A loving heart is the truest wisdom ~ Charles Dickens
Applejack and Spike made their way towards the door, her heart beating against her chest. This was it, they were going to end this nightmare together.
Applejack tried to calm her heart by thinking of the future. She could see herself having fun with Spike, going out on dates with him... walking down the aisle. Applejack blushed at the idea; she was going to win this fight not only to prove herself, but to build her life with Spike. Yes, she was going to win for Spike and her, to live her life with her one and only love.
"Ready?"
"Yes.” said Spike, he turned the knob and both of them went inside.
Applejack blinked her eyes, she just couldn't believe it! Somehow they were in the old castle of the Two Sisters, but how? Unless Chrysalis might have teleported them here. Why would she do that? Well, she certainly didn't want to stay long to find out.
"Spike, we have to find Chrysalis."
"Stay behind me." instructed Spike.
"I can take care of myself."
"I know you can, but I don't want to take the risk.”
"I don't want to be a burden." insisted Applejack.
"Hey, look at me." Applejack did as she was told. "You are anything but a burden."
"I know it's just that, I've always been independent and having you protecting me...it's new."
"Well then missy, you'll have to get used to it because I'm planning to stay for a long while."
"You are very stubborn."
"So are you; that makes us even"
"You do have a point; alright I'll do it but only this time."
They roamed the hollow halls of the castle hoping to get a clue where the evil queen could be hiding, but no such luck. The echo of their steps and their breathing was the only sound that could be heard, everything else was silent. Applejack tried to make out where they were going or at least know where they were, but every hall looked the same as the last one. It seemed as if they were walking in circles. She was losing time; they had to find Chrysalis right now! Applejack stopped walking, she had to rely on her instincts to know the whereabouts of Chrysalis. Applejack listened closely for any particular noise, other than her breathing...
Applejack...
come...
She gasped. Something was calling her name. Impossible, they were the only ones there.
Should I follow the voice? It could be a trap but, it could also lead us to Chrysalis.
"Spike."
"What is it?"
"I think we should go that way." Applejack pointed her hoof at the left turn.
"You sure?"
"Yes."
They turned towards the left corner and after walking for some time, a noise was heard.
"Do you hear that?" asked Applejack.
"Yeah, its sounds like a buzz."
"Wait here I'll go take a peek." Applejack gave him a smile. "But don't worry, I won't go far."
Some seconds later, Applejack came back with a terrified expression.
"What did you see?"
"Zombies."
"Really?!"
Applejack giggled. "No dummy, changelings."
"Oh, I don't know which one is worse."
"Agreed."
"Is there any way to avoid them?"
"Unfortunately, no."
"Then we have no other choice, we'll have to fight them."
"Spike, they are changelings. Once we step in that room they'll take our forms." Applejack cringed at the idea. "And I assure you, I don't want to confuse you for one of them."
"We could make a secret code between us?" asked Spike.
Applejack remained silent thinking about what Spike had said. "I like that idea."
"Alright, choose a word."
"Honest."
"Dragon."
"Remember our code is 'Honest dragon'."
Spike nodded his head. "Ready?"
"Come on."
Slowly Applejack and Spike made their way towards the room full of changeling. When the changelings took a look at them, they started to change forms, while other stayed the same; they all had evil grins on their face.
"You go left, I'll go right." instructed Applejack.
Spike ran to the left while Applejack ran to the right.
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"Come on Spike, you wouldn't hurt me would you?"
"You're right I would never hurt her, but you're not Applejack."
"Spike! Oh thank Celestia, I found you."
Spike rolled his eyes. "Nice try."
Spike burned every fake Applejack and Spike he saw; although they were very convincing, he almost believed it was Applejack. But he knew it wasn't her, he didn't need a code to know the real Applejack. He just needed to look into her eyes and he would know it was her, they held honesty, love, happiness, care..., but in the deepest part of them he could see pain, regret and sadness. She really is a strong and beautiful mare, he was really lucky to have her.
"Spike!"
A scream got Spike's attention; he looked at his side and found Applejack on the floor. Her left hoof was bleeding and her body was scratched and had cuts everywhere.
"Applejack, w-what happened?!"
"I tried t-to fight them; it was easy, but they got stronger."
"It hurts a lot." Tears escaped from her eyes.
"Don't worry I'm here now."
Before Spike knew it, Applejack had pushed him directly to the wall. His head was pounding from the impact and his body hurt at the slightest movement. Shoot! He forgot to look at 'her' eyes. Spike got up with all his might and faced the fake Applejack that now changed to imitate him.
"I don't know why you're fighting for that useless pony."
"Her name is Applejack!" he replied dryly.
Spike launched himself at the changeling. He kicked and punched him as much as he could.
"Although she does have a good body." said a changeling.
"She must keep you good company, if you know what I mean."
Another changeling came along. "Yeah, I bet she's good in bed."
Spike was full of rage and anger. By now he was seeing red. He wasn't going to let anypony insult her or talk about her in that way. He took down twenty changelings in less than ten minutes, but there were more left.
"How would you feel if I kissed your dear Applejack?" asked a changeling with an evil smirk.
Spike burned the changeling into ashes; his fury was growing every second. Nopony or changeling was going to touch what was his, even if that meant he had to kill them.
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Applejack had kicked many changelings by now, she had lost count. She was glad she worked all day long bucking trees, otherwise she wouldn't be able to stand up. She was exhausted, but she had to keep going no matter what.
"Applejack I found a way to get out; follow me."
Applejack looked at Spike. "Honest?"
Spike looked at her puzzled. "What?"
Applejack kicked the changeling right in the stomach. She said the code to every Spike she encountered, but none of them said the right answer.
Spike pined Applejack to the wall. "You want to know the truth, well here it is. I don't love you."
Applejack's chest tightened. He sounded so much like him, but it hurt her to hear those words. "Lie! Spike loves me!"
"Who would love you? You killed your own parents. Applebloom doesn't have loving parents because of you. You're nothing and that's the truth." spat Spike.
Applejack was having a hard time breathing. She felt trapped. He was right it, was her that killed her parents, and Applebloom had to live with the consequences. And to top that up, she fell in love! How did it happen? Why did she had to fall in love with him?
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"Are these all the apples?"
"Yup." answered Applejack. "Thanks for the help, Spike."
"No problem." said Spike. "I better get going before Twilight freaks out."
Applejack laughed. "She cares about you, that's all."
"Yeah, I guess."
Applejack looked outside the barn. "Um, Spike I think we'll have to stay here for a while..."
"Why?"
"It's raining like cats and dogs out there."
Spike took a peek outside. She was right, it was raining and it didn't looked like it was going to stop anytime. "I didn't know it was going to rain today."
"Neither did I."
"Can't we just run to your house, it's not that far." asked Spike.
Applejack was about to speak when thunder roared through the sky, making Spike shake with fright.
"Maybe, it won't hurt if we stay here."
Applejack sat on the floor next to Spike. "We could take a nap."
"Yeah, I'm pretty tired."
Spike sat down with Applejack by his side. Although he wasn't bothered by that, he fell asleep in a few minutes. Applejack tried to sleep but for an unknown reason, she just couldn't fall asleep.
She looked down at Spike and smiled.
"How could he look so cute asleep? Wait, what?! Where did that come from? Applebuck Season must be getting on me. Yup that's it, the pressure is making my mind all jumbled."
Applejack scooted closer to Spike and slowly fell asleep beside him.
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*Knock* *Knock*
A timid Fluttershy opened the door. "Hello there Applejack, I didn't know you were coming."
"Fluttershy can I come inside, it's important."
"Of course."
Applejack and Fluttershy sat down at the living room.
"What is it?" asked Fluttershy with concern.
Applejack looked down at the floor. "I have a… Well I don't know if it is or if it isn't, I, well, you see."
Fluttershy noticed Applejack very nervous. "It's ok Applejack, I'm here to help you.
"There's a boy-"
Fluttershy gasped with delight. "Oh Applejack, I'm so glad."
"Don't get ahead of yourself sugarcube."
"What's wrong?"
"He's a simple crush or maybe something more, but I don't know."
"Well, what do you feel when you're with him?" Fluttershy asked curiously.
"I get very nervous around him and when I think about him, I blush." Indeed Applejack was blushing intensely. "He's all I think about. He makes me feel so many things and I don't know how to describe it."
Fluttershy smiled. "You're in love."
"Love?! But I can't be, not with him!"
"Why not?"
"Because he... he has a crush on somepony else."
Fluttershy gave her friend a hug and looked at her in the eyes. "Tell him."
Applejack's eyes widened. "No! If I do, it could ruin our friendship."
"Or he could love you back."
Applejack smiled at the possibility. "I'll tell him!
"Yay. I'll make a picnic for you two!"
"Thanks Fluttershy but I can do it myself."
"I insist!"
"Alright."
"When exactly will I do the picnic?"
"In two weeks."
"Got it."
"Thanks for everything, sugarcube. You’re a great friend."
"Oh, it's nothing. I like to see my friends happy."
"What about you Flutters? Has any colt caught your heart yet?"
Fluttershy started to blush. "Nope, no colt at all."
Applejack inspected Fluttershy until she was satisfied she was saying the truth. "Fine, I better get going before the sun goes down."
"Bye Applejack."
Fluttershy closed the door, her blush deepened as she thought of not a colt, but the draconequus that had caught her heart.
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"Get off her!" screamed Spike as he pushed the fake Spike off Applejack.
Applejack came back to her senses and noticed a very angry Spike fighting off the changelings, by instinct she walked over to Spike and placed her hoof in his shoulder trying to calm him down. Immediately Spike stopped fighting and looked at Applejack searching for any physical injuries visible.
"Honest."
It took him a few seconds to realize that Applejack had said before he answered. "Dragon."
Applejack smiled she was relieved that she had found the real Spike.
"Stay close this time, I don't want those things touching you." warned Spike venomously.
"I can manage myself, partner."
Spike knew this wasn't the time to start arguing and agreed. "If you're fighting, at least stay close by."
"Fine by me."
Applejack and Spike fought easily. Somehow being closer helped them get strength, and their weaknesses drifted away. Before they knew it, all the changelings were knocked out or burned into nothing else other than ashes.
"Nice moves." teased Applejack trying to lighten up the mood.
"Got them from the best."
Applejack blushed. "Thanks."
Thunder and lightning filled the room making a door appear on one of the walls. The door had foreign letters and strange animals carved on the frame, some of them even glowed. The door looked ancient, but somehow it stayed conservative making it look as if it was freshly made.
"Don't hear anything Chrysalis says, you know it's all a lie." warned Spike.
"I would think twice before trusting a changeling." replied Applejack.
Applejack opened the door without any effort and both of them entered. Applejack gasped at the scene, all her friends were chained to the wall and her family was caged up in a rusty cell.
"Applejack! Spike! I'm so happy you decided to join the party!" cheered Chrysalis.
"Is this where you have kept them all this time?!" screamed Applejack with so much rage she started to shake.
"It could be worse." mumbled Rainbow Dash.
"She's right! I could have tortured them so much worse than this."
"Keep them out of this, let them go." begged Applejack.
"And what would I win if I do set them free?" asked Chrysalis with interest.
"Take me in their place, but please don't hurt them."
"No! Applejack you can't do that! I won't let you go." insisted Spike.
"Spike, I have to do this."
"If you go, I'll go too!"
Chrysalis smiled, everything was going very well. "That will do."