Ponyville Shimmers

Chapter 7:

Dust clouds were being kicked up behind them as Twilight, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy were running for Sweet Apple Acres.

“Pinkie, are you sure Improv is alright with that changeling?” Twilight said looking over.

“Oh sure! Impy has everything in control, dooonnn’t worry.” Pinkie replied with a hint of enthusiasm. Twilight nodded.

“What could one of those dreadful “Things” be doing here in Ponyville?” Said Rarity.

“I’m not sure. For all we know it could be the one behind the murder! Remember girls, it can change into anypony it wants. Don’t let it trick you. We may get there and see Improv, but it won’t be him…” Twilight looked over at Pinkie. She had a worried look.

“I’m sure he has everything under control.” Twilight smiled at Pinkie Pie to reassure her.

“We also must find our dear friend Applejack, I do hope she is alright. Pinkie Pie, you said that the changeling had told you that there were “others”?”

She nodded, “mm hmm. I didn’t see her in the barn with the rest of the Apples, but we didn’t check anywhere else.”

“I really hope she’s not hurt.” Twilight was fearing the worst to come.

“Applejack is tough dear, I don’t think she’d let some creature keep her down.” Rarity said with optimism. She had complete faith in her friend, who she could always count on.

The barn was in sight and they had finally reached the center of Sweet Apple Acres. They could all see Improv standing in the doorway. He noticed them and started trotting towards them.

They stopped in front of each other. “I’m glad you guys finally-” Improv was cut off when Pinkie jumped in front of him.

“WHAT’S MY FAVOURITE COLOR!!?” She yelled. The other all looked at her.

Improv looked confused, “Uhh what?” He said scratching his head.

“ANSWER THE QUESTION!” She said angrily.

“Pink!” Improv answered.

“That one was too easy. Hmm” Pinkie Pie thought. “What did you get me for my birthday last year?!”

“Another party cannon”

Pinkie squinted her eyes and looked closer at him. It was silent for moment, until she threw her arms around him with big smile on her face.

“It is yoouuuu!” She was nearly choking him as he hugged her back.

“Improv,” Twilight said, “is everyone alright?”

Pinkie let go of him, “yes, everyone is fine.” Improv walked toward the barn and everyone followed. “We were unsure about Granny Smith at first. She wasn’t moving, but after we got the ropes off her hoofs and the bag off her head, she seemed to just have woken up from a nap. Hah, she seemed to have no idea what was going on. Applebloom is still pretty shook up and Big Mac is fine. But that just leaves one thing though… Where is Applejack?”

They had just reached the barn and could see the Apples sitting next to each other. Big Mac his arm around Applebloom who looked very frightened. Twilight trotted over to them.

“Thank goodness you’re all alright, I was worried about all of you.” She smiled

.

“Yes yes, we’re just fine. We’re more worried about Applejack and her whereabouts.” Said Granny Smith.

“We are getting to the bottom of this and we will find her. Wherever she may be I’m sure she is alright.” Twilight looked concerned, “Applejack is tough.” She said nodding to Rarity.

“Well we should check all over Sweet Apple Acres! That monster was doin something in the basement. It wouldn’t let us go down there. It was pretending to be our sister and told us not to go down there. I heard strange sounds comin from down there earlier and went to check it out and it attacked me, tied us all up and brought us here. There’s no tellin what it woulda done if yall didn’t show up.” Big Mac said, he seemed very angry.

“The basement you say? We should check there Twilight” said Rarity.

“Yes we should-”

All they could hear was rustling and struggling coming from behind a bale of hay.

“What in Celestia’s name is that?” Twilight exclaimed.

“Umm, I guess it woke up?” Improv said. Everyone looked at him except for Fluttershy who hid behind Twilight.

“It’s still alive?!” Rarity gasped.

They all slowly walked around the hay bail. As they turned to the corner they all could see the changeling rolling around trying to get out of the ropes that held it.

“HEY!” Twilight yelled. It stopped. She lifted it up with her magic and turned the changeling towards her. They all remained silent. The changeling opened its eyes. They were deep and dark green. There were no pupils or irises. Its eyes were a green abyss. Its fangs where showing outside of its mouth and it sat quietly still.

“What did you do with our friend!? And why are you here!?” Twilight yelled at it.

The creature smiled and turned into a clone of her. “What did you do with our friend?” It taunted her.

Twilight became angry. “I’m not here to play games!”

The changeling morphed into Applejack, “NIETHER AM I…” It said in a low demonic voice.

Everyone stood still and said nothing in fear. Pinkie hid behind Improv. She normally wasn’t afraid of changelings but this one was getting to her. He turned around to comfort her. She looked up at Improv and could see the changeling looking at them. It then took Improv’s form and looked right at her and smiled evilly. She screamed and ran away, out of sight of the changeling. Improv turned back around and it changed into Pinkie and began to laugh sinisterly.

“Shut up! You monster!” Improv yelled.

It stopped laughing and changed back into its normal form.

“Well, I have been called many things in my short life. But never a monster…”

Everyone jumped back and twilight dropped it. The changeling hit the floor with a thud.

“Ugh. I can’t say I didn’t miss the ground but you didn’t have to drop me like that. Now that I’m back on solid ground, please remove these ropes so that I may KILL all of you.” It smiled innocently.

“Ah! Did it just talk!” exclaimed Rarity.

“Yes I did. And it’s she not it. I also have a name, it’s Gemini.” She said looking at Rarity in disgust. “Now that we’ve all met, we’re friends! Yay! Now please take these awful ropes off. This is no way to treat a friend” It looked over at Improv.

“Those ropes aren’t going anywhere. What did you do with Applejack?!” He said.

“Yeah, where’s my sister!” Big mac stomped his hoof.

“I’m right here sugar cube.” She was now changed into Applejack and was looking right into Big Mac’s eyes.

Big Mac became full of anger. He ran over to her and was about to kick her in the stomach when twilight stopped him.

“Big Mac NO! She trying to make you angry. It’s what she wants.” Big Mac stood straight up and stormed out of the barn.

Gemini began to laugh again. “You’re going to tell us where Applejack is right now!! No games!” Yelled Twilight.

She quickly changed into Pinkie again. “Awww, but I like games…”

Improv eyes became green and he began to tighten the ropes around the changeling with his magic. She began to laugh and scream in pain at the same time as it became harder for her to breathe. Everypony looked at him. His eyes were burning green and his face full of rage.

“Improv!” Twilight yelled.

He let go of the rope and started breathing hard, gasping for air. He looked like he could barely stand. Improv looked around at everyone who was looking back at him. “I’m going to find Pinkie…” He ran out of the barn before anyone could say anything.

“For the last time! Tell us where Applejack is!” Twilight stomped her hoof. Gemini was still trying to catch her breath.

“She is in the last place I left her of course. In the dark, where her fears come to a reality and she is tortured by them. She is lost in her nightmares and being cast into an oblivion.” Gemini tilted her head, looking at twilight, she closed her eyes and turned into the form of Rainbow Dash and had a look of gloom and emptiness. Twilight didn’t understand why she was taking Dash’s appearance or even why she was acting the way she was. It began to get to her and she started to feel upset, seeing her friend so… drained. Gemini started to fade out Rainbow’s six colors of her mane, then slowly turned back into herself. Twilight looked very troubled and turned away. Gemini smirked and looked over at Rarity. She had a very puzzled look. Gemini turned into Sweetie Belle and Rarity tried to ignore her. She noticed now that she was smaller, that she could slip out of the ropes and escape. Both Rarity and Twilight were looking away. Gemini slowly started to shake free of the ropes. They slid off and she transformed into herself.

She then leaped into the air revealing her sharp fangs ready to sink them into Twilights neck. Rarity heard Gemini and quickly turned around pushing Twilight out of the way with her magic. Gemini missed and landed on the barn floor. She hissed at Rarity and bolted out of the window. Twilight got up and they both ran out of the barn. Improv, Pinkie, Fluttershy and the Apples were standing outside. “What’s going on?” Improv said as they ran passed them. Twilight and Rarity looked around the barn and at the orchard. Gemini had gotten away…

“Twilight?”

Everyone stood around them with questioning faces.

“Rarity, you and everyone else stay here and look for Applejack. Improv I need you to come with me…” Twilight looked over at him, “Gemini broke free and we must find her as soon as possible!”

Everyone gasped and Fluttershy hid under Big Mac shaking.

“What?! How?!” Improv said.

“I don’t know, but we need to go now. Come on!” Twilight flapped her wings and ascended into the air. She began to fly towards the orchard. Improv turned to look at Pinkie. Before he could say anything she suffocated him with a big hug.

“See ya when you get back Impy! Down have too much fun without me ok?” Improv hugged her back. He was unsure. That changeling was dangerous. He was able to stop it earlier, but this time, it knows what Improv is capable of and will be more cautious next time. He was afraid of getting hurt. He was afraid of not coming back…

Pinkie looked at him with her usual giant smile. It reassured him. He tried to smile back at her, but was still troubled with his thoughts.

“Improv! Come on” Twilight yelled in the distance.

He turned and ran towards her as quickly as he could. Everyone watched as they disappeared into the orchard.

“I hope they catch that “thing”” Rarity said.

“Oh I’m sure they will. Impy is great at hide and seek!” Pinkie said cheerfully.

“Pinkie dear, that thing wants to kill them. I saw it with my own two eyes try to sink its teeth into Twilight. I stopped it.”

Pinkie looked down at the ground and frowned. Rarity realized was she said and instantly felt demeaned. She walked over and put her hoof on Pinkie Pie’s shoulder.

“I’m sure they’ll be fine. Our friends are vigorous and high spirited.” Rarity smiled. Pinkie gave her a small smile back. “Now we must look for our friend Applejack. I am worried about her.”

Big Mac walked over to them. “I went down to the basement and tried openin’ the door but it was locked. I even tried kicking it open, but it wouldn’t budge. I was sure that would’ve done it.”

“Let’s take a look at it then shall we?” Rarity began to trot toward the house. They all followed and went inside.

They reached the stairs down to the basement. They were made of wood, looked very old and had cracks in them. Rarity took a step down and heard a loud squeak. Fluttershy, who was standing behind Big Mac, got scared and jumped into the air.

“Oh Fluttershy, It’s just stairs nothing to be afrai-” As Rarity spoke she noticed a big spider on the step below her and screamed, “eww eww. A spider!! Eeeeeeeekk, somepony do something!”

Big Mac casually walked down and kicked the spider away. He looked at Rarity, shrugged and continued down. Pinkie hoped down the steps past Rarity. She stood still for moment and then followed. Fluttershy stayed at the top of the stairs.

They reached the bottom. The door looked perfectly fine. Everypony expected hoof prints in it from Big Mac. However the wall around the door had cracks running all through it. Pinkie put her hoof on the door knob and tried to turn it. The knob wouldn’t move, not even a hair. It was almost as if it were frozen.

Pinkie rubbed her head “huh that’s weird usually when I turn door knobs, they open. Ssssstraaanngeee.”

“Let me try,” said Rarity. She tried to turn it with her magic.

“BAM!”

Rarity flew back and hit the stairs. The door then glowed a transparent yellow and then faded away slowly.

“Are you alright Rarity?” Pinkie said. She and Big Mac helped her up.

“Yes I am fine.” She said rubbing her back. “Did you both see that though? That light?” She walked over and touch her hoof to the door. “I think there was a spell put on this door.”

They both looked at her. “How we goin to open it then?” Big Mac asked.

Rarity thought for a moment, “Hmm, I think I have an idea. Stand back”

Pinkie Pie and Big Mac took a step back. Rarity’s horn began to glow bright purple. Stepped closer to the door and leaned her head forward touching her horn to it. The door began to spark and the magic between her and it was flashing. The light was nearly blinding. Big Mac and Pinkie covered their eyes. All they could hear was the sound of electricity spiking.

“SLAM!!!” The door flew off of its hinges and hit the floor.

There was no light coming from the basement.

“Wow Rarity! I didn’t know you could do that!” Pinkie said.

“I didn’t either.” She said touching a hoof to her horn.

They couldn’t see anything ahead of them. There was pitch black hole where the door used to be. Rarity lit up her horn and Pinkie took a flashlight out of her mane.

The basement was larger than Pinkie and Rarity thought it would be. They had never been down here before. They split up, Big Mac followed Pinkie to the left and Rarity went to the right.

“Applejack!? Are you down here?” Pinkie called out.

Rarity kept moving forward. “Applejack?” She said softly. She was turning her head left and right looking around. She could see some boxes and what looked like a couple sacks of potatoes. She then tripped over something then fell. She looked down to see what she tripped over. It was bulky and didn’t move when she kicked it.

It was a pony!

She screamed and started crawling backwards. “Rarity?” She heard Big Mac say her name across the room. She then heard hoof steps getting near her. She quickly looked around her trying to see where they were coming from. She got up and began to run away but was stopped when she ran into something that sent her back to the floor knocking her horn’s light out. She looked up shaking in fear for her life. She lit her horn up again so that she could see again. Pinkie and Big Mac came running up behind her. Pinkie shined her light forward at her. Rarity was breathing heavily. “Rarity are you-”

Pinkie raised the light. They were all silent and motionless. Her eyes were pale white and she wasn’t blinking. Applejack was standing in front of them, perfectly still. She looked to be still breathing. She wasn’t moving nor did she even look over at them acknowledging them. She looked very skinny as if she hadn’t eaten in days and her ribs were apparent. Her cheek bones could also be seen. Her fur was filthy and had patches of dirt in it. Applejack looked exhausted. She looked as if she was about to start rotting away.

With tears beginning to fill her eyes, only Pinkie could speak

“…Applejack?”