s unreasonable to think that any such power source could—>

Another massive explosion shook the ship, cutting Dessie off. For a moment we slid along the floor as the ship tilted over slightly, but it soon leveled out. Suddenly there was a groaning sound and I saw several of the crates begin to rock. Dessie must have noticed as well, because the next thing I knew we were rushing across the room as the crates came sliding down around us. My heart was pounding as we skidded to a stop against the wall and quickly turned around to survey the damage. Many of the crates had been smashed against the walls, spilling their contents on the floor. Mostly dust and rubble mixed with the splinters of wood, though there were a few off-coloured crystals and strange mechanical things as well.

“Well, that was nearly a disaster,” Dessie complained out loud. It still felt strange to me to hear my own voice without knowing what I was going to say. “Maybe the cargo hold ain’t such a good hidin’ spot after all.”

<Yeah, let’s get outta here.>

“Way ahead of ya, Appl—oh, no!” As she was talking, Dessie had turned towards the door, and I saw what she saw: seven or eight undamaged crates all stacked against the door.

<What? Now how do we get out?>

<Well, I see two options,> Dessie said in my head again. <Either the Changelings overwhelm your friends and take the ship, or they are repelled and someone will eventually open the door.>

<Why would they?> I asked. <Nopony knows we’re in here, do they?>

<Well, not exactly, but they know we are below deck. Surely one of them will grow worried for us.> Dessie didn’t sound too convincing.





“Somepony let me out!” Dessie cried, smashing my hooves against the crates once again. I could feel my raw throat and bruised hooves, but she wouldn’t stop no matter how much I begged.

<Dessie, maybe we should look for our own way out,> I said calmly. <Ah mean, sure, it’s been a few hours, but maybe they’re all jus’ tired an’ sleepin’ right now.>

<I-I know,> she said hastily. <I’m sorry. It’s just...>

I was silent for a while before asking <why did ya lie to them, Dessie?>

<I didn’t want to be left behind,> she said slowly. <If I went back to the Pool there was a chance I’d be given another host. What was I supposed to do? Say ‘hey Andalites, I really want to come with you, but can you wait a few hours so I can feed’? And besides, the Changeling Hive must have its own Kandrona Pool somewhere. I thought maybe I could sneak off there for a little while once...>

She went silent again, so I decided to ask, <What’ll happen t’ ya?>

<I...I’m not sure. I’ve been told the process is unpleasant for both Yeerk and host. More so for me, though, since...I won’t survive...>

Dessie turned away from the crates blocking the door and looked around the cargo hold. There were no windows. No other doors that I could see.

<There’s a loading area over there,> Dessie said, breaking into my thoughts. <But it’s no good now, unless you somehow sprout wings.> There was a bitter tone to her voice.

<We could be landin’ soon. Then you could go back to the Pool!> I said hopefully.

<I suppose...>

Without warning a blast rocked the ship, sending us flying through the air from the impact. I crashed against the wall and crumpled in a heap on the floor. Dessie had barely scrambled to our hooves when the entire ship tilted upwards and we slid along the floor, smashing into the rear wall.

<What’s goin’ on?!> I asked frantically.

<How should I know?!> Dessie yelled, clearly afraid. <I thought the fighting was over!>

A horrific sound came from outside, like metal scraping against metal. I barely had time to register the noise when I lurched forward and lost my balance, falling on my face. The sound of wood snapping caught my attention and I whirled my head around in time to see one of the crates topple over on its side, the lid coming off in the process.

“Inside!” Dessie yelled, already moving my legs and running for the protection the crate offered. We had barely made it inside when another crate smashed against it, blocking us in.





I don’t know how long Dessie had us wait inside the crate, but it felt like forever. I had no idea what was going on outside, only that it suddenly got really hot really fast. Dessie said that the airship most likely caught fire, and I prayed to Celestia that she was wrong. Thanks to our positioning, and some form of added weight from the outside, we couldn’t get out from under the crate. So we both just sat there and waited, hoping that somepony would find us. 

<Applebloom,> Dessie said. She sounded weak and far-away, which was weird since she was in my head and everything. <I don’t think I’m going to make it.>

<Yes ya will,> I said. <You’ll see, they’ll find us soon an’ you’ll->

<Not soon enough.>

<Don’t talk like that. Ya gotta stay positive.>

Dessie laughed, though it seemed forced. <I wish I had your optimism, Applebloom.>

<Ah’ll be happy to share some with ya when we’re back home.>

Dessie went silent again, and I noticed that the heat was beginning to drop. I felt excited by this; if there was a fire then ponies were sure to take notice. They’d investigate and find us, and I could get Dessie back to someplace she could feed. And then we could find Applejack and her friends and tell them to get the Elements. There’d be no way the Yeerks could stop them!

Dessie chuckled, a bit of actual humour to her tone this time. <Applebloom, never lose that optimism of yours.> For a moment I was upset; had she read my mind without asking permission? Or was she just continuing from what she’d said earlier? <Applebloom? Goodbye.>

I felt like the world had stopped. She couldn’t have said that. She didn’t say that. Because if she did then that meant...

<Dessie? Dessie, you can’t die. Please don’t die.>

She didn’t respond, and for the first time since I can remember I felt truly alone. I felt my head drop and heard a small sound next to me, like a wet sponge being dropped. Moments after I collapsed, unable to move. It took me a few seconds to realize what had happened and I awkwardly stood up. My legs felt like jelly and they were kind of numb; every movement I made was delayed, as if my own body didn’t remember how to move. Eventually I turned my head to the source of the sound and saw a pale slug-like creature thrashing violently.

“Dessie?” I slurred and shakily picked up the slug. “It’s ok...we’ll get you better...” I tried to lift her back to my ear but lost my balance and fell over, dropping her somewhere.

“Hello? Hello, is anypony down here?” a voice called. I didn’t recognize it, but it was still help.

“Help! In here!” I cried, stumbling to my hooves again and banged on the side. “Ah’m trapped!”

Almost as soon as my voice died away light flooded the crate and I instinctively shielded my eyes from it. I heard several stress filled grunts and then the sound of wood being tossed aside. By this point I felt strong enough to open my eyes, which I did, and was confronted by three shadowy figures. At first I felt like running, but then my eyes finished adjusting and the shapes before me changed into three royal guards.

“Miss Applebloom?” one of them asked and I nodded weakly. “We’re here to bring you to Canterlot on the request of Princess Luna and your sister.”

“Please,” I croaked. “Help mah friend.”

“There’s somepony else?” Another guard asked.

“Dessie,” I said, weakly raising my hoof to show them. But when I brought her up to my eye level I felt the weight of the world fall down on me. In my hoof was Dessie, no longer moving, and slowly withering away.

I couldn’t move. I couldn’t breathe. All I could think about was Dessie. I could feel tears welling up, but I couldn’t cry. All I could do was look at Dessie. One of the guards gently nudged me and I obediently followed, not really paying much attention. I tenderly placed Dessie onto my back, ignoring the strange looks some of the guards gave me. I climbed onto the carriage that the guards guided me onto, making sure Dessie was still on my back, and they took off towards Canterlot. 

It wasn’t fair. Sure, the Yeerks were controlling ponies without permission, but not all of them were like that. Dessie was in charge of an entire group who didn’t want to continue this war, and now she was dead. I looked up at the castle ahead of us and gave a soft smile.

“Cutie Mark Crusader Avengers.”