//------------------------------// // From One Construct To Another // Story: Appledashery // by Just Essay //------------------------------// Rainbow Dash tentatively approached the bottom of the canyon, her leather wings folded at her side. Epcot shuffled not that far behind, remaining close to her mortal friend. With hard ruby eyes, Rainbow peered into the shadows. A figure shifted just a few meters ahead, and Rainbow shuffled delicately towards it. As Rainbow came closer, the figure jerked in place, wheezing. "Momma...?" Then, with swiftly shuffling forelimbs, the fractured front half of Apple Jewell came crawling out of the woodwork. Part of her skull had cracked off, allowing one and a half eyes and a crooked smile. Her torso was cut off at the midsection, crumbling off like hollow pottery. "Momma! Momma, you're b-back!" "Shhhh!" Rainbow Dash squatted low. Hesitantly, she planted her hooves over the fractured dream's forelimbs. Her ruby eyes darted into the distance, spotting the other squirming figures. Then, with a sullen shudder, she bore an awkward smile in the faux Princess' direction. "That's right, darling. Momma's... Momma's here..." "Oh Momma..." Apple Jewell smiled painfully, her right eye tearing while the left one spasmed against its fractured state. "I knew you'd come back for me! I've waited so long! I promise... grkkk... I-I promise I've been a good Princess!" "Shhh..." Rainbow Dash leaned in, stroking the freckled cheek in front of her. "Momma knows, darling. Momma trusts you. Which is why Momma has a few questions to ask you." "Questions?" Apple Jewell's vision bounced between Rainbow Dash and Epcot. "About what?" Rainbow bit her lip. "Uhmmm... about... about when we used to... train you in etiquette, darling... uhh..." "Is this a new type of test, Momma?" "Yes!" Rainbow brightened, shivering slightly. "It's a new type of test!" She winked. "Think you're up for it, my dear?" "Oh, absolutely, Momma! Anything for you and Philanthropy!" "Good." Rainbow took a deep breath. "Now... think carefully..." Her eyes narrowed. "...where is the place that Momma and her sons send bad ponies to?" The broken Apple Jewell blinked. Then she said, "Don't you mean down here, Momma?" Epcot bit her lip. "No, darling," Rainbow spoke breathily. "I mean... b-bad ponies who aren't princesses." "Oh..." Apple Jewell bore a weak smile. "The Undersmog, of course." "And where is that, darling? Can you remember for Momma?" "Absolutely!" The half-mare writhed and pointed up with a shivering hoof. "The bottom floors of Shindig Tower! Beneath the belly of Philanthropy!" She giggled, sputtered, and wheezed. "That's where you did away with half the gang of Blue Jay, Momma. What a righteous Queen you are." "Erm... r-right..." Rainbow nodded. "And do you remember, my little Princess, when and where the Coronation is going to be?" "Why..." Apple Jewell blinked crookedly. "The Central Ampitheatre of Philanthropy, nine o'clock in the morning." She gulped. "Don't you remember, Momma?" Rainbow Dash took a deep breath, then reached in to pat the mare's fractured forelimb. "You did well, Princess. You passed the test. I'm very proud of you." Shivering, Rainbow made to walk away. "Momma..." Apple Jewell's voice cracked while tears formed in one of her eyes. "You've been... gone for so long." She sniffled. "Are you going to leave me again?" Rainbow jerked to a stop, staring off down the ravine. She clenched her eyes shut. Apple Jewell mewled. "I... I love you so much, Momma. I c-can't bear to be without you again. Please..." She shook and writhed, only for more parts of her to crumble loosely. "...I'd rather stop breathing than bear to be without you for another day..." Rainbow seethed and seethed. Eyes tearing, she twirled about and marched towards the fractured dream. Epcot's gray hoof held the pegasus in place. "No, Rainbow Dash," the chaperone gently said. She bore a delicate smile. "Allow me." "Epcot..." "You've dealt with enough for a lifetime, mortal or not," Epcot said, leaning in to nuzzle the other mare. "It's okay." Rainbow Dash bit her lip. Somberly, she turned away. Epcot trotted past her. All was silent for a few seconds, until— "Momma—!" CRACKKK! The ravine echoed with what sounded like shattered dinner plates, then that part of the canyon was silent. Rainbow shuddered, her ears folded back. After a few seconds, Epcot shuffled back. "We can go now if you wish," the chaperone said. Rainbow gulped a lump down her throat. "You didn't have to do that," she muttered. "And you didn't have to be here," Epcot replied. "None of you. You perceived the dream was suffering, so I relieved it of its programming." "How... how could you put it like th-that?" Rainbow murmured. Epcot shrugged. "We are the dreams, not the dreamers. While a part of me detests that such fellow constructs would be given so little respect, I know that my place is the same as theirs. Perhaps a bit luckier, but still the same." Rainbow gazed at Epcot with moist eyes. "You are not the same, Epcot." "Hehehe..." The mare curtsied. "I'm flattered that you would think that, Rainbow. But I am just a chaperone, and my job is to make sure you get through this dream and back to the mortal realm." She winked. "Along with your friends in tow." "And..." Rainbow Dash exhaled. "Wh-what about you?" "I'll continue to do what I was built for." "And that is?" Epcot grinned. "Making sure that Cider Space remains the happiest place in existence, in case I'm blessed to be visited by another someday." She winked. "Why should I give up hope? You came a long, did you not?" Rainbow was silent. "I think we'd best start flying," Epcot said, trotting off. "I don't think I have it in my hooves to smash every fractured dream in." "Erm... right..." Rainbow nodded, shuffling after her. "Let's get the Tartarus out of here..."