Harmony Side Effects

Harmony Side Effects
by TrollestiaSubject

The Void That Cries Through You:

Fluttershy appears from a purple teleport spell a bit battered and dizzy, in the middle of an in use bedroom, waking Spitfire up not without scaring her.

“Oh, hey, Flutters! Are you alright?” Spitfire asked shocked, after lifting her night mask from her eyes. A bit shaken after her rude awakening, but noticing the opposing circling motion of Fluttershy’s eyes who was still seated on the floor.

Spitfire jumped out of the bed to softly shake Fluttershy from her shouldef, and help her to snap out of it. After Fluttershy regained consciousness, Spitfire helped her stand up and take a seat on the bed.

“Oh, thank you, I think. I’m fine, it's just... Twilight teleported me. I know she misses the days when she could use all the magic she wanted, so I let her teleport me instead of Rarity, but it was messier than what I had expected...” Fluttershy explained, while Spitfire was checking her pupils to make sure she was fine.

“Being near of Miss Singularity had kept you too used to magic. Teleport spells are dangerous! You know it, even if they are cast by Princess Twilight herself!” Spitfire claimed while taking a shawl from her wardrobe full of shawls. Covering her shoulders with it, and covertly, her damaged wing too, that was to a certain point repulsive, even for herself.

“I- I don’t think so, I’m fully confident of Twilight’s abilities, and I know that using her magic makes her happier, even if she doesn't admit it.” Fluttershy fessed up rubbing her head, while Spitfire opened the curtains of the room to let in the morning light.

“Well, at least I’m happy you finally came to see me. Everypony thought you were going to be shut down with Miss Singularity until you finished that very important project of yours. You... haven’t finished it yet, have you?” Spitfire asked, turning slowly to Fluttershy, with a very expectant expression on her face, but utterly ready to be disappointed.

“Oh, no. Sorry... “ Fluttershy said apologetically. “The facility is empty, I mean, except for the guards.”

“Oh, so it was today?” Spitfire said, a bit disappointed, but without blaming Fluttershy. Turning back to open the last curtain in the bedroom. “Do you have this wonderful sunny day in Ponyville?” she added.

“I’ve heard the weather business isn’t what it used to be.” Fluttershy implied, avoiding a direct answer of something that for most ponies should be easy to know. Most but her.

In fact, not far from there, where Ponyville used to be, the weather was much more cold and grim. A group of ponies had gathered in the graveyard there, most of them from the army, others who seemed more important came in black stagecoaches, like Miss Singularity, who was the last one to arrive. She trotted down from the stagecoach slowly, her intrinsic fully glowing white body contrasting perfectly between the fold of the black hooded cloack she was wearing.

The service started in the moment she crossed the gates of the cemetery, like if it wasn't waiting for anypony more important to arrive. There was already Princess Twilight Sparkle in formal black attire for the occasion. Rainbow Dash using her needed goggles for her decreased eyesight, and a simple dark scarf, contrasting with everypony fancy attire there, except for somepony else; A dark green coated mare with aquamarine mane and tail, who was the only pony around carrying a basket with flowers in her mouth, and was wearing a simple black hat with veil of the same color. Nopony could really identify her, but gave a second thought about her anyways. She was however one of the ponies who most deserved to be there that day.

Apple Bloom and Babs Seed were pulling the coffin. Dark orange wood, with Applejack’s cutie mark on the front. Meanwhile, militia ponies played a funeral song, the coffin was covered with the flag of Equestria, and the rain started when a very old grey pony, with big black round glasses, started to preach the ceremony from a book on a stand.

“May I ask you, why you didn’t want to go? Did Applejack do something to you...?” Spitfire implied, while helping the still a bit dizzy Fluttershy to take a seat in the gallery full of Wonderbolt’s memorabilia, which made also as Spitfire’s living room in her small ground apartment somewhere in the oldest part of Canterlot.

“No, of course not. Applejack is my friend... or was, long ago. To be honest I‘ve seen more to Pinkie Pie than Applejack since we started to recreate the elements of harmony. Rarity used to spend a lot of time with her, at least at the beginning of the changeling’s war. After that Rarity decided she had to hasten her job, and they, well... ” Fluttershy said, enthralled in her own memories while Spitfire put the kettle on, in the small kitchen just in front of the gallery room.

“Then you should have gone, everypony's going to wonder why you didn't want to go.” Spitfire insisted from the other room.

“Well, I- I had decided it long ago, Rarity knows it, and I had to explain it again for Twilight this morning. When the war started, I had to assist to ‘so’ many funerals, and yet I missed some others. Then I had to do some more for my animals too. So, one day, when I had to bury Angel, one of my bunny friends, I decided to not attend any other funeral again... And since Rarity knew you weren't going either, I decided to keep my promise and visit you instead.” Fluttershy chipped in, trying to leave the uncomfortable past behind.

“It’s not that much of a difference, I- I mean, I perfectly understand that... The same happened to me... To be honest with you too, I tried to not know when it was going to be." Spitfire confessed, with small grief in her voice, while setting a kit of tea in the small coffee table in the middle of her past featuring living room. “After the investigators were done with the body, and the national hero mourning days, I tried to lose track in my calendar to don't be tempted to assist myself.” Spitfire said looking to one particular photograph in her collection. “But still, she was your friend, and believe me, with the time, even those memories that seem to hurt become dearing moments.” Spitfire said, lifting a group photograph from a shelf that depicted her, Soarin', Rainbow Dash and Thunderlane in Wonderbolt’s uniforms. Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Fluttershy without uniform, Braeburn, and Prince Blueblood were there too along with Rarity already glowing all white, accompanied by Spike who was almost as tall as anypony in the picture.

“Ok, that’s it. Nice picture, partners!” Braeburn said after the intensity of the flash banished.

“We can move? Can I finally scratch my wing?” Soarin asked to nopony in particular, before starting to bite the tip of his wing.

“Hooo, I got spots in my eyes...” Spitfire said, rubbing her eyes. Her blue Wonderbolt goggles had been down in her neck at the moment of the picture.

“Really? Let them watch me. let's see if I’m a sight for your sore eyes!” Applejack said like letting the whole room hear her insinuation.

“Oh, A.J. Give me a break.” Spitfire retorted a bit ashamed.

“Well, I’m going to return to my private quarters now.” Prince Blueblood announced before trotting away in an elegant fashion.

“I can’t help feel but feel sad every time we took a photograph, like if it could be the last one we even take all of us together...” Thunderlane added when everyone started to dismiss.

“Well, we're in Republic's territory after all, maybe it'll be the last, don't y'all think?” Applejack cynically answered with a smile on her face, worrying even more the troubled pegasus.

“Don't worry, dummy, gloomy, thundie, we’re not at war! We’re here to strength the diplomatic relationships with the republic.” Pinkie chipped in, while encasing the photographic camera in its hardened case.

“Diplomatic relationship my apples! And Octavia is out there just collecting berries for a pie! Sure...” Applejack added sarcastically.

“Listen everypony, Octavia’ll be back in 5 minutes. Meet in the lobby for a mug of Lunar cider, and if it's not too tasty, then back directly to Cloudsdale if Miss Singularity feels like it’s the right moment to teleport us all.” Soarin' informed to everypony, after a bit of talking with Rarity and Spike.

“Wohoo, sounds like a party to me!” Pinkie shouted, bouncing away with the camera case on her head.

“Fine, you guys go ahead, I have to change.” Spitfire said returning to her room, all made of clouds in an elegant fashion as expected from a five stars hotel for diplomatic guests. There Spitfire started with her private routine to take her Wonderbolts uniform off, which involved teeth and wings alike as her hooves before sliding out.

“Hello there, sugarcube!” Applejack suddenly said, breaking Spitfire’s concentration.

“Hey?! Applejack! What are you doing here? You knew I was changing...” Spitfire pitched surprised, while picking her costume yet in the floor.

“Sure Ah did. Yah announced it loud enough! C’mon, sugarcube. Don't tell you didn't want me helping yah take off a suit like that?” Applejack asked, embracing Spitfire with her forelegs. “Watching yah doing it yourself is quite a show though. What're yah in mood now, huh? Feeling cold?" Applejack sultry said, now caressing Spitfire’s neck and going down.

“Applejack, stop!” Spitfire ordered, taking away Applejack’s hoof from hers to no avail.

“And stop means hurry up, right? Are yah worried somepony is going to find us, or just like to be quick? Yah remind me of Rainbow Dash, but she doesn't like... to lose, dontcha know what Ah mean? Yah're everything she wants to be, you know it, right? But she’s such a filly next to you. Ah bet she doesn’t play with you like this, she respects you too much,” Applejack said starting to kiss Spitfire’s neck.

“Stop it Applejack, it's not right, What's gotten into you?!” Spitfire exclaimed, pushing Applejack away.

“Come on sugarcube, If yah like it a quickie that's fine for meh. Lately Ah have been feelin' like the times gets over and Ah don't know for what. What do yah think? Yah have so many fans but they all respect yah too much to take the initiative. Aren’t yah tired of that? Don’t worry, I’m gonna give you a good ride.” Applejack said not stopping her advance.

“I said no, Applejack!” Spitfire said growing up impatient and bucking off Applejack away.

“You ain’t going to teach me how to buck, aren’t yah?” Applejack retorted being upside down in a corner at the other side of the room, but quickly standing up to embrace Spitfire again. “Hey, I can totally see when somepony’s being honest, it’s... magic, I guess. So don’t worry, sugarcube. you’re in good hooves.” Applejack said before grabbing Spitfire's hindquarters. And biting Spitfire’s tail up in some kind of retention technique, Applejack was able to sweep her forelegs out of balance, and pinning down her wings on the floor with her forehooves, Applejack started a rutting movement over Spitfire's rump.

“APPLEJACK, NO!” Spitfire yelled, strugling to get away from the lock.

“So this is how yah like it, hmm? Nopony else ha s been so daring with yah, right?” Applejack asked between her teeth, with Spitfire’s tail still in her mouth to hold the hind part of her body high to rub herself against it. “Yah can imagine Ah’m anypony yah want, Ah don’t mind.” Applejack offered, still rubbing her body on hers.

“Oh, no, Applejack, no.” Spitfire said starting to sob.

“Captain, The other are waiting below, and wher... You little vicious mule offspring.” Prince Blueblood said just after entering the barely closed door all made of soft cloud.

“Hey, wait! She wanted me to...-” Applejack managed to say before Blueblood bucked her away from Spitfire.

“You disgusting little farmer, I’m gonna beat Celestia out of you...” Blueblood said during his non stopping rush against Applejack, to what seemed to be to death.

“So this is what yah like, huh? This is what gets, you, hot...” Applejack weakly said remarking both last words for Blueblood’s surprise, when he held her in front of him.

“Get... out...” Prince Blueblood commanded, stopping his attacks, and throwing Applejack to the floor.

“I’m going out, alright. But that’s not gonna change who yah really are.” Applejack said before leaving slowly, walking battered.

“Get up, Captain. And for Celestia’s mane, brush your coat.” Was the last thing Blueblood said to Spitfire before getting out of the room himself.

“Then why'd you decide to not assist at the funeral?” Fluttershy asked to Spitfire, who was barely listening.

“Huh... ? Well, I’m pretty much like you now, I don’t wanna assist to another funeral again, plus, I don’t like to be showing my wing to everypony around, I want to be remembered flying high in the sky... Besides, everypony knows Applejack and I never got a good relationship, she always was, like... too honest, with everything, all the time, and that was more of a problem with her personality than a good feature on her. So why should I go? I don’t wanna say goodbye to her... She once said that we all were going to bury her, I guess she was right, and yet I’m glad that's not true because I'm not there, it's... complicated.” Spitfire said passing a hoof over Applejack’s image in the picture.

“I don't understand.” Fluttershy said before sipping from the cup of tea between her hooves.

“Maybe Miss Singularity understands... Oh, but don’t ask her. I mean, it’s... it’s not important.” Spitfire insisted, regretting the idea she just had gave her.

“Uh, don't worry, I understand if it’s a private matter.” Flutters replied blushing, only imaginating what she could mean if she had to ask Rarity about that.

“Ah... never mind, sorry. In any case I’m happy you came to see me here. Seriously, you were such geat counselor for all of us back then. If I hadn’t convinced you into joining The Wonderbolts, I would have suffered a mental breakdown like the ones that Princess Twilight used to have.' Spitfire added, trying to change the subject.

“Oh, She doesn’t do that anymore, since she’s working in recreate the elements of harmony, she learned how to deal with that.” Fluttershy added after sipping her tea cup, hiding her blush behind it, also trying to change the subject.

“Well, it was about time. We need to deal with things our way too, how about we forget this cheap cup of tea and go out to a good restaurant; A nice exterior table, a good pastry, and let’s enjoy the sunny day while we still can." Spitfire proposed, at what Fluttershy replied with a big smile and a squeaking sound.

“Ponies that are born from a mare hath but a short time to live, and Celestia wishes to be full of joy. Applejack cometh up, and was cut down, as a flower. She fleeth as it were a shadow, and never continueth in one stay, in the midst of day, we’re in night. Of whom may we seek succour but thee, o Celestia, who for our misshapes art justly displeased.” A very old grey pony was preaching in the middle of the rain during Applejack's funeral, while Twilight was listening, lost in thoughts for her old friend who had now passed away. Especially of that day when she decided to accept Celestia’s commendation to recreate the elements of harmony, leave her friends, and shut herself in that tower. For what she knew could be the rest of her own life.

“Well, Firstly, let me say I’m pleased to see so many of you here. Secondly, for those of you that only know me as the rainbow maned Wonderbolt, I’m the new captain of the Wonderbolts, My name is Rainbow Dash. Third, uh, well, I hope to do a good job as my forerunner captain, Spitfire, did with this unit.” Rainbow Dash was announcing with some displays on a tripod in a small conference room in some scruffy wooden hotel that made the meeting look a bit depressing. The group was mainly the former Elements of Harmony in the bottom of the room without stage, Nothing fancy except for the particularity that Princess Twilight herself had attended that meeting.

Fluttershy who was standing nervously using a Wonderbolt outfit, was next to Rainbow Dash as well as the fully glowing Rarity, how was seated quietly as a statue, but accompanied by Spike who was now a bit taller that anypony aside. In the other side Princess Twilight had a fancier seat but was next to two normal seats alone.

Applejack almost in full royal army’s armor, with her signature hat instead of a helmet, took a seat between the public. Second row, her hindlegs up on the first line, and was eating an apple while reading disinterestedly a newspaper in front of the purple princess. Also Pinkie Pie was between the public, but bouncing with an inexplicable anxiety, between the ponies standing at the center of the room. all of them young ponies, assisting to a recruiting meeting.

“Now, as many of you know, or maybe not,” Rainbow Dash corrected herself, after noticing how all the new assistants were probably too young to know, and the only sound in the room were Applejack’s chews. “The Wonderbolts aren’t an acrobatic team any more. It’s now a tactical unit, and earth ponies and unicorns are welcome to enroll these days. New problems emerge everyday all around our kingdom, promiscuity, drugs, campus subversion, union strikes, you name it! Celestia can’t use her magic properly to protect us anymore, so banding together, as The Wonderbolt Unit. we..-” Rainbow Dash was explaining while displaying a map of all Equestria in the tripod.

“Horseapples!” Applejack shouted from her seat in the front lines, causing certain commotion between the audience.

“E- excuse me?!” Rainbow Dash answered startled, without know how to react.

“This whole idea, this 'Wonderbolt Unit' tch. It stinks! What it is, Dash? Yah’ve should dropped all this Wonderbolts idea before it gettin’ old. Yah only wanna flight around in a flashy costume, but don’t really care, do yah? Applejack complained without drop her newspaper away.

“Th- that’s isn’t true...” Dash answered, still shocked at what she was hearing.

“Huh, listen, let’s not drop the idea out right away,” Fluttershy threw into conversation, toughening up to help her friend. “Rainbow Dash and I have made headway into the changeling problem by pooling our efforts... -” Fluttershy managed to say before being interrupted by Pinkie Pie.

“A group like this feels somehow more like a publicity exercise. it’s too big and not very effective, we just heard about a problem. Rar... Miss Singularity teleports a whole army before us there, then they for some reason always end fighting!” Pinkie emphasised, almost ignoring what the discretion is. “In the worst of cases not always against changeling. Then what? We, waving to cameras and reporters, saying we solved the whole thing! That’s completely unnecessary, I alone could just befriend all those ponies and solve alone half of the problems this unit gets involved without hurt anypony.”

“It can’t be that easy all the time, Pinkie.” Princess Twilight said. “Surely, it’s just an organizational problem? With the right pony coordinating the group, I think...-”

“Oh, and I wonder who that would be? Got any ideas Princess? I mean, you’re the smartest pony in Equestria, right?” Applejack interrupted, standing from her chair to face everypony in the front.

“It doesn't require genius to see that Equestria has problems that need tackling.” Twilight answered back, trying to keep calm and carry on. But evidently showing some signs of distress.

“Well, that's about as useful as a trap door on a canoe, and it ain’t take a buckethead to know that show offs like you ain’t enough to handle all those problems.” Applejack resorted to the always worried looking princess, whose disheveled mane, and nervous smile, that were starting to float out, always made her look more like a crazy genius than a trusted sovereign.

“I think I’m as well informed as anypony, Given correct handling, none of Equestria’s problems are insurmountable. Leaning on everypony talents, being patient and diligent, and treating each other as friends, we all can accomplish anything when we work together." Twilight retorted, remembering something that she had said during some speech.

“Frienship? You mean that magical thing! Hasn’t it being forbiden yet? Y’all lie to yourselves, you hear Queen Chrysalis is in some cave, and think ‘Howdy yee haw! Let’s gang up and bust her!’ You think that matters, you think that solves anything?”

“Well, of course it matters, if...-” Pinkie started.

“No, it doesn’t matter, Pinkie. And I’m gonna drop y’all the truth of why it doesn’t matter at all: It doesn't matter where Chrysalis decides to attack, as soon she uses magic for something bigger than digging a hole, both armies will be over her as fast as a trout swimming downstream, that if Miss Singularity here doesn't catch her first. The only reason Celestia wants her alive is for use her against her sister without political consequences for Equestria, and as soon she gets the dirty job done, Celestia is going to use Miss Singularity over there or Twilight here, to avenge her sister, save the day, and dismiss the republic for once and all. Nightmare Moon in the other hoof, is aware of this, and knowing that Chrysalis could defeat Cadance and her sister before, she’s probably going to offer her a deal to hide her instead of fight her. But that queenie isn’t so naive as y’all seem to be here to accept a deal like that. All she have to do is wait, and sooner or later Celestia and Nightmare Moon are going to fight...” Applejack said holding Spike's head, who surprised by the sudden assault, little could he do before Applejack could use him to ignite the map of Equestria in exhibition for everypony.

“My displays.” Fluttershy said, scared for first time that afternoon, for a diferent reason than how she looked in her tight Wonderbolt uniform.

“And then, Twilight here is going to be the smartest pony in the cinder.” Applejack said after letting Spike go, and head out of the room.

“Applejack...” Rainbow Dash let out with anger in that moment, but nopony could imagine the rest of the words she would say, not even Rainbow Dash herself.

“I did my honest deed of the day. Will see y’all in the honest papers.” Applejack said in a serious tone, before heading to the exit, being followed by many of the young ponies that were listening at the beginning of the conference.

“Rarity, I think I’d like to go home now, please.” Spike whispered to Rarity who stood quiet all along. Her white eyes made hard to tell if she even watched at somepony during the dramatic presentation.

“Ah, sorry it didn’t work as well as planned Rainbow Dash." Pinkie said, patting her friend in the shoulder.

“Bah, never mind, Pinkie, it's not like if we were going to save the Equestria, anyways.” Were the last words by Rainbow Dash, that Twilight Sparkle remembered before quit on The Wonderbolts Unit, to accept Celestia's commandment to create new elements of harmony, after the former ones lost their power after the destruction of Discord's statue, and the magic was taken out of balance.

“O Celestia most mighty, o graceful and most merciful ruler, deliver us not to the bitter pains of eternal death. Thou knowest ruler, the secrets of our hearts, shut not thy merciful eyes to our needs, but spare us, o princess most wise, o Celestia most merciful, thou most worthy judge eternal. Suffer us not, at our last hour for any pains of death, to fall from thee” The preacher said from under an umbrella.

The smell of wet grass and earth was in the air, melting along with the smell of roses from a green mare holding a basket full of them near. The last time Rarity has smelled something like that, she was next to Applejack, just like right now, but Applejack was still alive.

Some kind of parade had been going outside, and the roads were covered with flower’s petals from Celestia’s royal coach passing over. The rain and the mud buring them had started as soon she went away.

“Applejack, please, could you stand up? At least go upstairs and take a nap.” Rarity in her preternatural glowing white state, asked nearly to a pleading tone.

“Nah, Ah'm just too tired of being here. Teleport me back to Canterlot I said. I wanna see Apple Bloom!” Applejack answered with her face below her hat, in a tantrum attitude very irregular from her. Fully armored except for a helmet, she was laying in the wooden floor of a decaying building made for what could have been blind carpenters. Her attitude was However understandable, after the war she had been fighting for the last two years in an unnamed jungle so far from the kingdom of Equestria.

“Applejack, you’re acting foalish. That’s not proper of your rank... or you at all.” Rarity said trying to convince her in soft tones to react to the uncommon of the situation, but with an expression hard to read. Somehow not totally neutral, and yet an expression that was by then very common on her. Which rested importance to any urgent advice she were trying to give, at least from Applejack viewpoint.

“But you know ain’t changeling, don’t yah? I’m just tired of this land, these sour apples, and the meaningless songs from the fancy parades every time we accomplish anything. We’re not accomplishing anything! Queen Chrysalis could be a rock, or a river, who knows into what she can change? She could be a board in this floor, or she could be even dead already, are yah sure she’s not a board in this floor?” Applejack asked, unreasonably worried.

“I’m sure, Applejack.” Rarity assured to her friend.

“Oh, well, as long no changeling can hide from you and they keep surrendering... Are you sure they can’t hide from your... singularity?” Applejack questioned, giving up on the tantrum.

“I- I’m reasonably sure. It’s highly improbable anyway. Are you feeling better now, can you stand up?” Rarity kindly asked.

“Ah'm sure can! It’s not like if Ah want. Yah know? Ah don’t need to, we were having problems with changelings before, but now, thanks to you... You could win this little war all alone. It’s not important be'coz changelings weren’t causing any trouble in Equestria anyways, but if we’d lost this war... I dunno, I think it might have driven us a little crazier, y’know? As a country. Maybe we’re already a bit crazy, things’ve been gone pretty crazy since you... Since it all started” Applejack ranted. “Since we discovered the harmony isn't permanent.” Applejack refuted in an stubborn tone and holding her place in the floor.

“You seem so tired now... I told you so, before accepting being general, I told you that I can’t change the future.” Rarity smoothly explained without a hint of emotion in her voice. before being interrupted by Applejack’s whining..

“Well, I keep tellin’ yah don’t try hard enough! Ah joined to prevent that what happened to my family ever happens again! And yes, maybe Ah want revenge, maybe Ah should go to the republic myself bucking everypony away from my way up to Nightmare Moon herself. Who cares how many changelings we defeat or imprison in this Celestia-forgotten jungle who-pony-knows-where?”

“You’re a silly pony, Applejack. You have strange attitudes to life, and war.” Rarity said in a mostly disinterested fashion.

“Strange? Wow, that comin’ from yah, that must meant a lot. Sugarcube, listen... Once yah figure out how to be honest with yourself... everything else runs out of meaning.” Applejack said a bit angry, peeking out of his hat just a little.

“The charred eggs, the changelings with necklaces of unicorn horns, slimmed ponies turned into cocoons... They all are meaningless to you?”

“Hey... Ah never said yah shouldn't care, but you know I’ve been right all along. Look at Celestia for example: She comes here in her fancy carriage, hoping to rise the moral of the troops, but it’s to you to who the changelings surrender. You could create some wings for yourself, make your own country, and be a princess all by yourself, but you decided to help Celestia. Just as Twilight or Cadence until... We couldn't prevent what happened in Crystal Empire, and we can't say it was Nightmare Moon doing, but we can't say otherwise either. Don't tell me y'all ain’t looking for a bit of revenge from her for attacking Ponyville? y’all are. Me, for my part, Ah’m gonna leave this jungle the first chance I get.”

“You should go upstair right now.” Rarity hastily said.

“And what changes that? I’m gonna be still stuck in this jungle, with this sour apples, its weird temperature, not to mention it’s full of changelings.” Applejack retorted returning to dher happy place under her hat.

“Please, Applejack. Hurry, stand up and go upstairs.” Rarity slowly said almost pleading,

Applejack who could heard stress in the voice of her friend, took her hat away from her face, and looked at Rarity, but had problems figuring the expression in her white eyes and face, and stood quiet for what seemed to be just a second, but for sure was much longer. Then the abrupt sound of the main door being strongly opened resounded through the room.

“Miss Singularity?” A familiar male’s voice was heard asking for the white unicorn.

“Miss Singularity, and... Hey, look at what we got here, brother of mine.”

“It’s not what we expected to find, Flam.” The Flim Flam brothers announced in a melodic voice, after just entering the room

“Oh, great. Oh, Thank you Celestia, That’s just what I needed. That’s it, I’m ‘so’ done! I quit.” Applejack said after lifting her hat to look at the visitors with a wry look on her,.

“No, Applejack.” Rarity said peering at the unexpected visitors.

“Did ain’t tell yah. Just the worst is in this place!” Applejack commented to Rarity, before take her hat over her face again, and cross her forelegs above her chest, preferring to play dead, than attend to the unexpected visits, right there on the floor, at the middle of what might has be a haunted building, but was in reality the dining room of an outpost in changeling territory.

“You don’t understand, Applejack. They are changelings.” Rarity calmly said, without look away from them who were just standing passing the door.

“You said what?!” Applejack reacted, grabing her hat and standing up in a flash that could be reason of envy for Rainbow Dash.

“Oh, well, yes. Let us explain.” Flim expressed with a smile of shame on his face.

“Me and my brother here, think that all this conflict is in vain” Flam continued the phrase of his
bother with a melodic tone in his voice.

“My brother and I, as many other changelings before have come to surrender.” Flim said keeping the rhythm, adding a slight squatting movement to his body.

“Changeling and ponies don’t have any reason to fight, we just wanna live in peace.” Flam entoned along, coordinating his movements to those of his brother.

“What’s more, my brother and I are here to pledge loyalty to Miss Singularity...” they both announced, intoning a song.

“Our Queen disappear, and we don’t have a who to serve, isn’t true brother of mine?" One of them continued.

“STOP! you don’t need a song, So, how long have you been changelings again?” Applejack questioned a bit angry and walking at the visitors.

“Well, Miss Applejack is it, right?” Flam said meditating his about his answer.

“if today is wednesday.” Flim objected.

“Like, since... 30 years now.”

“Over 30 years?” Applejack repeated astonished. while rarity was just in the background, in her usual quiet attitude.

“Blim and Blam were nothing but a couple of poor turnip harvesters, we took over those identities, and with secrets about technology that other changelings had collected, The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000 was build.” Flam explained inside an evocative state, while scratching his chin. Applejack couldn’t see any trace of lie in his story.

“My brother and I shared cider with ponies everywhere, and they gave us their ‘conditional” love.” Flim said smiling slightly malevolently.

“Not a bad deal if you’re a changeling at all.” Flam retorted.

“Not at all brother. That's why we wanted your farm, to ensure enough provisions to stay in a town and extract the public’s love.” Flim confirmed with the utmost of honesty than a changeling is able.

“30 years, sweet Celestia, why nopony had noticed... ?” Applejack said, yet awestrucked.

“Well, It's not that they don’t notice sometimes.” Flam said a bit ashamed.

“They'd once in a while.” Flim added like an excuse to reduce his brother’s shame.

“But a change of the name, another style on the mane, and a different cutie mark, help any changeling on the wilderness.” Flam proudly explained to Applejack, caressing his mane that change drastically, and showing her cutie marks with plums and peaches in them.

“The wilderness? Yah mean outside this jungle, rite?” Applejack asked a bit confused, signaling the floor with her hoof.

“That’s right!” Flam happily announced.

“Nothing better for our kind, as came to home of our own.” Flim proudly said.

“But now a change of name or perhaps another style in the mane are too risky these days.” Flam repeated like it were the chorus of some song

“And we came to surrender to Miss Singularity.” Both harmonically said, now facing to Rarity who had been quiet in the bottom of the dining room.

“30 years? Are yah sure? Aren’t you counting changeling years or something?” Applejack said still amazed of the idea of changelings walking free for all over Equestria.

“There’s no such thing as changeling years, Applejack.” Rarity bluntly said, walking calmly to Applejack's side.

“Well, move along, ask somepony else where is the prisoners camp." Applejack demanded. "Ask for a cyan pegasus named Rainbow Dash. She wears a suit that looks like a shooting target, you can’t miss her. She’s after some prisoners record in which Miss Singularity is way ahead, or know what? Just go away! just keep giving for free your lousy cider. With the magic in this state a single ‘thanks’ for that should be like a feast for y’both.” Applejack said to the brothers in a tired attitude, and starting to walk for the interior of the room, like not wanting to deal with them for even a second more,

“Ah, well. The thing is that we heard that Miss Singularity found the method to magically synthesize food for changelings, and my brother and I, well...” Flim said a bit ashamed.

“We changelings believe that is some truly godly deed. We want to see that with our own eyes.” Flam said, finishing the sentence of his brother.

“Why serve a queen if we could serve a god. We could even swear loyalty to her... if she capable.” Flim added as a proposal.

“Y’all got it wrong. She's nothing like a changeling mythological being; and it was Princess Twilight and another pink mare friend of us who found out that recipe. Rar... Miss Singularity just follow up the recipe. Then yah’ll be in prison for the rest of yahr lives.” Applejack retorted looking back to them for a second, hoping to convince them to leave, and let her have some peace at least. “If you decide to stay, you’ll be feeded, monitored, studied, then feeded some more, more monitorizing, and so, and so. Probably till the end of the world that probably won't take long. Augh... Who cares? Just leave now, nopony is going to chase you. I’m the highest rank in command over here, if I say that nopony will be chasing you then nopony will be. Isn’t that right, Singularity? If I tell you to not chase after them.” Applejack said daringly to Rarity.

“You won’t tell me...-” Rarity was starting to explain when Applejack interrupted her to keep with her ‘flee now’ monologue.

“You see?, that means a 'Yes, sir!' From her. Now just leave. to whatever place in that awful jungle you call home” Applejack said seating on the floor, just too tired of the situation to even care.

“Wow, but what unexpected gesture of generosity” Flam said after look at his brother who reacted just like him.

“Generosity indeed brother of mine.” Flim answered utterly disappointed.

“But you’ll see, Miss Applejack, we could go home, but our old cave from which my brother and I are natives, is... ” Flam doubtfully said.

“Suffering of an inexplicable flood,” Flim explained.

“Which made me and my brother think, that you already visited the place.” Flim suggested, with a bit of malice in his voice.

“And since the rumors say that Miss Singularity can simply see who is a changeling, our covers like public figures that we intent to play are ruined.” Flam commented with the same mischievous tone than his brother.

"Which is very bad in the changelings codex.' Film added.

"Very bad indeed, brother." Flam highlighted.

“And so, we are here, giving up, to you, face to face.” And with that flim and Flam lost any
distinctive feature that could identify them as ponies, or one from each other, and they show their natural changeling selves.

“Well ugly faces, Miss Singularity is too busy hearin' my rant, and bein' convinced of send me
away. So we don’t really care for any you. Go and surrender to somepony else, they all are patrolling outside.”

“But we’re here already!” The one that was Flam said, after turning back to be Flim.

“And the rain is outside!” A new Flam complained.

“We wanted to see one of those ‘famous all over the land’ teleport spells from Miss Singularity.”

“The rumors says that you’re the only one who can cast them now.” Flam praisingly said to Rarity, but her expression was fixed in a serious one.

“Well, that’s not goin’ to happen guys, just go away.” Applejack insisted giving them the hoof.

“What a shameful attitude for a militia pony.” Flim, saddened, commented for his brother.

“Shameful indeed. How can an alicorn princess have such subject in her ranks?” Flam answered with the same tone at his brother.

“Well, she’s just a princess after all!” Flim answered with certain joy, trying to cheer up his brother.

“Now, now, that’s not excuse. A general this moody and lazy?” Flam asnswered still discouraged,

“Nothing like her parents I say.” Flim answered whispering back, in an ineffective way.

“Her parents should be disappointed of her, I agree.” Confirmed Flam, with what seemed to be grief in his voice.

“Hey! What’s that about my parents now?” Applejack curiously asked, getting hot blooded for such impertinence.
.

“Applejack... ” Rarity added with sadness, but no one was listening to her.

“Huh, your parents were such hard workers, they would be disappointed of find out about you. Right brother.” Flam asked with joy, like trying to seal a deal.

“Yah knew my parents?” Applejack asked, startled again.

“Applejack... ” Repeated Rarity in the background, like if it were some kind of prayer.

“Of course we did, don’t you remember us?” Flim added, making use of all his charm, gained by exercising his power of persuasion over those years as promoter and salespony.

“Of course you were a little filly back then, and we used other names.” Flam clarified, following a tone like if it were one of their presentations, and a new song was played again.

“and style in mane.”

“We were Slim and Slam back then, but our intentions were the same.”

“And the Speedy Cider Squeezy was a bit more than a carriage with a press.”

“Applejack, no.” Rarity said in a nostalgic tone.

“A shame they’re, not anymore.”

“I wouldn’t say that’s a shame at all.”

“Well, It’s true that they found out our real form.”

“Some ponies are good to smell a problem and your folks tried to solve it.” Grimmly sang one of the brothers, Applejack was just looking at the floor, so she didn’t even care which one of them was.

“So we put them in a barrel and sell them as a special mix of cider.”

“Your brother saw the whole thing, but at his age he didn’t even understood what he saw.”

“We decided to spare him expecting that he could take care of the farm, and return someday to take over it.”

“Both; suspicions and timming, are things that a changeling must considerate very well.”

“He was of the silent kind the last time we saw him, I wonder if we got something to do about that?”

“But now he’s also gone, and nopony has evidence to arrest us.”

“Except for his lazy little sister who wants us away!”

“But we don’t really have anywhere to leave....” both brothers sang as the last verse of a happy song. And Applejack stood contemplative for a long while, like ruminating on every word they just said.

“Applejack, I told you...-”

“Shut up, Rarity. Ah’m not, Trottin' away from this.” Applejack said with contained anger in her voice, and with her head hanging low she advanced towards the visitors. “I... I came here telling Apple Bloom I could make a difference, that what was going on here was important, but the true is I just wanted to leave and forget... Now there’s a chance for me, to not have lied to her.” Applejack said, looking with anger at the brothers.

“Well, that’s unfortunate, because that’s just what me and my brother are going to do, We will be feed, monitored, studied... “ Flam started listless.

“Then feed some more, and so, and so, till we forget about or homeland and Queen. You know the sad part of that Flam?” Film asked back.

“I don’t see any Flim, what is it?” Flam played his line with curiosity.

“Changelings live forever as long you feed them.” Flim said with a malevolent smile on his face.

“I don’t think so.” Applejack said, charging against the brothers. who immediately ran away the rain outside.

“Applejack, wait” Rarity said after appearing from a little explosion of water next to Applejack, her horn was lighted and the rain was crashing on an invisible sphere surrounding her, keeping her mane dry and brushed.

“Tell me where are they!” Applejack demanded firmly, trying to figure under the heavy rain above her hat, the brothers’ trace in the mud.

“She lost our trace” Flim said sticking his head out of a barrel.

“Thats a shame for a... Now, what rank would you be? captain perhaps perhaps?” Flam said poking his head down from above the rooftop of a near building in facilities. The outpost wasn’t unprotected at all, but the dense rain was obstructing the visibility. And, for the most part, a normal guard wasn't going to question the doings of a general, specially with Miss Singularity next to her.

When Flam saw Applejack staring back with anger, he tried to run away over the ceilings, But Applejack’s lasso tied him down before he could get far away.

Flam flew backwards from a pulling impulse in the lasso, and before hit the mud he saw while flying, the barrel where his brother was. Falling inside it, trapped one against the other inside, soon they both started to feel such space compressing even more. Applejack had started to buck the barrel to the outskirts of the outpost.

All over the place the barrel made its way, all by hits into the mud and back to the air. Thus, beaten and battered, with mud everywhere inside the barrel, and a rain that was making hard to breathe, they felt the gravitational pulling of the barrel changing from horizontal to vertical, and yet a few more angles against the side from where they had been lifted up. The sensation of balance was clear once in that position, and peeking outside, they could see the precichere moment when Applejack released her hoof, letting them fall. The feeling of weightlessness was contradictory to seeing her taking off to the sky.

Soon they felt a strong hit in the bottom of the barrel, and anything else was clear from that moment.

Applejack had let them fall from the edge of a steep cliff, and there, rolling inside a barrel, between mud, water and blunt punches. they considered themselves lucky; because the rain had caused a landslide while they were falling, avoiding direct fall., But the barrel had been damaged before even reach the cliff, and couldn't stand for long the ballad of impacts that had placed it there. Soon it shattered even before hit the bottom, a they continued to roll between changeling blood, wooden shards, and rocks.

Their bodies were battered and tired, the wood from the barrel has splintered during the fall, piercing and skewering randomly all over their bodies, their injuries stuffed with mud to the brim, and some parts of their bodies were blurring, showing their original changelings features, and yet they weren’t severely wounded considering they were changelings.

When they saw one little ray of light seeping through the cloudy sky, they couldn’t help but feel some kind of joy. The rain hadn't stop, it was only that they couldn't feel it.

Applejack however, hadn’t planned it in that way, so sliding by a muddy slope near, she reached where they had landed, still hurt and angry for what they had said.

“What did you do. You hurt my family. You filthy, stinking, worthless, lousy piece off...-”

“I- we, thought, that your brother was the strong one, but maybe we were wrong.” One of the changelings said in changeling voice, The mud all over them, and the haziness of their bodies that particular day, made hard to distinguish one bother form the other.

“Applejack, don’t do it..” Rarity said appearing after another small explosion of water, with the spheric invisible shield around her.

Applejack didn’t say anything, she just smashed their heads into the ground with her forelegs. Like little smashed pumpkins, causing a black and green mess in place each time.

“Not forget, I must not forget why I’m here after all; War, and war never changes.” A poured Applejack said to Rarity before leaving.

“Applejack... they weren’t even hiding, and you smashed them down, when they were hurt.” Rarity said confused. Her stainless white coat, and perfect mane kept in shape thanks to her force field, walking magically over the mud, while she was following Applejack.

“Yeah, yeah, that's right: Hurted changelings, smashed down. Splash, splash! And y’know what? You gave me the opportunity!“ Applejack retorted, walking next to the slope to pick her lasso and reel it from one of the bodies. “You coulda change the rope into chocolate, the barrel into clouds, or the slope into a skating rink. You coulda teleported either of us to Celestiadamn Oatstralia... but you didn’t lift a hoof! You don’t really give a damn about living beings I reckon. You never cared about Spike, even before you ditched him. Soon you won’t be interested in Fluttershy, either. You’re drifting outta touch Missie. You’re turning into a stone... I miss the days when Celestia used to help us all.” Were Applejack’s last words that Rarity heard in that jungle, where she stood behind, under a rain that she could have touched, but she didn't. While she was watching a couple of dead bodies, with the same contemplative sight in which she was now watching at Sweetie Belle who was consoling Apple Bloom at the other side of the coffin.

For as much as it hath pleased, almighty Celestia to take onto herself, the soul of our dear departed sister, let us therefore commit her body to the ground. Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.” the Old grey pony with a pipe as cutie mark kept saying from the book in the stand, while a shiver ran through Rainbow Dash’s spine. The rain was cold and the sudden wind gusts brought no better feelings, no new hope, just coldness and an uncertainty that she hadn't felt in a long time.

“Attention, citizens. We are trying to maintain balance. You must clear the streets! The emotional charge of a party can eruptionate dangerous magic, If you could... “ Rainbow Dash in Wonderbolts uniform, shout through a megaphone after exiting flying from the basket of a hot air balloon with details of the Royal Guard on it.

Below, a wild party crew was celebrating in the middle of a forest, playing music at full volume. Suddenly the sound of a sharp explosion attenuated the sound of the music. an unknow pony had exploded, but the party crew just got a boost of excitement once the sound of the music returned behind the sound of the explosion.

“Please, there's no need for violence.” Rainbow Dash continued shouting through the megaphone, flying over the crew “We are trying to retain order on the population until the disbalance gets solved.”

“Go back to your houses before somepony else get hurt. I got mah rubber horseshoes.” Applejack in full royal guard armor, wearing her hat above her helmet, shouted directly to the crew when the hot air balloon got close at the ponies below.

“I want my rights!” Somepony from the crew shouted to Applejack.

“You can’t tell us how to live!!” Somepony else shout next.

“We a want regular life!”

“No more repression!” Different ponies shout back, only to Applejack, and without stop partying.

“I lost my job because I’m an unicorn! ” Shouted somepony else.

“You bucking hooflickers!” Somepony called them throwing an empty mug of cider to Applejack’s head, who wasn’t hurt in anything else than her pride.

“For pete’s sake. All right. That's how yah wanna do it?” Applejack said jumping off from the basket. When she touched the ground the pegasi around started to fly away.

“There's no need for violence.” Rainbow Dash exclaimed one last time through the megaphone, more for Applejack than anypony else.

“Buck you! Buck you!” A group of ponies shouted before charge against Applejack, who could buck them away first, without any trouble at all.

“Oh, this is getting heavy.” Rainbow Dash said for herself, after seeing what Applejack was doing, before dropping away the megaphone and near Applejack.

“Aww, yeah! I love working on Equestrian soil, Dash.” Applejack confessed while bucking anypony that was charging against her. “Ain't had this much fun since Flim and Flam.”

“How long can we keep this up?” Rainbow Dash questioned, without need of fighting anypony by herself.

“Yah don’t have to worry, Dash. Mah contacts in the court told me they’re pushin' through some new decree that's being herded through. They’re gonna forbide magic. Our days as unit are numbered, until then, it's like Twilight used to say: We're the kingdom's only protection.” Applejack said a bit sour, while fighting her way through the forest to vacate the party, like if that had been the best moment to drop that new to her old buddy.

“Protection? Who are we protecting them from?” Rainbow Dash wondered utterly confused, only following Applejack who was the only being attacked.

“Haven’t yah realized, sugarcube? From themselves.” Applejack said, pointing a hoof to the crew running away from her, stumbling against each others . “Whatsamatter? don’t yah feel comfortable unless yah’re up against some schmuck with claws and big teeth, or some ancient magical fiend? Speakin’ o’ which, where in tarnation are Spike, Rarity, and the others?” Applejack asked, without lose the beat of the fighting.

“Spike is helping Twilight again, so most probably they haven’t even noticed what’s going on in the forests yet; Rarity’s handling the rave under their noses in Canterlot, I’m not sure if Fluttershy is helping her though; Pinkie’s in Manehattan, trying to hold under control a situation in the lower east side, she, uh. She works mostly on her own these days... “ Rainbow Dash explained, a bit saddened by how everypony was working by their own now.

“Pinkie’s nuts. She’s been nuts ever since she was kidnapped three years back. Her, Thunderlane, Agorashy, Princess Ah’m-too-busy-reading Sparkle, Miss I-can-see-through-the-fabric-of-space-and-time-arity... all of them, nuts! " Applejack said while she was beating all the ponies out of the forest.

“But not you?” Rainbow Dash asked reproachingly.

“No, not me, I keep the things in proportion, an’ try ta see the things as they really are... Stop dancing you son of a mule!” Applejack said running to one last party pony, who was dancing not even realizing that the party was emptying.

“No, Applejack, wait!” Was all Rainbow Dash could say, but not before Applejack could buck that last unicorn away.

“It’s weird how unicorns can’t get control of their own magic, yah an' Ah have more magic in out horseshoes than all of them now. So do as many rainbooms as you want while you still can, sugarcube. They will be forbidden once again that decree gets announced. They don’t like us, an’ they don't thrust us.”

“This whole situation... it’s horrible... What happened to us. The kingdom is disintegrating, Everyday day more ponies deflect to the republic. What happened to Equestria’s Kingdom?

“What happened to the kingdom? Yah’re looking at it, it’s all true!” Applejack said before walking into a cloud of dust that the fleeing ponies had leaved behind them. Those were the last words that Rainbow Dash could remember from Applejack before The Wonderbolts were disintegrated. The truth is that the spirit of The Wonderbolt Unit had been dissolved long ago, and she was the only pony using their uniform in all Equestria, by like three years before giving up on it.

“Who shall change our lesser body that it may be like unto her glorious body, according to the mighty working, whereby she is able to subdue all thing unto herself, I heard a voice from sky, saying unto me, write. From henceforth welcome are the dead which die in clarity, even so saith the spirit, for they rest from their labors. Celestia have mercy upon us. Luna have mercy upon us, Ancestors have mercy upon us, which art not forgotten, remembered be thy name, thy kingdom come,” The old preaching ponie was reading from his brown book, with yellow pages, and a golden alicorn head on the cover.

The rain was easing, and militia ponies folded the flag over the coffin, to present it later to Apple Bloom, who was covered in rain. The coffin started to descend. Many ponies around kicked ground inside, and when the tomb was filed, Apple Bloom leaved a frame with a picture of the last family reunion that they had; From all those ponies only Apple Bloom and Babs were alive, and they were only blank flank fillies in the photograph.

“Our ruler, which art between us, hallowed be thy youth, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth, as it is in clouds, give us this day our daily Equestria, and punish our traspasses, as we example those that trespass against others, leading us not into temptation, but save us from evil... I pledge.” Were the last words that the old pony read from the book before leaving as well, taking his book along. After that everypony started to leave, quickly as leaves on the cold wind, just as they had come, alone or crossing a few words with somepony else. Embracing their coats to feel less alone.

The green coated mare was gone before the end of the speech, leaving her basket of roses near the tombstone. Rarity was looking at her walking away when Apple Bloom, along with Babs Seed and Sweetie Belle, approached to her indecipherable figure. After a few words, Rarity teleported the four of them away.

Rainbow Dash also had some words with Princess Twilight before she had to leave in a prepared carriage expecting for her to accomplish with her inscrutable schedule. Giving as excuse that she was being heavily buried with pending job; she leaved Rainbow Dash alone in the end, with the grave of her friend, and the hat that Pinkie Pie had left with her, and now she was returning back.

The dark green coated mare with aquamarine mane and tail, had walked all the way back from the serviceto a humble house where she entered. After closing the door, she put magically her hat on the coatrack near the entrance, revealing herself as an unicorn of green glow. And then she went to the kitchen to put a kettle on, and opened the refrigerator from where Pinkie Pie jumped out. Giving a couple of backside rolls along her on the floor.

“Please, this must be a mistake, a mistake! You have the wrong pony!” The unknow mare shouted utterly terrorized with Pinkie above.

“Hehe. What are you talking about? You aren’t even a pony, silly!” Pinkie retorted happily, with her nose stuck on hers.

“I... I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m a housewife, just a normal housewiv...-” The unicorn managed to say, shallowing down the surprise.

“Hey, you don’t need to be hiding from me, I’m not here to hunt you down” Pinkie said, suddenly lifting the unknow mare from the floor, and hugging her.

“Oh, God, please... I spend all this years in peace. I just want to be left alone. What do you want with me?” The startled mare said, with a mixture of grief and fear in her voice.

“I saw you attending the funeral today, and you were the only pony there that I didn’t know.” Pinkie explained, like not having an ulterior reason to be there.

“The funeral? I should’ve changed... I got too used to this form... “ The green mare reproached to herself.

“I also saw the way in which Miss Singularity was looking at you. Did she know about you?” Pinkie wondered.

“I knew she wasn’t going to oppose. After all she’s the former element of generosity.” The unknown unicorn explained, a bit ashamed.

“Hey, do you even know her secret identity?”

“In the line of work I used to do, you learn to differentiate between beings that look exactly the same, also to identify them despite of their changes, as age, or a magical glow in her interior. Something like that doesn't hide anything fom me. I don’t even know how can you expect to deceive anypony, it’s not like if she’s wearing at least a mask or something.” The unknown pony explained, a bit frustrated, to Pinkie. “A greater mystery would be, as you came into my refrigerator?”

“I followed you here, my suspicions were confirmed when I saw you using magic to hang your hat, then to settle on the kettle, just a powerful magic user could still having such control in her magic. You are... Queen Chrysalis, aren’t you?” Pinkie said before Chrysalis changed to her own normal self.

“I’m... just, Crystal Alibi. I’ve been for the last six years, I just felt, I should assist. I’d been thinking about Applejack ever since she visited me, and...-

“What?! She knew where you were all along?” Pinkie said startled at the idea of how Applejack spend three years in a jungle, tracking her down, and her usual complains about how she never caught her even with Rarity’s help, always alluding to Rarity; Now the Rarity’s part made more sense, and technically she wasn’t lying to anypony, after all she never caught her.

“Yes, of course, I surrender myself to the singularity, when I saw my kingdom destroyed by war. .. The sight of chattered nests under the water still perplexes me. I freed my subjects and resigned as Queen. With the singularity helping your kind I thought that was our only chance for survival; But, then, Rarity generously offered me an option from jail, be a normal pony as long I won’t assume as Queen again. She must have foresaw that I won’t be any trouble at all. Since then I’ve been playing to be Crystal Alibi... Sometimes I even am, like this morning. I should’ve changed... With magic in this state even an harmless consumption of love is enough to keep a transformation, I meet a naive stallion, find one wasn’t difficult. I got married. I’ve been... happy, relatively, since then. I never saw the singularity again until this day, But the general used to pass by from time to time to check out my behavior, but she had always showed only to me, except that last night... “ Chrysalis explained, that last part with confusion in her voice.

“What happened that night?” Pinkie asked authentically intrigued.

“Wh- when she broke in, to see me. She was drunk, had her armor off, and was scared of something, crying... I was sleeping with my husband when she woke us. We sat in bed, scared stiff, she sounded crazy. He thought she was gonna kill us, I was more worried about giving up my identity... This was, like, a week before I heard she’d died. I guess it was her last chance to say what she wanted.

“What did she said?” Pinkie asked, following her investigation. and then Chrysalis took Applejack’s form, and with the same voice; Looking teary and drunk, just as Applejack had been that night, Crysalis re-enacted the very same scene for Pinkie pie.

“All true, S’all true, Ah mean, Ah thought Ah knew how it was, how the world was. But then Ah found out abouv what to care, this, truth... You’re part of it, Chrysie ol’ pal. Y’know that? I mean, y’know how Rarity is, and if something ever happens to Sweetie....

I’m not here for an explanation. I've done some bad things. In that jungle, you know it. But that was bucking war. This... I never done anything like this. By Celestia, here I am... spilling my guts... to somepony I always considered an enemy. But the truth is... you're the only pony that could help us now. What the buck does that say... ?

If I thought you did know... I saw your name on the list, yours and everypony else, but if I thought you were in on this... I’d kill you, you understand?

Where do you keep the good stuff, who can you stand the life without a drink once in a while?

It all stinks. I mean, this truth. I mean, I thought I was being honest, y’know?

Oh, god, I wish I could believe in ‘gods’ as changelings do. How can somepony do that? I can’t believe, I can’t... this. I done some bad things. But I never did anything like... Oh, mother, forgive me... ” the imitation of Applejack said crying profusely.

“And then she left.” Chrysalis said in her true form, pointing one for her holed hooves to a window. “I swear I don't know what in hell she was talking about. Luckily, neither my husband, but he left me the very next day. He accused me of being hiding something, and we’re getting divorced now, not that I really care, I could simply find another stallion. Our marriage was having problems because we never had a foal. of course we can’t! I could simply disappear, but... I don’t know, I’m too used to be Crystal Alibi now... I don’t know what I’m waiting for.”

“What’re these ’gods’ Applejack was talking about?” Pinkie asked, trying to connect the dots.

“They are... That’s, hard to explain. They’re common in other cultures though. Something important about them is that they can’t die.” Chrysalis tried to explain, a bit puzzled herself.

“Oh! like a princess?” Pinkie said, with her interest picked up.

“No, not like a princess, otherwise I could be one myself, and even if I like the idea... They’re something that you can’t kill, even when you give your best try. they’re something that can’t die.”

“Like... Rarity?” Pinkie said, and Chrysalis nodded positively. “Funny story. Sounds unbelievable. Probably true... “ Pinkie highlighted, rubbing her chin with a hoof.

“You can confirm with my husband, but... he’s probably not so good memorizing dialogs, or corporal expression, as I am.” Chrysalis explained with a bit of pride in her voice, or maybe the best way in which a good actress could hide her regret, Pinkie thought.

“That won’t be necessary. Besides, that could affect negatively your relation with him right now.” Pinkie said, understanding that Chrysalis was expecting to go back with her husband after all.

“I’m not... S-so what? You mean that’s it? Will you leave me alone now?” Chrysalis stuttered doubtfully.

“Alone? No sillie, queenie. Nopony should be left alone, I’ll be your friend now.” Pinkie Pie said hugging Chrysalis, who was repressing herself at first, but ended hugging her back.

“I’m sick, you know? The unbalance of magic is affecting me.” Chrysalis confessed.

“Sick? What kind of sickness?” Pinkie wondered, truly worried, looking at her sad eyes.

“Heh. Well, you know that kind of sickness that you eventually get better from? Now, that’s not the kind of sickness I got. My straction spell isn’t perfect anymore, I’m slowly starving to death, no matter what I do.” Chrysalis said as Pinkie’s eyes became tearful, and they both hugged each other again.

“Don’t worry, many years ago, Twilight and I created a recipe for a substitute food for changelings, Mis... Rarity, keeps producing it, I’m sure she’ll help us!” Pinkie said enthusiastically, but chrysalis broke away her embrace.

“No, that food... I know what it is, it was imperfect from the beginning, love can’t be replaced” Chrysalis sadly said.

“Then what... ?” Pinkie asked, trying to not feel defeated.

“Then nothing, just go.” Chrysalis said, pushing Pinkie away. “We changelings can’t produce love, that’s why we feed on it. I’m dying, and the whole experience is new for me. I had wished for somepony to stay, and mourn my death. I never really loved my husband, and I can’t be your friend.”

“But I can be yours” Pinkie said before hug her for one last time, without being rejected at all, before going inside the door of the refrigerator, for surprise of Chrysalis who hastily opened the door again looking for her, but could notice anything beside the small magical scent of a portal in it.

Pinkie’s diary, Hooftober 16th, 1985, 42nd Street:

Cupcakes draped across every billboard, every display, littering the sidewalk. I was offered artificially flavored apple pies, and artificially sweetened cupcakes... but no natural flavored muffins. Natural flavored pastries are like good hoof-made cyder... They don’t make it anymore.

Ponyville has grown since Luna’s attack, the village was practically destroyed back then, but its proximity to Canterlot let ponies believe that they are safe, it’s more like a city now. Haven’t they realized? For that very same reason was one of the very first places being attacked.

Or maybe we, the former Elements of Harmony, are the ones to blame for that..

I thought about Chrysalis’ story on my way back to the cemetery. It all could be lies, or could it all be part of a revenge scheme planned during her years as Crystal Alibi. But I don’t think so, and if it’s true, then what? Puzzling references to a list, some immortal things that changelings call gods, probably a reference to Rarity... And Sweetie. Might her sister be at risk in some way? So many questions. Never mind, I’ll get answers soon, Twilight taught me that nothing is unsolvable. Nothing is hopeless, not while there’s friendship.

I needed to do a last visit first, quietly, without fuss. I had to broke in the cemetery to pay the last respects to my friend.

Alice Jacqueline Brandine Apple. Born in 1950. During twelve years a general at the service of Celestia, her first and only military rank in the royal guard, died in 1985, Buried in the rain.

Is that what happens to us? A life of conflict with no time for friends, so that when it’s done, only our enemies leave roses.

Violent lives, ending violently, none of us has died in bed, not allowed. Something in our personalities perhaps? Some urge for obtain what we want, say what we want, and redeem our guilts while we can? Other ponies bury her heads in a swollened pie made with artificial flavors, trying to forget what they lost, but some of us can't forget. And the future is bearing down like a train wreckage.

Applejack understood. She tried to see the truth behind all things, and in the end, she could. It was thanks to magic perhaps. She tasted magic just like me before the disbalance, using the elements of harmony, as no other earth pony as done before. I don’t know the source she chose, but she could see the true face of everything, but that face decided to look back at her, and it wasn't a friendly face.

Nopony else could saw that truth, and that’s why she was so lonely, holding secrets of everypony else.

I have a secret too.

I once went to the doctor, I told him that I was depressed, I told him that life seems harsh and cruel. I told him I felt all alone in a threatening world, where what lies ahead is vague and uncertain.

The doctor told me: Treatment is simple, a mare expert in parties is in town tonight, go and see her, that should pick you up. Her name is Pinkie Pie.

I almost burst into tears, I never told that doctor I was Pinkie Pie.

True story, I'm not even playing. Roll on snare drums, curtains. Sometimes I laugh alone at that.

Since then I’ve only fighting the sadness. A greeting, a smile, a hug, they can save lives.

“Did somepony really cry for you, or was it only the rain?” Pinkie asked in front of the tomb after putting in the ground the best apple she could afford, and take Applejack’s hat, that Rainbow Dash had left behind to cover her straight mane from the Rain, and wiped her tears away.

To Be Continued.