Good Intentions

8
"ShatteRED IMAGEs"

The world spun, so tiny to Applejack now, along with her head.

The farm pony shook uncontrollably, not clutching the crystal any longer, which was in Twilight's hooves. Within their tiny view Big Mac was outside. Neither could see the red world anymore, but they could hear, and Applejack could hear in her head, too, as much as she didn't want to.

In her state speaking was hard, but there was one word Applejack wanted to say. She tried... it came out as a whimper at first. Louder and louder it built, until almost a scream:

"ENOUGH!" I have seen enough! The living pony shouted as the gem went to its plain red color yet again. She could have smashed it, and would have, if she could still see at this point. Tears made that impossible. "Oh, Twilight!"

The Unicorn leapt to her side, hugging Applejack tight as she could. She was there, always, but that didn't make her friend feel any better. Applejack's small world of apple bucking and pride had been burned down, and replaced with the most severe vulnerability. She could not deny that is how she would have acted, had she been who she saw in the crystal.

"How could he be so cruel?" Apple Jack asked, staring high above as they hugged. "I- I've never done wrong by him in ma whole life. I've loved and supported him as far back as I can remember and deep inside he's just a monster!"

"Applejack," replied the purple Unicorn softly. "I wish there was something I could say to make this better."

"Ain't nothin' you can say, Twilight," the farm pony replied, rising to his hooves. "Ah oughta kill him before he really does that to me or some other pony! You heard him, he ALWAYS wanted to kill somepony."

"AJ, don't!" Twilight said, grabbing her hoof. "It wasn't really you..."

"Yeah, well... but it was close enough! Ah'm never going to think of him the same way again... heck, I don't think I'll even be able to look at him ever again now!"

"Just sit with me for a bit," Twilight said, patting on the ground. "We're safe here for now... even if he came through that door, there's two of us here. You don't have anything to worry about!"

Looking dejectedly at the floor and sighing, Applejack sat again... being held by Twilight, nearly vomiting as her heart gradually slowed down.

* * *

The two mares took off to the library where they composed a note for the Princess detailing what happened and how they had the crystal... all without Spike present of course. He was waiting in the other room... he would have nothing to do with this, and the farm pony's excellent peripheral vision saw to that. The ponies said little as they composed the note... Twilight did most of the work, Applejack only nodding where needed. The confirmation from Celestia, Twilight put in the note, would be best received through Spike.

"Ah don't know if I want to send it, Twi," Apple Jack whispered, looking at the finished note. "It will get my brother in a whole heap of trouble. He killed somepony! ... but maybe he just needs help."

"AJ, I don't know what to do either..." Twilight sighed. "But my gut's telling me we have to send it. Our feelings need to come second. I know that hurts to have me say that, but I really think-"

"You're right, Twi. Do it before Ah change my mind."

The letter was easy enough to send, even not through Spike. Outside Rainbow Dash was resting in the clouds above, having dreams about joining the Wonderbolts. She was called out of her dream and made her descent to the ground half-awake:

"Rainbow Dash," said Twilight from her opened door, holding up the crystal and the note with her magic. "Can I get you to take this to Princess Celestia for us on the double?"

"Why not have Spike send it?" Rainbow replied, not looking down. "I'm trying to nap!"

"Yeah, why not have me send it?" Spike asked, from behind Twilight and beside AJ. "Jeeze, let her nap, Twilight!"

"It's urgent news," Twilight said calmly. "And Spike can't send the crystal!"

"Fine," Rainbow Dash came down quick and took the note. "I'll take it. Is this anything I should know about?"

Not even looking back, Twilight slammed the door in Spike's face while AJ held his ears. He struggled to hear as the Unicorn answered the question in just one word:

"Yes!"

"Uh... you're kinda creeping me out now, Twilight," answered Rainbow. "Please explain."

It only took a minute to explain to Rainbow Dash why she had to take it... and she didn't respond. She took it and flew off, towards the city of Canterlot. It would be a few hours before the Princess got the note. Spike would have to be with them until then.

* * *

The two ponies did not debate where to go next. Taking Spike with them they went to where, logically, would be the last place for Big Mac to go, giving Applejack plenty of space, peace, and quiet. They headed for Rarity's boutique.

"Greetings and Salutations," Rarity began. "Welcome to the Carousel Boutique, where- ... my word, Apple Jack, you look like you've seen a ghost! However, I do like your mane. Very rugged and stylish, if I do say so myself!"

Applejack, not responding to Rarity's playful needling, instead looked as though she could cry.

My, my," said Rarity. "What is it? Don't tell me you've REALLY seen a ghost... Applejack?"

"She practically has," answered Twilight, as the farm pony nodded with her. "Can we come in and rest for a bit?"

"Certainly!" Rarity opened the door all the way. "I'll put on some Darjeeling. Whatever's going on, you can tell me all about it! I needed a break anyway."

Sensing her friend's distress, the ivory Unicorn switched her opened sign to closed and locked the doors.

In the back of her shop, where there was just a kitchen and no windows visible from the street... Twilight and Applejack rested. Rarity, true to her word, was putting on some tea. Noticing her friend's eyes were still wide and her breathing still heavy, there was one question for Rarity to logically ask:

"What is it, Applejack? You look unbelievably upset and, as your friend, I want to help you!"

The two sitting ponies looked at each other... AJ lowered her head:

"You tell her, Twi... Ah can't think about it no more. Ah just wanna shut ma brain off for a while."

Twilight nodded to her orange friend, then shared what happened with the ivory one. She didn't share it verbally, however, since Spike was there itching to hear what was going on. Instead, she levitated a pencil from a drawer with her magic, along with a pad of paper, and wrote down a few notes. It was enough to make it clear. She then wrote "burn this note after you're done!" at the bottom.

Rarity, once passed the note read it... and had one response:

"What!?!" She looked even more pale than usual. She did burn it at least, though now she looked like she needed to sit down. "Oh, I didn't even know that was possible! Twilight, I feel sick!"

"So do I," replied the purple mare. "I'd imagine Apple jack feels a lot worse..."

"Is any pony going to tell me what's going on or why I'm here?" Spike asked.

Turning to him, three voices replied:

"NO!"

Innocent and oblivious, Spike shrunk back and was quiet. He'd have to remain innocent and oblivious to this... but at least he shrugged, having given up on trying to understand the older mares.

* * *

The ponies enjoyed their tea and talked about things unrelated to the past few hours, as a way to distract their traumatized friend. Spike got bored and sleepy, even though Rarity put copious amounts of sugar in his tea. They didn't know how much longer they'd have to stay boarded up, but hoped it would end soon.

As Rarity put her kettle away, there was a knock at the door. Twilight bolted up.

"You want me to get that?" Spike asked.

"No. I'll get it." Rarity said. "Twilight! Come with?"

The purple Unicorn nodded, the followed.

They reached the door quickly, expecting a customer or a friend. Rarity opened just the port with her welcoming face on. It didn't last. Standing there was Big Mac. How he had found them, none of them had a clue... they both narrowed their eyes at him:

"What?"

'It's gettin' late, Twilight," said Big Mac. "Have you seen AJ anywhere?"

"I'm in here," Applejack said from behind Rarity and Twilight, and the nice strong door. "Might stay a while, ya catch ma drift?

He looked relieved seeing her.

"Can I come in?" He asked, looking at the strong wood barring his entrance. "Ah just want to talk to her."

"You are not welcome in here," Rarity said, brandishing a pair of scissors with her magic. "Get going, or I'll gouge your eyes out!"

His eyes, just threatened, went wide.

"W-Wat? Why're you suddenly so angry towards me, Rarity? When I've never done a single bad thing to you!"

Twilight levitated a frying pan all the way from the table and brought it to herself. A shield and a club, weightless in her magic... skull cracklingly heavy, to be held aloft by a hoof. If Big Mac tried to break the door, Canterlot Guard would be cleaning his brains from the ceiling.

"We saw," the purple Unicorn said, coldly. "Now go... maybe we can get this all straightened out when my brother's here. My note and the Crystal are probably at Canterlot by now... you can make it a lot worse on yourself by trying to break in here."

Big Mac's eyes hardly changed expression. He sighed, popping his neck.

"Ya know, Twilight? That's what I was coming to talk to her about. See, the Cutie Mark Crusaders told me they passed along a ruby to Applejack they'd found where I was digging. They're unharmed... especially Sweetie Belle, Rarity."

Big Mac nodded to the ivory mare. She was not convinced:

"If you've touched one hair on her mane... I'll- I'll skin you alive!"

"Don't worry about that. You have my solemn promise Ah'd never harm a filly... as for the bigger pony's concerns," he turned back to Twilight. "It wasn't really her you know. Jus' an ol' fantasy o'mine. Ah meant no harm in it, really. See, the reason I'm so good is Ah see and accept my bad thoughts... just need an occasional release for 'em. Figured your machine could make one for me."

"Release!?!" shouted Apple Jack. "You dadgum psychopath! Release!?!"

"It doesn't matter, Big Mac. You're just rationalizing it!" Twilight replied, angrily. "Whether AJ or not.... that was a scared, innocent pony you tortured, raped, and murdered. Are you even sorry?"

Spike's eyes went wide hearing this, finally having found out what they were keeping secret from him. The mug in his claw turned inwards and he grasped it tight, ready to breath fire in Big Mac's eyes now... or at least crack his skull with the dish should he try to come in.

"To be honesty, Ah feel a little bad... but I'd never do it to the real Apple Jack."

"How do Ah even know that!?!" Apple Jack shouted taking a few steps towards the door.

"Trust me. I've never lied to you in ma life."

Applejack, as she said earlier, couldn't bear to look him in the eyes any longer:

"Ah can't trust you now... you lied to Twilight and me. You said you had no clue why the lab was a mess."

"Guess Ah did. Makes me a liar twice, now. I'm fine, AJ... really. I won't harm ya."

Just at that moment, Spike grasped his gut... he breathed a bit of fire and a letter presented itself on the floor. He picked it up, looking over at the ponies around him:

"They're on the way," he said. "Everything will be okay. Five guards and your brother, Twilight. I can see why you wanted me around!"

Big Mac sighed, kicking his foot into the cobblestones:

"Guess there's nothing more for me ta say at this point, is there? Ah can't say I'm sorry for livin' out a fantasy on a copy of the one farm pony who's always been there for me... Ah will wait here for 'em."

As Twilight shut the door, Big Mac lowered his eyes.

"We've got nothing to say to you!"

The red pony, outside the botique, looked up into the sky and all around, waiting... unsure of where the guard would come from. He sighed, leaning up against the wall, enjoying his last bits of freedom, because he knew this was the end.