Captain Applejack Harkness

by Inthretis

Jack of All Trades...

In front of Twilight Sparkle, laid out across her entire floor of her bedroom, was all the files pertaining to Black Ness, U-004, U-003, and the incident file from the Best Young Flyers Competition that Rainbow Dash and Rarity took part in. Princess Celestia’s plan to fake a disaster went well, but the information they gathered was little.

Rarity and Twilight staged an entire trap, playing off Rarity’s apparent showboating, the two unicorns, along with the Wonderbolts and the Princess, faked a fall-to-your-death-now-somepony-please-save-us routine, in an attempt to catch a terrorist. It failed, and Rainbow Dash got drunk with some Wonderbolts instead.

Twilight continued to stare at the papers that were strewn across with reckless abandon. She had spent almost twenty hours trying to find a pattern. Not that false one that connected liquor to BB gun violence. It was clever, but beneath the humor, was an odd detail that struck out. It didn’t make sense at first, but in conjunction with the U-004 folder, she discovered this name that repeated itself one time too many:

Smart Cookie.

It wasn’t much, but since the competition, she asked Princess Celestia about Smart Cookie, but that quickly became a dead end:

I’m sorry Twilight, but there are no records of Smart Cookie. Fires, riots, and strategic bombings have resulted in almost nothing pertaining to Smart Cookie remaining. It’s as if somepony deliberately tried to erase every record of her from hist-

Twilight bolted up and began searching through her papers again, until she found a note scribbled onto the file:

Zebra seers have been known to keep records stored in special places, such as preserving actual memories through certain potions, as well as hidden archives filled with lost works. In fact, it is known that most know entire histories by heart…

Twilight gasped, then looked at her clock. It was late, but she could definitely reach Zecora in time before sunset. Maybe she could even have some tea with here as well.

Scootaloo was excited. She was so excited, in fact that she had been jittering for almost an hour. Bouncing up and down was making it especially difficult for her to pack her stuff for the sleepover at Fluttershy’s cottage.

Her smile stretched out even further, and her saddlebag for the night was packed haphazardly.She didn’t care, she was going to have so much fun with her friends. She put the bags on underneath her wings, grabbed her scooter and helmet, and proceeded to leave her house. She began revving up the wheels before removing her hooves from the brak-

“Wait!”

Scootaloo stopped out of reflex and promptly flipped over, landing with her back on the ground and her legs in the air. She looked up to see her mother, Aerial Ace coming up to her scooter.

“Honey, you forgot your hug goodbye!”

Scootaloo got up from the ground and brought her forelegs around her mother’s neck. At the same time, Aerial Ace nuzzled Scootaloo gently. After that, Scootaloo got back on her scooter and began to buzz her wings.

“Be safe Scootaloo,” Ace said in a half-whisper.

“I will Mom,” Scootaloo released her brake and went out into town.

Ace waved her hoof, smiling hopefully. I sure hope so.

“This is was an awesome sleepover! We should totally, like, chase more of those chickens or something,” Scootaloo yelled, her wings buzzing with excitement.

“Oh no, I don’t think that’s such a good idea, I mean, we were only able cure Twilight of her petrification because cockatrices can reverse their powers. You girls were lucky that we only ran into a cockatrice tonight. Let’s just go back and get some sleep, alright?” Fluttershy spoke softly and kindly, but with a slight tone of authority.

“Aw, alright,” Scootaloo sighed.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders and Fluttershy were walking back to the cottage after a long and dangerous misadventure involving a cockatrice, a chicken, Twilight, and a staring contest. As the four ponies approached Fluttershy’s home, a small white critter rushed out the door and hopped into the veterinarian’s hooves.

“Oh, Angel Bunny, how are you doing?” Fluttershy hug nuzzled the bunny affectionately, “Was HareCon fun? Did you convince the others to adopt your new financial plan?”

Angel made some squeaking noises followed by pantomiming. Fluttershy responded, “Ooh, that sounds so nice. Maybe I’ll go with you next year.”

Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom rolled their eyes and proceeded into the cottage, but stopped abruptly when they noticed Scootaloo wasn’t following.

Get away. NOW.

“Scoots! Ya comin’ or what?” Apple Bloom yelled.

Sweetie Belle went up and poked Scootaloo, “I think she’s spacing out again.”

It’s not too late. Run. Find safety. Get some help, just don’t go back inside.

“Great,” Apple Bloom got closer and began pulling the orange pegasus while Sweetie Belle pushed from behind.

Shoot Shoot Shoot Shoot! Backup Backup Backup! Worst time for complete motor function failure, isn’t it?

When the three fillies were in the cottage, Apple Bloom spoke up, her voice dripping with sarcasm, “What is it this time? Ya noticed how Fluttershy’s house looks like a blue box? Or maybe the chickens are secretly aliens?”

Scootaloo blinked. And she stayed still.

Get out now! Come on, hooves don’t fail now!

“It’s pretty bad this time. Usually she’s just gone for a few seconds but I’m sure it’s been at least five minutes,” Sweetie Belle continued to poke the frozen filly.

“Would ya move fer a Scooby snack?” Apple Bloom asked. Scootaloo didn’t move.

“Oh, maybe a Klondike bar! My sister eats those all the time,” Sweetie Belle guessed. Scootaloo didn’t respond.

Actually, I could go for some grub.

“Ah’m gonna get some water,” Apple Bloom went into the kitchen and pulled out a bucket.

Sweetie Belle punched the inert filly. Next, she drew on her neck with a marker. And then she swatted her with a broom. Sweetie Belle pulled out a hockey stick with her mouth before Apple Bloom returned with the water.

Apple Bloom dropped the bucket, “Sweetie! Don’t hit her with that!”

“Whath? I’m noth gonnath hith her with thit! I’m gonnath scrath her!”

“What?”

Sweetie Belle spit out the hockey stick, “I’m gonna scratch her! Maybe she has an itch on her back.”

Apple Bloom stared at Sweetie Belle. Then looked at Scootaloo’s stationary body. Then back at Sweetie Belle’s sincere smile. Apple Bloom shook her head, sighed, then tossed the bucket of water at Scootaloo’s immobile figure.

Splash.

“Gah! Who? What? Where? When? Huwah!?” Scootaloo jumped and slipped on the puddle of water, her head fell and hit the floor.

“Apple Bloom! Why did you do that? You could have really hurt her!”

“Better’n scratchin’ her with a hockey stick! Why did ya even think that would work? That’s like milkin’ an apple tree fer cider!”

“Well scratching Rarity in her sleep usually wakes her up, so I thought it would!”

“Well that… ” Apple Bloom stopped before finishing, “Ya know what, never mind, yer sister’s weird.”

“Well duh, and Scoots was acting weird, so we needed a weird solution!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed, “I win.”

“No, ah win! Ah fixed her first!” Apple Bloom shouted.

Sweetie Belle stuck out her tongue, “Nyeh, I would’ve fixed her with the stick too.”

“Would not!”

“Would too!”

“Would you two stop!” Scootaloo yelled. The earth pony and unicorn stopped arguing to listen their friend’s potentially insane ramblings.

“Guys, I think we need to leave,” Scootaloo started.

“But why? We’re fine here, c’mon let’s just go and get some sleep,” Apple Bloom motioned to their sleeping bags.

Scootaloo stomped her hoof, “No. Please guys, listen. This time I think I got something. I remember something. More than just forgotten dreams or weird deja vu. I never noticed it before, but… Fluttershy is dangerous.”

This time, despite all the weird things Scootaloo has said before:

I think Miss Cheerilee knows more than she’s letting on. The Mayor’s kind of weird, like she doesn’t belong. There is something off about Cloud Kicker. Maybe she’s hiding something. Sapphire Shores’ music is literally hypnotic! It sounds… Sonic. You know, like a screwdriver. Or a hedgehog.

This sounded bad and not vaguely discomforting. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom decided to sit down and listen to her friend.

“Her pet rabbit. It- it triggered something. When I dream, I always have these- these bunnies in them. And those bunnies came right before something bad. The metal pony, those salt shakers, my mom, and that weird box. Last Nightmare Night, I saw Applejack and her friend, and ever since then, I kept getting these weird feelings every once in a while.

“But this time, I didn’t get just a dream or a right out feeling, this time I saw what happened! Fluttershy, Angel, a glowing light, and this weird blond earth pony.”

“Mah sister?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Not her. Somepony else. This blue and blond stallion. And then, bad. Like, really, really bad. I keep seeing somepony in black getting hurt, then getting right back up. That stallion is the reason. She makes Fluttershy dangerous. I don’t know who he is, but he’s a bad omen.”

“Ya mean ‘Amen’?” Apple Bloom corrected.

“No, I said ‘Omen’,” Scootaloo said.

“Maybe you mean ‘Omelet’,” Sweetie Belle added.

“No, I mean- you know what? Never mind, let’s just get some sleep. It’s not like Fluttershy’s gonna hurt us,” Scootaloo said.

“But ya said she was,” Apple Bloom replied.

“No, I said she was dangerous, and that this stallion caused it. But I don’t think she’ll specifically hurt us.”

“Ah don’t even know why I’m tryin’ ta reason with yer crazy mind flashes. Ah’m sleepin’ too,” Apple Bloom unzipped her sleeping bag.

“Oh, okay. Good night girls!” Sweetie Belle flopped into her bag.

Apple Bloom turned to her side looking at her two friends, “You know, if we were all in big trouble like you said, I’m sure somepony would fix it. We got the princesses, our sisters and all those royal guards, and… whoever you know.”

“Hey! I totally have connections!” Scootaloo said having offended, “Wait, we are talking about connections, right?”

Several days ago, Diamond Tiara came into the school playground, boasting how her dad had new connections that made her entire family even more influential. She claimed that her dad could have become a member of parliament if he wanted to.

Like any normal kids who are taunted by a bully, they reevaluated their apparent social positions, mostly by listing all their family members and said members’ friends. When they realized that Sweetie Belle alone apparently had more influence than both Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon put together, the three crusaders got bored and started ignoring the terrible duo’s annoying showboating.

“I think we are, they’re those ponies our family knows that could totally help,” Sweetie Belle reminded Scootaloo.

“So… that means I have: my mom, Rainbow Dash, those army dudes from Unity or whatever, a professor, and a DJ,” she stopped after counting off the several ponies that could help, “and I guess maybe Lyra if I want to stretch a bit.”

“Lyra? Ya mean the musician?”

“I thought she was a writer?”

“No, from what my mom said, she’s some sort of ‘conspiring theorist’,” Scootaloo said.

“What’s that?” Apple Bloom asked, tilting her head.

“Don’t really know. Doubt she could help. Maybe we could combine our connections together, then we’d have three times as much influence!”

“That’s a great idea! If we can gather enough influence, we could totally stop whatever bad thing’s gonna happen. You what I’m thinking?” Scootaloo asked. The other two nodded and grinned.

“CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS INFLUENCE GATHERERS YAY!”

“Girls, could you please go to bed? It’s getting late, that is, if you want to.”

“Sorry Fluttershy! We’re going to sleep now!” the three of them continued to smile as their giggles spread around until they all nodded off to sleep.

Twilight relaxed in Zecora’s hut with a cup of hot tea in an attempt to constitute herself after being petrified by a cockatrice. At the same time, Zecora was busy brewing in her magic iron cast cauldron, which was glowing an odd color of green as smoke billowed out.

“Zecora, I have a question for you, if you know, you’re comfortable with me asking,” Twilight danced the request along.

“Ask your question, my dear friend. I hope this lead of yours does not become another dead end.”

“How did you-,” Twilight paused before an epiphany passed through her mind, “Oh my Celestia, you’re a seer! Everything makes sense now! Why you know certain things, and why you always enter the market when prices are surprisingly low. It makes so much sense. But wait, I thought enchantresses used potions, not seers?”

“I am both seer and enchantress. Although my intentions are pure, most view me with great distress. Now what is your question that is so obscure?”

“I was actually wondering what you know about Smart Cookie,” Twilight was fidgeting with excitement, eager to learn more.

Zecora gave Twilight a concerned look, before she began, “Very well, let me tell you the tale, of the great Smart Cookie, both powerful and frail… ”

“Are we there yet?” Scootaloo asked as the Cutie Mark Crusaders and Applejack were on their way to see their brand new clubhouse, which had once belonged to Applejack. Or will belong to. Or whatever, because time travel, okay?

“There? Where? What? I don't even know what we're doing,” Sweetie Belle said.

“Here we are,” Applejack pointed at a marvelous tree, one that will stand the test of time by lasting centuries. (This is totally foreshadowing, by the way).

“What are we lookin’ at?” Apple Bloom asked.

“I have no idea,” Scootaloo replied. A fixed incursion point. This area contains a large amount of tachyons that could be the result of a future spatial anomaly.

“What is that thing?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“Cutie Mark Crusaders, welcome to yer new clubhouse,” Applejack stated as she felt a wave of nostalgia pass over her, “Well, don't thank me all at once. This was mah clubhouse when ah was yer age. Sure it hasn't been used in a while, but it's empty and on a secluded, private part of the farm. And it's all yours. It just needs a little, uh... TLC.”

“TLC as in Tender Loving Care or Totally Lost Cause?” Scootaloo remarked. This place should be fenced off and burned to the ground. And then time locked.

“Applejack! We're supposed ta turn this into our new clubhouse?” Apple Bloom began to whine when the realization hit her.

“Well, maybe y'all will get your cutie marks when you discover your talent fer-,” Applejack fell through a hole in the wall, “Uh... house cleanin'?”

March 10, 1619

Dear diary,

The CMC won a comedy award today. They also showed their trademark destructive capabilities, so I can actually move the plan forward a couple of days. Still, it’s about six months away.

Not much else to say. I heard the guard commandeered a Thaumic sensor, but it probably won’t help. Those guards think they’re close, but unless someone betrays me, I am totally safe.

-Captain AJH

Brrrinngg!

“Hello, Shooting Star Records, my name is Secretariat the secretary, how may I direct your call? What? Haha very funny. You can’t just- What? Fine. Boss! You got a call! Line three!”

“Eh? Fine, let me just, ah, got it.”

Click.

“What is it? I am a very busy stallion, and you can’t just waltz in on my phone line with your- Wha? Really? Oh, I am so sorry, I’ll call her immediately. So sorry about my behavior.”

Click.

“Yes, send a message to Sapphire. Tell her that the Prime Minister wants to talk with her. No, I am not kidding. Yes, now would be best.”

Ding.

“Hellooo~, this is Sapphire Shores, and what is it that you- Oh, Applejack! So nice to hear from you! You what? Pffft haha! Y-you pretended to be- oh my Celestia, the look on his face must have been priceless!

“Yes dear, ever since the seaponies I haven’t really been the same. Well, what brings you to impersonate a politician? Oh. Hmm. Uh huh. Is she good? Better than my best right now? Ponyville by tomorrow? Don’t mention you by name? Stop repeating everything- oh wait, sorry. Alright, if it’s that important, I be there by around eight. Maybe some poker later? Sure. K’ bye.

Click. Doooooooooooooh.

March 12, 1619

Dear diary,

Sapphire Shores nearly killed Rarity. Totally indirectly, but apparently she was hypnotic enough to drive Rarity to become a slave for diamond dogs. Now, I’m not saying it was intentional, we still need to work on that. Maybe some sunglasses and chewing gum?

No, didn’t work last time. Maybe she should just delegate her errands to her assistants. But that puts them in danger too.

Anyways, Rarity is fine. She wasn’t hypnotized, only “encouraged” and “persuaded”. She even whined so much that she conquered the entire diamond dog colony in about three hours. Her high pitched wails assaulted the sensitive ears of the diamond dogs. She’s like a living sonar device, considering her ability to find gems.

-Captain AJH

“It was perfect! My designs, the presentation! It’s Hoity Toity all over again! Everything I do is worthless!” Rarity screamed at the top of her lungs before slumping onto the floor of her boutique.

“It’s alright, Rarity, you don’t need some fancy photographer from Germaney to be worth something. You’re totally worth a lot more than her,” Spike tried his hardest to comfort Rarity in a pleasant (if not inviting to sleep with) tone.

“No I’m not! Photo Finish was my chance!” Rarity whined continuously, her eyes beginning to water.

“Oh, bother,” Spike facepalmed and walked towards the kitchen. I guess I’ll just make her some tea. That might help.

“Now, Fluttershy’s a model, and she’s going to be famous! I’m just gonna die in the gutter of obscurity. All they have are has beens and failures like me,” Rarity slumped further.

Spike waddled back into the room and hugged the mare, attempting to wrap his short arms around her shoulders, “Shh, it’s going to be fine, besides, I bet Fluttershy’s gonna hate being famous, quit, and everything will be back to normal.”

“Please, Spike, if you’re trying to comfort me, at least be realistic. This is going to change everything! In one day, Fluttershy’s notoriety has quadrupled, and now she’s on the path to becoming a full blown star. She’ll meet all sorts of great and interesting ponies, and will live the high life before the end of tomorrow. Something’s changed. It’s already happened.”

March 14, 1619

Dear diary,

Well, Fluttershy’s now a famous supermodel. I don’t remember how long this lasts, but I’m milking it for all it’s worth. Now if I can just get Rainbow Dash to fly a banner around, that might help boost my sales.

-Captain AJH

March 15, 1619

“Hey, RD!” Applejack shouted at a low lying cloud with a blue pegasus on it.

“What? I’m trying to nap over here!” Rainbow Dash yelled back. That, and I still haven’t figured out who’s working for Black Ness, so I can’t really trust anypony. These past two weeks have been rough, but extra hours on the weather team helped ease the suspicion.

“Ah thought you were supposed ta be workin’ the clouds? Ya know, like for the past week? And the week before?” Applejack retorted.

“This is my first break in days, so excuse me for trying to catch some shuteye.” Ugh, just go away.

“Fine, have a nice nap!” Applejack grumbled before walking back to her farm.

Rainbow Dash awoke to the sound of a roar. Or was it an explosion? She opened her eyes to see that her cloud had risen up to over eight stories high. From this distance, she could see the entirety of Ponyville without turning her head. As she looked out, her ears twitched. The sound she was hearing came from behind her. Rainbow’s wings instinctively flexed, preparing for an emergency flight.

She turned her head and shoulders to see another pegasus staring at her. The pony was dressed in all black leather and fabric, and what appeared to be a gas mask. The wings were built strong, covered in more dark fabric. They were stretched out, as if the pegasus was preparing for something. Rainbow Dash noticed that the odd pony was probably a mare, but had an odd bulkiness one might attribute to a stallion.

And then, just like that, the strange pony turned around and flew off. Rainbow’s eyes widened as she flexed her wings and pushed off her cloud, beating the appendages quickly. The black mare had taken off with a speed that could only be attained by extremely well-trained athletes. Nopony should be able to go that fast.

Rainbow Dash zoomed as fast as she could, barely keeping speed with the pony. She was still three hundred feet behind, but was determined to catch up. Who is this pony? She’s fast, but I’ve never seen her before in my life! I’ve been to dozens of Wonderbolts shows, every flying competition in the past five years, and I’ve never heard of a black pegasus go from zero to sixty in less than three seconds! I can only go at three point six seconds!

“Hey, wait up!” Rainbow yelled at the mare. The mare banked and turned ninety degrees to the left. Rainbow saw that and banked as well, but was slower on the turn. What?! That’s impossible! Nopony on the planet can do that! She literally turned on a tenth bit! I got to catch up when we’re going straight. Rainbow Dash began picking up speed as the mare began zigzagging in an attempt to avoid capture.

Rainbow Dash curved slightly while reducing drag and pushed the pegasus magic in her wings further. She was catching up, less than five feet away. The mare suddenly rocketed forward, doubling her speed and flashed away from Rainbow Dash. Rainbow began forming her mach cone as she approached her Sonic Rainboom.

Rainbow looked to her right and saw the mare zip by her and into a mountain range. Seeing the rock formation, Rainbow slowed down and turned upward to try and get a better view. She scanned the entire mountain range, looking hard until she saw a black speck on the other side.

Rainbow Dash hovered, then spiraled rapidly towards her target. The mare looked back and saw the blue pegasus approaching. She flew up, a trail of smoke began coming out of her back. Rainbow squinted as she came within touching distance of the mare…

The mare then burst onward, a plume of dust, smoke, and soot left behind. Rainbow Dash braked as fast as she could, the debris got into her eyes and mouth. She spit and rubbed them out, coughing and spitting. She blinked furiously and looked in the direction the mare went.

She saw nothing, except for a bright flash in the distance.

“I’m telling you, AJ, that mare was fast!” Rainbow Dash spent the next two hours after her encounter with the strange mare searching, before giving up and flying home.

“Are ya sure ya didn’t dream her up? Ah mean, a mare that’s as fast as ya, an’ nopony’s ever heard of her? Seems mighty suspicious ta me,” Applejack was wheeling a cart of apples for the market in the morning, while Rainbow floated slightly above her, rambling about “the black mare that was really fast”.

“Listen, I’m going to try and find her again today, but I need some help to cover my shift on the weather team,” Rainbow started.

“No need ta keep talkin’, ah got somethin’ that might help,” Applejack stopped her cart and reached into her saddlebags for a large piece of fabric, “Ah was thinkin’ of hirin’ some other pegasus fer the job, but if ya need to… ”

Rainbow Dash pulled the fabric apart, revealing a large banner reading: “Buy Sweet Apple Acres Brand Apples! Fluttershy approved!” It also showed a large face of Fluttershy smiling while surrounded by apples.

“Okay, sure. As long as-” Rainbow Dash was cut short by another voice.

“Rainbow! You’re almost late for your shift!” a blue and yellow pegasus flew up to her.

“Er, can’t do it now Cloud! Sorry, I am much too busy helping my friend advertise her apples by using my other supermodel friend as the mascot!” Rainbow sheepishly smiled as she flew off, “Gottagobye!”

Applejack looked back at Cloud and said, “Yes, she is busy. Ah guess she’s gonna be advertisin’ fer me.”

March 17, 1619

Dear diary,

GOSH DANGIT CARROT TOP! I cannot believe she bribed Rainbow Dash into flying her banner. For money. I thought friendship was worth more than thirty bits, but no, Rainbow wanted some new fangled (emphasis on fangled) Wonderbolts merchandise!

So now I’m stuck with a 30-foot banner and nowhere to hang it. I wish I can figure out a way to get back at her for this. Maybe I could convince the CMC to go crusading near her carrot patch.

-Captain AJH

“Spike has a crush on Rarity!” Twilight covered her mouth as soon as she burst.

Pinkie Pie appeared in a mirror nearby and sighed, “And you were doing so well.”

“Aaah!” Twilight screamed and fell over when she heard Pinkie’s voice, “What the, how did you- What?” The files were right! U-003’s can teleport places unicorns can’t!

“Sorry Twilight! I was busy visiting a friend of mine, say hello to,” Pinkie reached to the side of the mirror and pulled out a depressed-looking unicorn filly, “Sister of Mine! Well, she’s not my sister, that her name.

“Anyways, I visiting her because her brother asked me to last year, but I forgot about it when I saw a cool rock on ground, and then I took the rock home and made some cupcakes for the customers, and then Applejack asked to borrow my glue gun, but then I ran out of glue, so instead she asked for a batch of uranium-238, but I ran out of that too, so instead I got her some Plutonium-241, and she thanked me, but then I ran out of baking soda, so I went to the supermarket, where I met Rainbow Dash, who was busy doing some stunt flying, but she asked me for compound interest loan that she needed because her mortgage suffered from depreciation caused by… ”

Sister of Mine whispered to Twilight, “Help me, please.”

Twilight nodded and interrupted, “Pinkie Pie, maybe you need to help with Rainbow’s loan problems, those are usually complicated without expert support.”

“... And then the blue monkey told me to modify the warp core using a tachyon emission, which means… Um… I forgot. What did you ask for Twi?” Pinkie furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.

“Rainbow’s mortgage?”

“Oh yeah! I should go, she’s probably still chasing the mysterious black pegasus. Woooh~” Pinkie waved her forehooves in the air before leaving the mirror.

Twilight blinked, staring at the filly in the mirror. The filly smiled back.

“Thanks, I guess I’ll see you soon,” Sister of Mine faded away.

Twilight’s eyes glazed over and she rubbed her forehead, “I need a drink or a massage.”

March 20, 1619

Rarity, Twilight, and Fluttershy were enjoying another day at the spa. The three of them were getting hooficures from Aloe Vera (the pink one) and Lotus Blossom (the blue one), each lying down on those bed/cot things while having their hooves waxed by professional beauticians (Their cutie marks were of plants, but you know, close enough).

For Rarity, it was the third time in a week. For Twilight, the first time in over three months. The only reason Twilight was even there was because Fluttershy mentioned her petrification two weeks earlier, and Rarity decided to help Twilight relax.

It was okay, better than talking to ghosts in a mirror. Sure it was nice getting her hoof waxed, and her horn filed, and that other stuff, but she was always so busy. Her studies took up most of her time, and all the things she was learning from Zecora was utterly fascinating! While her knowledge of Smart Cookie was sparse, she actually knew a little more than what was recorded in the Canterlot Archives.

“You know girls, there is something else I learned this week, other than that talking to your friends is better than having everything bottled in,” Rarity started as Lotus Blossom began filing at her hooves.

“That Pinkie Pie can appear anywhere, even inside mirrors?” Twilight replied.

“Or that being a model requires taking diet pills, watching what you eat, and being weird overall?” Fluttershy guessed as Aloe Vera began shaving her wing fuzz with a knife and shaving cream.

“No, I think the true lesson, that one that completely supersedes the previous one is-” Rarity was cut off by a large noise.

BANG!

The door to the boutique was busted down to the ground as six members of the national guard, decked in full golden armor and the symbols of the sun and moon emblazoned on their chests filled in and surrounded the five mares. Six stallions, three of which were pegasi, held up spears and guns in Fluttershy’s direction.

“Aloe Vera, you are under arrest for the kidnapping and murder of Neighsayer! Come slowly with your hooves up!” The guard closest to the door yelled.

“No! You won’t get me!” Aloe screamed as she grabbed Fluttershy, “Nopony moves or she loses her head!” Aloe raised her knife to Fluttershy’s neck.

“Aloe, don’t do anything rash!” Lotus Blossom pleaded.

“Somepony help me! I don’t wanna lose my head!” Fluttershy squeaked before she began sobbing.

“My word, Aloe please be reasonable!” Rarity tried to calm the situation, but to no avail.

Twilight, unlike the others, did not start screaming. Instead she, just like how she was taught, began powering up a spell. In the world of politics, Princess Celestia was a key figure, her rule and influence spread to the corners of the globe. Because of this, anyone with any relation to her was a prime target for kidnapping, blackmail, or any other duplicitous tactic that could get the alicorn to give into demands. And so, with great care, Twilight Sparkle was taught several spells for defense, including a stun spell that required minimal focus.

Twilight listened to the crisis as she closed her eyes. She carefully aimed her spell at Aloe’s head…

BAM! Thump.

Twilight opened her eyes. That was not the sound of a stun spell! She looked up to see a blue earth pony stallion with a blond mane and an hourglass cutie mark standing right behind Aloe. He was holding a stool in his hooves and was breathing heavily. Fluttershy screamed and ran to the safety of her friends, quivering in fear. Sprawled on the floor was Aloe, wounded with a gash that started to bleed from her forehead.

Aloe’s eyes showed anger and determination. She stood up on her legs and charged at the blue stallion with her knife. At the same time, he moved to the side, grabbed Aloe’s foreleg with knife and twisted the weapon out her hooves.

Aloe jumped back and kicked the stallion in his shin. The stallion winced in pain before hitting her with hoof. The blow landed on her back, and she collapsed.

Aloe began push herself up, but the guards quickly surrounded her. Two guards held her down while a third put cuffs on her limbs. She tried to struggle, but she was no match for the guardsponies.

The blue stallion looked at her, wheezed slightly before clearing his throat, “By order of the National Guard, I, Captain Herald Klaxon, hereby arrest you, Aloe Vera, for the murder of Neighsayer, assaulting a member of the guard, attempted ponynapping, and attempted murder. You have the right to remain silent, if you decide not to, blah blah blah, you’re probably guilty anyway. Take her away.”

“Yes sir,” the guards carried Aloe away, leaving only Herald and the mares.

“Er, I guess I’d like to say you’re welcome for stopping a criminal, and sorry for arresting your sister, Miss Blossom,” Herald Klaxon smiled, but quickly stopped when Lotus glared at him.

The awkwardness was intense. Twilight, due to her slowly developing social skills, decided to end it, “Well, I’d like to thank you for this… Whatever it was. Would you, uh, care for some tea?”

Herald blinked before Rarity cut in, “Actually tea sounds marvelous right now. May I come with you two?”

“Yeah, I think that’ll be fine,” Twilight replied.

“Let’s just go now,” Rarity said, walked up, and left.

“Yeah, I guess I’ll see you girls later, bye!” Twilight quickly followed after Rarity. The remaining three ponies stood there in silence.

“Yes, I’d like to thank you, if, um, you’d accept my thanks,” Fluttershy said quietly, “For, um, not letting me die.”

Herald Klaxon smiled before replying, “It was my pleasure ma’am.”

Fluttershy didn’t respond. She merely blushed.

Scootaloo was coloring her drawing of a seagull with six pairs of wings. Sweetie Belle was with her, carefully attempting to glue a rock to a piece of paper. They were having another fun day, doodling in their yellow clubhouse, which took Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle three days to convince Scootaloo that it was not a deathtrap.

Suddenly, Scootaloo began breathing faster, her heart rate rising. She began sweating, her wings started to twitch. She stopped coloring as pain began to flood her mind as she clutched her head in an attempt to stop it. She screamed as the pain intensified. Bad Bad Bad Bad Bad. Not good. No no! Too late, it’s changed! A paradox has occured! History’s changed!

Sweetie Belle looked at Scootaloo in panic, who fell to the floor, “Scootaloo!? What’s wrong?” She reached out and began to gently calm the pegasus down, “It’s okay, it’s just another nightmare.”

“N-no, n-not a nightmare,” Scootaloo barely spoke before growling in pain. She rocked back and forth as the thoughts traveled through her mind. Aloe Vera, you are under arrest for the kidnapping and murder of Neighsayer!

“Paper,” Scootaloo spoke softly, “Pencil.”

Sweetie Belle nodded and looked around for the supplies. When she held them out, Scootaloo took it and began scribbling.

Jack of all trades
Master of none
Master of stares
Meet the pony who changes everything.
Nothing holds true
Neighsayer is gone
Dead, for all time
When the mare of a thousand deaths faces her enemy,
The Killer Heart, she shall begin to lose
Her fate is uncertain
She has changed history
And history is angry.
Alicorn & Alicorn
Shall fight the Jack of All Trades
When the Master of None begins anew…

For when the Jack of Spades, with her wings of steel
Shall fight the Queen of Hearts
Death shall rise
As Black becomes DarkNess

Beware the Killer Heart,
Red Strings
Leader of the Torch
Crystals of Fire

Beware the Killer Heart
Beware
You cannot do this alone.
We need help.

Scootaloo stopped writing. The pain had mostly subsided, but she understood what was wrong. Somepony changed history, and a paradox has occurred. Why are we not dead? Why hasn’t everything gone to Tartarus?

“Scootaloo? What is this? What do you mean ‘We need help’?” Sweetie Belle was completely worried, one second her friend was cringing in pain, the next writing down nonsense phrases.

“Exactly what it means. We need somepony to help us.” But who?

She tried thinking of who to tell. Fluttershy? No, she’s involved, and now dangerous. Applejack? NO! She’s dangerous, as much as Fluttershy, but worse. She’s hiding something. Cheerilee? No. Working with Applejack. The Mayor? No, she won’t help us.

Mom? No. Applejack has gotten to her.

…

I can’t trust my mom.

I can’t trust her.

If I can’t trust her, who can I trust?

Who’s left?

Rainbow Dash. She can help. She’s not hiding anything. We can trust her.

Scootaloo straightened, her eyes grew determined, “We have to talk to Rainbow Dash.”