Chapters Prologue
Just inside the Everfree Forest, near the border of Sweet Apple Acres, there could be seen through the murk, a lone changeling trotting through the forest. The creature's double ringed cat eyes glowed, flitting left and right in the darkness of the forest, wings fluttering nervously. The creature was carrying a small silk bundle gently in its mouth that swung back and forth with each step. The changeling stopped in a clearing, setting down the bundle.
"It should be here somewhere! O by the hive, it has to be here..." came a hushed buzzing voice from the changeling.
The creature turned its head, ears perked; it could hear music coming from nearby. Leaving the bundle where it sat on the ground, the changeling approached the sound and poked its head through the underbrush. It smiled at what it saw.
The Apple family was dancing and singing and eating, celebrating one of their famous family reunions.
The changeling immediately noticed a long line of boiling cauldrons directly in front of it. There were a few Apples near, smiling while making their world renowned apple fritters, none of them noticing the pair of amber, double ringed, slit eyes watching them from the bushes.
The changeling drew its head back into the cover of the forest once again, trotting back to its bundle. The changeling picked the bundle back up in its mouth and began to return to the outskirts of the reunion, tears streaming down its smooth, black face.
Upon reaching the underbrush the changeling once again poked out its head. When it was sure nopony was looking it went forth from its hiding place, trotting towards a small stand piled high with freshly made fritters near the cauldrons.
The changeling then gently set its precious bundle under the stand, letting a small orange foal tumble out. The creature stared at it with tear-filled eyes before reminding itself what had to be done.
The changeling embraced the orange foal one last time and wept.
"I’ll always love you, Applejack."
Placing an apple-sized amber sphere with the little filly, it turned and bolted into the Everfree.
Chapter 1: A Rude Awakening
Chapter 1: A Rude Awakening
This has been, by far, one of the strangest days in Applejack’s life.
It had all started when Twilight’s brother sent her a letter saying that he wanted her and her friends to help out with his wedding. Then the bride turned out to be an evil changeling queen who fooled everypony, brainwashed Twilight’s brother, and trapped both Twilight and the real bride under the castle.
So, Twilight and the real bride escaped and showed up just in time to interrupt the final part of the ceremony, which made the fake bride drop her disguise, revealing herself to be a queen changeling, and K.O.ed Celestia. They ran out of the castle to retrieve the Elements of Harmony only to be stopped by an army of changelings.
After kicking some serious changeling flank they were captured by another small army of the changelings and brought back to the throne room. Then the queen went on a rant exposing her entire plan. While her back was turned Twilight had managed to free Princess Cadence again. Cadence used her love magic to break the mind control spell on her fiancé, Shining Armor.
Now, back to the story.
~~~~~~~~~~
"wha... is the wedding over?" asked a very confused Shining Armor.
"It's all over!" proclaimed the changeling queen.
"Your spell! Perform your spell!" shouted Twilight.
"Hahahahahahaha! What good would that do! My changelings already roam free!" stated Queen Chrysalis, hovering above the group and motioning to the destruction her army was causing. A fanged smile spread across her black face.
Closing his eyes in concentration, Shining Armor struggled to cast his ward spell but was only able to make a faint aura on the tip of his horn, too weakened from Chrysalis feeding off his love.
"My power is useless now. I don't have the strength to repel them." said Shining, the hope gone from his eyes.
Cadence approached and nuzzled her fiancé. "My love will give you strength."
"Hahahahaha! What a lovely but absolutely ridiculous statement!" scoffed Chrysalis. She rolled her eyes and turned her back on the couple, confident of her victory.
The two lovers touched horns, a magical spark igniting between them. They became surrounded by a swirling, pink, magical aura and began to rise off the floor. Suddenly the aura imploded. In a burst of light, Shining Armor’s magical ward exploded outwards, leaving Shining and Cadence touching horns and hind hooves in mid air to form the shape of a heart at its center.
Each of the Mane Six wore a smile of triumph on their face, seeing the ward hurl the changeling queen from the castle balcony and out of the city.
At least until they noticed a pony-sized, orange blur fly away from them.
The ward struck Applejack with the force of a freight train, throwing her against a pillar near the large, ornate double doors that served as the entrance.
When the ward finally passed, Applejack fell down from the pillar to land with a thud at the bottom. Her friends turned, concern clear on their faces, and ran to her aid. There was a green flash of light, and that was the last thing Applejack could remember.
~~~~~~~~~~
It was several hours before Applejack finally awoke. Shaking the grogginess out of her, Applejack noticed a piercing pain in the back of her head. She was in a small, square, stone room with no windows. One of its walls was constructed of iron bars with a iron bar-door in the middle. The rest of the walls were solid stone with condensation and malicious looking mold covering them in some spots. Applejack also noticed an iron chain had been cuffed onto her right hind leg, anchoring her to the rear wall.
She was in a prison cell.
Applejack approached the bars and looked out but was stopped a few feet short when the cain around her hind leg was pulled taught. As far as she could tell, the cell she was part of a wall on one side of a hallway. The hallway had torches every few yards, providing some measure of light, but lead on further than she could see at the angle the chain restricted her to.
Applejack began to panic. She thought only the worst ponies ended up in jail. What could she have done to get in here? Last thing she could remember that she was at the wedding with her friends, and Shining Armor and Cadence had just cast some sort of wall spell that apparently had knocked her out.
Applejack needed answers. She knew prisons were guarded twenty-four-seven, so she tried her luck. “Hey, what’s the big idea?! Where am Ah?! Where are mah friends?!”
“Quiet, prisoner!” Applejack heard a guard shout from somewhere down the hallway.
“Alert Captain Shining Armor that the prisoner is awake.”
Applejack heard the sound of hoofsteps getting farther away; then the bang of a heavy door.
Applejack sat and waited. It was about an hour before she heard someponyelse come back in. The volume of the door slamming shut startled her. She heard hoofsteps approach, and she looked up to see Shining Armor glaring down at her through the bars, hate clear in his eyes.
Shining was wearing the same armor he had on when he and Twilight were reunited. The purple, gilded armor made him look much more imposing.
“What have you done with Applejack?” He finally asked.
Applejack took a few steps back upon hearing this, the question confused her more than she ever thought possible.“What?”
“WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH APPLEJACK, CHANGELING!?” Shining barked. He looked to be seething with rage, although he did not enter the cell.
“Changelin? What’re ya talkin’ a-?” Applejack turned around to look at herself and was frozen with terror at what she saw.
There, where her familiar orange coat had been, was sleek black chitin, an amber carapace across her back with two beaten-looking gossamer wings. Gone was her blond mane and tail, and in their place was an amber-gold, bug-eaten mane and tail, tied at the ends with her red ribbons. But the thing that most upset Applejack was that her iconic triple apple cutie mark was missing.
Applejack, beginning to hyperventilate, looked at where her orange forelegs had been to see two, hole-filled, chitin covered appendages.
Applejack lifted her head up, blackness invading her vision, to look back at Shining Armor, and fainted.
~~~~~~~~~~
I’ll always love you, Applejack.
Applejack woke with a start, this time she was greeted by the sight of her best friends in the cell with her. However, this was no happy gathering. All of them, Shining Armor and four other guards included, were glaring down at her with hate burning in their eyes. Twilight was the first to step forward.
“What have you done with our friend?” She asked.
“What're ya talkin’ about, Twi?”
Rainbow Dash flew forward, her nose almost touching Applejack's, causing Applejack to fall down on her haunches. “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH APPLEJACK, CHANGELING!?”
Applejack saw tears forming on the edges of Rainbow's eyes, and remembered what she had seen before passing out.
She lifted a black foreleg in front of her face, her eyes widening in horror when she saw it. Still sitting, she lifted her other foreleg. Applejack was breathing heavily now. She stood up and turned to look upon the right side of the body, then her left.
Applejack turned back to Twilight, her eyes wide with fear. “Twilight, what’s goin’ on? What happened ta me? WHY DO AH LOOK LIKE THIS!?”
Twilight stared back, utterly unmoved by the question.
Applejack took a few steps back, shaking her head. “No. Twilight, everypony, please! It's me Applejack. I ain't a chan-"
*CRACK!!!*
Applejack fell to the floor, eyes wide with shock, holding her face where a small crack had appeared in her chitin.
Everypony stared in shock at Shining Armor. While Applejack was still talking he had stepped forward and slapped Applejack hard across the face with his hoof.
Now he was standing over the downed form of Applejack, hoof still raised, and staring down at her.
“I’ve heard enough.” Shining said in a level voice. he then turned and trotted down the hallway.
Applejack laid on the floor in a fetal position facing the girls and still holding her face.
As one, the remaining five of the Mane Six and the four guards accompanying them, turned and left without a word.
Applejack just lay on the prison floor and cried. Not because Shining had hurt her but because she had just realized something.
Her friends had abandoned her.
~~~~~~~~~~
The door opened quickly and five ponies entered.
The room had been given to the ponies by Celestia for them to use as long as they remained in Canterlot. It was rather ornate with large windows on one wall revealing a breathtaking view of Equestria; a large, furnished central living area; and three bedrooms, each with considerably large beds.
Rainbow Dash was the last to enter. She hovered slowly to the center of the room and plopped down on a large couch. Rainbow looked at the carpeted floor and frowned. “I… I can’t believe this is happening.” She said in a quiet voice.
“Of all the worst things that could happen, this is The. Worst. POSSIBLE. THING !” Rarity put a hoof to her forehead and fell onto her fainting couch, which she had apparently felt the need to have brought all the way from Ponyville. Twilight was starring daggers at her. “What? I really mean it this time!”
Twilight gave Rainbow an apologetic smile and trotted over to the her. “We know Rainbow. We all miss Applejack.”
“No, Twilight, it’s not that.” Rainbow sighed. “I’m supposed to be the Element of Loyalty!… but I let those changelings replace Applejack!” she said,slamming a hoof into the couch.
Twilight frowned in sympathy, laying a hoof aver her friend's withers. “Don’t worry Rainbow. We’ll get her back.”
“Yeah, don’t worry Dashie we’ll find Applejack and throw her a big welcome back party! So turn that frown upside down!” Pinkie managed to somehow frown, grab it with her hooves and turn her mouth one hundred and eighty degrees all while she was still talking.
A small smile crept its way onto Rainbow Dash’s face. “You’re right!” Rainbow jumped off the couch to stand with her friends. “All we have to do is get that changeling to tell us where its keeping Applejack. Then we kick its flank all the way to the Badlands!”
“But... what if it’s telling the truth”
Everypony turned around, but Twilight was the first to speak. “What do you mean, Fluttershy?”
“Eeep!” Fluttershy cowered beneath the inquisitive ponies. “Well, um… it’s just that… what if, maybe… it really is Applejack?”
“That’s impossible!” yelled Rainbow Dash.
“Well… maybe not.”
Everypony turned around again to face Rarity in confusion. “What ?” they asked in unison.
Rarity gave a look as if she were surprised the others didn't know. “Well, when I took Applejack with me to the spa that one time, we started talking, sharing a few secrets, and she told me that she had been adopted.” She explained.
“Why didn’t she tell us ?!” asked Rainbow Dash, jumping up to hover in the air.
“Well, with all the pride Applejack takes in her family, being adopted probably isn’t something she wants everypony to know.”
Twilight was lost in thought for a few seconds, it seemed logical to her. “That does make sense.”
“But that changeling can’t be Applejack, right?!” asked Rainbow, motioning desperately to her friends for some confirmation.
Twilight sighed. “I don’t know.” She said. “But I think we should all get some sleep. We can talk more tomorrow and get this all sorted out.”
Everypony complied and walked slowly back to their bedrooms to finally get some sleep after the hectic wedding day.
After everypony had left for bed, Twilight was the only pony still in the living area. Every scenario imaginable running through her mind, even the possibility of the changeling actually being Applejack. She stood there a while longer before giving up. Looking up towards the ceiling, Twilight sighed.
“Don’t worry Applejack.”
Chapter 2: Reveries and Realizations
Chapter 2: Reveries and Realizations
After the events of yesterday Applejack had sobbed herself to sleep. She was lying on the stone floor of her cell with her back turned towards the iron-bar door, her right hind leg still chained to the wall. It had been cold in the cell that night, and condensation stuck to the stone-brick walls and floor.
Applejack still couldn't believe what had happened. One moment she was helping her friends to defeat the changelings and the next she was one, she didn't even know why. Her own friends had imprisoned her. Her own friends had questioned her. Her own friends had abandoned her. And all because of what she now was. Tears began to run down her face at these thoughts.
Why did this have to happen to her? Applejack was sure it had something to do with Chrysalis. Most likely it was the Queen herself who had done this. One last deed to make ponies suffer. Well, it sure did work . Applejack thought to herself. But why me?
Applejack was startled out of her reverie by the sound of the prison door slamming shut. She heard nothing more until the sound of four hooves clacking against the stone echoed just outside her cell. Applejack didn't need to look up, she knew who was there. After so long being close friends she had learned to recognize the sound Rainbow Dash's wing beats. The cyan pegasus opened the cell door and entered slowly.
Rainbow stopped just behind the changeling. She saw the creature that had pretended to be Applejack in the same position it was in last night. It looked to her as though the creature had cried itself to sleep, which it indeed had. She actually felt a bit sorry for the changeling, Rainbow never liked seeing others suffer, but cast the thought away, remembering what the creature had done. Rainbow took one last step towards the changeling, scowling down at the creature. She was intent on getting the information she needed, but it spoke up first.
"Go away, Dash." the chained changeling said weakly.
The sudden command slightly surprised Rainbow, but she was not deterred. Rainbow stamped her hoof against the floor in determination. She had to get her friend back. "No! You know where Applejack is and I'm not leaving until you tell me!"
Applejack shifted slightly on the ground. "Why? Not like you'll believe me if Ah do."
"You will tell me!" Rainbow had to get Applejack back. She just had to.
The changeling starred at the floor and sat up. Applejack half turned her head in Dash's direction but kept her gaze low. "Ah already told you. But ya don't believe me..." Applejack looked up at Dash. "None of y'all believe me... "
Rainbow stared into those alien eyes, unable to look away. She saw deep sadness in them, but she knew she couldn't trust the creature. Changelings were untrustable. So in hopes of tricking the shapeshifter, she decided to play along.
"Fine, if you really are Applejack, then prove it." She said with just the barest hint of a grin.
Rainbow saw the changeling's eyes flare with a small amount of hope and surprise as she said this, but it quickly faded and they filled again with sorrow.
"Ah can't." She stated simply. Applejack turned and trotted into one cell's corners before sitting on her haunches again, while Rainbow remained where she was in the center.
Of all the responses the pegasus had expected, this was not one of them.
'I can't.' what the hay is that supposed to mean! Ugh, this changeling is starting to act he same way AJ does when she ... No! This isn't AJ. This is the monster that took her from us. Rainbow reminded herself. Just play along and eventually it'll slip up and we can get Applejack back. Then we can finally get rid of this... thing. Just keep playing along.
"What do you mean you can't! There must be something only Applejack can do!"
"But there ain't nothin' that'll prove it to ya." AJ lowered her head and starred at the seam of the floor and wall.
Applejack knew what she said was true. Rainbow had a stubborn streak almost as wide as her own. Convincing her of something was neigh impossible. The Applejack Rainbow knew wasn't a love eating monster, she was an honest, hardworking farm pony, and nopony could convince her otherwise.
"Then tell me where the real Applejack is!" Rainbow took a few steps towards the changeling, abandoning her little plan.
Applejack didn't respond this time, the familiar question resuming the wetness down her face. She knew that nothing she said would convince Rainbow.
"TELL ME WHAT YOU DID TO MY FRIEND!" there were tears in Rainbow's eyes now, but there was still no answer.
"Tell me! " Rainbow faltered and fell to the ground, sobbing. She couldn't take it anymore. She was supposed the be the element of loyalty, the one who is always there, but she had let her friend be taken from her. It was too much for her to bear.
Applejack heard scuffling behind her and turned to see Rainbow Dash bawling on the floor. She hated, as all good friends do, seeing her friends cry. Applejack trotted over to Rainbow and lied beside her, resting a hole-filled hoof over her friend's withers.
Applejack had never seen Rainbow cry before. In all the years they've known each other Rainbow Dash had always stood strong, if sometimes a little too much so. But now, seeing her like this, Applejack knew just what this whole mess had done to her friend, and she began to weep as well.
They remained like this for some time until Rainbow noticed the hoof across her back. She didn't look at the pony beside her. Rainbow wanted to believe that it was her friend. That Applejack was here with her, and this had all been some terrible dream. But she eventually did look. She looked again into those eyes. In them Rainbow saw the same deep sadness she now felt in herself, but she also saw concern, concern for the pony lying beside the owner of those eyes.
Rainbow shrugged off the holey limb and jumped up to stare accusingly at the shapeshifter. She would never allow herself to be fooled again by that creature. She stared at it with more hate than she had ever felt against anything before.
Applejack remained lying next to where Rainbow had been, staring at the floor with a teardrop splattering on the ground every few seconds.
Rainbow Dash turned, the tears still falling from her face, and left.
~~~~~~~~~~
As Rarity was cantering down the streets of Canterlot she spotted Rainbow Dash trotting in the direction of the Castle. She had seen Pinkie Pie as well, earlier, but when she asked the party pony what she was doing all Pinkie had sad was that she was a following a lead or something of the sort.
As she approached her friend Rarity began to take notice of the pegasus's attitude. Rainbow was trotting along the side walk with her head down, ears drooped, and wings hanging by her sides. Rarity, being the emotional expert she was, knew almost immediately what had happened, and, being the good friend she was, Rarity could not allow Rainbow to go about like this.
Rarity galloped over to Rainbow and began trotting along side her. She noticed the redness in the pony's eyes and the wetness on her face, but she had expected this. "Why Rainbow, whatever happened to you, dear? You look like you just went on a date with Prince Blueblood." Rarity asked her voice full of concern.
Rainbow sighed. "If only that was the problem. That changeling isn't telling us anything and who knows what they could be doing to AJ right now!" her usually rough voice was slightly hoarse from her previous episode.
Rarity put hoof in front of Dash's chest, stopping her from walking any further. She walked around to Rainbow's front, suddenly much more serious. "Now, Rainbow, we all miss Applejack and want her back just as much as you do, but you have to remember what Twilight said. We will find her." Rarity stated sternly.
Rainbow Dash lifted her head to face Rarity, looking her in the eyes. "I know what Twilight said and I know we'll get her back," Rainbow looked away from Rarity. She feel her eyes begin to sting with emotion. "But one of our friends has been taken away from us... AND IT'S LIKE WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT!"
"Rainbow Dash wait!" Rarity called as Rainbow flew away, not willing to break down again in front of her friend.
Rarity stood where she was. She had never seen that pony so upset.She wanted desperately to help her friend, but Rarity knew only one pony could do that, and it wasn't her.
"Oh, Rainbow... "
~~~~~~~~~~
It had been about three hours since Rainbow Dash had left. Applejack hated the fact that she had made Rainbow so distraught. She hated that her friends wouldn't listen to her. But most of all, she hated what she had become.
When Rainbow Dash left Applejack retreated back to a corner of her cell. She had been lying on the bone chilling floor for hours, but, her new chitin being surprisingly warm, she didn't feel the cold. However, Applejack was not sleeping nor weeping, she hadn't shed a tear since Rainbow left her. She had just thought.
Applejack thought about her new life. Whether or not she would go back to Ponyville, if she even got the chance to that is. Likely if she ever returned she would be run out of town. How she would have to eat now and what she would eat? She refused to enthrall anypony. If she needed love she would not steal it like other changelings.
Applejack thought about her family. What might happen to the farm now that she was gone. Applebloom, Big Mac, and Granny Smith would never get over her absence. Granny Smith would die from the greif of losing her granddaughter. Big macintosh would never speak again. Applebloom would probably lock herself in her room for months upon hearing the news. And the rest of the Apple clan would shun them without a doubt.
Applejack thought about her friends. If they didn't believe her, they would think the real Applejack had perished. If they did believe her, they would banish her from Equestria. If they found a way to change her back into a pony things would never be the same among them.
Applejack was suddenly startled out of thought once again by the sound of another closing door. This time, however, she heard hoofsteps in the long hallway. Applejack stayed where she was. She did not want anypony, especially one of her friends, to see her like this again.
Applejack heard the hoofsteps stop at her cell and the iron-bar door open softly. She desperately wanted the pony to go away, but her voice caught in her throat.
"Um... H-hello?" asked timid voice.
Applejack got up and turned around to see the last pony she ever expected to visit a prison alone shaking with fright in the cell doorway.
"Fluttershy?" Applejack asked, still not quite believing the shy pony was actually there.
"eep!" Fluttershy cowered under the gaze of the creature before her. "Y-y... yes?" she said in a barely audible whisper.
"What're you doin' here?" Applejack replied, still confused as to why the pony would come alone.
"Oh, um... I just thought... t-that when Shining Armor... h-hit you, I mean... he may have.. h-hurt you." said Fluttershy quietly, still managing to cower under Applejack from across the room.
"Oh, uh... " Applejack raised a hoof to her face, feeling the ragged crack. She winced. "Yeah it stung a bit, but don't worry about it. It's nothin' really. Why?" Applejack understood now. She should have guessed it was just Fluttershy being kind and considerate as always.
"Oh, well... I saw the crack in your chitin he made, and um, thought I should take a look at it... if it's Ok with you, that is."
"uh, sure."
Strangely enough, Fluttershy's eyes lit up upon hearing Applejack's answer. Fluttershy rushed over as eager to learn about this new creature as she was when she first saw butterflies. As soon as she reached the corner Applejack was standing in, she began scrutinizing the crack in the changeling's protective chitin. After a moment longer, Fluttershy reached into the saddlebags she was carrying and pulled out a glass jar full of a evil looking, dark green substance.
Applejack didn't notice the jar until Fluttershy had covered her hoof in the stuff and was about to rub some on Applejack's face. She instinctively recoiled and took a few steps away from the contaminated hoof.
"Uh, Fluttershy, what in tarnation is that?" she asked.
Fluttershy jumped at the changeling's sudden motion, but responded nonetheless. "oh, um... T-this is just some chitin medicine. I usually only make it whenever Mr. or Mrs. Lobster gets hurt... But I thought you might need some... if that's Ok with you." Applejack nodded her consent and returned to Fluttershy's side.
Fluttershy began to apply the medicine and Applejack visibly relaxed. To Applejack it felt like a gentle wave of cool water washing over her, emanating from the injury. She had no idea it had been hurting her so much, probably too caught up in thought to notice.
But then Applejack began to think again. Why would Fluttershy be helping her? Applejack was the enemy now. Fluttershy, herself, had almost been willing to physically injure the changelings during yesterday's invasion, and Fluttershy would never hurt anything. Was that only yesterday? To Applejack it felt like so much longer. But still, she had to know why Fluttershy seemed to care when noponyelse did.
"Fluttershy, why are ya helpin' me?" she whispered.
By now Fluttershy had finished applying the ointment, and gave Applejack a stare almost as powerful as The Stare itself and answered sternly. "Because, nopony, no matter what they are or what they've done, deserves to be treated like this."
"Does that mean you believe me?" Applejack was filled to the brim with vain hope. If there was anypony who would believe her it would have to be Fluttershy.
Fluttershy lowered her head. "N-no." she admitted softly.
Applejack, her last hope gone, closed her eyes and drew a few shaky breaths and asked, "Why?"
Fluttershy was taken aback by the question. Not only was it unexpected but the way the changeling had said it.
"I... I think it's because..." Fluttershy gave a large sigh and answered confidently. "Because Applejack would never lie to us about what she was."
That was it. Applejack couldn't hold it back any longer. She sat down on her haunches before Fluttershy and wept. She wept for the life she had lost and the betrayal of her friends.
Fluttershy's jaw worked but no sound came forth. She was at a loss for words. She never expected changelings to have so much emotion, but she knew it was genuine, Fluttershy had too much experience to be fooled by a facade, but she still hated seeing anything be in such misery.
"N-no, please... don't cry!" She begged.
Much to Fluttershy's dismay, Applejack's sobbing continued, unabated. So Fluttershy did the only thing she could think of.
She jumped forward and enveloped Applejack in a comforting embrace, repeating over and over again, "Don't cry. Please don't cry." Being wracked with grief and sorrow Applejack barely noticed the contact, and the sound of her own sobbing drowned out Fluttershy's soft words. So they remained, Applejack weeping and Fluttershy comforting.
Eventually though, Applejack finally ran out of tears to shed and the blubbering ceased. That was when she noticed Fluttershy, who had been holding Applejack now for well over five minuets.
Applejack embraced her friend and simply said, "Thank you."
Fluttershy did not shy away from the contact. She was glad that the sobbing had finally stopped, but she couldn't look away from the creature's eyes. Those strange, red tinged, amber eyes, although not focused on her, we're filled with emotion. But she found something very disturbing in those eyes, something very familiar. She eased her embrace just enough to look the changeling's eyes directly.
"Applejack?"
~~~~~~~~~~
It was early morning in Canterlot. The sun had only just begun to peek above the horizon, but the mountainside city was bustling with activity. Some ponies were opening restraunts, shops, or government buildings; others were closing down bars, clubs, and other night-life establishments; while still more went about on their own morning routines. Amid all the ponies of the glistening city was the center of activity itself, Canterlot Castle.
Inside the castle were hundreds of ponies going about their daily duties. Politicians bickered amongst themselves in the halls and reception rooms. The guard ponies in their gleaming, golden armor stood at attention trying desperately to not roll their eyes at the arguing politicians. The cooks cooked, he maids cleaned, and the scholars studied, but one pony in particular, off in some hallway in the castle's north wing, was on a mission.
Twilight Sparkle marched down a long hallway, her anxious hoofsteps echoing loudly throughout the castle. She was on her way to meet with the princess. She had not been summoned nor been given permission, but there was one thing she needed to discus with Celestia and it could not wait.
As Twilight trotted down the hallway at a brisk pace, none of the guards gave her a second glance, but as soon as she approached the royal bedchambers there were spears, wings, and unicorn horns, two of each to be exact, there to block her path. Twilight could hear ponies talking behind the door, but she knew the drill and just waited impatiently.
One of the earth pony guards faced the door and announced Twilights presence. The voice that replied, however, was not that of the princess but of Shining Armor.
"Let her in." Shining said through the door. The guards obeyed and lowered their weapons before opening the door and ushering Twilight inside.
The royal bed camber was filled with light. The rays of the morning sun entered the room through one of two enormous windows that took up most of the east and west walls. The room was heavily decorated with murals and relief carvings of famous and not so famous events, there as if to remind Celestia of her mistakes, and there, in the center of the room, sat Celestia's bed and upon that bed, Celestia herself.
Twilight saw the princess as she had looked the night after the attack, albeit she was conscious now. Celestia lied in the center of her circular bed, the comforter covering her from the chest down. She wore a pink cast on her damaged horn just as one might for a broken arm, and Shining Armor, still dressed in his purple armor, was standing by the side of her bed. To twilight, the pair looked as if they just had been arguing.
The alicorn put on a forced smile when she saw Twilight enter. She was still in terrible pain from the spell Chrysalis used against her, but Celestia would never let her prodigy see it. "Hello, Twilight." she said in a slightly hoarse version of her normally regal, motherly voice.
Twilight trotted to Celestia's bedside and addressed the issue that had been plaguing her mind. "Celestia, I need to talk to you. It's about-"
Celestia abruptly silenced Twilight by raising her hoof from the bed. "I already know, Twilight. Your brother and I have been discussing the matter at length for some time now."
Twilight's mouth was still half open in frozen speech from being interrupted, but she recovered quickly. "You... Then you know about Applejack?"
"Yes, Twilight." Celestia nodded her head.
"So... can you help us?" Twilight asked hopefully.
Celestia nodded again. "I would like to speak with this changeling."
"I'm sorry princess, but I can't allow that to happen." Shining Armor said in an exasperated tone.
"Shining." Celestia made an expression as if she were scolding a child. It was quite obvious to Twilight what the two had been arguing about by now.
"No, princess. To bring a changeling into the castle... into the royal chambers... And in the condition you're in now! It's just asking for trouble!" By now Shining was pacing at the foot of the bed, almost shouting in volume. "The changelings just attacked the city and now you want to invite one into the castle?!'
Celestia sighed. "Shining Armor, do you hold no faith in me?" her voice showed no sign of anger or annoyance. Maybe it was just the way she was lying on the bed, but Twilight could tell she was very tired of this conversation. "Do you honestly think I would invite a possible enemy into the heart of the city unless I was absolutely sure no harm would come of it?"
Shining Armor stopped his pacing. "N... n-no..., my princess." he stammered.
Celestia seemed slightly pleased at his response. "Good. Then tonight, after Luna raises the moon, bring the changeling into the throne room."
"but-" Shining sighed and hung his head in defeat. "Yes, princess."
Celestia turned to Twilight. "And, Twilight, gather your friends and meet me and Luna there as well."
Twilight bowed. She was glad this was finally going to be over with. She and her friends would get Applejack back and this whole changeling mess could finally be over, and then things could return to normalcy. The princess would fix everything. "Thank you, Celestia."
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!"