WARNINGS:
{GrimDark}{Gore}
"Ah told y'all already, ain't no way ah'm sayin' where Apple Bloom's at." Applejack spun and lashed out with her hind hooves, hoping to catch an attacker off-guard. She hit nothing, lost her balance, and fell on her rump, her blind kick doing more harm than good. Even though the quick slash of somepony's knife had ruined her eyes outright, she couldn't stop fighting. The bloody, disembodied limbs of Granny Smith and Big McIntosh that had greeted her when she'd returned from her evening chores replaced her lost vision completely. She refused to let her last clear sight leave her - it was the only thing that kept her fighting through the pain of whatever had beaten, stabbed, and cut her all over.
Somepony's hoof collided with her face, but Applejack barely budged, offering only a groan and a much stronger punch at wherever the attack had come from. Something crunched sickeningly, and as something nearby hissed in furious agony the tired mare felt her insides heave, despite how satisfying it was to finally return a blow against whoever wanted to hurt her little sister - whoever it was that had already killed half her family. The rigid, brittle nature of her target reminded her of one particular wedding day, back in Canterlot. Changelings. What do changelings want with us? She knew she wouldn't live to find out. She knew some of them wouldn't live to go searching for Apple Bloom, and continued lashing out around her, trying to punch or kick wherever there was the slightest hiss or the buzz of wings.
Another hoof collided with her gut - she'd over-extended herself. Reflexively curling, she fell over just in time to feel a hard kick make contact between her legs, and couldn't contain a scream. Half agony, half fury, she staggered as she tried to get back on her hooves, only to find a jagged horn-tip glowing warmly with magic against her throat. The sensation spread, and she found herself being lifted and magically strangled somewhere above the ground.
"You have one more chance to accept our offer," a voice rasped at her. "Tell us where to find Apple Bloom or we will make your death long and messy."
Applejack was helpless. Pretty soon, the pain would start catching up to her, slow her down, wear her out, destroy her will to fight - let alone ability. She would be like a foal among timber wolves. She knew the changelings could make good on their promise. She knew she would suffer like never before, would beg for death, would be denied until her body gave out on its own accord. She knew she had no true choice.
"B-buck you," she choked out around the strangling spell. They wouldn't get her sister. Not again. Not ever.
She was moving - far too quickly, dragged by her neck with a force that nearly broke it. Applejack barely had time to groan in pain before slamming into a wall, and continuing straight through it. She screamed as several bones snapped all at once from the impact, then once more as she landed on her left side in a bed of hot coals. A metal door shut, with a grating noise all too familiar. As she struggled, cried, and screamed in her confined space, it came to her that she was in the fire pit under Granny Smith's oven. The grate for feeding the fire was opened and closed by a lever on the outside, and there was no way for her to escape.
A blur of smoke-filled coughing and screams passed by in fleeting seconds or lingering hours - the agony left her unable to tell the difference - she finally met darkness and quiet.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Applejack was surprised to wake up. In fact, after a moment of reflection, she was surprised to be alive at all. Maybe she wasn't? Maybe she was dead and there was a heaven, of sorts, after all. ... no, this would be Tartarus. No eternal paradise could hurt this badly. No pegasus angel would grind a hoof in her burns, causing her to scream and feebly thrash once more.
"Poor little pony," a changeling voice rasped. "I don't like doing this, you know. I'd much rather feed on love. I'd prefer not to hurt any ponies at all, but your condition gives me little choice. You are going to die, no matter what I do, but I can make it so. Much. Quicker." Each of the last three words was accompanied by a jab or twist in the wounds laid open, then cauterized, by fire, and a scream from the orange mare.
"Be honest, Honest Applejack. Be honest with yourself." Another jab, another scream. "You don't want this. You want this over with. Please, please let me end your pain."
"PleaAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!" Applejack started, and was cut off by a vicious ... what felt like a bite in her burned flank.
"Please!" she yelled, starting to cry and stammer. "Please, please, please make it stop! Jus' kill me already!"
"Oh, I dearly wish that I could." A hard punch to some exposed organs wrenched another scream from the broken mare, followed by a stream of vomit. "But you won't let me. I can't end your suffering if you won't let me."
Applejack tried to beg for mercy, and found she could no longer form words. She babbled, praying the changeling would get the message.
"You haven't said 'please' properly. You haven't told me where Apple Bloom is."
The orange mare broke down crying. She couldn't take it anymore. She couldn't give away her sister. She wanted to die. She didn't want Apple Bloom to suffer ... whatever the changelings wanted her for.
"I know, it hurts so badly," cooed the voice of Nurse Redheart. Was she becoming delusional in her agony? "Let me take care of your sister. I promise to end your misery. Just tell me where she is. She needs to be looked after. My... my leg..." There was a pause, then a crunch. Clearly speaking with her mouth full, the nurse declared, "My leg is delicious!"
What in tarnation?! was all that Applejack's pain-addled mind could come up with. Hooting and cheers erupted all around her, some voices chanting Eat! Eat! Eat! while sounds of tearing flesh and grinding jaws grated on her completely frazzled nerves.
The changelings were ... devouring themselves. Even after what they'd put her through, the mare found herself vomiting sympathetically again and again until the sounds finally died down. All was finally quiet, until a soft voice whispered at her ear.
"We are sorry, Applejack. We came too late and we are so, so sorry."
"Princess Luna?" It wasn't trying to hurt her. Did that mean it wasn't real?
"Our night's embrace upon thee, My Little Pony." A chill fell over her, and she couldn't stop herself from shivering. "We can do little now."
"Where's Apple Bloom?" Applejack asked, insistently. She had loads of cousins and aunts and other such relatives, but Apple Bloom was her only immediate family remaining.
"Cutie Mark Crusaders Stargazers, yay!" cried three voices off in the distance. She could almost hear the smirk in Luna's voice, and the relief in the beats of her own wearied heart.
"Safe. We were with them when the attack began."
"What'd ya do? What happened ta all the changelings?" The bitter cold was growing; Applejack could no longer feel herself trembling, but her injuries, too, were going numb. Maybe she was dead.
"Madness is called 'lunacy' for good reason," the Princess said, softly. "Thou hast already heard more than anypony would ever care to. We apologize. Art thou beginning to feel warm?"
"Yeah. Uh, thanks, Princess. Ah... ah need a nap..." The mare trailed off into a yawn. Sweet Princesses, was she ever tired. Hesitantly, she asked, "Ah'm never gonna wake up, am ah?"
"No, My Little Pony. Thou shalt find rest and relief, and the lifting of the burdens of our world. Thou mayst never fear or hurt again."
"Ah j-just want mah family ta know, then... p-please tell them... ah did mah best. It w-weren't enough, but ah did mah best..." Applejack couldn't help but lay her head down. She could barely feel her body anymore, and sleep tugged demandingly at what was left of her consciousness.
"Hast thou forgotten thou art already many times a hero, Applejack? Thou shalt be remembered not only by thy family, but all of Equestria. So we swear." And then, to the delight of the dying mare's ears, the Princess of the Night began to sing, a gentle tune dancing with the lyrics of a lullaby.
Hush now, sweet child of the Moon,
Quiet now, Sandpony's coming soon.
It's time to lay in moon's beams,
Your sleepy head full of dreams...
Luna sang on, but Applejack heard no more.