//------------------------------//
// Nightmares 
// Story: Breaking Bonds 
// by lionaxel 
//------------------------------//

As Applejack was walking back to the farm, she wondered about this competition. What was it even about? The flyer didn’t specify. It did say that you could bring two other friends, or family members, to help. All of Applejack’s friends were competing, so she wondered just who she should bring. Mcintosh fer sure. He’ll be a big help in whatever this competition is, whether it be brains or strength. But who should be the other member?

“Me! Me! Oh, Applejack, please pick me!” Apple Bloom cried when Applejack got home and said she needed another pony.
“Sorry, lil’ sis. Yer too young.” Applejack stated.
“Aww, please, Please! Ah wanna help you win!” Apple Bloom persisted.
Applejack looked at Big Mcintosh. “Should ah let her?”
“Nnope!” He replied.
“C’mon! Why not!” Apple Bloom asked.
“Ah already said, yer too young!” Applejack repeated.
“Ah’m a big pony!” Apple Bloom yelled. “And Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle are going ta be with their sisters! Why can’t ah be with you and Big Mac?”
“Are ya sure that yer friends are actually competin’?” Applejack asked.
“Yes, they even said!” Apple Bloom assured.
“I have to agree with your sister, Apple Bloom. You’re too young. You can’t go fightin’ before you even have your cutie mark.” Big Mcintosh said.
Applejack looked at Big Mac. It was rare for him too even give one of his Eeyups or Nnopes, but to actually speak like this? 
Apple Bloom made a pouty face. “Fine, ah guess ah’ll just go tell Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle.”

As Apple Bloom left, Applejack wondered whether she made the right decision in not letting Apple Bloom compete.
“Did ah make the right choice?” Applejack asked Mcintosh.
“Eeyup.”

Who ta bring, who ta bring? Granny Smith? Nah. Winona? Nope, she’s a dog, is that even allowed? Ah could call up to Appleloosa or maybe even Manehatten. Both would have better choices than Apple Bloom. As Applejack went through names in her head she almost bumped into Rarity.
“Whoops, sorry Rarity. Didn’t see ya there.” Applejack apologized.
“Oh, it’s quite all right dear.” Rarity replied.
“Say, who are ya bringin’ to help you?” Applejack asked, hoping for an idea.
“Oh, I’m bringing Sweetie Belle and my dearest Opalescence.” Rarity answered.
“Opal?” Applejack was confused, how could Rarity’s cat help?
“Oh yes, Opal loves a good competition.” Rarity confirmed.
“Well, ah better be off, ah still have to figure out who ah’m bringin’.” Applejack said.
Rarity nodded and Applejack walked along, this time more careful of where she was going. Maybe she should just ask Twilight to help her decide.

When Applejack got to Twilight’s tree house, Twilight welcomed her in.
“What can I help you with, AJ?” Twilight asked.
“Well, ah just don’t know who else ah should bring ta help me in the competition. Ah’m already bringing Big Mac.” Applejack answered.
“Well, my books state that in almost any team competition you should balance the team out. So you should choose someone who’s light and quick.” Twilight shared, obviously hinting at a single pony.
“But Apple Bloom’s too young!” Applejack quickly defended.
“Is she?” Twilight simply replied.
Applejack huffed “Fine, but if somethin’ happens to Apple Bloom…”
She trailed off there and exited the house, going to tell Apple Bloom the news. At least Apple Bloom would be happy.

Apple Bloom was in her clubhouse that Applejack had given her. Every time Applejack looked at the clubhouse she was still impressed at how Apple Bloom fixed up the place.
“Apple Bloom?” Applejack called.
Apple Bloom appeared in the doorway and came out, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle by her side. “Yes?”
“Do ya still wanna compete?” Applejack sighed.
“Oh yes! Thank you, Applejack! Thank you!” Apple Bloom cried.
“Yes! Maybe we’ll get a competing cutie mark!” Scootaloo yelled.
“If you can beat me and Rarity!” Sweetie Belle squeaked.
Applejack sighed to herself, this time in slight happiness. She felt better now that she had the weight off her shoulders and not only made Apple Bloom happy, but Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle too. However, she couldn’t get the feeling that something might happen to Apple Bloom. She didn’t even know what the competition was. In fact, when was it? When she got back to the barn, she took a peek at the flier. This time she flipped it over, seeing an entire page she missed before.


The Equestrian Tourney

A tournament not for the faint of heart.

Date: March 27
Time: Be there at 3:00 PM.


March 27th? That was tomorrow! Applejack knew she should have read the whole flier when she got it, and this wouldn’t have been a problem. Now she had to get everything ready to go and the day was almost over. She went back to the orchard to find Mcintosh carting apples.
“Mcintosh, the competition is tomorrow!” Applejack cried.
“Eeyup!” He replied.
“Ya mean, ya knew!?” Applejack couldn’t believe it.
“Eeyup.” He said again.
“And ya didn’t tell me?” Applejack shook her head in frusteration.
“Nnope.”
“We thought y’already knew!” Came Apple Bloom’s voice from behind Applejack.
“Where are your friends?” Applejack asked, noting that Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were gone.
“Oh, they went home. Had to get home fer dinner,” Apple Bloom answered.
Applejack frowned then looked up. The sun was setting already. This day has just been ups an’ downs. What am ah to do tomorrow?
The apple siblings walked to the barn together in complete silence, much to Apple Bloom’s dismay. When they got to the barn, they ate the dinner that Granny Smith had prepared for them and then went to bed. It was a pretty night, but Applejack had a restless sleep. 

Applejack was standing in an arena. She recognized the crystal walls and floors. Ah’m in the Crystal Empire!? But how? But it looked different, like when King Sombra was taking over. Crystal Ponies trotted around, their fur not shining at all. Instead they were dull, gloomy. Then she saw Twilight and all of her other friends standing around her. Twilight looked so sad. Applejack saw Princess Celestia walk over from what seemed to be nowhere. It was like she just appeared out of thin air. Princess Luna was by her side.
“Princess!” Twilight cried.
“Hush! Twilight Sparkle! Thou hast failed us.” Princess Luna silenced the purple unicorn.
“Twilight Sparkle, I am very disappointed in you. Not only did King Sombra escape and successfully corrupt the Crystal Empire, now he is targeting all of Equestria!” Princess Celestia revealed.
Huh? But ah thought we stopped King Sombra! Applejack thought.
Quite a while ago, Twilight said she was going to be given a test. It turned out not to be the type of test she thought it would be and instead she was given the task of protecting the whole of the Crystal Empire from King Sombra, an evil unicorn who once controlled the Crystal Empire. But it didn’t end like this! No, Twilight got the Crystal Heart and Spike brought it back. Then the Crystal Ponies filled it with light and love and banished King Sombra. Then Princess Cadance and Shining Armor took over the task of ruling the Crystal Empire. But now, it seemed like Twilight failed.
“I- I’m so sorry! Please forgive me, Princess!” Twilight stammered.
“I could never forgive you. You have just sentenced Equestria to oblivion!” Princess Celestia turned away. “You can no longer be my student.”
Tears welled up in Twilight’s eyes. Applejack tried to walk over to her, but her legs wouldn’t respond.
“Oh, Applejack, can’t you just feel the darkness? Revenge feels amazing.”  A voice sounded in Applejack’s head. Who’s there? Show yourself! Have you done this!? Have you changed history!?
The voice laughed and then the scene shifted.

Applejack was in Canterlot, the castle to be exact. Huh!? Where’d the Crystal Empire go? Am ah in… Canterlot?
She was with her friends again, but something was missing. Twilight was gone. Standing in front of Applejack was Princess Cadance, an evil glint in her eyes. No, it wasn’t Cadance, it was Queen Chrysalis! The changeling was in Cadance’s form but there was an evil aura. She was in her wedding gown and Shining Armor stood by her side, looking dazed. 
“The time has come, my loyal subjects!” Chrysalis cried and there was a huge gust of wind as the magical force field around Canterlot shattered. 
Applejack turned her head to the window, swarms of Changelings were descending on Canterlot. Where was Twilight? Surely she should be here, to make everything right. But Twilight didn’t come. Applejack realized what was happening. Just like when she was in the Crystal Empire and King Sombra was in control, Queen Chrysalis had won.
Pinkie Pie gasped and Applejack snapped her attention back to Chrysalis. Her disguise was gone, it was truly Queen Chrysalis. The changeling laughed and the scene again shifted.
Applejack was still in Canterlot. Changelings roamed the streets like packs of hungry dogs.
“You! Farm pony! Look at it, Canterlot in its finest beauty. Ponyville has suffered the same fate.” Chrysalis’s voice giggled.
“No!” Applejack cried.
“Yes, isn’t it great? Just give in Applejack, there’s nothing you can do.”

The scene changed again. This time, Applejack was in Ponyville. But everything was wrong. It was chaos. Chaos. Discord! Everypony in town seemed off. Then Applejack heard a voice.
“Oh, hello there Applejack! You wanna know why you’re all alone? Because no one can stand having a dirty farmpony like you around! You workhorse!” Fluttershy laughed.
Applejack growled. In her head she was crying mental tears. She remembered this too well. She remembered her own corruption. She remembered seeing the vision of her friends leaving in the pool. In the Grove of Truth. It had started when she realized that it was caused by the truth. She believed that everything would be better if she lied about things that would hurt other pony’s feelings. That was all she planned on lying about. But it felt wonderful to be rid of the truth, it had taken her over. She was lying just to hurt her friends feelings.
“What’s wrong? Can’t your stupid brain process anything I said?” Fluttershy spat.
Don’t lie! “Oh, ah am absolutely fine with your rude remarks. In fact, ah rather enjoy it.” Applejack heard herself say.
No, oh why. Why this again. Ah couldn’t stand before, why now? Why do ah have to go through again. Oh, Celestia, help me!
“Oh really? Well then, I better go off. Oh look here comes Ms. Smartypants!” Fluttershy smirked and flew off.
Applejack turned to see Twilight walking towards her, the unicorn's head hung low. She was gray like everypony else. Like Applejack.
Applejack shut her eyes tight and pleaded for it to go away. She couldn’t stand it, she couldn’t stand the lies.
“Oh ho ho, Applejack. Why not. You stood it before. Besides, I think the new colors on you fit perfectly.” 
Discord!
“Yes?”
Get out!
“Oh, but isn’t it beautiful?”
No!

Applejack opened her eyes. She was lying in her bed. “A- a dream?”
It had felt so, so real. She could actually feel everything as if it wasn’t a dream. She was very relieved that it was not reality though. She wouldn’t have been able to stand it. Equestria would have been ruined. Then Applejack tried to remember what exactly she had seen, but the dream was gone. Forgotten.