Chapter 4 Waking Nightmare

Immediately you were pounced upon by Applejack. What lay on top of you was a snarling monster but you knew somewhere inside there was an innocent girl. You quickly pull out your hoof-blade, it pained you to cause harm to Applejack but there was no other way. You press the flat of the silver blade against her cheek, burning her fur and siring her flesh. Applejack howls in pain immediately pressing off you. Her claws dig into your chest making it weep out trickles of blood. The sharp pain fuels your adrenaline. You quickly shoot up into the air and fly inside the barn.

"Twilight Close the door!" you shout.

Twilight hesitates for a bit but eventually her and Big Mac close the wooden doors to the barn sealing you and Applejack in with a monster. Applejack in her lycan form continues to whimper pressing her paws against her cheek trying to sooth the burning of the silver. You had just met this mare a few hours ago but already you felt a friendly bond form between you two. It pained you to see her like this each of her cries was a stab in your heart. Applejack finally regains control of herself and fixes her eyes on you. Her fur with it's orange hue was still present and her emerald eyes now focusing in on their prey.

"APPLEJACK! I KNOW YOUR IN THERE! YOU HAVE TO FIGHT IT!" You call out at the top of your lungs.

No good as Applejack snarls whipping her long arms out to the side in an imposing stance.

"fight it Applejack I know you can do it." you say in a softer yet more desperate tone.

Applejack pounces up towards you, you expected this and flew out of the way dodging her thick sharp claws. Applejack barks upon hitting the wood wall of the barn. Her claws embedded in the surface of the wall letting her hang.

"PLEASE APPLEJACK! DON'T LET IT TAKE CONTROL OF YOU."

Again Applejack lunges at you claws outstretched. You dodge again but manage to take another hit, this time to your wing. Applejack shredded a few of your feathers on your right wing and your chest was still dripping blood, blood that she no doubt smelled and fueled her hunger. You land on the dirt floor of the barn opposite from Applejack.

"THINK OF YOUR FAMILY, OF LITTLE APPLEBLOOM OF BIG MAC, OF YOUR MOTHER AND FATHER!!!"

The Lycan that is Applejack flinches upon hearing you say those words. You realize you broke through, at least a chip in the rock that was the wolf.

"WOULD YOUR FAMILY WANT YOU ACTING LIKE THIS. YOU NEED TO FIGHT IT YOUR AN APPLE!!!"

The Lycan flinches again quickly twisting it's head trying to put those words in place. Applejack bursts forward backhanding you with pure strength sending you flying into the wall. You hit the ground with a thud. Instantly you try to get up but your body won't listen. You are spent on energy, still not having fully recovered from your Timber-wolf battle. Dirt and dust seeped into your wounds making them sting and cry in pain. You feel the ground shake whenever Applejack takes a step. Her massive foot slamming down on the ground, claws digging into the soft dirt. She gets closer to inspect her kill. You still have the strength to speak and as a last resort your hoof-blade. though you dreaded using that on a friend.

"Applejack....Please....don't do this....fight the blood lust........I know it's hard, but your stronger than it. Your an element of Harmony." you could feel her breath reaching down on your broken body. Her canines ready to rip meat, her tongue ready to taste blood, her pointed ears ready to hear your dying scream. All your ears hear are a low growl while a million thoughts run through your head. You had to kill Venator, the lycan that killed your family, nothing would stand in your way. You would do anything to see his demise....even if meant sacrificing a friend.

With a 'shink' you flick out your silver hoof-blade. Applejacks head hovers above you.

"AJ....I'm so, so, sorry.....I love you."

Twilight and Big Mac stand outside the barn listening to the battle inside. Both were filled with worry, for Applejack, and you. Twilight still couldn't believe her friend was a lycan, she sat under a nearby Apple tree visibly shaking and crying into her forelegs. She curled herself into a ball just wanting to shut herself off from the world, wanting this nightmare to end.

Big Mac stood vigilant at the front doors of the barn listening for any sign of the war raging inside the red barn. He put his ear up to the door.

"AAAAAAAAAHH!!!!" Anon Screams from inside, with the sound of something metal being driven into something else. A soft thunk like a pitchfork being stabbed into the dirt. Instantly after Applejack howling. Big Mac instantly removed the board lock and nearly ripped off the barn doors. there was Applejack and you lying there in the dirt at the back of the barn.

Applejacks enormous paw was gently resting on your back, and your hoof-blade was stabbed into the dirt inches from her head. You had done it. You finally reached her.

"AJ" you say looking at the massive lycan before you.

AJ in her wolf form just stares gently at you before giving you a small nod.

You sigh out in total relief. "thank Celestia." you whisper under your breath. You then feel a large furry and wet snout nuzzle you at the base of your neck. Applejack thanking you for helping her beat the monster.

Big Mac and Twilight step carefully into the barn.

"Sis?" Big Mac asks in a soft voice. Applejack turns her head and stares into him. Though she is a wolf, he can see her behind her eyes.

"I don't believe it" Twilight whispers, her eyes were big as saucers in wonder.

You all sit around the Lycan that is Applejack, and your friend.

"Mom...Dad...?"

AWOOOOOO!!!!

"NOOOO!!!!!"

You awake gasping and sweating. You look around, the first thing you notice is that Applejack has returned to her regular pony form. You see the suns rays peaking in through the slats in the wood. You must have fallen asleep. It seems like Big Mac did too, he is snoring lightly just across from you and Applejack. Even while sleeping Applejack looks worn out. It's not a surprise, you had read that the transformation takes it's toll on the body. You run through the events of last night. It was not good. The dream of your parents murdered by Venator. One night closer to having your revenge. You then realize your missing someone. Twilight, I wonder where she went. Gently you ease yourself up. Applejack in her lycan form did a number on you. Pain falls over and numbs the core of your body. You walk out of the barn to be blinded by the sun cresting over the horizon. On the hill a lone silhouette of a pony casts her shadow over the valley.

"Twilight?" you ask trotting up behind her.

"Hey Anon" She simply replies back.

"You okay?"

Twilight sits there in silence "I'm fine."

you go and sit down beside her.

"...twenty five days then I'm out of here."

"..." Twilight begins to sob.

"What is it?" you ask putting a hoof on her.

Twilight sobs some more before whipping her head around and yelling "YOU CAN'T KILL VENATOR....YOU JUST.....STOP....STOP ALL THIS HUNTING."

Silence is all you could come up with, your face fills up with a look of shock. All sorts of feelings were building inside you.

"You saw Applejack! She can't control it, nopony can! I-It's a....a nightmare. Nopony can fight it, w-when I saw my friend become that-that monster. She couldn't even help it she lost all control. But does anypony deserve to die for something they can't help?"

"Twilight, Venator KILLED my family. The only one I had. I don't care if he couldn't help it, he gave into that blood lust and embraced the beast within him! He could have locked himself up and threw away the key."

"Is that what you want Applejack to do?"

Damn, You didn't want Applejack to be locked up forever, but she didn't kill anypony, but she could have.

"Killing Venator won't bring them back."

"FUCK...YOU!!" You scream at Twilight. You stomp your hoof so hard into the ground the dirt gives way to you, your hoof making a small crater in the earth. You take a couple deep breaths before turning around and trotting away. During your walk though something occurred to you a thought that crawled into your mind. You were about to kill an innocent girl in cold blood just to get a shot at killing Venator. Your mind was made up. Kill any and all Lycans that get in your way. So, why did you just spare one's life.

A war began in your mind at that moment. Venator or You. Who was really the beast?

Author's Note

Sorry this is such a short chapter

Thanks for reading I hope you continue to enjoy it.

I probably will be announcing something New tomorrow so I hope you guys will keep an eye out.

As always Thanks again and I wish you all the best

-Zeta