//------------------------------//
// The Crimson Apples 
// Story: The Crimson Moonlight 
// by Octavia Philharmonica 
//------------------------------//

	“Three days have passed since Rainbow Dash was severely beaten. Now she’s resting in the hospital, and according to the doctors she will be in there for quite a while. Multiple bones were broken, and there is a lot of internal bleeding, but they say she will live through it. She will be back on her hooves and flying in no less than two weeks. This means I have little time to act, as I do not want to be bothered dealing with her again.” The black unicorn, Sinister Moonlight, sat atop the roof of Sugarcube Corner. It was the dead of night and all was silent around her. She was at peace, until the annoying sounds of construction began once again. She looked off into the distance, towards Everfree forest.

“That infernal noise has kept me up for two days now, the racket of them rebuilding the cottage of that worthless pink haired Pegasus. How I despise Pegasi… oh well, it is no bother to me.” she said, still speaking only to herself. “My plan for the farmer is ready to commence, let us see how much she likes honesty when I am through with her.” Sinister Moonlight stood, and closed her eyes. Her horn began to glow that crimson red color of blood that other ponies have used to identify her, and in an instant she vanished in a flash of crimson light.

The next morning at Sweet Apple Acres started just as any other did. Applejack awoke and immediately began working in the orchard with her brother, Big Macintosh, he's a large stallion, with a coat the color of a red apple and a short orange main and cropped tail. His cutie mark  consisted of a large sliced green apple, Green eyes and freckled face, he wore large yoke around his neck, and always had a string of wheat hanging out of the side of his mouth.

“C'mon Big Mac!” Applejack shouted as she carried a large basket full of apples around “We gotta get tah work if were gonna sell these here apples today!”

Big Macintosh, sometimes called Big Mac by his family, also carried a basket, it was empty though. “Eeyup.” He replied as he walked over to the nearest apple tree and turned away from it, kicking it with his hind legs, the tree shook and all the apples fell out perfectly into the basket on his back.

“Good one, Big Mac! Now ah got plenty o' apples already, so I think I'm gonna head on over to Ponyville and get started on sellin' 'em, you can handle yerself right? Or do yah need me here to help yah?” Applejack said, with a smirk on her face.

“Nnope.” he said with a grin, his responses were mostly short and simple like that, if you asked him anything that could be answered with a yes or a no, that's all you would get from him.

“Heh, well alrighty then. I’ll be off on my way to Ponyville, good luck in the orchard!” she turned and hurried off towards Ponyville as fast as she could, it wasn't a long walk but she was eager to start selling right away.

Big Macintosh continued to work and work in the orchard, bucking trees, collecting apples, until he had several baskets full and he wasn't even tired yet. He stopped working when he heard a loud scream in the distance. It was loud enough to make the birds all take off at once. He looked in the direction it seemed to have come from. “huh?” he asked himself, not knowing who could have done it. After all it didn't sound like anyone he knew. He dropped his current basket full of apples and rushed off towards the source. When he arrived he saw none other than the black unicorn, Sinister Moonlight. Unfortunately for him, Applejack had yet to tell him about the events that took place with Rainbow Dash, since he was not there the night she told the rest of the family. He walked up to the mare and tilted his head. “You alright?” he said with a concerned look, she didn't look to be hurt at all.

Sinister looked up at him and, with tears in her eyes, she spoke. “N-no I am not… I think I sprained my leg… It hurts to move.” she twitched her leg and winced in pain.

Big Mac looked at her with sympathetic eyes. “What were yah doin' way out here in the first place?” he said, as he quickly picked her up and onto his back.

“I had heard that Sweet Apple Acres looked really beautiful this time of year… You see, I am new in Ponyville, and I really wanted to see it… I apologize for this, I did not see that apple on the floor, and I tripped over it and… here we are.” she sniffled as though she were about to burst into tears.

Big Mac did not look back to where Sinister had fallen, if he had he would have clearly seen there was no apple on the ground, or anywhere near the area. He simply kept marching towards the barn. When he arrived he swung open the barn doors and rested Sinister on a hay stack, she looked him in the eyes, and he looked back in hers.

“Thank you so much… you are so kind… so helpful… so foolish!” she laughed as her horn began to glow. Big Mac looked confused when a bright flash of red blinded him, suddenly he didn't feel right. His eyes were glowing momentarily, then they reverted to normal. Sinister stared at him with an evil smile, and he stared back blankly. “There now, you feel great don't you?” She said as she stood up, stomping the leg she claimed to have sprained on the ground, it was stiff after holding it still for so long.

“Eeyup.” he said with a nod, although it wasn't of his own free will, something was making him do this.

“Excellent! That means you are truly under my control. Now that infernal Applejack will see just how far a lie can get you, Ahahahaha!” she laughed with a smirk on her face as her plan came to fruition. “Now then, Big Macintosh, you are to do one simple thing for me. Infect the apples. Taint every single one in tomorrow’s batch. Make them so horrible that after a single bite a pony will be sick for hours on end, thus successfully destroying the good name of Sweet Apple Acres. Do this right, and you will be rewarded, I assure you. Here you can use this.” She walked up to him and gave him a peck on the cheek, as if only to mock the fact that he could not stop it. She then placed a large vial of purple liquid in his mouth. “That will do all the hard work for you.” she said. He had no reaction on the outside, but on the inside he felt awful and angry. He could clearly see what he was doing was wrong but had no control of his body to stop it. He tried to resist the urges to obey but his efforts were futile. Before exiting she spoke one last time. “Oh, one last thing darling. I want you to make sure that Applejack thinks the whole fiasco is her fault. I want her to feel miserable, can you do that for me?”

Big Mac turned to her and simply nodded. “Eeyup.”

Sinister grinned a wicked grin with the joy she felt because her plan was working so excellently. “Perfect. Get to it then, and let nopony know about our discussion here.” Sinister's horn glowed again, it flashed red and she vanished once more.

Big Macintosh looked around before walking out. He quickly ran over to each basket, taking the vial in his hoof and sprinkling the liquid on all of the apples, before moving onto the next basket to repeat the process. After about ten minutes he had contaminated every apple he had collected so far. He began bucking more trees and collecting more apples from the orchard, then contaminating them as well, there was just enough in the vial to contaminate every single apple. His heart was aching, he was ashamed of what he was doing and he wanted to stop, but he couldn't. He had come to accept the fact. His body was not his to control anymore.

Meanwhile Applejack was busy selling apples, business was lively too. Everyone was lined up for her sweet apple treats, apple fritters, apple pie, and best of all, delicious glasses of apple cider. The bits were flying in as treat after treat were sold. When almost all the apples were sold a hooded pony walked up to the stand. Applejack couldn't make out the face but the mere presence of this pony sent chills all across her spine. Even so, business was business, she had to sell those apples. “Howdy! Can I interest yah in some apple treats? Made fresh with apples from Sweet Apple Acres!”

The pony spoke, with the familiar voice of a mare. “Yes, I would greatly enjoy a sweet treat.” She placed a few bits on the counter and took one of the apple pie slices, biting into it, a moment later she spit it out into Applejack's face.

“Hey! What'd yah go an’ do that for?!” Applejack shouted, slightly disgusted by the chewed apple pie she was no wiping out of her eye.

“My apologies.” the mare said insincerely. “But that was the absolute worst dessert I have ever tasted. Perhaps if it were left alone it would have tasted better as just an apple, or perhaps all your apples taste dreadful. If I were you, I would stop selling these before you make everypony sick.” The mare smirked at Applejack, and Applejack managed to catch a glimpse of blood red eyes. Somehow this seemed familiar to her.

Her thoughts on the matter quickly faded as the mare walked away. “Hey now! You may not like em but everypony else does! So I'm gonna keep on sellin mah apples and apple treats as much as I wanna!”

The hooded mare laughed at Applejack's remark as she continued walking away. “Don't say I didn't warn you!”

Applejack just pouted as the mare walked away. It took about half hour but she managed to get the last of the apple treats and drinks sold. She had saved a glass of Cider though, and some of the extra profit as she planned to take the Cider to Rainbow Dash, and buy her the new Daring Do book that had come out. She quickly packed everything away and headed off to the nearest bookstore. Thankfully when she arrived there was still one copy left, the rest had sold quickly and she was lucky to have gotten the last one. She was happy about being able to bring her friend a nice pair of gifts. She ran off to the Ponyville hospital with a smile on her face.

When Applejack had finally arrived at the hospital she signed in at the front desk and rushed over to Rainbow Dash's room. As she walked inside she waved a hoof. “Howdy Rainbow Dash! How're yah feelin'?” Applejack said with a cheery voice.

Rainbow Dash sighed. “I'm doing better I guess, but I'm just so bored.” She said, as she sat upright in her bed.

Applejack chuckled “Well don't you worry 'bout that no more! I got somethin' here for yah, Dash!” she placed the Cider next to Rainbow Dash's bed and handed her the book.

Rainbow Dash's face lit up with joy. “All right! The new Daring Do AND a glass of Cider? This is awesome! Thanks Applejack!” It could be easily told that Rainbow Dash was ecstatic. The only book she would ever actually read is Daring Do, and she had wanted to read this copy for the longest time.

“Well I'm glad yah like it Dash, I thought I'd bring yah a gift before I headed back home. I gotta be sure Big Macs alright without me.” Applejack said with a grin. “I'll see yah real soon, alrighty Rainbow dash?”

Rainbow Dash had already opened the book and begun reading. She practically had her face buried in it. “Alright Applejack! See ya later, and thanks again for the gifts. You're awesome!” She took a sip of her Cider before getting back into her book.

Applejack walked out and back into the hospitals waiting room, after signing out she casually walked home, not in any hurry as she was sure Big Macintosh had finished doing the work he needed to do. When she finally arrived after about 15 minutes she was pleased to see all the apples were already gone and more than likely being prepared for the next day of apple sales. Today was truly a great day for her.

As she walked inside her home the first thing she noticed was the floors were almost completely covered in some foul smelling mess, she couldn't make out what it was, until she noticed apple chunks inside of it. It was vomit and it smelled horrible. She maneuvered her way around it, and quickly made her way to her sister’s room. “Applebloom?” She called out after walking inside. She saw her sister lying in bed, not wearing her usual pink bow. The red haired yellow coated filly turned her head to Applejack.

“Sis? Is that you? I don't feel too good...” said the filly, groaning and holding onto her stomach with both hooves.

“What happened, Applebloom?” Asked Applejack, her face fraught with concern for her little sister’s well-being.

“I dunno! Me, an' Granny Smith were both eatin' some of your apple pie…” Applebloom said with a stressed look on her face. “An' all of a sudden we felt our stomachs get all tight and we couldn't stop… well… you saw, didn't ya?”

“Yeah, I saw.” Applejack replied. “I can't think o' what coulda done this to yah though.” Applejack thought about it, but she couldn't come up with anything in particular that would make her sister and Granny smith sick. Maybe it was just a cold, or the flu, or some stomach virus. Who could say for sure? “Well Applebloom, you need tah rest up, so do I, I had me one heck of a long day. Don’t you worry ‘bout the mess, I’ll clean it up in the mornin’. G'night Applebloom”

“G'night Applejack.” Applebloom said with one last groan before Applejack closed the door to her room.

Applejack was tired and worried now. Her family was getting sick and she didn't like it. There was nothing she could do about it though, not now anyway. She had to rest so she went over to her room and walked in, closing the door behind her. She calmly went over to the bed and took a nice and comfortable position under the blankets, the warmth underneath made her sleepy and she quickly fell asleep.

A couple hours had passed since Applejack went to sleep. The door to Applejack's room was opened, and in walked the black unicorn, Sinister Moonlight. She looked down at the Sleeping earth pony and grinned, whispering to herself. “This is too easy. Soon, your life will crumble, and you will be locked away, and be framed for harming so many ponies. Then, once I'm done with you I can call Trixie, and begin phase three. Oh she will positively love me for this one.” The unicorn snickered to herself, and she closed her eyes. “Sweet dreams.” The black unicorn’s horn glowed, and a similar glow appeared around Applejack's head, causing Applejack to twitch a bit. Sinister smirked and walked out of Applejack's room, leaving her to rest.

That night, after Sinister’s visit Applejack had an awful nightmare. She was walking through the everfree forest alone, looking for Applebloom who had recently gone missing. “Applebloom?! Where are yah?! Come on out!” She shouted, over and over, when suddenly she found herself in a large clearing, void of any trees. She ran into a large stallion standing in front of her. She couldn't make out the figure. “Hey mister, have yah seen mah sister Applebloom anywhere?” She asked.

“Nnope” the figure responded, and Applejack's eyes went wide hearing that voice, the voice of Big Macintosh.

“Big Mac? What are yah doin' way out here?” Applejack asked, confused. Big Macintosh didn't respond, instead he lifted his hoof and swung it at Applejack. She was surprised and unable to react in time. She took the full force of the hit and was pushed to the side. Big Mac charged at her quickly and tackled her back into the tree filled areas of the forest, ruthlessly attacking her over and over. He charged and slammed her into a tree, while she was disoriented he did it again and again and again until she couldn't move, she was dizzy, hurt, and bloody. He turned away from her and she spoke “Big Mac...please stop....”

Big Mac lifted his hind legs “Nnope” he swung his legs back into Applejack's head, and her vision flashed white as she sat up in bed, sweating and in a panic.

“Wh-what the heck was that all about...?” She asked herself. She was confused, and scared. Applejack got out of bed and stood up, going over to her mirror to brush her hair really quickly. She put on her hat and walked outside. She couldn't find Applebloom, Granny Smith, or Big Mac anywhere, and the mess was already cleaned, so she assumed they went to the hospital. “Gosh, I hope they’re alright… well, I'd better start makin' the apple treats fer today.”

Applejack began making the treats, baking all the apples Big Mac had collected into pies, fritters, and other delicious desserts. After she had finished preparing the snacks she gathered them all up and rushed them off to Ponyville to begin another day of business.

When she arrived at her usual spot she set up shop, just like yesterday several Ponies lined up all at once and took their share of treats, leaving their bits behind as payment. Applejack was happy, until she noticed everypony around her began to look sick and pale. Almost immediately they started throwing up the apples, it was a fiasco, everypony all got sick at once and Applejack immediately figured out why. “D-did I do this?” She asked herself, her eyes welling up with tears.

“Eeyup” Her brothers voice came from behind her, Applejack turned around suddenly.

“Big Mac?” she asked, surprised “What do yah mean? I really did this?”

Big Mac Nodded. “We gotta run.” he said. “You'll be in trouble.”

Applejack just stared, dumbfounded. She remembered what the hooded mare had said the night before. “So the Apples really were terrible…” She began to cry.

“Nnope. The apples were fine, it was yer treats.” he said sternly. “Yer the one who did this, and we gotta get yah out of here.”

Applejack couldn't help it anymore, she started crying. She couldn't live with herself thinking she had done this to anypony. All the ponies around her were still vomiting, and things were getting worse. Big Mac pushed her forward and started running, Applejack soon followed after him. They ran far away from Ponyville. Applejack was thinking the whole time about what she caused. While Big Mac was fighting his body's movements the whole time, he was resisting with everything he had but it wasn't enough. As they kept running Applejack noticed how late it had already gotten. The moon was showing and it was getting hard to see. They ran into the Everfree forest together, it seemed like they were there for hours as they went in what seemed like circles until they found themselves in a large clearing void of trees.

“This looks just like… that dream.” Applejack became fearful again remembering who she was with during that dream as well. “Big Mac, I don't think we-” At that precise moment, Big Macintosh swung a hoof at Applejack, however this time she dodged it. He then charged and tackled her to the ground. He attacked her repeatedly, spilling blood from her nose. He dragged her back out of the clearing and pushed her against a tree, propping her up against it. He turned around and lifted up his hind legs. Applejack couldn't speak, or think straight for that matter. As he pushed his legs back a white flash blinded Applejack, and she heard a familiar voice call out.

“The unicorns spell had taken your mind, but that potion should make you feel fine.” Said the voice. When Applejack could see again she saw none other than Zecora, the Zebra. She was a potions expert who lived in the forest and once was feared by everypony, but is now a close friend.

Big Mac shook his head, he could feel his body returning to him as he stretched. He felt as though he hadn't moved an inch for days. He quickly ran to his sister. “Applejack!”

Zecora spoke before he could. “Do not worry dear Big Mac, you needn't worry about the attack. Your sister knows it was not you, that it was something you would not do. You may have hurt her, nearly killed, but forgive you I know Applejack will.”

Big Mac looked at Applejack. “Really?” He asked, doubting her forgiveness for him doing such horrible things.

Applejack worked up the strength to speak. “... heh heh... Eeyup.”

Big Mac was relieved, he smiled and hugged his sister. They both started to cry.

“We can keep her in my home, until she's fully healed her bones.” Zecora said as she looks up at the sky. “My home is not far, we simply follow the stars.”

Big Mac nodded and picked up Applejack. Zecora walked into the clearing, and Big Mac followed her, looking at Zecora before speaking. “How'd you know?”

“In the forest the other day, I noticed something going astray. I saw a Pony, dark as night, I recognized Sinister Moonlight. She's an evil unicorn, this I knew, so a spellbreaker potion I chose to brew.” Zecora explained. As they reached the center of the clearing a large shot of red energy hit Applejack right off of Big Mac and she rolled across the ground, crying out in pain. Big Mac and Zecora looked towards the source, the hooded mare standing before them.

The mare pulled the hood back, and showed her face, her blood red eyes, and her black horn. Sinister Moonlight glared at Big Mac and Zecora. “It looks like I will have to take matters into my own hooves again.” Sinister looked aggravated, especially at Zecora. “I did not expect to see you again, Zecora. I suppose I will finally get the chance to kill you like I wanted to when I asked for that potion.”

Zecora growled in frustration. “I told you once, I will say it twice, that potion simply was not nice! Were she even as weak as a flower, it would simply give Trixie too much power!”

“Be quiet! Trixie deserves that power after what she went through, and by the end of these two weeks she will have what she always wanted! But for now, I am going to destroy you, destroy Big Macintosh, and destroy Applejack, then I shall continue with my plan to give Trixie control over Ponyville, and perhaps… all of Equestra! Then she and I will rule together, as family, and as friends!”

Big Mac gritted his teeth, looking over at Applejack, he knew if he went over to her she would be targeted again. “... Nope!” he charged at Sinister, getting ready to tackle her.

“You sad, pathetic, imbecile!” Sinister shouted. Her horn glowed and she shot out another ball of crimson energy at Big Mac, however he jumped over it this time, but it wasn't enough as she simply shot out another immediately after he jumped. He was unable to dodge it from the air and it hit him directly in the stomach, pushing him back and flinging him across the clearing. “You are no match for me, you worthless earth pony!” Sinister looked at Applejack, charging another attack. “Oh Applejack, for an honest pony you are so gullible, you know. I cannot believe you actually thought your treats were bad, I'm sure you've figured out by now that it was I who caused this. I took the mind of your brother, and forced him to taint all the apples in the orchard with a poison that causes one to become so sick they cannot eat anything solid for several hours. And if they do, well, you know that much already.” Sinister said, laughing as her horn began to glow brighter, the magical attack becoming more powerful.

Zecora shouted. “That is it! I've had enough, now it is time for me to play rough!” She brought out a potion from her pouch. “This potion I have created will leave you feeling very Jaded. All unicorns who have faced it fell, because it disabled all of their spells!” Quickly, Zecora tossed the potion towards Sinister.

“What?! Disable my spells?! No, I don’t think so Zecora! You won’t beat me that easily! Next time you are mine, rest assured I will come for you when you least expect it!” Sinister, in a bit of panic cast her transportation spell, her horn glowed and she vanished in a flash of crimson light.

Zecora spoke to Big Mac, who had now gotten up and began carrying Applejack again. “Come, Big Mac, we must be hasty, and get Applejack to Safety.” The two quickly hurried to Zecora's home, where Applejack would be resting for a while, her skull was damaged by Big Mac, and her muscles were exhausted. She was unable to feel anything at all, she could barely breathe, and she couldn't speak. She needed her rest, and thankfully for her, Zecora had a potion or two that would aid in her healing.

Meanwhile, Sinister Moonlight had appeared next to what was once Fluttershy's cottage. When she realized this she growled in frustration. “Of course, I would end up here. Curse that Zecora, she ruined everything. But at least Applejack will be out of commission for a while.” Sinister walked around the cottage, she considered setting the cottage on fire once again, simply so she could laugh at the destruction. A few second later she tripped over something and fell to the floor “Ah! What did I just trip over?!” She yelled, in anger. As she looked, she saw a small white rabbit, looking up at her with worried eyes. She had seen it before. Her next phase had just walked right up to her. “Well, well, well. Hello there, Angel. Have you been well since I burnt down your home?” She laughed as the picked up Angel with her magic. Angel began to squirm and panic, but before being able to make a sound Sinister used a spell to put him to sleep. “Now is a better time than ever, I will message Trixie and meet her in Canterlot. I love it when everything lines up perfectly.” She laughed as she walked away with Angel, making her way towards the Ponyville train station to ride away to Canterlot.