Applejack?

Chapter 3: Secrets

           Celestia sat upon her throne, her beloved sister by her side. Luna had just risen the moon to announce the beginning of her night, as was her duty. Although it was night, the throne room was brightly lit and many ponies inhabited it. The Court of the Night, as they preferred to be called, were going about their duties. The court was being especially brief in their work this night, for as Luna had earlier told them, they were to be dismissed almost immediately as the night began.

          Neither of the monarchs had explained to the court the reason for this command except that they were to meet with an important guest. None were fooled, however. They had all heard the rumors. The princesses were to hold audience with a changeling.

          Although nopony knew who the changeling was. The Royal Guard being their main source of information on the subject, most of the rumors had been vastly exaggerated. Some had heard that the changeling was Queen Chrysalis herself; others heard that this particular changeling had masqueraded as one of the mane six, and succeeded. Of all the most ludicrous of stories, that last one took the cake. But, either way they had work that needed to be done and little time to complete it in.

          The court bustled about for a few hours more until Princess Luna bid them leave. The throne room emptied quickly, only the Night Guard and the princesses themselves remaining. The great doors at the front of the hall opened and five ponies cantered in.

~~~~~~~~~~

          Applejack lay quietly in her cell with her eyes closed. Even though it had been night time now for several hours, she had not been asleep. Applejack couldn't sleep. One of her friends actually believed her. She could hope now. Before Fluttershy left she told Applejack that she would try her best to convince the others of what she had discovered. Applejack knew that now there was a chance, a chance that she could get her friends back, but that hope had shattered when the guards came.

          The pegasus and earth pony guards lowered several spears at her head while their unicorn counterparts immobilized her with magic. One of the guards unlocked the cuff that was still anchoring her back leg to the wall and gave Applejack a hard shove out the door. As she lay splayed across the floor two navy blue hooves stepped into her view, and Applejack's fears were confirmed when she looked up to see Captain Shining Armor.

          Shining scowled down at her, his armor making him far more intimidating than normal. He signaled to a guard on his right who, in turn, signaled to a squad behind him.  The squad approached, and while Applejack was again immobilized by unicorn magic, they clasped her in full irons. Applejack now sported an iron collar and four cuffs, all attached to each other by several chains that met in the center of her legs.

          At this point Applejack realized what was happening. Fluttershy had failed; none of her friends believed her. She was about to be brought before Celestia and be banished from Equestria.

          Applejack hung her head low as the guards lead her out of the dungeon she had been in and out of the prison. The moonlight reflected ominously from her chitin, that and her fangs giving her the appearance of some vampiric beast. The clanking of her bonds drew the attention of many bystanders. Most just ignored the spectacle or watched quietly, but there were a few who cheered at Applejack's misery.

          The castle was surprisingly close to the prison. keep your friends close and your enemies closer, Applejack figured.

          As the group approached the enormous doors at the front of the castle two unicorn guards enveloped them in magic and they swung open to reveal the castle's entrance hall. The congregation of guards and changeling proceeded up the main stairs until they reached a long, spacious hallway, and at the end of the hall, the throne room.

Good bye Equestria, Applejack thought as the guards opened the magnificent doors.

~~~~~~~~~~

          The Friendship Express was hurtling up the mountain towards Canterlot. It weaved in and out of tunnels on its way, leaving behind a trail of white steam and smoke. The train was, as it is normally, filled with passengers headed to the capital. All of these passengers seemed to be enjoying themselves in one way or another; all but one that is.

           There in the train's center car sat a white unicorn about the same age as Twilight and company. She had a mane so pure blonde it was golden done in the same style as Fluttershy's and had strikingly blue eyes. The unicorn fidgeted nervously on her train bench.

          Earlier that day she had seen an article in the local newspaper, the Equestria Daily. "A Changeling Among Harmony" was the title of said article. The paper had described the recent rumors that the princesses were harboring a changeling. The reporter wrote in the article that he noticed the absence of a Miss Applejack, Element of Honesty, ever since the changeling invasion, and thus with the rumors of the changeling in captivity, suspected that the Element of Honesty had been taken. The moment the unicorn had seen the article she had run to the station and caught the first train for Canterlot that night.

          She noticed the street lights as the train pulled into the station and she trotted quickly to the train car doors, eager to get into the city. The doors opened and she bolted out and began galloping in the direction on the castle. She she had to get there in time. She couldn't allow this to happen, and Celestia was her only hope.

~~~~~~~~~~

          Applejack trotted slowly into the throne room. Her friends were there at the foot of the throne, all looking at her with malice. Except for Fluttershy of course.  Applejack's eyes, however, never left Celestia nor the princess her. Celestia frowned as she looked upon the bound shapeshifter, almost scowling in expression.

          Applejack stopped a few yards in front of her friends and the guards surrounding her moved into a semicircle formation, exposing her to the princesses, and Celestia spoke in a deadly serious voice.

          "Who are you?" She asked.

          Applejack broke eye contact with Celestia to look at Fluttershy hopefully. The meek Pegasus gave a slight nod. Applejack lowered her head, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. When she looked back up at Celestia she simply stated, "Applejack."

          Celestia considered this for a moment. The reassurance Fluttershy gave The changeling had not escaped her notice. The princess didn't quite know what to think. She had seen changelings use mind control spells on ponies before, but Fluttershy's actions seemed just too sincere.

          "And what evidence do you have to prove this?" Luna replied.

           Applejack took in another deep breath. "n-none, except mah word."

          The back and forth between Celestia and Luna continued as Celestia spoke. "And why should we trust the word of a changeling?"

          This time Applejack looked up confidently and answered, her voice unwavering. "Because Ah would never lie ta mah friends, and ah would never lie ta you... or anypony."

          Celestia sighed. "Very well."

          Celestia's horn glowed and a gilded box surrounded by a golden aura levetated out from behind her.

          Shining Armors eyes widened. "Princess, wha-" his mouth closed abruptly as both princesses shot him death glares and Celestia continued.

          "If you are truly the Element of Honesty this is the only thing that can tell us for certain. If you are not Applejack, however, you will dearly wish that you had never attempted to take her place." The box opened and a golden necklace with an orange, jewel apple at its center floated out. "I ask you one final time... who are you?"

          "I. Am. Applejack."

          "We shall see."

          At that Celestia lowered the necklace down to the changeling. Applejack could only watch it warily as the golden chain descended toward her neck. The clasp clicked shut as soon as it touched her. Applejack noticed the familiar warmth that emanated from the mystical element.

          For a few seconds after everypony  heard the clasp click the element did nothing. Shining began to get anxious and lowered his horn toward Applejack. Celestia and Luna, however, wore calm expressions and patiently waited. A few more moments passed and Shining charged his horn.

          "Well, I guess we know the truth now don't-"

          He was suddenly cut off as a blinding light burst forth from the element. Everypony stumbled back in surprise, even the princesses. The bright orange light pulsed growing steadily more potent as it lifted Applejack off the floor. She now hovered before Celestia, forelegs outstretched. Applejack's eyes opened to reveal two glowing white orbs as the light reached its climax with a blinding flash.

          The light vanished as suddenly as it had appeared and Applejack lowered to the ground, her eyes once more their familiar emerald green. Applejack felt... different. She looked down at herself an smiled in pure joy. Applejack was herself again, albeit glowing slightly. Her cutie mark, blonde mane, and orange fur were all back, replacing the horrible nightmare of black chitin.

          But as the glowing aura around her faded green fire began to creep its way up from Applejack's hooves, leaving dark plating in its wake.

          Applejack panicked slightly as she realized what was happening. As the fire consumed the last strands of her golden mane she lofted a hoof before her and wept yet again. As Applejack quietly sobbed to herself she failed to notice the clamor of armor about her until she felt a gentle hoof rest upon her back.

          Applejack snuffled and looked up to see Princess Celestia smiling warmly at her.

          "I believe we owe you an apology, Applejack."

          Applejack gazed upon the princess in disbelief. She turned to her friends, all of whom stood dumbstruck. Even Fluttershy, who appeared to be peering out from behind her hooves.

          Before anypony could say anything more there was a loud clamor of metal and shouting voices just outside. At that moment the throne room doors where enveloped in a sickly green aura and thrust open.

~~~~~~~~~~

          The white unicorn had by now galloped through the city into Canterlot proper. she ran past many well dressed ponies bumping into some and knocking others out of her path as they yelled profanity in her direction. The castle gate now in sight, she put on another burst of speed.

          As the unicorn neared the barrier the two guards posted there ordered her to stop. They lowered their spears when she refused to slow down only to be hurled out of the way by the unicorn's magic.

          She sped past the gates toward the castle doors dispatching the two ponies guarding them as quickly as she had the last pair. The doors swung open as the unicorn burst onto the ball room. She continued to gallop through the halls to the throne room slamming guards against the wall with levitation and casting an occasional sleep spell at the more burly ponies in her path.

          She was almost there. The throne room doors just at the end of the hallway.

          The unicorn took out the last of the guards with a powerful wave of magic that slammed them against the walls, knocking them unconscious. She ran down the hallway and swung open the mighty doors with her magic and stopped at the threshold.

          She saw many ponies in the room, most obviously more guards, but the only thing she noticed was Celestia standing before a black, insect-like pony.

          "Applejack..."

          The unicorn teleported, and in a flash of green light, appeared standing between Applejack and the princess. She fell into a defensive stance and looked up at Celestia.

          "Princess, stop! Please, don't hurt her!"

          "Who are you and why have you invaded my castle?!"

          A green flash of fire erupted around the unicorn and receded to reveal a golden maned, golden eyed changeling in her place.

          "My name is Auria and I will not let you harm my sister!"