Under the Moon
Chapter 2
Applejack's POV
Wakin’ up in the early hours of the mornin’ was one thing a farm pony like me had ter get used to. Still, somethin’ was off that mornin’ and I’d be darned if I didn’t figure out what it was.
Usually, I’d wake up with the mornin’ sun hitting mah eyes rather pleasant-like. ‘Cept, this mornin’, there weren’t no delicate rays of light streamin’ through mah window, in fact, there weren’t no light whatsoever.
Now, it had happened on occaision I’d be woken in the middle of the night. Mostly ‘cause Apple Bloom had been practicin’ for a way to get her cutie mark. I’d told her time enough that it wasn’t somethin’ she could force, but that filly was as stubborn as a mule and there weren’t no way I was gonna get through to her.
But there weren’t no crashes in the dead o’ night like somethin’ Apple Bloom might’ve cooked up. And there certainly weren’t no other reason I should’ve been wakin’ up before the first rays of mornin’ sun. So why in the hay was I awake? In the dark? In a bed I hardly recognised as my own.
I sat up with a sudden jolt of realisation, only to be very nearly pulled straight back down by somethin’ hard at mah midsection.
This ain’t my bed. This ain’t mah room! What the hay am I wearin’!?
Calm down, Apple Jack, everythin’s fine, just calm the heck down. Look about yourself, figure out where yah are.
Swallowin’ hard, I did what mah mind told me. I looked about myself, tried to get a good scope at what I was lookin’ at. Mostly, I was lookin’ at darkness. Seemed whatever room I was in, they hadn’t thought it too important to open the curtains. Still, for whatever reason, the dark wasn’t much of a problem. I could still make out… well, mostly, everythin’. From the dresser that was at the end of mah room to the door that was hangin’ just to mah right. To the shackles that seemed to be bindin’ me to that very bed.
“What in the hay?” I muttered to myself. Now I was in mah right mind, I realised the chains didn’t end at my stomach, there were more ‘round mah arms and legs. I gave them a half-hearted yank, they didn’t budge, I didn’t ‘spect them to, but it still sent a surge of anger to mah core.
This didn’t make no sense! The room looked just like any old hospital room, I’d been in ‘em plenty of times in the past, whether it was visitin’ family an’ friends or when I’d gone and done something stupid like sprained my hind legs buckin’ the orchards.
I’d never seen nopony chained up before. ‘specially me!
I was beginnin’ ter think ah weren’t in no hospital room after all when the door opened and there, in the doorway – to mah surprise - stood Doctor Stable.
Though, he didn’t look much like the Doctor Stable ah knew. More… tired-like and… scared?
Scared of me?
“Applejack, y-you’re awake.” Doctor Stable pulled a sort-a smile, though it didn’t look too convincin’. I was startin’ to get worried now. What in the hay had happened to scare Doctor Stable? What had happened to get me put in a hospital in the first place?
“What’s goin’ on?” I asked, pullin’ at mah chains subconsciously.
“Applejack, I’m going to need you to calm down.” Doctor Stable said.
I almost snorted in response. Calm down? He’d chained me to a bed for Celestia’s sake. How’d he expect anypony to be calm after that?
“Why am Ah chained up?” I asked.
“Applejack, you have to understand, it’s for your own safety. After what happened…”
“What did happen?” I was startin’ to lose my patience now. Did he ‘spect me to know somethin’, ‘cause I sure as hay didn’t!
Doctor Stable stood still fer a second. Jus’ looked at me like he’d never even seen me before. Then he snapped outta it.
“You… You don’t remember?”
“Half a second ago Ah thought Ah was at home!” I practically yelled, “What is happenin’?”
“Applejack… can you tell me the last thing that you remember?” Doctor Stable asked. He sounded like he’d been here before. Like he’d asked all these questions to somepony else. Did he have other ponies chained to their beds? What was he playin’ at?
“Who else have you asked this to?” I demanded.
Doctor Stable’s eyes widened, “Just answer the question, Applejack. Please.”
“Why?” I yelled.
Now I was gettin’ angry. Angrier than the time Apple Bloom and her friends had wrecked the kitchen tryin’ ter get their bakin’ cutie marks, and I was sure as hay angry then! “What ain’t you tellin’ me? Who else have you got chained up like some kinda animal?” I felt heat raisin’ in mah chest now. I strained against mah chains, tryin’ mah hardest to pull free. The more I tried, the more frustrated I got, and the more frustrated I was, the angrier I became.
Doctor Stable had taken a step back towards the door in surprise, almost bumpin’ into a pale-faced Nurse Redheart on his way.
I blinked in surprise. Nurse Redheart knew too?
“Subject R is unshackled.” She whispered to Doctor Stable. I s’pose she hadn’t expected me ter hear, but I sure as hay did!
“Subject R?” I recited, “Whose that? What’s goin’ on?”
Doctor Stable tried to get closer, but I didn’t make it easy. I was rarin’ for a fight now. I was bein’ lied to, I knew it. And if there is one thing I can’t stand, its lies!
“Ya’ll better stop lyin’ to me or Ah swear Ah won’t be afraid to buck ya'll into the next room!” I all but snarled.
Doctor Stable looked scared; Nurse Redheart looked just about ready to pass out. I didn’t care. Somethin’ was goin’ on and I was gonna find out what it was!
But then, I heard somethin’ at mah door. A sort-a snortin’ noise.
I turned mah head, eyes blazin’, only to see a familiar face.
Rainbow Dash.
Only, she wasn’t.
Her fur was a duller shade of blue and there was somethin’ right strange about her mane. Then there were her eyes… they were… grey. Like tiny storm clouds.
I wanted ter say somethin’ to her, but her face dropped into one of horror. Then she took off and disappeared down the hall. She’d been… scared.
She was scared of me too?
“Rainbow Dash!” Nurse Redheart called after her. She gave a half apologetic smile ter Doctor Stable and then galloped out the room.
I hardened. What was she gonna do with RD?
“What’s wrong with Rainbow Dash?” I snarled, directin’ mah attention back ter Doctor Stable, “In fact, what’s wrong with me?”
Doctor Stable looked sad now, defeated-like. “You really don’t remember?”
I gritted my teeth and shook mah head.
He breathed out and sighed, lookin’ me straight in the eyes. I frowned.
“Very well… I will tell you some things Applejack, but you must remain calm. I ask this because it’s imperative for your… state.”
“Mah what?” I asked, tryin’ to breathe as normally as I could manage.
Doctor Stable looked mighty tired. He ducked his head to the floor before pickin’ himself up again.
“Applejack, I’m afraid you have been comatose for almost eight months.”
My heart rate quickened, I could tell. I kept tryin’ to breathe in and out, but it was gettin’ difficult.
Eight months!? What’s goin’ on? What happened to me… to us?
“Just about a year ago… something happened to Equestria.” Doctor Stable continued darkly, “A… miasma began to spread by night, cast down by the rays from Princess Luna’s moon. This miasma… turned ponies into something ghastly… it destroyed them internally; some died, others survived. Though I wouldn’t call it living.”
Doctor Stable paused to look at me. I hadn’t said a word against him, honestly, I was havin’ trouble tryin’ to breathe.
Miasma?
Ponies are dead?
Others… are… are what? Suffering?
“W-What d’you mean by that?” I asked, gulping down all the air I could manage with a single intake.
Doctor Stable sighed, “I mean, they were… mutated, into horrible beasts. Creatures that made the Everfree Forest laughable. They… ravaged anypony that hadn’t been caught by the miasma, it was… terrifying.”
Doctor Stable’s eyes were haunted, I could tell. I’d seen that look before, sometimes in Granny Smith, when she talked ‘bout the past, ‘bout the kinda bad things she had seen.
Mutated?
Monsters?!
Ah took in a deep breath and looked Doctor Stable square in the eyes, “Mah family.” I demanded, “Where are mah family.”
Doctor Stable smiled, “Twilight Sparkle was informed of the starting events via a letter from Princess Celestia. She had all of your family moved into Canterlot, under protection, though at the time she hadn’t thought it necessary. Princess Luna has disappeared, you see. I’m not entirely sure of your orders, I wasn’t there. But, from what I am aware of, you had been sent to deal with the problem, to use your elements against the miasma.”
I let out a sigh of relief. Mah family were okay, Apple Bloom, Big Mac, Winona... Granny Smith. Mah shakin’ lessened somewhat after that, but still, all those other ponies... All them deaths... How couldda this have happened?
If the moon had been the cause… had it truly been Princess Luna who had started it all?
“What happened?” I asked timidly. I didn’t quite know whether I wanted ter know. But it was important. I’d have ter listen.
Doctor Stable’s shoulders crumpled, “You… failed. Or so I’m aware. A search party were sent out for you, ponies were lost to the miasma, but we found you… all comatose, all… changed.”
“What ‘bout the miasma now?” I asked, ignorin’ what Doctor Stable had just said, “Is it still a problem, do we have to try again?”
Doctor Stable’s eyes widened in surprise, “Applejack, Princess Celestia set up a magical barrier around Canterlot, it’s the only city that we know of that is safe. Besides, we still have to run tests on you… all of you.”
That sent me back to his last words.
‘Bout all six of us.
‘Bout the fact that we’d all been changed.
“Changed? You mean Twi, Rarity, Pinkie and Flutters are here too?”
Doctor Stable nodded sadly, “Yes, I’m sorry, Applejack. You were all mutated... but not in the conventional way. We believe your elements may have protected you… to an extent.”
“Extent?” I wondered, feelin’ mah heart plummeting from mah chest.
“Your blood pressure is out of control, Applejack. When it gets too high… your body reacts. It happened once during your comatose state.” Doctor Stable was shakin’ now. Ah knew I’d done somethin’ bad. I could feel it.
“You become… well, it’s hard to explain, but have you ever heard of the fable… about werewolves?”
I choked.