//------------------------------// // 16: The Truth Hurts, Doesn't It? // Story: Bring the Thunder // by Ze Guest //------------------------------// I got a chance to speak to Neon. He's actually really interesting. Turns out the guys who are looking for him were the ones who created him. For some reason though, they want to kill him now and only they know how to kill him. He was able to run away before they got the chance. He found a little spot in the woods where he could hide and that's where he set up his trap. He is made of mutated matter which means he can turn into the four main types of matter. Solid, (Ice) Liquid, Gas, and the form he prefers, Plasma. He even showed a demonstration to everybody and we all thought it was really cool. And since he isn't an actual pony he can run for miles and not even break a sweat. But that also means he can't eat or sleep. I even had to explain what a dream was and things that happen in them. ( which is basically everything.) And Twilight. What does she do? She keeps an eye on Neon 24/7 just waiting for one slip up. One time there was a bug on Rainbow's shoulder and he shooed it off. Twilight thought he hit her or something so we had to tell her it was a bug and Neon was being a nice guy. Astheno was leading us to a little town which was Appaloosa. I really didn't want to go there and I'm sure you know why. Maybe, just maybe, Astheno will turn at the last second and we will be going somewhere else and not have time to pay any visits. But, to my misfortune, we were walking right into it. The town was empty. It was a Monday I believe. So the ponies of this town should be busy. But no, just a complete ghost town. Last time I was here it wasn't even close to this. Applejack herself looked very worried. But I was fine! No Braeburn, no worries! But of course, a good day never exists when I'm around. And there he was again. "Hello, once again." said the ghost. "Whoa! What is that?!" Neon shouted and pointed at it. "Huh? I'm just a ghost, I want to know what you are." Neon the the face-less ghost stared at each other. The ghost shook his head and focused on Applejack. "You know this place, don't you?" he asked. Applejack looked at him and fixed her hat. "Yeah, this's where mah cousin lives." she said. "Indeed," the ghost mused. " It's a very nice town, but where is every-pony? Right here!" There were a bunch of ponies cramped up in to little jail cells. I knew the place had a small population but I didn't know you could fit them all into five jail cells! That's just- wow! "Where's Braeburn?!" Applejack shouted at the ghost. He looked at the cells filled with ponies. "Well, he should be somewhere. But that's not the point. The point is, it's you turn Applejack! The truth won't set just you free, but the whole town, too! Can you tell your deepest secrets? Or will you give up and keep these poor souls in jail forever and never be able to save them again?" Applejack lowered her head and sighed. "Do ah really have a choice?" she asked. "Well, technically you do. But in your case, I guess not," the ghost said. "Please, go over to the first cell." The ghost looked at me and soon we were in a little blue force field again. Neon panicked a little bit but Rarity was able to explain to him what was going on. With a little hesitation, Applejack went to the first cell as she was told. "First question!" the ghost said and pulled some small cards out of nowhere. "Where do you live?" Are you kidding me? That's the question? I'm not too impressed to be honest, but oh well. Applejack raised an eyebrow when the question was asked. Inside the cell, someone was pushing to get in front. He was a brown stallion in about his late fifties. Dismay seemed to surge over Applejack when she saw him. "Hay sweetie. Looks like I'm finally gonna have a place to send all my letters to." he said. "Ya gotta be kiddin' me." Applejack turned to the ghost. "Do I have to tell him?" she asked. The ghost looked up from the deck of cards and said. "Sorry." was all he said. "Well, if ah say it, can I keep just him in the cell?" she asked. The ghost shrugged. "That's the town's choice." Everyone in the cells commented in agreement. "What?! Aww c'mon." the pedophilic stallion said in disappointment. One guy nearly popped his head out between the bars."Whadaya mean c'mon?! You've hit on every single filly half your age! Why do ya think yer wife left ya?" The ghost got everyone's attention again. "Well, if the town agrees, then yes. The pedophile can stay behind bars!" Everyone started to cheer in pure joy all except for the pedophile who hung his head, disappointed. Applejack, meanwhile got back to the task at hand. "Sweet Apple Acres, Ponyville." The cell door swung open and ponies walked out. The pedophile tried to slip through but Applejack quickly caught him. When everybody got out, Applejack threw him back in the and ghost shut the door. "This ain't legal!" the pedophile complained. "I haven't been told my Miranda rights!" Applejack moved along to the next cell and the ghost shuffled through the cards for the next question. "Where did you get your fancy looking hat of yours?" the ghost asked. I was thinking that this would be over in a breeze. I mean really? Where she got her hat? Probably from the store or something. But the question seemed to hit Applejack harder than I expected. She looked to the ground and rubbed her hoof along the wooden grain on the floor. "Daddy gave it to me on my fourth birthday..." she said, trailing off. "Good answer!" the ghost said. He walked over to the next cell door and opened it. One of the ponies in that cell walked up to the first cell with the pedo in it. Sure enough, he read his Miranda rights. The guy in the cell rolled his eyes as he sat against the wall. Applejack moved to the next cell and awaited the next question. The ghost shuffled through the cards again and came up with the third question. "Where are your parents? Now that we're talking about them." Applejack looked upset. Something tells me that wherever they were, it wasn't a happy place. "They're- they're six feet under." she said, very very quietly. "Indeed they are!" the ghost said, a little to happily. He grabbed the door and swung it open. Ponies walked out and watched as Applejack proceeded to the next cell. The ghost crumbled up the cards that he probably already used and asked the next question "How did your father die?" he asked. "Ya know, why are you askin' all these questions 'bout my parents?!" Applejack snapped. "Because you know the answers. But they're the hardest to admit." the ghost said almost immediately. Applejack pursed her lips and closed her eyes. "Heart attack. It was a heart attack." she said. Now, I heard it perfectly fine, didn't you? Wait... forget I said that. But anyway, yeah! I heard it just fine. But the ghost, who was closer to her said he didn't hear it and forced Applejack to say it again! What a jerk! Applejack said it again and moved to the last cell. When she looked inside she nearly had a heart attack herself. "Big Mac? Braeburn? Granny? Applebloom?" Applejack seemed disgusted by the sight. Now I can honestly say I have no idea how she felt because, as you all know, I never had a mother nor father. "Last question. Are you ready?" the ghost asked. Applejack nodded her head because there was nothing else she could do. "Your mother. Explain her death." Applejack turned to look at him so fast if I did it with my scrawny little neck I would have broke it. "What?!" she screamed. "Ha! You're a fool!" Braeburn the antagonizing said. "We already know how she died. Some low life slit her throat right on her death bed! I think you be lettin' us go now." Braeburn crossed his fore legs with a smug smile on his face. "That is true, yes. But some know more than others. Right Ms. Apple?" said the ghost who was now sitting in mid-air. Tears streamed down Applejack's eyes. Her mouth was quivering and she tried to cover it with her hoof. "I- I..." Applejack choked up. I was hoping she wouldn't give up "Applejack!" I blurted out stupidly. But it was enough to grab her attention so I might as well say something."I know you're strong. I just know it! What about Rainbow Dash's test? I was being a little baby! Covering my eyes and everything. You watched it to the end!" Applejack fought back at me. "Says the guy who fought a bear!" She said. "What? That wasn't fighting! I just grabbed it's attention for a few short seconds! Sure, I got a couple of hits in, but I never would have won! If you didn't get anyone, I would've just been the dead guy who no one knows! I didn't save you, you saved me." everybody was looking at me. Applejack looked away and blushed as a smile slowly grew on her face. Well, looks like I did my part. Applejack turned back to what I believed to be her family and sucked in all the air her lungs could take. "I was awake when it happened." she started off. Everyone in the town looked at each other. But she pushed on. "I didn't see the face, but ah saw the stallion at Ma's bed. I can't even say that on any other day I would have done somethin'. Ma was so sick, an' she was gonna die really soon. Ah couldn't even take the stress of it anymore. I just sat there and watched her die." Everything was completely silent. We all just stared at her in shock. None of us knew it would be that dark. Tears started rolling down Applejack's face . The ghost walked up to her. "You did it. Like I said, The easiest answers can be the hardest to say." He pulled out a key and opened the cell door, letting Applejack's family out. They crowded around her and hugged her. Now Applejack was full out crying. During the family reunion, the ghost presented the element of honesty to her. He even put it around her neck. He turned to us and put the force field down. "Volt." the ghost said as he floated over to me. "That was brave. Saying all that. Are you taking good care of Twilight?" I looked at him. I had forgotten his request to do that. "Yeah, she's doing just fine." "Well, I want you to protect her like I would. Can you do that?" "Well, how would you do it?" The ghost grew a mouth and smiled, no demonic like the last time. This one was warm and friendly. "With my life." I gave him a confused look. "Yeah. I think I can." "Good." he said. And he disappeared.