"So, what is an undead?" asked Twilight. Princesses Luna was observing the mirror, watching over Applejack.
"The undead are merely beings that are already dead but yet, they continue to live...Almost like a headless chicken. They are dead, really, and their bodies still operate but it is only a matter of time before they die completely. In this case, beings become hollows; Mindless, aimless creatures void of what they once were." explained Luna.
Twilight went into deep thought at this explanation, split between figuring out how the undead existed and how a chicken could possibly survive without its head. She looked to the mirror and gazed upon a seemingly safe, sleeping Applejack.
It was getting late and Princess Celestia had prepared guest rooms for the five of Applejacks friends. All but Luna, Twilight and one other mare had already retired for the night and Twilight decided it was time to rest as well.
The pink maned, yellow mare stood waiting in the hall with an expression of concern on her face; They began to walk together in silence. “Is she alright? Have you found a way to help her?” Fluttershy asked after some time. More silence, the mare began to wonder if she should have asked anything at all when Twilight finally spoke.
“Applejack looks fine. She's resting near the warmth of a fire and I've watched her defend herself from a lot of those creatures already” Staring at the floor, she continued “we can't hear anything through that mirror and the only way to contact her is with the orange soapstone Luna has but even that can't always reach her. It's like it lost it's abilities when Applejack left the Asylum...”
“Did she...have to k-...hurt...anyone?” Fluttershy asked nervously. “Yes. You would never want to see it Fluttershy and you should never have to...no one should ever have to...” replied twilight looking at her sweet friend with sympathetic eyes. “it's not like her... A.J. Wouldn't hurt anyone like that. It's like the Darksign has changed her”
“I-I don't know what that is” commented Fluttershy. “I don't fully understand it. I just know that it's important...anyway, we should really get some rest. Goodnight Fluttershy” said Twilight as they reached and entered the guest room. “Goodnight Twilight” Fluttershy said with a weak smile.
As she lay there Twilight couldn't help but feel bad for Applejack. She was taken away from her home almost without warning and was sent into a world of pain and suffering while her friends, and more importantly, the one who sent her there was sleeping peacefully in a warm castle in warm beds. Sleep didn't come easy that night.
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"...one for Twilight, and one for you, and one for Apple...oh...right" it seems Twilight was the last to wake up this morning, she could hear everyone chatting quietly, except Pinkie who was always loud regardless. "Oh Darling, don't you worry your pretty little head about that! You just go and make some lovely treats for our dear friend when she gets back, hmm?" Said rarity who had barely finished her sentence when an easily audible gasp of air was heard
"OMIGOSH OMIGOSH OMIGOSH!" Twilight felt a breeze of air shoot past her and heard a muffled voice say "Ugh! Thank Celestia she's out of here!" It was obvious who said it. Twilight began to slowly open her eyes. "Rainbow Dash! Do not be rude! It is very un-lady-like"
"Like I care about that" Rainbow mumbled.
An irritated "hmph!" Could be heard as Twilight woke enough to speak. "What's going on girls?"
Fluttershy walked over to Twilight and spoke up.
"Umm...well, Pinkie woke us all up because she wanted to make us breakfast and then she remembered that Applejack isn't here" for a moment, Twilight also forgot. "And then Rarity tried to cheer her up and Pinkie ran off and-"
"It took her long enough" interrupted Rainbow. "What did I just tell you?!" Rarity squealed in irritation, stomping her hoof on the floor.
"Girls! Cut it out! You're not helping the situation!" Twilight asserted. "Well maybe if some pony would-"
"RARITY! Stop!" Shouted Twilight, Rainbow stuck out her tongue and Rarity glared in return. This day was not going to be good.
After a moment of silence, Twilight looked at Fluttershy. "Now, what were you saying?"
"Oh! Nothing. It's alright.."
"Please tell me" said Twilight in a soft voice. "Well...okay." Replied Fluttershy.
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Applejack woke to the comfort of a fire and was content to lay there just a little longer; She then noted that what she was lying on was hard, very hard. Applejack reluctantly opened her eyes to find that she was still in the nightmare of a world. She sighed heavily, wishing she could be back with her friends and family. "Ah reckon they been out lookin' for me all day since Luna 'visited'" Another sigh.
She looked at her surroundings. The small warm bonfire sat comfortably in front of her, there were barrels, and bags throughout the room and even a staircase along the wall that was destroyed near the top; She didn't think she could climb up it. There was, however, a ladder nearby that hung from the other side of the broken staircase though it was too high to grab.
Looking outside one hollow could be seen, the one with the crossbow she defeated yesterday. Or was it today? She didn't notice the sun go down but surely it had been a days worth of hours. Perhaps this was close to the worlds equator and so the sun was visible more often, It wasn't a big deal.
After some deliberation, Applejack came to the conclusion that it doesn't matter what she does. She could lay here forever in the warmth of the bonfire and nothing would change. But she would be alone for the rest of her life...if she ever died. That thought confirmed her original conclusion, even if she ran out and died a hundred times, she would just come back here and all of those things would just come back. "Heh, nothin' matters, this place is a joke! Ah can do anything I want and there ain't gonna be no consequences"
A strange form of confidence rose within her. A careless confidence. Just like Dash thought Applejack. It then occurred to her she hadn't eaten since she had arrived, she didn't feel hungry either but maybe that's because she had died to soon to feel hunger. "Twi would be fascinated by this place...I ought to stop talkin' to mahself" she grinned and began to leave the room with the bonfire still burning
Applejack stood just outside and looked left. There was a tower blocking some of her view but she could she a house nearby which connected to another door-less structure and noticed two hollows on the roof. She noticed this was also connected to the area she was now. In front of her was just a few buildings and a massive stone wall in the distance. To her right were the hollows she had already dealt with. They hadn't noticed her but she wasn't going to take that chance. Not that it matters, she mumbled.
Applejack walked curiously towards the hollows on the roof and noticed there were actually three of them. As she neared the small stone wall at the edge of the roof she was on, they took noticed and threw something at her. Applejack quickly backed away as the object hit and exploded on the edge of the wall; more fire bombs, she heard shuffling behind her and turned to see that the action got the attention of a couple of hollows. She braced herself, shield and mace ready.