This takes place after Cupcakes
Pinkie Pie carefully cleaned the knife, getting things ready for the next harvest. Applebloom trotted up to Pinkie.
” Hey Pinkie, may ah have the next one? Pretty pretty please?” The filly asked.
Pinkie smiled.” Of course! It’s nice to know somebody likes what I do!” She replied cheerfully.
Applebloom smiled and went over to the bowl. She closed her eyes and fished out a slip of paper. After checking the paper, she walked to the list, scanned down and gasped.
” What’s wrong Applebloom?” Pinkie Pie asked, coming over to the young filly.“ Number 15-Applejack.” She read aloud. Looking at Applebloom, she asked “ So... are you going to do it or am I?” Applebloom gulped.
Applejack kicked the tree harshly, watching the apples fall off the tree.
” Applejack. Applejack!”
She heard Applebloom calling her. Applejack turned and trotted over to her sister.
” Yes Applebloom?” She asked.
Applebloom stared at the ground.
” Ah baked a pie and Ah was wondering if yah wanted to try a slice.” She replied, sounding nervous.
Applejack smiled.” Of course sugarcube.”
Applebloom handed her a slice of the pie. Applejack took a bite.
” Alright, anything else?” She asked.
” Um, you can take a nap.” Applebloom replied.
Applejack wondered what that meant, then felt lightheaded. She stumbled, and soon collasped on the ground.
When Applejack opened her eyes, she realized she was in a dark room. She couldn’t see them, but she heard voices.
” You better be glad she believed me, Pinkie. I’m a horrible liar.” Said Applebloom.
Said Applebloom! Applejack struggled, but she realized that she was tied to a rack, her hooves, chest, and head shackled to the rack. Then the light flickered on and Applejack gasped. there were skulls on a table, a banner made of pony flanks saying in blood red letters “Life’s a party” and the worst, a stuffed version of Rainbow Dash hanging on a wall. Except it was so lifelike.
” Isn’t it neat? I plan to do that to you to, AJ, once you’re done. That way I have you forever!” A cheerful voice said behind her.
Applejack turned her head. She recognized Pinkie Pie’s voice. Pinkie was wearing a dress made from pony hides, decorated with cutie marks. 7 wings fluttered, one, Applejack realized, was a cyan blue. Rainbow Dash. She also had a necklace of unicorn horns. Applebloom stood next to her, pale and slightly shaking. Applejack struggled again.
” Guys, this isn’t funny. Let me go!”
The two exchanged a look.
” Sorry Applejack, but rules are rules, and Pinkie and I ran out of the special cupcake ingredient. We need you to help us get more.” Applebloom replied.
Applejack eyed her.
” What kind of ingredient do you need?” She asked, already knowing the answer.
” You.” Pinkie Pie replied with a grin.
Applejack tried not to panic. She instead took a calming breath.
” I hope you’re stronger then Rainbow Dash. She didn’t even last an hour. I mean, seriously! Boring!” Pinkie Pie giggled.” Okay Applebloom, you ready, or are you a chicken? Bawk!”
Applebloom closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and nodded, opening her eyes. She shakingly walked over to a cart covered in a white cloth and uncovered it, revealing several sharpened knives.
” Please, don’t do this Applebloom. You’re my sister!” Applejack begged.
” Sorry sis. I have to do this. Rules say so.” Applebloom replied, not meeting her eyes.
Applejack watched, helpless to do anything. Applebloom selected a knife and approached her sister. Her eyes narrowed as she made a circular cut around the apples on Applejack’s flank. Applejack held back a cry of pain, determined not to give in to her- no, no pony who treated her like this was her sister- and Pinkie Pie. Applebloom finished cutting out Applejack’s cutie mark and proceeded to the other side. After cutting out the other one, she went over to Pinkie Pie. They whispered together, then Applebloom fetched some nails and hammered them into Applejack’s hooves, the entire time Applejack was quiet, silent tears running down her face. Applebloom finished and attached a cord to them, the cord for a machine. She flipped the switch.
Applejack flinched, trembling as electricity flashed through her body. But she still didn’t scream or cry out. After 10 minutes, Applebloom turned the machine off. Applejack smelled burnt hair and knew it was her, but she just took a breath.
” Wow, you really are strong!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, sitting several nose-lengths away.
Applebloom, meanwhile, was silent, still not meeting her sister’s eyes. Applebloom grabbed a shot and inserted it into Applejack’s bloodstream.
” In a few moments, you won’t be able to feel anything below your ribcage.” She said softly, quietly.
Applejack soon felt numb. Applebloom grabbed a knife and carefully made some incisions in Applejack’s stomach. Applejack couldn’t turn her head, so she closed her eyes.
A bolt of adrenaline shot through Applejack’s body, but she kept her eyes closed and kept quiet. Another one followed it.
” I’m awake. You are not making me watch you dissect me until I die.” She said, her first words since Applebloom first started.
” Fine. Be a rude guest. Even Rainbow Dash wasn’t that rude when she was here.”
Applejack heard Pinkie Pie mutter. Applejack didn’t feel anything, but she knew that Applebloom was doing something.
” Come on AJ. Just one teensy wheensy peek?” Pinkie Pie asked.
Applejack cracked open one of her eyelids to see that Applebloom had collasped and Pinkie was the one holding the knife covered with blood. Applejack closed her eyes again. Then, Applejack heard hooofsteps directly above the dark room she was in. She opened her eyes.
” Why are you doing this Pinkie? I thought we were friends!” She yelled at the top of her lungs.
” Silly Applejack. We are friends. And I already told you why I am doing this.” Pinkie replied.
Applejack eyed Twilight, who had telelported behind Pinkie.” Well, yeah, but you didn’t tell her.”
Twilight froze Pinkie with her horn, then ran over and freed Applejack. The earth pony collasped on the ground, tired from being held up the entire time.
When Applejack woke up she was in the hospital. laying on her back. She groaned, looking up. No pony was there. Still, she felt awful and her entire body hurt. The door opened. Twilight walked in.
” Hey AJ. Feel better?”
Applejack didn’t know how to answer. Then Twilight turned into Pinkie Pie, holding a bloody knife. Applejack screamed.
” Applejack?”
Applejack blinked, coming out of her hallucination. Twilight was next to her. Are you alright?” Applejack took a deep breath.” Sorry Twilight. It’s just what happened down there...”
Twilight nodded.
” Good news, you’re alive and well. Pinkie is in jail in Canterlot. You’re safe.”
Applejack relaxed, resting against the bed.
” Any bad news?”
Twilight paused.” Other then harmony in Equestria is officially dead?” She asked.
Applejack buried her face in her pillow.
” Don’t worry Applejack. You’re fine. The hospital is going to release you in a couple of days.”
” Yeah, but there is one place they can’t fix.”
Twilight cocked her head.” And where is that?”
Applejack gestured to her chest.” My heart.”
4 days later...
Applejack woke up, her heart pounding. Applebloom was snuggled next to her in bed. Applejack wished she could stop the nightmares and images that filled her head every single day. But there was no way, no way to get her experience out of her head. Instead, she laid back down, tired.
” Applejack?” Her little sister asked, awake now.” Are you alright?”
Applejack managed a faint smile.” I’m fine. Just a bad dream. Go back to sleep.”
But Applebloom didn’t. She looked at Applejack.
” I really am sorry.”
Applejack nodded.
” I know, and I forgive you. it’s not you, I just... don’t know who I can trust anymore.”
The next day, Applejack was out working. She was tired, and jumped at every shadow. Somehow, she could sense a figure watching her.
” Applejack?”
Applejack recognized the voice.
” No...”
She turned. Sure enough, Pinkie stood there, a mask of worry and hope on her face.
” How di... how did y... how did you escape?” She asked, her words sticking in her throat.
” No! I’m the real Pinkie Pie! The one that tortured you is an imposter. My evil twin sister, to be exact.”
Applejack rolled her eyes.” Yeah right! How should I believe you?”
” Oh you should. I did fool every pony, you know.”
Another voice, behind Applejack. Applejack turned, seeing an exact replica of Pinkie.
” The real question is, Pinkamena, how did you escape?”
Pinkie gulped.
The fake Pinkie took out a knife.
” Cupcake! Why do you hate me?” Pinkie asked, in a whiny voice.
In answer, Cupcake threw the knife towards Applejack and Pinkie. Both ponies jumped back. Once the knife landed, Pinkie ran to retrieve it. Cupcake approached Applejack. Applejack hoofed the ground, ready to attack if needed. Cupcake laughed. She charged towards Applejack and brought her hoof across Applejack’s head. the earth pony slumped to the ground, unconsious... again.
Applejack opened her eyes, inside a dark room. She was, suprisingly, alone. But she was also shackled up and it brought back visions of what had happened with Cupcake and Applebloom. She struggled, but these were tighter than last time, tighter and more secure. Then, laughter filled the room. Cupcake stepped out of the shadows.
” You know, I am impressed with you. You are definitely the strongest pony ever to walk Ponyville, maybe all of Equestria. I somewhat admire your strength and courage.” The pink pony said, watching for Applejack’s reaction.
Applejack didn’t say a word.
” Fine then. Let’s do this the hard way.” Cupcake laughed again.
Pinkie Pie ran through town, worried out of her mind.
” Where is every pony? Oh, why do they have to be somewhere else noooow?” She whined, checking the library. All lights off. Rarity’s shop was closed, Fluttershy wasn’t home, it seemed like every pony was avoiding her. Pinkie sat in the town square, starting to tear up.” Doesn’t any pony like me? What did Cupcake do to this town? To my town? Do my friends really... really hate me?” She started crying, burying her face in her coat as she cried.” Applejack is dying or she could be dead! I’m the only one who knows where Cupcake’s lair is, but I can’t go alone and every pony is a-avoiding me!” Pinkie sobbed. Then, someone tapped her shoulder. Pinkie looked up, suprised to see Twilight.
” Show me where this cupcake is, but explain everything, and I mean everything on the way.” Twilight said sternly.
Pinkie nodded and jumped up, leading Twilight to the Everfree Forest.
Pinkie carefully walked deeper into the forest, leading Twilight as she talked.
” Then Cupcake distracted me and took Applejack... here it is!”
Pinkie stopped in front of an old, creepy tree and tapped on it twice. A door opened, revealing a dark staircase.
” After you, Twilight.” Pinkie muttered, turning pale.
She had also been trapped down there, unable to move until for some reason Cupcake freed her. Still, she followed Twilight. Once down the stairs, Pinkie saw Cupcake. Applejack was pinned to the rack, her eyes full of hatred. Cupcake seemed to be teasing and taunting her. Twilight froze Cupcake.
” Did you forget about me, Cupcake?” Twilight asked.
” Or me? You know I knew where this place is!” Pinkie exclaimed.
Cupcake, although she couldn’t move, smiled. She thought
“Turn on machine.”
The wire on her head glew with light as Applejack tensed, then started trembling. Cupcake knew that the electricity going through her body was as powerful as it got, and it would kill her if Cupcake kept the machine on for too long.
” You see Pinkamena, I am experimenting a new... project. It allows people to turn things on... with their mind. That’s what I just did. Of course I knew you two would come. I also know that in a few minutes, the electricity coursing through your friend’s body will be too much and she won’t be strong enough to hold on. She will die.”
Pinkie gasped.
” Please, Cupcake, your fight is with me. Don’t kill her!”
Cupcake narrowed her eyes.” Tell your friend to unfreeze me, and I might stop the machine... maybe.” The earth pony snapped.
” Don’t do it Twilight. Don’t unfreeze her.” Applejack murmured, barely consious.
Twilight looked at her friend, then at Cupcake, who was giving a small smile.
” Why sis? Why do you hate me so much?” Pinkie asked, sitting down on the ground.
” You abandoned us! Me and all the others. You left us to come here, to Ponyville. I looked to you, then you left. That’s why.” Cupcake snarled.
Pinkie looked hurt.” I invited all of you to come with me! I was just, just to much of a happy pony to stay on a rock farm.” Pinkie replied.” Besides, torturing my friends is a bit too much, right?”
Cupcake considered that.
In the time that Pinkie was talking to Cupcake, Twilight had inched closer to Pinkie’s twin and was able to take the wire from around her head off. After that, she switched the spell and destroyed the machine. Applejack slumped, electricity gone. Cupcake growled, still frozen in place. Twilight raced over to her unconsious friend and used her magic to free Applejack. Twilight unfroze Cupcake, only to hoofcuff her hoofs together.
” You are evil and will probably be in prison for life. And we will all remember what you did. You are not welcome here anymore Cupcake.” The alicorn said sternly while Pinkie tried to shake Applejack awake.
Cupcake struggled, but eventually gave up.
” I had my fun. Gilda was great, almost perfect. Most of the ponies were. Rainbow Dash was fun to watch, screaming and crying.” She rasped, trying to unhinge Twilight.
Twilight merely casted a spell to silence her. Then, the building shook.
” We have to get out of here!” Twilight called to Pinkie. She used her magic to levitate Applejack, and the two friends fled the hidden room.
Five Days Later...
Applejack opened her eyes, taking in her surroundings. She was in her bedroom at home. She became aware of eyes staring at her, and turned her head. Applebloom was sitting at the foot of her bed, watching her older sister with worry in her eyes. Seeing Applejack, the filly bounded over to her and nuzzled her cheek.
” You’re finally awake!” She exclaimed.
Applejack managed a small smile.” Sorry I worried you.” She rasped, not recognizing her own voice.
” It wasn’t your fault. Twilight wasn’t sure if you were going to wake up or not. Pinkie was ecstatic though, sure that if you died it would be her fault.”
Applejack gave a weak nod.
” Ugh. I wish this was all a dream.” She murmured, memories of the past few days running through her mind.
Applebloom looked troubled.” Ah put you through all this. It’s my fault.” The filly said, looking down.
” Now Applebloom. You weren’t yourself. Don’t hate yourself,”
Applejack paused, taking a breath.
” Because of what happened to me.” She finished.
Applebloom gave a small sigh.
” But sis...” Applejack shook her head.
” Don’t Applebloom. Please don’t.” She whispered, tired.
She laid her head back down, quickly weakening.
” You need rest, Applejack. You should go back to sleep.”
”Alright.”
Applebloom held Applejack’s hoof as the earth pony fell back asleep. Applebloom looked out of her window.
” Ah don’t know if stars have wishes, but if they do, please oh please keep mah sister safe. Ah can’t lose her.” She whispered, still sitting next to her older sister, guarding her while she slept.
Applejack woke up with a burst of panic. She felt the electricity that had tortured her several days ago shooting through her body. She panicked, trembling with wide eyes. Applebloom was by her side immediately.
” Applejack? Applejack!”
Applejack couldn’t answer, not until a few moments later. Then the electricity stopped and she collapsed back onto her bed.
” Applejack what happened?” Applebloom asked, worry shown her face.
Applejack opened her mouth to answer, then immediately closed it.
”Ah’m getting Twilight.” Applebloom said, planting a small kiss on Applejack’s forehead before hustling out the door.
Applejack watched her go, closing her eyes and imagining a world that Cupcake had not entered. She wished that this fake world of hers was real. But reality came before imagination, and the door had opened once more, revealing Applebloom and Twilight.
Twilight hurried over to her friend, relieved that she was awake and saddened about what Applebloom had told her.
” Applejack! I’m so glad you’re awake!” She exclaimed, giving her an awkward hug from above.
” Hey Twilight.” Applejack murmured, her voice still awfully hoarse and raspy.
” So what happened earlier? Can you tell me?” Twilight asked, looking down at Applejack worriedly.
” Electricity. Ah felt it again. And Ah panicked.” The earth pony replied, her eyes dull and lifeless.
” Oh gosh. I’ve read about this. Sometime when the voltage is powerful enough, even when it’s turned off, the electricity stays, slowly killing the pony by, every now and then, sending powerful shocks. Please don’t tell me that’s happening to you.” Twilight said, panicking.
Applebloom grasped Applejack’s hoof in worry for her sister. Applejack closed her eyes again, taking a deep breath. Twilight knew that it was true. Her voice broke when she said her next few words.
” Applejack... I don’t want you to die...”
Applebloom started sobbing, pressing her nose against the spot on the blanket where Applejack’s chest was.
” Please Applejack! D-D-Don’t leave me!” She shrieked.
Twilight put her hoof around the young filly, sharing her pain.
The next few days were terrible for Applebloom. Watching her sister recoil and writhe in pain and agony was almost too much for her to bear. But she stayed with Applejack, not wanting to leave her side. Twilight has said any moment now the electrcity shock could be her last, could kill her. But soon came the time she had to leave Applejack. Cider season was opening in a few days, and the Apple Family had to get ready. Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Twilight were all helping out to get things done while Applejack was injured. Applebloom gently stroked her sister’s mane, sniffling as Twilight’s words ringed in her ears. Applejack, at the moment, was asleep, her flank rising and falling. Giving her sister a small kiss on her forehead, Applebloom trotted out of her sister’s room for the first time in days. She dragged herself to the fields, noticing everypony else was there except her. Twilight immediately went to her, as she was the only one who knew of Applejack’s condition. Applebloom gave her a hug.
” What’s going on again?” Rarity asked, looking around confusedly.
” Everypony will be disapointed if there’s no cider, but Applejack isn’t well enough to help. So I thought you guys might want to help and pitch in.” Twilight explained.
Rarity nodded, but still looked confused.
” What happened to her?” Fluttershy asked.
Applebloom, Twilight, and Pinkie Pie all exchanged a glance.
” Well, you see,” Twilight began.
” It’s my faaault!” Pinkie wailed.
” No it wasn’t, Pinkie. It could’ve happened to any of us.” Twilight soothed.
” But... I should have predicted it...”
” Predict what?” Rarity asked, getting irrated.
” Applejack... she was taken by Pinkie’s sister and electrocuted. Badly. She’s still in shock, but...” Twilight began.
” The electric shock was to much for her. Soon, we don’t know when, but she’s going to die.”
Author's Note
So... I hope ya liked it!!!
