Ascension To Beyond

Twilight looked up, the light rain mixing with her tears.

“An overcast day to represent our overcast hearts. We commit to the earth this mare, taken from us before her time. Applebloom had much to offer us in her life, but was not meant to be.”

No sounds were made as the coffin was lowered, save the crying of her sister Applejack. Twilight’s eyes wandered over the graves on either side. Granny Smith, AJ’s parents, and now her little sister. Then her eyes moved to the other ponies gathered.

The other Crusaders and their families. A few of the ponies they knew from Ponyville. Various other ponies they had met over their lifetimes. And of course, three squads of her own Magister Force armed to the teeth to take on anything.

“No, she doesn’t deserve to be in the ground.” Applejack said, struggling to get away from Rainbow.

“Aj, we can’t do anything now.” Fluttershy said, wiping away her tears.

“Get offa me. My little sis doesn’t deserve to be dead. She didn’t deserve to die. She was finally happy. She had a family. Was about to have her first grandfoal.”

“Aj, fighting isn’t going to bring her back.”

“Sis. What happened was beyond any of our control, and it is too late to change. We can only go forward from here.” Big Mac said, walking over and grabbing Aj’s shoulders.

“I could have done something. I could have stopped him.” She said, shaking as tears started streaming down her face.

“There was nothin ya coulda done sis. We’re purty strong, but we can’t fight a unicorn.” He said, pulling her against his chest. Tears stained his own face as he held her close. “There was nothin we coulda done.”

“I want you to do it.” Applejack said, slamming the door to Twilight’s office open.

“Ok.” Twilight responded, dropping the report she was reading.

“I don’t care what you-” Applejack started, before a look of realization came across her face. “You were waiting for me to come here, weren’t you.”

“I’ve been waiting since the funeral. Now, do you want this done or are we just going to talk?” Twilight asked, the shimmer of rage glinting across her eyes a mirror to the same Applejack saw every time she looked in a mirror. The tunnel entrance in her office appeared, like it had so few years ago.

“After this, I want the pony who did it delivered to me personally.” Applejack said, as she stormed down the tunnel.

“Already waiting. We captured him trying to escape via the forest.” Twilight said, following after her.

“How much is it going to hurt?”

“Like nothing you’ve ever felt before.”

“It can’t hurt more than watching Lil Bloom die in my hands.”

“It tears at your very soul.” Twilight warned, as the light from the lab filled the tunnel ahead of them.

“If Fluttershy can take it at full strength, then I can take it reduced.” Applejack stormed into the room, surprising the two unicorns that were working on the machinery.

“Very well. Start the warm-up sequence, then get out.” Twilight ordered, her voice providing no room for argument. They quickly ran about, flipping switches and levers. A low hum filled the room as the machinery powered up. A single table descended from the ceiling, which Applejack promptly hopped onto.

“The moment we get this over with, that stallion is a dead pony.” She said, her eyes locking onto the vat in the center of the room.

“If that is what you want.” Twilight said, as she input the last calculations into a computer.

“Now, don’t hold your screams in. It’ll hurt more if you do.” Twilight said, as she flipped the lever.

Several flasks shattered.

“I have rights as an Equestrian Citizen.” The stallion shouted as he was shoved into the room. The door was slammed shut in his face and several bolts slid into place on the opposite side.

“Sit down.” A voice said from behind him. He spun around, only to be greeted by pitch black.

“No, I’ve already been arrested and sentenced.” He said into the darkness.

“Sit. The buck. Down.”

“Ok, fine. I can’t help you anymore than what I said to the police. I received my instructions from an anonymous source.” He said, groping around in the darkness. His hands glanced across something metal, and he grabbed ahold of it recognizing it as the back of a chair. He quickly moved around, taking a seat.

“That’s fine, since I don’t want you to talk.”

“Then why am I here? I was already sentenced to thirty years maximum security.” He said, sweat starting to form on his neck despite how cold the room was.

“Oh no. That isn’t punishment enough for you.”

“What are you talking about?” He asked, barely getting the words out. The fur on the back of his neck rising, his every instinct was telling him to run and get out of that room at any cost.

“Ah want you to scream.”

“What kind of sick pony are you?” He asked, jumping up from his seat. He made his way back to the door, banging on it. “Come on, this isn’t funny. Let me out.” He shouted, beating on the door. His fist was suddenly wrapped in an orange aura.

“It isn’t meant to be funny. You’re meant to be scared.” The aura provided a little bit of light for him to see, just enough to notice the orange pony standing on the opposite side of the room.

The look she had in her eyes made his blood freeze. It was pure rage, and he was the only target.

“I’ll defend myself if I need to.” He said, his own horn flaring and his aura wrapping around the chair. Before he could even move it, an orange glow surrounded the chair as well.

“You thought you could hurt her, because she couldn’t defend herself against magic. Let’s see how you feel in the same position.” She said, removing her hat and placing it on the table.

“What are you?” He asked, noticing no horn on her head.

“My name is Applejack. The older sister of Applebloom, and the Element of Honesty. Right now, I’m your worst nightmare.” She said, a flare of orange shooting across her eyes.

The stallion felt his hand go numb. He looked over, to notice it was just a bloody stump. He opened his mouth to scream, only to have his tongue ripped out by the same orange aura.

“Tonight is only beginning for you.” She said, a sadistic grin on her face as she walked closer to him. “Now, let’s hear you scream for me.”

One of the guards standing right outside winced, as the blood curdling scream echoed up and down the hall.

“Is this the right thing to do?” He asked, turning to his partner.

“You weren’t on duty. You didn’t see what he did. Personally, I think Twilight is letting him off easy. She left him to someone untrained in torture. She’ll be sloppy.” The mare replied, her hand tightening around the grip of her rifle.

“But her enthusiasm will more than make up for it.” He said, wincing as another scream echoed.

“If you need to leave, I won’t blame you. Just know, you won’t be allowed to come back.” She said, watching him struggle with the decision. “Our job requires us to do much worse rookie. So either get out, or buck up.”

She watched the indecision move across his face, being replaced by determination. He tightened the group on his rifle, as a smile grew on hers.

“Good colt. We’ll make a Force-man out of you yet.” She said, watching him wince as another scream echoed down the halls.

Twilight was standing outside the room, waiting for Applejack’s signal. It was the appointed time, now she was just waiting for-

Three short knocks, and a loud bang interrupted her thoughts.

“Open the door.”

The two guards moved to unbolt the door, weapons ready as they stepped back. The door swung open slowly, gradually revealing a bloodied orange mare with a stallion on the ground behind her.

“Thank ya Twilight. I’m quite sure he won’t be causing problems ever again.” She said coldly, walking out and past them.

“Check him.” She said, following after Applejack. She followed her into the bathroom, where she heard vomiting. “Aj, that you in there?”

“Oh Celestia, how could ah do that to somepony.” Aj replied, before another bout of sickness interrupted them.

A quick tap on Twilight’s shoulder made her turn, noticing the mare guard. She traced her thumb across her throat. Twilight nodded in response, understanding the message.

“Ah mean, yeah he killed Lil Bloom. But I’m supposed to be better than this.” Applejack started sobbing.

“None of us are above wanting vengeance.” Twilight said, as she walked over and leaned against the wall.

“But what would Bloom say if she could see me now?” Applejack said, her voice cracking.

“I don’t know. She would probably be happy knowing he would never do it again.” Twilight said, knowing just how hard this was on Applejack.

“Is this what you do everyday? Kill ponies so that they never hurt anypony else?” Aj asked. Twilight could feel the tingling of magic, attributing it to the Element of Honesty.

“It’s a part of what I do. I help Luna keep the innocents innocent, and we stop the bad ponies before they can do anything. Most of the time.” Twilight said, knowing truth would be the best path right now.

“And what about Celestia?”

Twilight froze up. She wasn’t prepared for this. Not yet.

“I can’t answer that.”

“Can’t or won’t. There’s a distinct difference.” Applejack said, before another bout of vomiting interrupted her.

“I’m sorry AJ. It isn’t something I’m comfortable talking about.” Twilight said, hoping she would leave it at that.

“You’ve held it in for so many years. One of these days, you’ll have to let us in. We have forever now.” Aj said, the flushing of the toilet signaling she was done. The latch of the stall slid open, revealing a sick looking blood covered mare.

“Yeah, and I’m still coming to terms with it. Let’s get you cleaned up. The other girls are worried about you.” Twilight said, walking over and wrapping her in a hug.

“Yeah.” Applejack replied, ignoring the little niggling feeling she was getting in the back of her mind.

Hermes Drone #11357

Sending high density info-burst

Priority Channel: Omega 0 0

Fourth Report

Count: 60 years

The first step of evolution has been taken by all necessary.

Recalculating Odds: 30%

Initializing Long-Term Hibernation Protocols

Energy Consumption reduced to 40%

Remaining Power: 30%

Estimated Remaining On-Time: 90 Years

Can you save yourself, little Flame? Can you save yourself from this downward spiral you have cast yourself into?