//------------------------------// // In the Shadows of the Truth // Story: Transformares (Not So) Animated // by neorenamon //------------------------------// by neorenamon Discord returned to view the Autoponies and Autobots from a distance. He knew that in order to weaken his enemies, he had to divide and conquer them. It was fortunate that the Draconequus was just the kind of lord of Chaos to make such a thing happen. Snapping his talons, he began a fog rolling in across the Everfree Forest. It was a thick blanket of fog that oppressed the senses and made one lose their direction from somepony unless they were holding hands. Of course, the fog had no effect on his own senses. It would be silly to create a fog that would. All he had to do was sit back and see who got separated far enough for his games to begin. "I know you and Flutterstorm can just fly above the fog," he could hear Twilight Prime saying, "but you could well lose sight of the rest of us. You all need to stay within earshot so we don't have to depend on eyesight to keep us together." "Sage advice," he giggled, "Not that it's going to help you any." He was soon rewarded when he heard Apple Buster take a mistep and a tumble down the side of a slope. "OH SHIIIIIII!!......" But Discord had already muted the sounds to any ear but his own. They didn't even know she was apart from them now. It was time to move in. "Dangnabbit," cussed Apple Buster as she looked about for her favorite hat in the fog. He needed to change his appearances so he could approach her without alarming her. A quick look at her mind and her past told him the ideal form to use, so he snapped his talons and changed into an elderly pony. "Hey, who's out there?" he asked. Just as she was placing her hat back on her head, she heard the call and replied, "Uncle Strudel?!" "And just who the hay is this pony who knows me?" She shifted back to Applejack as she replied, "It's yer relative Applejack from Ponyville. I saw ya at the last Apple Clan Reunion." He stepped from the fog as she watched. "Fancy meetin you out here," he said amiably. "What are'ya doin out here where no pony's supposed ta be?" asked Applejack as she walked closer. "Before the sisters had their tiff," he said smoothly, "Celestia hid a stash of gold out here in them woods. If'n you help me find it, the Apple Clan will be set for generations to come." "If it's Celestia's gold, shouldn't we just give it back to her?" He leaned closer as he said, "I don't even live in Equestria and I know just how loaded she is. She'll never miss just a little cache of gold. Just divide among all the families of the Apple Clan and nopony has to be the wiser. I know I'm so close to finding the place where it's hidden." "How do ya all know that?" she asked. "I... had a map... but I lost it in a Hydra attack," he replied awkwardly, "It's lucky I got away with my head in one piece." "An I'm glad yer alright too." "Well, thank you for the concern my dear," he replied, "Help me out and I'm sure we'll be dividing that gold up in no time!" "But I'm helpin mah friends get Celestia back from that there Nightmare Moon," she said with concern. "How many friends?" "I reckon 13 or so all told," she replied. "And they can't spare you so you can help me take care of our own clan?" he asked skeptically. "Ah reckon I can ask..." "Don't say anything about the gold!" he snapped, "They'll demand their own shares without lifting a hoof to help get it!" "Ah don't think they're..." "Don't think!" he retorted, "There's nothing to think about! I'm sure that the Princess is going to be just fine with all those ponies helping!" "But they all depends on meh..." "And I'm depending on you!" he claimed as he twisted the verbal knife he had thrust into her sense of honor and family, "Now who's more important? Your friends and their little quest or your own kinfolk?" "Alright!" she cried, "I'll help ya fetch that gold... even if ah don't happen ta like it." "Good filly," he replied as he turned, "Follow me. I don't think we're all that far from the hidey hole Celestia buried that gold." She sighed as she followed him down the path that seemed to appear in a cleft in the fog. It was difficult to judge distances surrounded by fog, but it didn't feel that they were travelling all that quickly. "There's something ya need ta know," she spoke up at last. "What might that be?" "Something... inside'a me... it's changed lately," she replied awkwardly. "Is it important?" he asked without looking back. "Well... yeah..." "Well I already know about it," he replied smoothly. "How could ya know bout it already?!" she asked in dismay. "Oh, I saw the way your were staring at third cousin Apfelpfannkuchen and her big ole caboose..." "AGH!" she moaned, "I ain't no lesmarian there Uncle Apple Strudel!" "Are you sure?" "YES I'M SURE!" she snapped, "I was just trying to figure out how ya git apples inta pancakes!" "Oh, then it must be the other thing..." "The other thing?" she asked dubiously. "I'm sure it's perfectly normal to think about being a stallion," he replied, "Even fantasize about..." "I AIN'T INTERESTED IN BEIN NO STALLION!!" she snapped. "You surely act like a tomstallion, my dear." "I do not..." she replied before she corrected herself, "Well maybe I do act a bit like a tomstallion... I gotta hold up mah end of the chores at the farm with only Big Macintosh ta tend ta the orchards mosta the time... BUT THAT AIN'T IT!" "Well then what ever could you be carrying on about?" he asked, never pausing in his walk forward. "Ah might be some kinda... metal monster..." she replied as she shifted back to Apple Buster. Apple Strudel turned and walked back to stare at her without comment. "Ah just found about this not so long ago," she explained. "I doesn't matter!" he snapped, "All that matters is that your kin!" "It don't bother ya..." "Of course not," he replied, "I'd still be your kin if you turned into Nightmare Moon herself!" Apple Buster picked him up and hugged him to her frame. "Now that the awkward moment is over," he said breathlessly, "put me down so we can get on with this." "Shore," she replied as she let him go and shifted back into Applejack. "I think we're coming up to a rope bridge," he said, "That would mean we're almost to the cave with all of that gold waiting to be claimed!"