//------------------------------// // IPC // Story: MLP:IPC // by NavyBr0wnie //------------------------------// Sweet Apple Acres: farm Outskirts May 3rd 5:30 am Applejack and Big Mac silently stood around the bloody mess that lay before them. Applejack glanced solemnly over to her brother, who seemed to be waiting for something. Unable to bear the silence any longer, she spoke. "Aww....shucks Bess why did this have ta be done to ya?" Applejack questioned as she looked over the mangled and bloodied heap of mass that was once a cow. "At least she's in a better place now..." Mac said in response as he took off his harness and tied a rope around it. "Need help?" Applejack asked. Mac nodded as she slid the wooden neck harness back over his large red body. "There ya go Mac," Applejack said as she tied the other end of the rope to the dead cows remaining legs careful not to get any blood on her body. "Now Mac ya best be careful and don't get none of this here blood on ya,"Applejack commanded as Mac tested the ropes strength. Satisfied he looked to his sister with a slight smile. "Eeyup... I reckon sum'in bad 'ill come of it" Mac said with a frown. He tensed his body as he began to pull the dead cow across the open field. At first he strained but in time it began to slide smoothly behind him. Applejack followed close beside him helping to make sure nothing obstructed his path to where he'd drop the body. "Are ya gonna bury 'er?" applejack asked quietly. Mac stopped his trek momentarily. "...Eeyup," Mac said with a pause to his sister as his hooves began to move and compact dirt as he slowly moved forward. With each strained step the dirt beneath his hooves was pushed and compacted by the pressure he applied to move. It was as if he was digging into the ground itself to gain traction and distance. "So whata Ya reckon did this ta li'l bess?" Applejack asked letting her eyes wander precariously across the ground hoping to lighten some of the tension floating in the air. "Probl'y one of them Manticores that done came in an' got 'er," Mac replied not diverting his attention from his chosen path. Applejack sighed and moved her mouth in a dissatisfied manner as they passed a broken part of the fence around the apple family property. Mac looked over to it tilting his head slightly and continued slowly marching forward. "Ah...Looks ta me like we found where it done came through" Applejack said with a sarcastically happy scoff as she used a hoof to slide some of the slightly bloody debris away. "Ah... Think it done came through here ... Ate bess... An left," Applejack said as she gave a once over the large gap in the wooden fence. Her eyes bounced across all the little jagged edges and cracks left in the splintered wood. She watched as some still wet blood dripped off of the wood and landed in the soaked dirt. She turned to Big Mac who gave no indication that he heard or even cared. "Ya hear me Mac?," Applejack asked slightly aggravated. Mac just continued to mosey forward pulling the dead weight behind him. Sighing to herself Applejack continued forward following the blood caked rut forming behind Mac; not noticing the blood beginning to dry on her hoof. Mac stopped for a second and looked at his saddened sister. She looked up, and almost bumped into him. She gave him a little glare. "Applejack why don't ya continue buckin tha apples... I'll finish this up for ya" Mac said as he looked over his orange sister for a few minuets. Applejack paused for a seconds and threw some thoughts around in her head. She looked Mac in the eye and with a nod she turned and trotted the other way. Mac turned to watch her till she was out of his line of sight, he then returned his attention to moving forward. ~~~ Sweet Apple Acres: Orchard May 3rd 6:37 am Applejack slowly trotted back down the dirt path slightly agitated at the death of one her favorite cows. She sighed again as she passed by the Broken fence, gave it a glance and continued on her way. She quietly made her way to the orchard filled with round pine green trees loaded with vibrantly colorful apples. Gold, red,and green apples lined trees as far as the eye could see. It was like a testament to the very fruit itself. "Ah...Time start a Buck'n" Applejack said with a little as she aligned her body with a tree and cocked her hind legs. She inhaled as she calculated the exact amount of pressure she need to apply. In one smooth motion she launched her hind legs into the air and outward slamming into the tree trunk. The tree itself shook profusely as the sweet orbs it held fell into the many baskets below with crisp crunches and satisfying plops. Applejack smiled in dominance as she moved to the next tree. This too, once kicked dropped it's bounty of apples. In time she moved from fruit tree to fruit tree bucking its apples. Eventually she had almost half the orchard bucked clean. Smiling she moved to another tree but stopped as she felt a low rumble in her body. "Ah whoops... Guess it's time for some grub," Applejack said as she rubbed her stomach. Happily she bounced to an overflowing basket of apples and riffled through it. Several apples caught her eye but she continued digging till she found a very large red delicious. Her eyes widened at its size. It could very well rival that of grapefruits. She pulled it out and opened wide ready to accept it's fruity goodness. She could imagine the juice as it seeped through her teeth. She thought of the crunch as she would bite into its perfect skin. Applejack's eyes enlarged as her mouth opened to meet with the plump sweet fruit. She closed her eyes to amplify the feeling of the great fruit as she was about to enclose on it. "Appa'jack c'mere... I need ya help" an old voice called. "Ah... horseradish," Applejack mumbled as she felt a frown drop on her face as stomped a bit angrily she felt like talking like a sailor pony at that moment but only grumbled to her. "Appa'jack Hurry up!!" the voice called again with impatience. Biting her lip, Applejack began to trot away but not before picking up the prized apple as well as one of the smaller good looking ones. She set the big apple in a nearby tree and carried the smaller one in her mouth trying not to loose it. Once satisfied that she was ready she hastily made her way to the big old house she and her family had on the farm. It's sun bleached white porch was old and worn and rickety. Applejack came closer to the house her eyes glancing over the familiar homey structure. She smiled as the small set of white stairs came to view. She laid a hoof upon it receiving a sound creak. She sighed as she took in the view. It's steps looked as if each day could be it's last. It's door stood open ready to take any and all into it's halls. Finally done day dreaming Applejack stood on the wooden porch sticking her head slightly in the house through the door. "Granny Smith...Watcha need help w'th?," Applejack asked as she took the apple out of her mouth with her hoof. "Appa'Jack... I need ya ta fetch me some apples from tha orchard so a' c'n make sum pie" Granny smith yelled from somewhere in the back of the house. Applejack guessed it was from the kitchen, pushing the though aside she sighed in aggravation as she wished she knew this before she walked all the way back to the house. "Ah... okay granny... How many ya want?" Applejack asked as she took a quick bite from the stolen apple receiving a juicy chunk of sweetness. "A basket shoo'd do me well" granny replied. "Ah... okay it'll be here in a jiffy," Applejack said after she took a few more bites from the apple. Upon finishing the apple she killed it in one final bite. She licked some of the remaining juice off her hoof as she moved away from the doorway. ~~~ Sweet Apple Acres: Orchard Trail May 3rd 8:10 am It didn't take as long to get to her destination as she made her way on the moderately long trek back to the closest basket of apples. Smiling as she found one she dropped low and attached it to a harness on her back. She then made her way back to the farm house but paused temporarily as she felt a tickle in her nostril. She started to have a slight sneezing fit. "Ah... Darn it a' can't be sick now... it's almost summer" Applejack complained to herself. As she started back onto her way to the home. As she moved through the trees she couldn't help but get the feeling like she was being watched. Her eyes darted back and forth from corner to corner scanning every inch foliage. To her left she heard a twig crack and jumped away. From the bush came a small rabbit that hopped away. "Whew... C'mon Aj calm ya self down... Quit being so darn twitchy" she chided as she attempted to center herself. She continued walking with the large bucket of apples on her back. Occasionally she'd stop and stare at a dark space or shadow only moving once she felt it was fine. ~~~ Sweet Apple Acres: Farm House May 3rd 9:00 am Applejack silently made it back to the house and onto the old porch. Weakly she set the basket of apples down with a dull thud. She then sluggishly walked through the hall into the large kitchen. "Ah... Granny I.... Got the apples ya wanted" applejack said as she stumbled next to the aged green pony. she saw that Granny was mixing some dough batter. She guessed it was for a pie of sorts. "Good. Deary, jus' put 'em out by tha' counter" Granny said not turning her attention to Aj. "Okay..." applejack said lowly followed by a sniffle. This caused granny smith to turn a wide eye to Applejack who tried to hastily fabricate a smile. "Ooh...Appa'Jack you're sick ya need ta rest" granny said as she inched closer to inspect applejack. As far as she could see Applejack was literally a mess. Her usually straight blonde mane was now frayed and disorientated. Her hat hung off her head like a worn top. Her eyes were bloodshot to the point a red ring was nearly visible around the edges. Her normally orange coat was more of a dark golden brown and she looked like she hadn't slept for days. "Naw...Granny...I'-.." applejack retorted as she directed a sneeze away from her grandmother. Granny smith stood up close to applejack and looked her deep in the eyes. "I said ya need ta go ta bed" granny smith said more sternly this time. Applejack reeled a bit and gave a nod in compliance. "Aw...Fine lemme jus' pull in tha' basket from outside an ah'll be in bed in a jiffy," Applejack said with as much enthusiasm as her body could muster. Granny Smith gave her a quick hug and fixed her hat. Applejack smiled at granny for the gesture as she held her tight. Applejack moved away to say something when she felt a sneezing fit come onto her. "Get on and sle-.." granny was stopped mid-sentence as Applejack accidentally sneezed on her. "Oops... Hehe...sorry bout that granny" Applejack said sheepishly trying to joke it off. Granny just took her handkerchief and wiped her face off and walked away back to were she was working. Applejack stood silently as she contemplated her feelings. She felt a mixture of sadness and fear for what she did but after a few moments she shrugged the thought away knowing Granny would forgive her in time. She turned and made her way into the hall that connected many of the houses first floor rooms. She took a right and saw the open doorway. She made it to the front door and looked out of it as a warm breeze flew by. Looking down she started to drag the basket in. As she pulled it back she saw Mac had came back from dropping Li'l Bess off by the forest. she turned her eyes a bit and saw Applebloom playing with her friends Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. She smiled at the girls as they bounced around each other playfully. She lowered her head once more to drag the basket in feeling too weak to actually carry it on her tired body. Midway through the dragging she had another sneezing fit which lead to a very drowsy moment and a bleeding nose. She raised a hoof to her snout and slid it across her nostrils leaving a streak of dark crimson blood on her foreleg. She looked at it intently for awhile till she stumbled a bit as her vision turned into a blank haze and a blender of dull colors. She tried to get her barrings as fast as she could, but dropped to the ground, shaking the surrounding area. "Aw... C'mon AJ get up..." she said as she dragged her legs underneath her body and pushed lifting the front half off the ground. She used a nearby table to get her bearings and stabilize herself attempting not to fall over again. She stood there panting as she opened her eyes slowly. The world came back as normal but she had broken into a very cold sweat. She was overheated and couldn't move her body an inch without some sort of painful retort shooting through her. She stood there for what seemed like hours till finally her body felt like it was barely even close enough to move. Eventually she forced herself to stir. Her body ached as she brought her head to the apples she took step by step to the kitchen only stopping to take a breather. Each step back felt like a kick to the side. Her bones burned as she trudged backwards. Finally she came to the entrance and saw Granny was still fixing her apple pies. AJ looked around, unsure were to place the basket. She saw the only open place was on a counter near her grandmother. She frowned as she saw how high it was compared to the basket. She almost felt like crying as she dragged the basket as close as possible to the destination. She counted to three in her head trying to psych up for the world of pain she would soon feel. She dropped low sliding the basket on to her back. Each inch it moved back added a crack or a crunch in her mind. Her legs shook as they strained to carry her upwards. She broke into a sweat as she slowly raised the basket up onto the counter. As soon as the basket was secure she dropped to the ground with a light bump. She panted as her body screamed in anger for what she had just done. Her body wanted to just melt and become a part of the ground. She looked up over to Granny who hadn't moved or acted like she even cared of the whole ordeal for a few seconds debating weather or not to tell her about the basket. She soon scrapped the thought and made her way off the ground. Her aching body moved to it's new destination. In a pained limo she hopped to her bedroom. She came into the hall near the stairwell she once agian felt like she would burst into tears as she scaled each step as easily as possible. The first few steps she made up without a problem. she laud her hoof on the seventh step with a creak she lifted upwards bringing a hoof down to the eight but slipping in the process her body tumbled downwards at an accelerated pace. Her chin met the wooden step with a loud crack she felt a little blood build up in her mouth as her vision blurred once more. She crawled her way up the stairs blinded and uncaring she dragged her body. Her body snaked up to the final step and into her room.She knocked her hat down and crawled into her bed and under the covers. With a few strained breaths she closed her eyes and fell deep into sleep. ~~~ Sweet Apple Acres: Farm House AppleBloom's Room May 3rd 10:00pm Applebloom laid peacefully in her small bed dreaming of all the possible cutie marks she could ever have. In her dream she was able to do anything and everything. At one point she was a pegasi with large wings at another she was an alicorn like princess Celestia. "Applebloom...," Applebloom started to wake up as she swore she heard her name silently be called. She groggily rolled out of her bed trying to steady herself. Her vision adjusted to the low light as she continued past her clothes dresser covered in miscellaneous things including bow ties, Bonnets, and a few other hair supplies. She circled around her bed with her door in sight she reached for the handle to and turned it. upon opening the door she took a peek through the crack. A small gust of wind blew past her and cause her to flinch a bit. Her eyes trailed down the dark hall for a few seconds before turning away. Once satisfied that what ever was calling was imaginary she closed the door with a loud creak and started off back to bed. She crawled back under her sheets and closed her eyes. "Applebloom..." again her name was called once more. Frustrated she threw her blankets away and marched back to her door this time yanking out. She let her head be more exposed as she looked on either side of the hallway. "Scootaloo... Sweetie Belle?" she said a bit sheepishly."This ain't Funny ya know!" She inched her body through the crack more than before. Her eyes bounced across the eerie hallway ricocheting from wall to wall. When she felt that it was safe, she pushed the door open farther then before with a loud and long creak. "Applebloom.." She heard the calling with more intensity than before. Following the voice she slowly crept as quietly as possible through the dark halls of the large house. Each step ending with a cringing creak. She dreaded each sound that escaped the floor. Soon she came to the rickety set of old stairs that lead upwards. She took a step and placed it as lightly as possible receiving a long agonizing sound upon completion. She reflexively made faces as she took each step as cautiously possible. She finally made it to the top of the stairs where she met another hallway. Without looking either way she trotted down it till she came to a door. Inching closer to it she put an ear to it listening for if anything was behind it. "Applebloom... Come on in... a' have a surprise fur ya" a familiar voice said behind the door. Instinctively a smile slowly spread across Applebloom's face as she giddily burst through the wooden door. "Ohh.. Applejack what'd you get me!!" Applebloom cried happily as she burst into the room. "Uh... Applebloom close the Door" applejack asked calmly. Applebloom just started to slowly take in her surroundings. The room was pitch-black dark. The only visible thing was Applejack's back and the small dimly lit lantern beside her. "W...Why... And what's wrong Applejack you're actin' a bit strange" Applebloom asked as she closed the door with a hind hoof. The door creaked and was silenced by a final click. "Its just so O'l Mac don't spoil tha surprise... And I'm fine... Right Granny?" Applejack said a bit sadisticly. AppleBloom cringed a tad from her tone of voice but was jolted as granny smith lunged at her from the shadows causing her to scream, slam a hoof over her mouth and jump backwards in the same second. She landed near the door covering her eyes in fear in a sort of fetal position. Applebloom opened her eyes slowly to see her grandmother was tied by the hoofs to the opposite wall. She saw as the skin was worn and blood was coated around where the ropes were tied. "Wha...What's... Wrong with granny?" Applebloom said trying to inch her way past the ravenous looking horse that was her grandmother. It snapped and howled like a rabid animal at the filly as she inched away as far as possible. "Oh... Granny? She's fine ...just hungry" applejack replied as AppleBloom tried to get a better look without getting to close. Her grandmother had bloodshot red eyes and foamed from her mouth as she snapped wildly at the filly. Each second seemed as if the insane mare was inching closer. "Applejack she looks sick... Did ya take her ta Zecora's... And if she's hungry why don't ya feed her some apples or pies?" Applebloom asked sheepishly still looking over her grandmother. "Naw... There's no need fa Zecora least not yet... And no sugarcube we're not hungry for that... No not fer' that at all" applejack said as she placed a hoof lightly on the filly's shoulder. "We're hungry fer someth'n ah bit more... bloody" Before Applebloom could comprehend what her sister said Applejack pressed downward with a hoof pinning the filly as she completed her sentence. Applebloom cried out in surprise as she felt her sisters weight press down on her shoulder. "Applejack what are ya doin?" Applebloom cried as tears starting to form in the corner of her eyes. She couldn't see much of her sisters face from the angle she was facing but from what she could see was the deep crimson red hued eyes. Applejack smiled as she pressed harder onto the filly. AppleBloom screamed as she tried to break free from under the pressure of her hoof. "Oh don't worry it shouldn't take to long" Applejack said with a darker more maniacal tone. AppleBloom could feel a warm liquid drip slowly down her forehead. It rolled down her eyes, over her lips, and off her chin mixing with her tears. "Please applejack you're scaring me.... I'm sorry for being annoyin'... I'm sorry for what ever I done" Applebloom pleaded while tears, sweat, and saliva dripped off her young face but still the pressure kept digging into her. AppleBloom felt two sharp needle like things latch onto her ear as they began to pinch down on it. She started to scream at the agonizing pain that followed suit. They broke the skin releasing a little bit of blood that trickled from the tip of her ear. "Oops..." Applejack said as she licked off the blood with her tongue. Applebloom felt her heart rate increasing exponentially. Her heart was beating in her throat as she felt pain surge through her mind from the pressure of the hood and the bite. She couldn't breath as her body was mercilessly pressed into the wooden floor. Looking up with whatever strength she could muster she made a final cry as she saw applejack raise her head high. What came next scared the filly more then before. She saw as Applejack's lower jaw unhinged and became almost three times as large as it was before. Applebloom screamed at the sight as she saw rows of sharp teeth ready to dig into her hide. The filly scrambled to crawl out from under her sister but to no avail as she was pressing too deeply into her flesh. With each passing second the filly could see applejack come ever closer to devour her. "APPLEJACK!!!" Applebloom cried as loud as possible in fear not knowing what else to do. As if on cue the Door to the room burst open in an explosion of bright red. Applebloom and Applejack both snapped up to see their brother Big Mac standing in the door way like a big red knight ready to go to war. "AppleJack... Step away from Her now!!" Big Mac ordered as steam blew from his nostrils. AppleJack looked down at AppleBloom then back at Big Mac as her mouth returned to its normal size with a few loud sickening crunches as she moved her hoof slowly from Applebloom's shoulder. The filly started to raise from the ground slowly and attempted to crawl away from her aggressor but was grabbed almost instantly by her neck. Big Mac tensed ready to attack if she tried anything as AppleJack raised the filly parallel to her face and smiled. She brought the filly face to face with her and locked lips. AppleBloom tried to pull away for air but Applejack forced her to stay this way. Big Mac slightly reeled back unexpectedly from this unsure what to do. As if on que applejack the swung back and launched Applebloom away towards the wall. The filly hit the wall opposite with a loud crunch leaving a deep impression in it. As she hit the wall she was knocked unconscious and slumped low on the ground. Mac winced a bit as his little sister hit the wall at full force. applejack Began to laugh maniacally as she lunged at her brother while he was distracted. "Mac, ya messed up the surprise an I'm still hungry" applejack cried as she snapped at his neck. Mac held her at bay with a hoof at her neck. The mare continued snapping like a shark. The sound of clacking teeth resonated in his ears everytime she tried to bite down on him. "AppleJack, you best back off b'for I hafta hurt you" Mac retorted as he barely held off the crazed orange pony with his fatiguing hoof. Applejack snapped several more times at Mac pushing ever closer each time. Mac watched as her jaw began to enlarge and unhinge its self. She opened it with her teeth growing to rival the sharpness of knives. One more inch and his face would be gone. "Big Mac!!" Applebloom screamed as she broke the worn rope that held the crazed granny smith. Granny slumped to the ground for a second then her head snapped up immediately attacking applejack. The force the green pony threw herself at knocked Applejack off of her brother. They collided In a flurry of bites and hooves. They snapped and roared loudly as they struck at each other like rabid animals. Mac slid away stumbling to his sister Applebloom. "Hold tight Applebloom" Mac said as he lowered himself enough so AppleBloom could climb on. "Maac.... I don't feel good..... My tummy's a'h ackin.... An mah head hurts... " Applebloom cried as she inched her way slowly limping to her brother. Mac frowned as he looked at her with caring eyes. He swallowed a lump that built up in his throat as he tried to help his sister crawl onto his back. "C'mon we need to find twilight or Zecora the'll no what ta do" Mac whispered to himself. Mac felt his gut sink into a pit as a hoof was brought down on the old wooden floor with a thump. Both he and Applebloom snapped a look at it's orientation even they already knew who did it. "Now I am tired of playin' these here games Big Mac now you best bring her over her cuz I'm hungry" applejack said as a wounded granny smith lurked behind her. Mac couldn't see anything but shadows past the light but he could still see the outline of his sister and Grandmother. He cursed to himself as he thought of what to do. "Big Maac... Mah tummy hurts" AppleBloom whined again. "Jus' stay be'ind me AppleBloom" Mac said backing up to the nearest wall. He felt his little sister latch tightly onto his leg. He felt a little reassurance from this but didn't show it. "Now... Applebloom remember what ever happens you hold on tight an don't let go," Mac reiterated. All he got was silence from the little filly. He opened his mouth but was interrupted by Applejack. "What are ya gonna do Mac" Applejack taunted. Mac looked at her with rage filled eyes. "I'm gonna-.... Ahhh!!!" Mac screamed as he felt a sharp pain in his left hind leg. He looked down as he saw Applebloom biting onto it. The filly was biting deep into it as blood dripped down from the wound and onto the floor in a little puddle. He inhaled as he looked away and he brought his leg down with as much force he could muster. His hoof left an indentation into the floor cracking the wood around the strike zone as Applebloom flew off leaving a trail of blood in the air that splattered across the floor. The filly was once again knocked against a wall but crawled back up to her hooves. With blood dripping from her mouth she inched closer to him. Mac silently looked over what used to be his family. His grand mother with a bright green hide, her curly clean white mane her happy smile, now replaced with a sickly green crazed beast with bloodshot red eyes. His first sister with a lovely orange hide,straight permed blond mane, and happy demeanor now replaced by a dark golden brown, frayed and disarrayed mane, and a psychotic cannibalistic attitude. His littlest sister Applebloom who, once had bright red hair and a cool yellow coat now with a blood pink mane and a dark evil yellow hide. He knew he wouldn't get far with the wound but he had to find some way. He chuckled as he felt a tear roll down his face. he brought his good leg back to use a spring as he charged at Applejack with as much of his mass as could. He galloped slamming hard into the orange horse knocking her to the side with a creak and shuffling followed close behind. He kept going forward till he broke through the one window in the room in front of him. He soared like a pegasi in the air. The wind blew past him like a free bird. He looked down at the ground under him as he descended. He hit the ground hard and running leaving deep hoof imprints. His leg slowed him down but he didn't stop and continued as far as his body would allow. Sweet Apple Acres: Farm Outskirts April 3rd 3:00am "AppleJack I'm still hunngggrrryyy" AppleBloom whined as they trotted down the path following the blood trail left by their late brother. "Hush... SugarCube... Your not the only one" applejack said stopping abruptly. "Are you hungry?" AppleBloom asked. "Yes... And it looks like someone is also... Right?" applejack said as a big red horse came out from behind a cluster of trees and bushes. "Eeeyup..." the red horse replied. Looking over a fence as two small orange and white fillies ran up the farm pathway gleefully. "Don't worry sugarcube.... We'll be fed soon enough..." applejack said as her jaw began to unhinge again."This I can promise"