the only one
A Strange sleep over
“What time is it?” Applejack looked up to the clock that hung from the wall. Three forty-six… her eyes wandered around the room. The rest of girls were all in a deep peaceful sleep, Applejack let out a sigh that barely reached the twitch of her friend’s ears. Applejack’s mind did not let her sleep at all, it had been months since any of them had seen Twilight and what do they do? They acted like they always did… nothing had changed. She had just appeared one day cheerful as ever, and had started to work at the library again. When she first came back it was weird to see an alicorn work at a library but Twilight had cast a spell that “removed” her wings. It was kind of her but it still caused Applejack’s mind to wonder.
“Why hide her wings like that and How can Rainbow Dash could sleep at that angle? Well she’s got droll coming from her mouth so she fine.” Her thoughts continued on random things until her eye’s fell on Twilight. Her chest raised and fell in time with the clock that mocked Applejack’s state of mind. Twilight seemed to occupy most of her thoughts this night. Here was their friend, the friend who brought them all together. A princess of the land! But she looked like good old twilight not a hair out of place.
“But none of the other girls seem to care about it, Rarity said that it was a common spell or somethin’. Apparently the wonderbolts use it to hide their wings or whatever… ah need something to drink…” Applejack got up from the pillows that littered the floor. Most of the pillows stained from the drinks and food in the early evening. Twilight seemed a bit to closer than usual, even after being friends for so long she still had some issues with being in such close contact with ponies. Sure since she became a princess her duties have really kept her from seeing the girls, but she seemed more off than what would be the “Twilight norm”. Applejack opened the fridge and looked around it, ice coffee, pop, apple cider, tea, and green stuff … What is that even? Applejack shrugged it sure looked good, it held the colour of a granny smith apple. Not her grandmother of course, just the apples she was named after.
As she pulled out the jug of green stuff she heard a bit of noise from the room, after she waited a few seconds poured herself a glass. It smelt kind of like a summer’s day, and after she took a small sip she found it to have a rich yet sharp fruit flavor. She couldn’t put what the flavor was, was it a mix of something? Well whatever it was Applejack had finished most of it.
“heh, didn’t mean for that to happen… huh Twilight?” Applejack had looked up after she had finished her drink to find Twilight. She seemed to be in a bit of a cold sweat, she had become a bit pale.
“Twi’ you don’t look so hot… Are you ok?” Applejack said after putting the cup down and trotted over to the princess. She helped her into a chair and got her a cup of water.
“That’s odd ah heard that alicorns don’t get sick. Maybe it has something to do with the magic she used.” Applejack thought as she trotted over to the sink to clean her glass.
“Applejack… There is something in the fridge I need you to get out for me.” Twilight said as she wiped some of the sweat off of her. Applejack froze; she also started to sweat at that point. Was that green stuff some kind of medication?
“A…and what did it look like Twi’? It wasn’t a green drink was it?” as Applejack finished her question. Twilight’s eyes shot open, she looked on to the table and saw the jug that once held the green liquid. Her horn lit up with a green aura and she had quickly closed the door to the kitchen.
“Wait green? Twilight what in tarnation is going on!” Applejack slammed her hooves down on the table causing “Twilight” to jump in her seat.
“I…I have no idea what you’re talking about Applejack! My aura was purple see!” in vain Twilight tried to cast magic but had the colours swapping between the two of them. She had stopped try and smiled up at Applejack who’s now hard glare could get any story out of any pony. To avoid the glare Twilight had thrown up her hoof to block her face. To bad for “Twilight” there were holes that let Applejack see right through to her face.
“A… A changeling!? What is this! Where is Twilight and what have you done with her!” Applejack yelled and began to stare this imposter down. The imposter looked down to its hooves and gasped, tears could be seen welling up in its eyes. A green glow embraced the changeling and it began to change shape. Applejack’s eyes widened, it wasn’t any normal changeling. No it was the queen of all changelings, sitting here in the kitchen.
“Queen Chrysalis! Wha… What are you doing here!? What was that green stuff ah just drank?” Applejack yelled at the now teary eyed queen, she didn’t attack Applejack she just sat there and cried. She sat there with Applejack watched her for a few minutes, Applejack then pulled the seat out across from the changeling queen and sat down. Applejack let out a sigh, and hoofed a napkin over to Chrysalis.
“Well ah can tell yur not here to replace us or try and take over Ponyville or Canterlot. So where is the real Twilight?” Chrysalis was surprised to have Applejack talk to her instead of leaving. She blew her nose and levitated the cup to her mouth. After she took a sip of water she moved her hair out of her face and looked up at Applejack.
“She is in Canterlot.” Chrysalis choked out as tears still flowed down her face. “I’ve been Twilight for the past month, and what you just drank was a way I could hide myself as a new pony. It would have made me a unique pony. It will not do anything to you.” Applejack looked at Chrysalis with a bit of confusion after what she said.
“A unique pony? What do you mean by that?” Applejack asked Chrysalis whose tears had dried and stained her cheeks.
“I would have been locked in a pony form and no longer be able to change. Changeling are unable to make a unique form, we need to see a pony to learn its shape. After the Canterlot invasion I was cast out… I’ve been using other pony forms for about a year now and I’m sick of it. I want out of this lie, I want a place to call home again. Applejack I know that I’ve been lying to while I was Twilight, but know that everything I’m telling you now is the truth! You have the element of honesty you can tell when some pony is lying right!” Chrysalis seemed to beg for Applejack to believe her. More tears formed in her eyes, Applejack maybe the element of honesty but it didn’t give her powers to read ponies or changelings for that matter. Applejack bit her lip, though Chrysalis was their enemy at one point she seemed to be desperate for a new life. She let out a heavy sigh, she got out of her chair and moved over to the ex-queen.
“Ah don’t have powers like that Chrysalis, but I can do one thing for you.” Applejack reached out and hugged Chrysalis “I’m so sorry…” Chrysalis was stunned, unable to move. She looked at the pony whom was attached to her and felt an emotion she had not felt in years; compassion. After a few moments Applejack took a step back and hung her head down.
“Chrysalis… What made you change so much? You seem like such a different pony now.” The question struck Chrysalis hard.
“… I wasn’t always so heavy hearted, I was known as a soft queen. I did not always believe that war was the way, but year after year with less love being harvested from outlining towns we had no choice. My changelings needed food badly, so we attacked…” Chrysalis sighed and looked up to Applejack. The way she looked at Applejack made her gut feel weird, she didn’t feel for her story did she? She shook her head as she headed for the door to the main floor of the library. Chrysalis head dropped to the table. She was done for, she would get the others and they would cast her out. Reaching the door and without even a glance backwards Applejack uttered.
“Well Twi’ it was good talking with you, it’s been too long.” Chrysalis’s head popped up from the tabletop. “It’s a shame that Carmel is leaving town without a good-bye party. Ah will miss him that’s for sure, he was a good worker always showing up on the farm at six AM every weekday. He was an interesting character, didn’t get out much. Maybe we should have shown him some more love on the farm.” Applejack finished and walked out of the kitchen. Stunned Chrysalis smiled for the first time in a while, and felt even though it was small love. She had a chance to rebuild her project, she had a chance to become a pony. She had a chance to have a true friend, and maybe something even more than that. She quickly transformed back into Twilight and followed Applejack back into the library, with the first honest smile in along time.